Feb 17 Drivers block Beirut roads in protest of new taxes that raise fuel prices By Abby Sewell, Associated Press Protesters blocked main roads in and around Beirut on Tuesday after Lebanon’s Cabinet approved new taxes that raise fuel prices and other products to fund public pay hikes. Continue reading
Feb 17 Musk's Grok chatbot faces EU privacy investigation over sexualized deepfake images By Kelvin Chan, Associated Press X faces a new EU privacy investigation after its Grok chatbot generated nonconsensual deepfake images on the platform. Continue reading
Feb 17 U.S. plans to deploy more missile launchers to the Philippines despite China's opposition By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Beijing has repeatedly expressed alarm over the installation in the northern Philippines of a U.S. mid-range missile system called the Typhon in 2024 and of an anti-ship missile launcher last year. It said the U.S. weapons were aimed at containing China’s rise and warned that these… Continue reading
Feb 17 Shein under investigation in EU over illegal products and addictive online design features By Kelvin Chan, Associated Press European Union regulators are investigating Shein over concerns the online retailer hasn't done enough to limit the sale of illegal products or protect users from the platform's allegedly addictive design. Continue reading
Feb 17 What climate change means for Greenland's traditional Inuit lifestyle and the world By Emma Burrows, Evgeniy Maloletka, Kwiyeon Ha, Associated Press Dog sled culture in northern Greenland is at risk as climate change is causing the ice and snow to melt. Continue reading
Feb 17 After almost 4 years of war, Russian and Ukrainian officials meet in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks By Emma Burrows, Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Expectations for any breakthroughs in the scheduled two days of talks in Switzerland were low, with neither side apparently ready to budge from its positions on key territorial issues and future security guarantees. Continue reading
Feb 17 PHOTOS: Year of the Horse gallops in with Lunar New Year prayers, robots and firecrackers By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China and some other East Asian nations and is celebrated outside the region, too. Continue reading
Feb 17 New Bangladesh prime minister sworn in after party's landslide win By Julhas Alam, Associated Press Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose term will last for five years, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman. He is also Bangladesh’s first male prime minister in 35 years. Continue reading
Feb 17 Iran says it closed Strait of Hormuz for live fire drills as it held nuclear talks with U.S. By Jamey Keaten, Stephanie Liechtenstein, Associated Press Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday for live fire drills in a rare show of force as its negotiators held another round of indirect talks with the United States over the Islamic Republic's disputed… Continue reading
Feb 16 Watch 10:33 Rubio bolsters Hungary's far-right leader days after push to mend U.S. ties in Europe By Nick Schifrin, Sonia Kopelev America’s top diplomat traveled to Hungary and endorsed that country’s far-right prime minister, who is seeking his fifth straight term in office. Viktor Orban has cracked down on the media, civil society and weakened judicial independence in Hungary. He also… Continue watching