Philippines condemns Chinese media depicting it as monkey in AI video
The Philippines has condemned the "dehumanising and racist" portrayal of the country as a timid monkey strong-armed by the US and Japan to take Beijing on over the South China Sea .
Last week, China Daily posted an AI-generated video featuring a monkey in a Filipino shirt. It screams as arms bearing the Japanese and US flags shove it onto a rickety karaoke stage set up in a boat.
After it gets scolded for singing the wrong song, it pulls out a sheet reading "South China Sea arbitration award
I wouldn't marry him until he paid off his debt, now I'm in charge of our money
When Sarah Reeve got engaged she gave fiance Lee an ultimatum: he had to pay off his debt before she would marry him.
"I was paying my mortgage and bills whereas he was giving his mum some rent," Sarah says of their situations when they met in their early 20s.
"I told him I wouldn't marry him if he had any debts," says the 45-year-old.
So they set a wedding date for two years ahead which gave Lee the time to
One man's hunger strike changed India's map. Can it still change politics?
Activist Anna Hazare's 13-day fast in 2011 gave fresh momentum to an anti-corruption campaign that briefly captured the national imagination. Irom Sharmila, protesting against the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in India's north-east, refused food for 16 years , surviving only because authorities force-fed her through a nasal tube. Medha Patkar, a prominent social activist, has repeatedly undertaken prolonged hunger strikes to demand fair compensation and rehabilitation for people displaced by big dam projects
I thought we'd grow old together, says band leader whose girlfriend died in Thai bar inferno
The deadly inferno has raised familiar questions about fire safety standards across Thailand, especially at entertainment venues.
Thai authorities say they are investigating if negligen c e led to the fire , as survivors reported doors being locked and a lack of signage demarcating emergency exits.
But some question if relevant government agencies should also be held accountable for not properly enforcing regulations.
Athipat echoes these concerns. "I wish venues had higher safety standards so when we perform, we can enjoy ourselves like before without having to worry.
"These days,
As heatwaves strike, Europeans turn to prized Chinese air-conditioner
All of this has been hailed by Chinese media as a win for Made in China goods - a label that is commonly associated with more low-quality, often cheaply made products.
"The fact that Chinese air conditioners have become a necessity for Europeans is not merely a trade phenomenon, but a microcosm of 'Chinese-style empowerment'," reads a commentary by state media outlet People's Daily.
In fact, European PortaSplit owners tell the BBC that they were surprised to find out it comes from a Chinese
Blasts reported in Iran as US launches new wave of strikes
The US launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for a sixth night in a row, its military says, as the two sides continue to battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (Centcom) said on Thursday that the attacks were intended to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities".
Iran's state media reported US missiles struck close to the Gulf island of Qeshm, near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr - the site of a nuclear power plant.
JD Vance accuses Israel of 'manipulating' US public opinion to prolong Iran war
US Vice-President JD Vance has accused some members of the Israeli government of trying to influence Americans' opinions to prolong the Iran war.
In an interview published on Wednesday, Vance told conservative podcaster Joe Rogan that while he trusts some people within the Israeli government, there are others "who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely".
The Israeli government did not immediately respond to Vance's comments.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said: "I think
Pele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9m
A shirt worn by Pele during the 1958 World Cup final has sold for $4.9m (£3.6m) at a Sotheby's auction in New York.
It is the second most valuable football jersey sold behind the Argentina shirt Diego Maradona wore when he scored the 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup - which went for £7.1m in 2022.
Having received a total of 10 bids from more
Kris Jenner's mother Mary Jo dies aged 91
Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of the Kardashian-Jenner momager Kris Jenner, has died aged 91.
Jenner, 70, announced the news on Thursday on social media: "Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ."
No cause of death was immediately provided. Campbell, also known as MJ Shannon, appeared on the family's reality programmes multiple times since they were first brought into the spotlight with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which premiered in 2007.
"She taught
White House teleprompter operator accused of making $100k off Trump speech bets
A White House teleprompter operator is being investigated over allegedly using inside information to place bets and make nearly $100,000 on US President Donald Trump's speeches.
Gabriel Perez, who had worked at the White House since 2016, is accused of placing bets on words the president would use during major public addresses, including the State of the Union speech.
The trades were made on Kalshi, a prediction markets platform where users can bet on real-world events. The firm confirmed