Iran war: Will Southeast Asia opt for pragmatism?

For most Southeast Asian countries, the immediate priority following the start of the Iran war has been to urge de-escalation and protect their citizens and migrant workers in the Middle East. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry issued a measured statement that condemned US-Israeli attacks as well as Iran's retaliatory strikes, calling for "all parties [to] exercise maximum

Cologne Cathedral to start charging admission fee

Cologne's iconic cathedral will begin charging visitors an entrance fee starting from the second half of this year, its chapter announced on Thursday. In a press conference, the cathedral chapter said the fee is meant to cover the increasing cost of operating, maintaining and securing the facility. Entrance to the cathedral will remain free of

Paralympic Winter Games: What you need to know

Key facts on the Paralympics The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games take place over 10 days from March 6 to 15 across three main locations in northern Italy; Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme. Approximately 665 athletes from 56 nations are to compete in 79 medal events across six sports: Para-alpine skiing, Para-biathlon, Para cross-country

How the US-Israel war with Iran is reshaping Africa

Iran's presence in Africa dates back to Indian Ocean trade networks in the 16th century. From the 1960s onwards, trade ties were modernized and intensified under the country's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. These relations continued under the rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after he seized power in 1979 and established an Islamic republic. And

Salute replaces silence for Iran after ‘message from home’

As the first notes of "Mehr-e Khavaran (Eastern Sun)" rang out at the Gold Coast Stadium, nearly 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) from Tehran on Australia's east coast, the Iranian women's national team raised their hands to their temples in salute. Most also appeared to sing along to their national anthem before the Asian Cup match against

Why all the hype for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’?

When the trailer for "The Devil Wears Prada 2" came out in early February, fans of the Hollywood favorite immediately recognized the familiar faces — seemingly untouched by the passage of more than 20 years. But while the characters may look the same, their world has shifted, and it's the direction their lives are taking

Berlin Holocaust memorial attacker given 13 years in prison

A Berlin court on Thursday sentenced a Syrian national to 13 years in prison over a stabbing attack at the German capital's Holocaust memorial days before federal elections last year. The 20-year-old defendant stabbed a Spanish tourist visiting the memorial in February 2025. He was convicted of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and attempted membership

Berlin factory at center of German militarization debate

Armed only with a tin of cookies, a thermos of coffee, and a carton of oat milk, a handful of campaigners spent a sunny afternoon outside a factory in central Berlin last week trying to distribute flyers to the workers entering and leaving the grounds. The factory, in the capital's old working-class district of Wedding

Rep. Tony Gonzales Withdraws from Re‑election After Affair

FILE - Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference Dec. 7, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mariam Zuhaib/AP hide caption toggle caption Mariam Zuhaib/AP WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said late Thursday he was withdrawing from his reelection race, after having admitted an affair with a former staff member

Pentagon labels AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk

Pages from the Anthropic website and the company's logo are displayed on a computer screen in New York on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Patrick Sison/AP hide caption toggle caption Patrick Sison/AP The Trump administration is following through with its threat to designate artificial intelligence company Anthropic as a supply chain risk in an unprecedented move
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