Month: August 2025

ROME: Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics gave Pope Leo XIV a rock star reception at an open-air prayer vigil on the outskirts of Rome. The pontiff made a dramatic entrance by helicopter, descending to thunderous applause from an estimated crowd of up to one million pilgrims. Organisers described the gathering as part of the… Continue reading Young Catholics welcome Pope Leo XIV with rock star fervour at Rome vigil

MANCHESTER: Further clashes erupted at anti-immigration protests across the UK on Saturday, leading to multiple arrests as tensions between far-right demonstrators and anti-racism groups intensified. In Manchester, a march organised by the far-right group “Britain First” was met with opposition from counter-protesters, resulting in brief scuffles before police intervened. “Send them back, don’t let them… Continue reading Clashes and arrests escalate at UK immigration protests in Manchester and London

MANBIJ: Syria’s defence ministry and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have traded blame over an attack in the northern city of Manbij, straining relations after a landmark integration agreement signed in March. The defence ministry accused the SDF of launching a rocket barrage on an army outpost in the city’s countryside, injuring four troops… Continue reading Syria’s SDF and government trade blame over Manbij attack

RANCAGUA: One of five miners trapped after a partial collapse at the world’s largest underground copper mine has been found dead, Chile’s state-owned Codelco group announced Saturday. The collapse took place Thursday at the El Teniente mine in Rancagua, 100 kilometers south of Santiago, following a “seismic event.” At least 100 people were participating in… Continue reading Rescuers find dead miner in Chile copper mine collapse

TEL AVIV: US envoy Steve Witkoff met with distraught relatives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza on Saturday, amid growing concerns over their survival nearly 22 months after Hamas’s October 2023 attack. The meeting took place as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the conflict. Witkoff was greeted by hundreds of protesters in… Continue reading US envoy meets Israeli hostage families amid Gaza war tensions

DAKAR: Senegal has reinforced its eastern border security with new gendarmerie units following recent jihadist attacks near its frontier with Mali. The move comes after assaults in Mali’s western region, including an attack on Diboli, less than 500 metres from Senegal’s Kidira town. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a jihadist… Continue reading Senegal boosts border security with Mali amid jihadist threats

LA PAZ: Five miners died after being crushed in a gold mine collapse in Bolivia’s Potosi department, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The victims were found buried under a landslide at the state-operated Amayapampa mine, the largest gold mining site in the region. Potosi Police Commander Fernando Benitez stated, “Five adults were found inside the mine.… Continue reading Five miners killed in Bolivia gold mine collapse tragedy

KINSHASA: President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo has called on lawmakers to formally declare a “genocide” in the country’s conflict-ridden eastern region. The appeal comes as fragile peace negotiations continue with neighbouring Rwanda following a June agreement aimed at ending decades of violence. “I solemnly call upon both houses of parliament to… Continue reading DRC president calls for genocide declaration in conflict-hit east

LISBON: Portugal’s government has declared a high alert for wildfires as a severe heatwave raises fire risks across large parts of the country. The alert, effective from Sunday to Thursday, includes strict measures such as a ban on bonfires, fireworks, and electrical equipment in forests. Authorities have also restricted access to vulnerable woodland areas and… Continue reading Portugal issues high alert for wildfires amid heatwave

KYIV: Ukrainian authorities announced the arrest of several politicians linked to a “large-scale corruption scheme” in the defence sector. The crackdown follows public backlash over anti-graft agencies’ independence, which President Volodymyr Zelensky initially undermined before reversing his decision. The National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) uncovered a scheme misusing budget… Continue reading Ukraine uncovers defence sector corruption scheme, arrests officials

BERLIN: Germany’s state rail operator Deutsche Bahn has reported a third deliberate fire in two days, following two earlier incidents that disrupted train services across the country. The latest fire occurred in Hohenmoelsen, Saxony-Anhalt, where rail cables were intentionally set ablaze. Investigations confirm the fire was an act of sabotage, similar to two earlier attacks… Continue reading German rail sabotage causes third fire in two days

WASHINGTON: The US Office of Special Counsel has launched an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led federal criminal cases against former President Donald Trump, according to media reports. The inquiry focuses on whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from political activity while on duty. Republican Senator Tom… Continue reading US agency investigates special counsel Jack Smith over Trump cases

HAMAS said on Saturday that it would not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established. In a statement, the Palestinian militant faction said its “armed resistance … cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with… Continue reading Hamas: No disarmament without Palestinian statehood

LONDON: A 76-year-old man appeared in a British court on Saturday accused of lacing sweets with sedatives and causing several children to fall unwell at summer camp. John Ruben, from Leicestershire in central England, appeared in court charged with three counts of wilful ill treatment of a child at the camp last weekend. He was… Continue reading Man in court for lacing sweets at UK camp as kids fall ill

A fire that broke out near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after Ukrainian shelling has been brought under control, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said on Saturday. Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia plant in the first weeks of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Both sides have accused each other of… Continue reading Fire near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant contained: Russia

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration says that some serious criminals need to be deported to third countries because even their home countries won’t accept them. But a review of recent cases shows that at least five men threatened with such a fate were sent to their native countries within weeks. President Donald Trump aims to deport… Continue reading Trump administration deports migrants to third countries