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Hun Sen hands out Cambodian-made watches to summit VIPs
Hun Sen hands out Cambodian-made watches to summit VIPs
World
by  AFP

World leaders attending a summit in Phnom Penh will receive Cambodian-made watches from host Hun Sen, a noted fan of luxury timepieces. Hun Sen -- who has ruled the kingdom for 37 years and is Asia's longest-serving leader -- said the new watches "show the progress in science and technology of Cambodia."

Australia blames Russian hackers for medical data theft
Australia blames Russian hackers for medical data theft
World
by  AFP

Russian hackers carried out a cyberattack on a major Australian healthcare company that breached the data of 9.7 million people, including the country's prime minister, police said Friday. The hackers started leaking the data earlier this week after Medibank -- the country's largest health insurer -- refused to pay a $9.7 million (Aus$15 million) ransom.

Bong! Big Ben's back in Britain
Bong! Big Ben's back in Britain
World
by  AFP

Getting up close to Big Ben requires earplugs, and ear defenders over them to be safe. As the top of the hour approaches, it is time to don the ear defenders again for the continuing series of tests.

Japan govt backs major firms in next-gen chip project
Japan govt backs major firms in next-gen chip project
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The Japanese government will pour half a billion dollars into a new project to develop and make next-generation microchips, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday. The ministry will grant 70 billion yen to Rapidus to lead a research and development project for next-generation semiconductors, Matsuno said without elaborating.

ASEAN leaders struggle for answers to Myanmar crisis
ASEAN leaders struggle for answers to Myanmar crisis
World
by  AFP

The escalating crisis in Myanmar was set to dominate summit talks Friday between Southeast Asian leaders struggling to find a way to calm the bloodshed in the junta-ruled country. Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc will discuss ways to implement a peace plan agreed with Myanmar last year which the junta has so far ignored.

Banned from education, 'idle' Afghan girls are married off
Banned from education, 'idle' Afghan girls are married off
World
by  AFP

Thirteen-year-old Zainab should have been shopping for a new school uniform this autumn but, with no prospect of girls' schools reopening in Afghanistan, she was instead forced to pick out a wedding dress. "I cried a lot and kept telling my father that the Taliban would reopen girls' schools," Zainab said.

Flowery facelift for heart of revolt in Iraqi capital
Flowery facelift for heart of revolt in Iraqi capital
World
by  AFP

Three years ago, Fadel Abbas marched with tens of thousands of fellow Iraqis chanting for the "fall of the regime" in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, meaning "liberation" in Arabic. A scar runs across his left hand, a reminder of the violent crackdown unleashed by the security forces three years ago.

Asian shares surge as investors cheer slower US inflation
Asian shares surge as investors cheer slower US inflation
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Asian markets surged on Friday after a bumper session on Wall Street as lower US inflation dimmed expectations of more aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes. The latest inflation data should be welcome news to Fed policymakers, because prices are "finally showing some response" to the steep rate hikes, said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics.