Japan's Honda to scale back on electric vehicles, concentrate on hybrids
WorldHonda Motor said on Tuesday that it was scaling back its investment in electric vehicles given slowing demand and would be focusing on capturing growing demand for hybrids with new models.
French state covered up Nestle water scandal: Senate report
WorldThe French government "at the highest level" covered up a scandal over the treatment of mineral water by food giant Nestle, including the iconic Perrier brand, a Senate investigation said Monday.
Japan PM hits out at farm minister over free rice claim
WorldJapanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday reprimanded the farm minister for claiming he never buys rice because he gets it free, provoking the ire of consumers facing soaring prices.
Monkeys kidnap babies of another species in weird 'fad'
WorldPARIS -- A new trend is catching on among bored young male capuchins: kidnapping baby howler monkeys, in what scientists say is the first time animals have been recorded stealing another species' infants for no apparent reason.
World Health Organization members vote in favour of global pandemic agreement
WorldGENEVA - Members of the World Health Organization voted emphatically in favour of a potentially groundbreaking global treaty on improving pandemic preparedness at the World Health Assembly on Monday.
Brazil can no longer export poultry, meat to EU due to bird flu
WorldBRUSSELS/PARIS -- Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter and main poultry meat importer into the European Union, is no longer allowed to ship poultry and meat products to the EU due to the outbreak of bird flu, the European Commission said on Monday.
Indian boycott of Turkish coffee, chocolates and fashion grows
WorldSmall Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers are boycotting Turkish products ranging from chocolates, coffee, jams and cosmetics to clothing amid growing anger at Turkey's support for Pakistan in a confrontation with India.
U.S. Open venue to undergo $800 mln transformation
WorldThe site of the U.S. Open will undergo an $800 million transformation, the USTA said on Monday, with a "top-to-bottom" modernisation of the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium and a new player performance center planned for the sprawling Queens campus.
'Gentle Giants': World's strongest men defy stereotypes
WorldEddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends.
Spain blocks more than 65,000 Airbnb holiday rental listings
WorldMADRID -- Spain's consumer rights ministry said on Monday it had ordered Airbnb to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals from its platform, saying they violated existing rules.
