Afghan clerical council condemns wave of deadly attacks

US Republican Senator Steve Daines, a close aide to President Donald Trump and a key interlocutor between Washington and Beijing, has called on the two capitals to stay engaged and “not retreat” over differences on issues including rare earth supply chains. Daines told the South China Morning Post that both sides still had issues that predated Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington last week and that they would continue working on them after the summit. “So that’s again why...

Amid intensifying competition in the AI technology race, US authorities have arrested a California technology company owner accused of using Malaysia and Singapore as transit points to circumvent US export controls and send more than US$300 million worth of restricted computer servers to China. Greg Lui, 38, also known as Yiu Kong Lui, of San Gabriel, was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to violate US export controls, outbound smuggling and conspiracy to commit money laundering,...

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva named China as a possible partner in his critical minerals plans, three days before Sunday’s closely fought election. Lula told Flow, one of the country’s most-watched podcasts, on Thursday evening that Brazil should stop shipping out raw ore. “We want to transform them here in Brazil,” he said of the minerals. Asked whether China fit into his plans, Lula said it could be a partner “bringing technology to us”, as could the United States. “[Donald]...

Quote of the day by Sean Connery from Finding Forrester speaks about the importance of an unexpected gift. It is needed to show a person that you care about them. Romance and spontaneity are highly important in relationships.

Luigi Mangione arrest video: Newly released body-camera footage shows the moments police identified Luigi Mangione at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and took him into custody. The video captures officers questioning his identity, including the name on his ID, before showing what happened during his arrest and the search that followed at the station.

As the 2026 US midterm elections approach, it's crucial for voters to mail their ballots ahead of time to avert potential complications. Remember, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day to be counted. In California, ballots can be accepted up to seven days late if they are postmarked correctly. Voters are encouraged to track their ballots to confirm acceptance.

The Cornell University is under renewed scrutiny after a former student filed a civil lawsuit alleging a 2024 gang rape at a Chi Phi fraternity house. Cornell says it investigated the allegations and disciplined students. Prosecutors have reopened the criminal investigation, while New York state has appointed a special prosecutor. Students are also demanding a further accountability and changes on campus.

Nike’s stock chart has sparked a joke after commentator Trung Phan said its recent decline created a “Jumpman formation.” The comparison comes as Nike struggles with falling revenue, weakness in China and pressure on Jordan Brand. Here’s what’s behind the stock slide and the Jumpman logo’s history.

As crude oil prices rose, India paid more for this critical import even though it got less of it, data shows. Trade with major partners in the region remains affected, households and companies are staring at high inflation, and the govt is footing an elevated subsidy bill.

Michael Douglas has confirmed that he and Kathleen Turner had a secret romantic relationship while filming Romancing the Stone. The affair began in 1984 when Douglas was separated from his wife but still married. Both actors denied their romance publicly for over four decades to protect his family. Their relationship ended when Diandra, his wife, interfered after visiting the filming location in Mexico.

The UNDP analysis - which looked at data from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the International Energy Agency - found the number of countries deploying different relief measures nearly doubled between April and September as the war's impact continued.