Leaked draft of $1bn memorandum of understanding reveals mandatory targets, sharing of data, and reported access to mining concessions The US has been accused of “shameless exploitation” over a health financing agreement with Zambia worth more than $1bn (£740m), amid warnings that the country is getting a raw deal from the Trump administration. A leaked draft of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries, seen by the Guardian, reveals that Zambia may accept terms worse than health financing agreements the US has reached with 16 other African countries. Continue reading…
News & Trending
Politics
‘A devastating force’: how recent storms turned to tragedies across the western Mediterranean
Atmospheric machine-gun has fired storm after deadly storm at the region this year, leaving a trail of widespread destruction For Andrés Sánchez Barea, in Spain, it was the fear that arose when water started to spurt from plug sockets. For Nelson Duarte, in Portugal, it was the helplessness that hit as violent winds smacked down trees and tore tiles from roofs. For Amal Essuide, in Morocco, it was the reality that dawned when a corpse was pulled onboard a boat in the flooded medina. Each moment of horror is a fragment of the destruction wrought by an atmospheric machine-gun that...
Two women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life sentence
Wendy Faith and Alesi Diana Denise were taken into custody under laws that have outraged LGBTQ+ community and rights activists Two women have been arrested and detained in Uganda after allegedly kissing in public, an act of “same-sex activity” which can lead to a life sentence in the east African country. Wendy Faith, a 22-year-old musician known as Torrero Bae, and Alesi Diana Denise, 21, were taken into custody after police raided their rented room in Uganda’s north-west Arua City last week. Continue reading…
Investor who lost everything in private credit wishes several thousand more people had warned him of the risks
The turmoil currently sweeping through the $3 trillion private credit market has investors stampeding out of the funds.
U.S. Treasurys look like the bad boyfriend at the start of a Hallmark movie, finance expert says
“I think one thing to keep in mind is that currently markets don’t have a better, great option than U.S. Treasury debt,” Yale Budget Lab’s executive director Martha Gimbel told the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.
Hollywood’s top films were less diverse in 2025: ‘Studios have relapsed into a colorblind complacency’
The percentage of women and people of color holding lead roles in Hollywood’s top movies dropped in 2025, according to a new UCLA study.
Meet LITRO: The tokenized crude project to start pilot testing soon for 2027 debut
LITRO aims to modernize the $6 trillion oil market by replacing slow, paper-based settlement with 24/7, on-chain trading and redemption.
Where Was ‘Sinners’ Filmed? Hannah Beachler on Filming the Southern Gothic in the Louisiana Bayou
Hannah Beachler, Academy Award-winning production designer, lets us in on the film’s Southern Gothic vibe.
Oil prices edge higher against backdrop of historic reserves release
400mn barrels of crude made available as governments race to tackle energy shock
Why the IEA’s largest-ever release of oil reserves is pushing up crude prices
The largest-ever release of oil from the International Energy Agency’s emergency stockpiles lifted prices for the commodity up by nearly 5% on Wednesday.
Essay: As American democracy is in peril, Brazilian films offer perspective
Oscar-nominated film ‘The Secret Agent’ shows how history is an essential tool for resisting authoritarianism.
Daily Updates
THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2026” Set to Return on a Grander Scale Across IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Reinforcing Its Position as a Global Food Trade Platform
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Koelnmesse (KM), has announced the return of THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2026, Asia’s most comprehensive food and beverage trade exhibition, taking place from 26–30 May 2026 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok. Returning under the theme “BIGGER – BETTER – BOLDER”, this year’s edition will welcome food buyers and importers from more than 130 countries worldwide. The event is expected to generate over THB 130 billion in trade value, further reinforcing its role as a leading international food trade platform...
Fm² Formula: The On-Chain Awakening of the Financial Leviathan
Every leap in financial civilization stems from the reorganization of underlying order. Traditional finance connects assets and users through institutional credit; internet finance expands service reach via platform efficiency; blockchain brings financial relationships into a brand-new open field: assets can flow on-chain, rules can be executed through code, transaction paths can be publicly verified, and users worldwide can access the same value network across regions, identities and barriers. The emergence of DeFi opened the door to open finance, bringing lending, trading, staking, liquidity, and yield distribution into the onchain world. For the first time, the industry truly saw that financial...
Embark on A New Journey- Elite Member Extra Saving
Travel is picking up again—and so are the reasons to go. As one of the world’s most generous rewards programs, Wyndham Rewards brings the WeChat Mini Program offer— “Embark on a New Journey | Elite Members Extra Saving,” an exclusive offer for Wyndham Rewards Elite Members，delivering enhanced value and greater flexibility for your travels. Valid now through December 31, 2026, Wyndham Rewards Elite Members (Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers) can enjoy an additional 3% discount on top of the member Rate when booking via the official Wyndham WeChat Mini Program, using the promo code “WOW Exclusive for Elite Members.” This...
Week Popular & Top Categories
‘Disgraceful scenes as toxicity spills over in Old Firm cup tie’
As if the ugliness of the 120 minutes wasn’t enough there was disgrace as Rangers and Celtic fans invaded the pitch at Ibrox, writes Tom English.
‘Evil Dead’ Star Bruce Campbell Reveals He Has Cancer
Bruce Campbell has revealed he has cancer, but says it’s a type that’s treatable, though not curable. “The Evil Dead” actor shared the news Monday in a message to fans, writing, “Hi folks, these days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s…
‘It’s better to be chased’ – the mentality of a title race
The Premier League title race is set to go to the wire. BBC Sport has spoken to former winners to find out how players deal with the pressure.
‘Only one team tried to play’ – Hurzeler criticises Arsenal
Was this the evening the villains of the Premier League title race became victors? BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty assesses the ramifications of a big night in Brighton.
‘My mother refuses to turn on the heat’: Will America’s war with Iran really push up our utility bills?
“She is reading alarmist headlines about Iran in the newspapers.”
A kidnapped brute finds the tables turned in ‘Heel’
Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough anchor an off-kilter tale of abduction and vengeance, directed by Poland’s Jan Komasa, an heir to his country’s bolder filmmakers.
Amazon joins Meta, Google in jumbo bond club with up to $42 billion issuance
Amazon is preparing one of the largest corporate bond offerings in history to fund its AI buildout
As a dad and daughter in ‘Rooster,’ Steve Carell and Charly Clive get to be a little messy
In HBO’s new comedy, the actors play a father and daughter who don’t have their lives quite figured out — and that’s OK.
Bitcoin dip may not be over as whales sell into retail buying — a bearish signal
The divergence between large and small holders has historically preceded further downside, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index dropping to 12
Bitcoin slips below $68,000 heading into the weekend as dollar posts steepest weekly gain in a year
Most majors gave back Friday’s gains, with solana down 4%, ether falling 4.4%, and 43% of bitcoin’s supply now sitting at a loss according to Glassnode data.
Business
Business
Can Broadcom’s stock break the software curse after earnings? Here’s what Wall Street is saying.
Best known for its chip business, Broadcom has seen its stock get weighed down by concerns over exposure to software sales.
Business
Stocks and bonds tumble as widening Middle East war rattles markets
Oil briefly hit $85 a barrel as Iraqi production shuts down because so few tankers risk journey through Strait of Hormuz
Crypto
Crypto
Bitcoin supply approaching 20 million: The final million will take another 114 years to mine
Out of a fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, more than 95% of all bitcoin that will ever exist is now in circulation.
Crypto
Ray Dalio says ‘there is only one gold’ as bitcoin outperforms gold during worst geopolitical crisis in years
The Bridgewater founder dismissed bitcoin’s safe-haven credentials on the same day gold dropped 3% while bitcoin fell less than 1%.