text

White House defends Trump's response to Virginia violence

The White House on Sunday struggled to defuse the growing criticism of President Donald Trump's initial failure to explicitly condemn white supremacists for their role in the violent protest Saturday in Virginia, insisting that his condemnation included all such groups.

text

Chief of Australia’s biggest bank to retire amid laundering scandal

The chief executive of Australia's biggest bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, will retire by the end of 2018 financial year, the company said Monday, amid pressure from regulators over alleged breaches of money laundering and terrorism financing laws.

text

CIA chief says 'nothing imminent' in US-DPRK standoff

CIA director Mike Pompeo offered assurances Sunday that there was "nothing imminent" in the US standoff with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) but said he wouldn't be surprised if Pyongyang conducted another missile test.

text

Change or die: American malls confront Amazon era

As the retail industry churns in the Amazon era, American shopping malls are turning to a new generation of stores, food and entertainment offerings to make up for an exodus of department stores.

text

Judge tosses radio DJ's claim that Taylor Swift got him fired

A US judge on Friday dismissed claims that pop superstar Taylor Swift got a radio DJ fired, but court proceedings will continue to consider the singer's allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

text

Bollywood film spotlights India's toilet shortage

Bollywood may be famous for its blingy song and dance numbers, but a new movie released Friday deals with a distinctly less glamorous subject -- India's chronic lack of toilets.

text

Protests, joy erupt in Kenya as Kenyatta wins second term

Celebrations and riots erupted across Kenya Friday night after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the victor in an election the opposition rejected as a "charade" after claims of massive rigging.

text

Trump to Pyongyang: 'Be very, very nervous'

The US Department of State on Thursday issued an updated travel warning for the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK) which includes information about the impending tourist ban.

text

Kenyatta leads in early Kenya election results

President Uhuru Kenyatta took a significant lead in Kenya's tense elections, according to early results released Wednesday, as he bids for a second term at the helm of east Africa's most vibrant democracy.

text

Want to learn something? Sleep on it, but not too deeply: study

Scientists fascinated by the idea that humans might be able to learn while asleep -- a new language, say, or a piece of music -- have long been coming up with clashing experimental results.

text

S.Korean court orders Japan's Mitsubishi to pay over war labour

A South Korean court ruled Tuesday that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should pay compensation to former wartime slave workers.

text

New gene study rewrites history of human evolution

A new way to use DNA to peer into the history of humanity is rewriting what experts know about our long-extinct cousins, the Neanderthals, US researchers said on Monday.

text

'Magical Negro': the racist cliche Hollywood won't drop

One trope in filmmaking that is sure to draw scorn from culturally aware critics is the "Magical Negro" -- a black character whose sole purpose is to help the white protagonist.

text

Iran's tech sector blooms under shield of sanctions

The names may be unfamiliar but the services are immediately recognisable: Snapp is Iran's answer to Uber, Digikala is its Amazon, and Pintapin its Booking.com.

text

Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announce separation

Action star Chris Pratt and comic actress Anna Faris announced their separation after eight years of marriage in a joint statement on Sunday.

text

US to join climate talks despite Paris accord exit

The United States announced Friday it would still take part in international climate change negotiations in order to protect its interests, despite its planned withdrawal from the Paris accord on global warming.

text

Maduro: 'Terrorist' attack on Venezuela army base repelled

Venezuela's military said Sunday it repelled a "terrorist" attack on a base in the city of Valencia, led by an army deserter allegedly linked to "foreign governments."