World News

Alphabet, Amazon outpace Meta in AI race during earnings bonanza

On that front, Google was able to point to solid growth at its cloud computing unit, which recorded sales of $20 billion last quarter

US Q1 GDP growth rises 2% as Iran war clouds outlook, fuels inflation

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.0 per cent annualized rate last quarter, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its advance GDP estimate on Thursday

Alphabet's Q12026 sales at $94.7 bn, Google Cloud sees 63% revenue surge

Alphabet shares jumped 7.6% to $376.35 in early trading in New York on Thursday. The stock had risen 12% this year through Wednesday's close

BOE holds rates at 3.75%, warns Iran war may need forceful rate hikes

The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75 per cent and flagged risks to inflation from the Iran conflict, particularly through higher energy and food costs

Mojtaba Khamenei says new phase ahead for Gulf, Strait of Hormuz after war

Iran's Supreme Leader signals a 'new phase' in the Gulf, raising concerns over Strait of Hormuz security and global oil supply disruptions

Iran conflict creates two-speed diesel market across Asian economies

Asia typically sources most of its diesel from plants within the region, which in turn rely on flows of crude from West Asia for a substantial share of their input

Hezbollah adopts new weapon: Fibre-optic drones, used widely in Ukraine war

Hezbollah - the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon - has mostly been using the fibre optic drones on Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon or towns on the border

US shifted from 'managing world's energy' to 'disruption' strategy: IRGC

IRGC said that the disruption project was launched by the US to contain China, Russia and Europe

Brent crude surges past $125 as Iran-US war fears roil oil markets

Brent crude to be delivered in June jumped 6.2 per cent to $125.36 and Brent to be delivered in July rose 3.1 per cent to $113.85

Asian shares fall as Brent crude hits 4-year high on Iran war fears

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slid 1 per cent on Thursday, but was still set for a 15 per cent gain this month

Putin offered to help US on Iran's uranium in potential nuclear deal: Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Iran war in a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, with the Kremlin stressing the 'dire consequences' if hostilities resumed

White House opposes Anthropic plan to expand Mythos AI technology access

Members of US President Donald Trump's administration have told Anthropic that they don't agree with the company's plan to grant access to its Mythos technology to roughly 70 companies

Pentagon pegs Iran war cost at $25 bn as Hegseth slams US Congress critics

During his first public appearance on Capitol Hill since the war began, the defence secretary lashed out at lawmakers in both parties who have questioned the conflict

Democrats probe as Trump OKs nearly $2 bn payout to end wind projects

In the latest deals announced Monday, the administration said Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind agreed to end their leases in exchange for reimbursements totaling nearly $900 million

Trump expresses 'disappointment' with Nato allies; lauds King Charles III

The King also reaffirmed support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, noting that enduring partnerships between Europe and North America are essential to maintaining global stability

Trump weighing reduction of US troop presence in Germany after Iran feud

Merz had said earlier Wednesday that his personal relationship with Trump remained 'as good as ever,' but he had 'had doubts from the very beginning about what was started there with the war in Iran'

Powell plans to stay on at Fed after term, cites legal action by Trump team

Powell's decision to stay denies President Donald Trump a chance to fill a seat on the central bank's seven-member governing board with his own appointee

King Charles meets top company CEOs in bid to promote US-UK investment

The British monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, focused on economic and cultural exchanges on the third day of a visit timed to mark the 250th anniversary of America's independence

Brazil's Senate blocks Prez Lula's SC nominee, first rejection in 132 years

Lula, who is seeking reelection in October for his fourth inconsecutive term, picked Messias to replace Luis Roberto Barroso, who resigned in November

Will encourage King Charles to return Kohinoor diamond to India: Mamdani

"If I was to speak to the King separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Kohinoor diamond," Mamdani said at a press conference