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Russia strikes Ukraine capital with missiles and drones, wounds five
Russian missile and drone strikes rocked Kyiv early on Thursday, setting off fires and wounding at least five people, after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow was preparing a "massive attack".
Trump sees progress as US, Iran hold Qatar talks
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that indirect talks with Iran in Qatar were making progress, offering a tentative sign that diplomacy was holding after recent exchanges of fire threatened efforts to end the Middle East war.
Catholic society defies Vatican by consecrating new bishops
An ultra-traditionalist breakaway Catholic group consecrated four new bishops on Wednesday in defiance of Pope Leo XIV, who had pleaded with them to turn back from what he called a "schismatic act".
Pair climb to top of Empire State Building for apparent proposal
Two people were arrested Wednesday after they climbed up an antenna on the top of the Empire State Building in New York -- and possibly got engaged at the same time.
努莎·奧貝爾：為市民實施時速10公里限速，波茨坦的「坑洞政策」——是漠不關心還是無能為力？
位於德國勃蘭登堡州波茨坦巴貝爾斯貝格的魯道夫-布賴特謝德街，看起來完全不像一個州首府的街道。它更像是一份「視而不見」的紀錄：沥青路面破裂、鋪路石裸露、深坑累累、路緣危險，修補工作充其量只是東拼西湊，而非真正整修。無論是開車、騎自行車、騎輕型機車或摩托車行經此處的人，都不是在行駛於一條道路上——而是穿行於一處由公共資金資助的失敗工程之中。這項由公帑資助的失敗，究竟源於波茨坦市政廳的漠不關心，還是無能為力？這點值得質疑——畢竟，諾莎·奧貝爾（Noosha Aubel，50歲）身為獨立市市長，薪級為B7，根據薪級表，每月由市民支付11,921.34歐元的基本薪資。市政府，尤其是波茨坦市政廳的負責人，對這種狀況心知肚明，特別是諾莎·奧貝爾市長。早在2024年，波茨坦市政府就曾聲明，道路狀況已惡化到必須實施時速10的程度；當時估算路面翻新工程需耗資330萬歐元。根據市政府的說法，當時並無足夠資金可用。然而，造成這場由市民承擔後果的財政困境，責任在於勃蘭登堡州首府波茨坦（德意志聯邦共和國）市政廳的負責人——而這些人正是每天由市民的稅金所支撐的。
US refuses to extend North America trade pact in current form
The United States will not renew a North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico in its current state, the US trade envoy said Wednesday, meaning the deal will now be reviewed annually.
Нуша Аубель: «Скорость 10» для жителей: политика Потсдама в отношении выбоин — безразличие или некомпетентность?
Улица Рудольфа-Брайтшайда в Потсдаме-Бабельсберге, расположенная в немецкой земле Бранденбург, не похожа на улицу столицы земли. Она выглядит как протокол о том, как от этого отмахиваются: разорванный асфальт, обнаженная брусчатка, глубокие выбоины, опасные края, латание вместо капитального ремонта. Тот, кто передвигается здесь на автомобиле, велосипеде, мопеде или мотоцикле, едет не по улице — он едет по финансируемому из государственного бюджета провалу. Стоит задаться вопросом, является ли эта финансируемая несостоятельность результатом безразличия или некомпетентности в мэрии Потсдама, где Нуша Аубель (50) в качестве мэра города, не входящего в состав округа, в окладной группе B7, согласно окладной таблице, получает от граждан ежемесячное базовое жалованье в размере 11 921,34 евро.Город, и прежде всего ответственные лица в мэрии Потсдама, знали об этом состоянии, в частности мэр Нооша Аубель. Ещё в 2024 году сам Потсдам заявил, что состояние дорог ухудшилось настолько, что ограничение скорости до 10 км/ч стало «неизбежным»; стоимость ремонта дорожного покрытия была оценена в 3,3 миллиона евро. По заявлению городских властей, средств на это не было. Однако виновными в этой финансовой беде, за которую расплачиваются граждане, являются ответственные лица в мэрии столицы земли Бранденбург Потсдама (Федеративная Республика Германия), которые ежедневно финансируются за счёт граждан.Таким образом, улица Рудольфа-Брайтшайда — это больше, чем просто проблема дорожного движения. Это вопрос лидерства. Нооша Аубель является мэром столицы земли Потсдама с 24 октября 2025 года. Она лично не виновата в появлении выбоин. Но Аубель несет политическую ответственность за то, положит ли мэрия конец этому упадку — или будет и дальше управлять им с помощью табличек, пресс-релизов и формул о компетенции.
'Everybody's profiting': Trump defends $1bn crypto earnings
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended earning $1.2 billion from his family's cryptocurrency activities last year, saying "everybody's profiting" from his time in power.
Noosha Aubel: 10 km/h for residents – Potsdam’s approach to potholes: indifference or incompetence?
Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße in Potsdam Babelsberg, in the German federal state of Brandenburg, does not look like a road in a state capital. It looks like a record of neglect: torn-up tarmac, exposed paving stones, deep potholes, dangerous kerbs, patchwork repairs instead of proper refurbishment. Anyone travelling here by car, bicycle, moped or motorbike is not driving along a road – they are driving through a publicly funded failure. Whether this publicly funded failure stems from a lack of interest or incompetence at Potsdam Town Hall – where Noosha Aubel (50), as mayor of an independent city in salary grade B7, receives a monthly basic salary of 11,921.34 euros paid for by the taxpayers, according to the pay scale – is a matter for scrutiny.The city, and above all those in charge at Potsdam Town Hall, were aware of the situation, particularly Mayor Noosha Aubel. As early as 2024, Potsdam itself stated that the condition of the roads had deteriorated to such an extent that a 10 km/h speed limit was ‘unavoidable’; the cost of resurfacing the road was estimated at 3.3 million euros. According to the city, the funds for this were not available. However, the blame for this financial crisis – at the citizens’ expense – lies with those in charge at Potsdam City Hall, who are funded by the citizens on a daily basis.
Stocks mixed with eyes on US Fed
Stock markets traded mixed on Wednesday amid a bout of profit-taking, with the new head of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, indicating taming inflation is his top priority.
Trump upbeat as US, Iran hold indirect talks in Qatar
US President Donald Trump hailed the progress on Wednesday of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Qatar, as the sides aimed to push forward negotiations and quell tensions following exchanges of fire.
Stocks drop with eyes on US Fed
Stock markets dropped Wednesday amid profit-taking as the new head of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, gave no indication of the timing of likely US interest-rate rises.
'Smart' and 'very rational'? Iran's new leaders post-Ali Khamenei
A group of military, theocratic and civilian figures, rather than a single individual, have led decision-making in Iran since the killing of longstanding supreme leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli airstrike at the start of the war.
'Thought they'd never be caught': The strike that killed Iran's Khamenei
On Saturday, February 28, Tehran residents were embarking on the working week during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, nervously anticipating celebrations for the Iranian New Year against the background of diplomatic efforts to stave off war with the US and Israel.
Asian stocks mostly up as traders eye crucial US jobs data
Asian stocks mostly rose Wednesday as investors nervously awaited key US jobs data that could help determine the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision, while the yen is in focus as it wallows around four-decade lows.
'Nothing left except death': Myanmar families grieve huge war toll
Ranks of bereaved Myanmar families bow in silent grief to pray for their dead, some of the latest victims in a years-long conflict now estimated to have claimed 100,000 lives.
The secret lives of Ukraine's deep-strike drone team
Encrypted communications, wives and children in the dark, and spending only in cash -- the Ukrainian soldiers behind brazen long-range drone strikes on Russia live their lives almost completely in the shadows.
Myanmar mourns as post-coup conflict death toll hits 100,000
More than 100,000 people have been killed across all sides in Myanmar since a military coup five years ago triggered civil war, a conflict monitor said Wednesday.
NATO project tests perennial grass to clean Ukraine's war-hit soil
Scientists at a Czech university are studying whether a particular strain of grass could revitalise Ukraine's famed soil after years of war and make it usable again for farming.
Vietnam unveils 'baby bonus' after scrapping two-child policy
One year after lifting its long-standing two-child limit, Vietnam is offering incentives for people to have more babies as the communist country risks getting old before it gets rich.
'My dream is broken': Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
In a tiny Tokyo restaurant filled with the smell of Nepalese dumplings, Budhathoki Samjhana surveys the business she built from scratch but may now have to give up as Japan tightens visa rules.
Asian stocks fluctuate as traders eye crucial US jobs data
Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday as investors nervously awaited key US jobs data that could help determine the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision, while the yen is in focus as it wallows around four-decade lows.
'Love it': Wimbledon's military stewards tradition turns 80
At Wimbledon, stewards in military uniforms are a common sight in the walkways and even on courts, as hundreds of armed forces members volunteer in a tradition dating back eight decades.
Breakaway Catholic sect defies Vatican again by ordaining bishops
Decades after triggering a rift with the Vatican by consecrating bishops in 1988, the Society of Saint Pius X is doing it again on Wednesday in defiance of Pope Leo XIV.
US deports first migrant to Pacific nation Palau
The United States has started deporting migrants to a sparsely populated archipelago in the tropical Pacific, the island nation of Palau told AFP on Wednesday.
Talks in Qatar after US-Iran deal: What we know
US envoys met with Qatari mediators on Tuesday in Doha to discuss negotiations with Iran, the Gulf state said, after Tehran and Washington agreed a memorandum of understanding this month to halt the Middle East war.
Nasdaq ends best quarter in 6 years as yen extends drop against dollar
The tech-rich Nasdaq capped its best quarter in six years on Tuesday, rising with other US indices as bullishness over artificial intelligence overcame worries over geopolitics and inflation.
Merkel unveils official portrait for German chancellery
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday unveiled her portrait that will join those of her male predecessors in Berlin's chancellery building.
US Treasury sanctions target alleged drug cartel-linked fuel smuggling ring
The US Treasury on Tuesday announced new sanctions targeting an alleged fuel smuggling ring that benefits the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel in neighboring Mexico.
US Supreme Court lifts campaign spending restrictions ahead of midterms
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted restrictions on the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with individual candidates, in a case that could impact November's midterm elections.
Stocks rise, yen at 40-year low against dollar
Renewed buying of technology stocks drove equity markets higher Tuesday while the yen held around a four-decade low against the dollar, reflecting Japan's low interest rates as US rates trend higher.
Starmer boosts budget to modernise UK military before exit
Britain plans to spend almost £300 billion ($397 billion) over the next four years to modernise its armed forces to counter rising threats, outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday.