Indonesian authorities report a severe surge in wildfires driven by extreme drought and a powerful El Niño cycle, which climate scientists describe as off the charts. July wildfire damage nearly doubled the previous six months, while August hotspots exceeded 2015 levels, though overall devastation remains below that historic year. According...
Shein priced its Hong Kong offering at HK$48.56 per share on Monday, raising HK$13.6 billion, or about $1.74 billion, before trading begins Tuesday. The offering values the China-founded fast-fashion company at $26.5 billion, far below its peak private valuation of about $100 billion in 2022. Reuters reported the Hong Kong...
Queen Mette-Marit joined Norway’s royal family Monday as they carried King Harald V’s coffin from the Red Salon to the Palace Chapel in Oslo. The procession marked her first official public appearance since becoming queen after Harald died on Aug. 28 at age 89. Norway’s Royal Court said Harald’s children...
Actor Mel Gibson faced widespread public criticism following an appearance at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, where video footage appeared to show him mocking an American Sign Language interpreter. The incident occurred during a career Q&A panel celebrating the convention's thirtieth anniversary. As Gibson walked onto the stage, an interpreter...
Sweden and France signed a 4.3 billion-euro ($5 billion) agreement Monday for four French-built frigates, strengthening Stockholm’s naval capabilities as NATO’s newest member responds to security concerns in the Baltic Sea. Signed in Stockholm during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, the contract covers Naval Group’s FDI-class ships, weapons, equipment and training....
Lionel Messi announced Monday that he is retiring from Argentina’s national team, ending a 20-year international career after the 2026 World Cup. The 39-year-old captain made the announcement on Instagram, saying the decision was painful but that the time had come. Messi’s final appearance came in Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat...
Vice President JD Vance addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Monday, aiming to ease conservative Jewish activists' concerns regarding his foreign policy views on Israel. The closed-door meeting occurred amid heightened sensitivities over antisemitism and U.S.-Israel relations ahead of midterm elections. Activists expressed discomfort over past remarks...
House lawmakers returned to Washington on Aug. 31 facing an agenda led by a Senate-passed stopgap spending bill intended to prevent a federal government shutdown after Sept. 30. The Senate measure, approved 90-6 on Aug. 8, would fund agencies through Dec. 11 and includes provisions addressing federal grants, border funding...
Eli Lilly and Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held biotechnology firm Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash. The transaction includes an upfront payment and contingent milestone payments, bolstering Lilly's immunology portfolio with a precision autoantibody-degradation platform. Merida’s lead experimental candidate, MER511, is currently in...
USA Basketball announced that Las Vegas Aces center Aja Wilson and Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum withdrew from the upcoming FIBA Womens World Cup in Berlin due to health reasons. Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP, recently managed back and leg injuries despite continuing to play for the Aces. Plum confirmed...
