Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding invested over $500 million in Russian energy companies around the time Russia invaded Ukraine

Associated Press
French president will outline his vision for Europe as an assertive global power amid war in Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline his vision for Europe to become a more assertive global power against a backdrop of war in Ukraine and other security and economic challenges, in a speech on Thursday ahead of pivotal European Parliament elections in June. The French president plans to focus on strategic and geopolitical issues in Europe, including defense, the economy, protecting the environment and safeguarding democracy, his advisers said. Russia’s war in Ukraine, now in its third year, is expected to be the main theme of the speech Macron will deliver at Paris’ Sorbonne University on Thursday.
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Reuters
Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals being investigated in connection with a graft probe involving his sons, the head of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission said on Thursday. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January served Mahathir's businessmen sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, with notices to declare their wealth, as part of investigations into offshore financial and business records revealed by a group of news organisations. The MACC's chief commissioner Azam Baki on Thursday declined to elaborate on the investigations facing Mahathir or his sons.
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AFP
NGOs accuse ADB of funding Indonesia coal plants despite clean energy promises
Green NGOs have accused the Asian Development Bank of indirectly financing coal plants in Indonesia through a $600 million loan despite promises to no longer fund projects tied to the fossil fuel, according to a new report."Publicly funded institutions like the Asian Development Bank must include robust coal exclusions in contracts... in order to end coal finance for good," said Daniel Willis, finance campaigner at NGO Recourse.
18m ago
Associated Press
Third man is detained in a major bribery case that involves Russia's deputy defense minister
A third man has been detained in a bribery case involving a Russian deputy defense minister, Moscow's court service said Thursday. It said businessman Alexander Fomin is suspected of paying bribes to Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was detained on Wednesday, as well as Ivanov's associate, Sergei Borodin. Ivanov, an ally of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, was jailed pending an investigation and trial on charges of bribery, court officials said in a statement.
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Associated Press
Venezuela broke its HPV vaccine promises, and there's barely any sex ed. Experts say it's a problem
Some of the 10 women and teenage girls who recently came to a medical clinic in eastern Venezuela for free contraceptives fidgeted a bit when a community health worker taught them how to use an IUD, condoms and birth control pills correctly. The health worker also asked what they knew about HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and the cause of nearly all cervical cancer. Of the 10, ages 16 to 33 — two of whom had traveled to Putucual by boat and bus — only one had learned about human papillomavirus in middle school.
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AFP
US says downed Huthi anti-ship missile, four drones
US-led coalition forces shot down four drones and an anti-ship missile launched by Yemen's Huthi rebels, American authorities said Thursday, as the Iran-backed group announced strikes against US and Israeli ships.A Greek vessel deployed in the Gulf of Aden as part of an EU naval coalition also shot down a drone off Yemen's coast early on Thursday, the Greece general staff said in a statement.
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AFP
BHP launches $38.8 billion takeover bid for rival Anglo American
Australian mining giant BHP confirmed on Thursday a $38.8 billion takeover bid for British rival Anglo American, a colossal deal with the potential to fundamentally reshape the sector.Its longtime rival Anglo American has a market value of about $36 billion.
31m ago
AFP
Venice launches five-euro entry fee
Venice launched a new scheme Thursday to charge day-trippers for entering the historic Italian city, a world first intended to ease the pressure of mass tourism -- but many residents are opposed.Venturini hopes the initiative will persuade Italians living in the region not to come on busy days such as Thursday, when Italy marks its World War II Liberation Day.
39m ago
Reuters
Factbox-Italian tourist hotspots start to raise defences against overcrowding
Venice became the first city in the world on Thursday to introduce a payment system for visitors in an experiment aimed at dissuading tourists from arriving during peak periods. However, it isn't the only place in Italy that has recently introduced new measures aimed at slowing tourist flows. The experiment came into force on April 25, a national holiday in Italy.
41m ago
AFP
Asian markets mixed as global rally stalls, eyes on yen
Equities were mixed Thursday as investors turned cautious after the past three days' sizeable gains, with Meta's warning that it will spend far more than expected this year fuelling worries that the latest tech-led rally may have gone too far.Tech titans Microsoft and Alphabet are due to report later in the day.
42m ago
AFP
Blades of Paris landmark Moulin Rouge windmill collapse
The blades of the windmill on top of the Moulin Rouge cabaret, one of the most famous landmarks in Paris, collapsed during the night, firefighters said Thursday, just months before the French capital hosts the Olympics."I hope they repair it soon," he added. - 600,000 visitors annually - The Moulin Rouge cabaret, with its distinctive red windmill blades, is located in northern Paris and is one of the most visited landmarks in the city.
53m ago
Reuters
India's poll panel seeks responses to complaints against Modi, Rahul Gandhi
India's Election Commission said on Thursday it has sought responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress on alleged violations of poll rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. India is holding the world's largest election over seven phases, with votes due to be counted on June 4. In their complaints to the commission, the BJP accused Gandhi and Congress accused Modi of making divisive speeches on religion, caste and linguistic issues, notices from the panel said.
59m ago
Reuters
Tech companies plug into India's smaller cities for talent
Indian engineer B. Ramachandran now prefers living in the smaller cities than the major tech hubs of Bengaluru and Chennai. Some are already finding it easier to hire staff in tier 2 cities, in contrast to before the pandemic when workers largely went from smaller cities into the country's major IT hubs for jobs. "The HR and I used to drive down to Bengaluru and Chennai to interview experienced talent and convince them to move to Madurai," said Selvaganesh M.P, founder of IT firm SMI that was bought by mid-cap IT company Happiest Minds in 2023.
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Associated Press
The Latest | Israeli strikes in Rafah kill at least 5
Palestinian hospital officials say Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip have killed at least five people. Among those killed in the strikes overnight and into Thursday were two children, identified in hospital records as Sham Najjar, 6, and Jamal Nabahan, 8. More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.
2h ago
Associated Press
Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show
Global automakers and EV startups unveiled new models and concept cars at China's largest auto show on Thursday, with a focus on the nation's transformation into a major market and production base for digitally connected, new-energy vehicles. Toyota and Nissan both announced tie-ups with major Chinese technology companies as they strive to meet customer demand for AI-enabled online connectivity in cars, from social media apps to autonomous driving features. Electric vehicles accounted for about a quarter of all auto sales in China last year.
2h ago
CNN
Russia vetoes US-backed UN resolution to ban nuclear weapons in space
Russia on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations resolution that would ban the use of nuclear weapons in outer space amid US intelligence-backed concerns that Moscow is trying to develop a nuclear device that can destroy satellites.
2h ago
Associated Press
Ferrying voting machines to mountains and tropical areas in Indian elections is a Herculean task
From the Himalayan mountains to the tropical Andaman Islands, Indian officials are using helicopters, buses, trucks, boats, donkeys, and mules to carry electronic voting machines for India’s gigantic national elections. Election officials are traveling through jungles and snow-covered mountain tracks, even wading through rivers to set up polling stations in tents, shipping containers, and school buildings in remote areas. Four donkeys lugged the voting machines to Kottur hills in the Dharmapuri parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu state in southern India where the first phase of voting was held Friday.
2h ago
AFP
Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Thursday on the United States and China to manage their differences "responsibly" as he went on a charm offensive ahead of expected tough talks.China has accused the United States of unfair economic coercion.
2h ago
Reuters
UAE reports illness linked to contaminated water after floods
A small number of people in the United Arab Emirates have shown symptoms associated with contaminated water after heavy rains and floods, the health ministry said. There have been "a very limited number of cases that showed some symptoms of being affected by the mixed water" and they received hospital treatment, the ministry said. It did not say what the water had been contaminated with.
2h ago
Associated Press
Colleges nationwide turn to police to quell pro-Palestine protests as commencement ceremonies near
With graduations looming, student protesters doubled down early Thursday on their discontent of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the country as universities, including ones in California and Texas, have become quick to call in the police to end the demonstrations and make arrests. While grappling with growing protests from coast to coast, schools have the added pressure of May commencement ceremonies. At Columbia University in New York, students defiantly erected an encampment where many are set to graduate in front of families in just a few weeks.
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