Category: World

BRUSSELS: The European Union announced on Tuesday that it will seek a new one-year postponement for its comprehensive anti-deforestation regulations. These rules have been praised by environmental organisations but criticised by major trading partners like the United States and Indonesia. The legislation, which prohibits imports of products linked to deforestation, is currently scheduled to come… Continue reading EU proposes new one-year delay to anti-deforestation law until 2026

MADRID: The Spanish government has approved a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel as part of a wider package of measures. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced the decree prohibits all exports to Israel of defence material and dual-use products or technologies. The ban also includes imports of such equipment into Spain from Israel. It further blocks… Continue reading Spain approves total arms embargo against Israel over Gaza

COPENHUAGEN: Large drones that flew over Copenhagen airport for hours and caused its shutdown constituted the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date according to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Airports in Copenhagen and Oslo reopened early Tuesday after unidentified drones in their airspace caused dozens of flights to be diverted or cancelled. Frederiksen… Continue reading Copenhagen drone flights called most serious attack on Danish infrastructure

OSLO: Norway’s government announced on Tuesday that Russia had violated Norwegian airspace on three separate occasions this year. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store described these incidents as unacceptable regardless of whether they were intentional or caused by navigation errors. The first violation occurred on April 25 when a Russian SU-24 fighter jet entered Norwegian airspace… Continue reading Norway reports three Russian airspace violations this year

BRUSSELS: NATO has issued a direct warning to Russia demanding an immediate halt to airspace violations along the alliance’s eastern flank. The 32 member states described Russia’s actions as escalatory and dangerous in a collective statement following urgent consultations. “Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculation and endanger lives,“ the… Continue reading NATO warns Russia to stop airspace violations on eastern flank

BRUSSELS: The European Union has demanded that major technology companies including Apple and Google explain their actions against online financial scams. European Commission officials sent formal information requests under the Digital Services Act to several technology giants including Microsoft and Booking. An EU spokesman confirmed the request focuses on how these companies ensure their services… Continue reading EU queries Apple and Google over financial scam prevention measures

UNITED NATIONS: Donald Trump makes his return to the United Nations General Assembly podium on Tuesday to denounce globalist institutions and confer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US president will address the UN for the first time since returning to office and curtailing America’s role in international organisations. This meeting marks Trump’s second encounter… Continue reading Trump returns to UN to denounce globalist institutions and meet Zelensky

GENEVA: The World Health Organization has confirmed that neither the painkiller Tylenol nor vaccines have been demonstrated to cause autism. This statement follows contrary comments from the United States president and his administration earlier this week. President Donald Trump insisted on Monday that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol due to an unproven link to autism.… Continue reading WHO confirms no link between Tylenol, vaccines and autism

WASHINGTON: A man has been charged by United States authorities for shining a laser pointer at the presidential helicopter as it departed the White House with President Donald Trump on board. According to a court filing on Monday, a Secret Service officer witnessed 33-year-old Jacob Samuel Winkler direct a red laser beam from a sidewalk… Continue reading Man charged for shining laser pointer at Trump’s Marine One helicopter

SEOUL: The chief executive of a South Korean lithium battery manufacturer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a factory fire that killed 23 workers last year. The Suwon District Court imposed the lengthy prison term on Aricell CEO Park Soon-kwan after finding the company prioritised profit over worker safety. The June 2024… Continue reading South Korea jails battery CEO for 15 years over deadly factory fire

GENEVA: Russian authorities have tortured civilian detainees in occupied Ukrainian territories in a widespread and systematic manner. A new United Nations report states this pattern of serious violations of international law has persisted since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The findings are based on interviews with 216 civilians released from detention in occupied… Continue reading UN reports systematic Russian torture of Ukrainian civilians

DAKAR: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have jointly announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The military-led West African nations denounced the ICC as a tool of neocolonial repression in a statement published on Monday. This decision represents the latest diplomatic upheaval in West Africa’s Sahel region following eight coups between 2020 and 2023.… Continue reading Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger withdraw from International Criminal Court

BEIJING: The leader of a United States congressional delegation to China has warned of the significant risk of military misunderstandings between the two nations due to rapid technological advancements. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on Washington’s Armed Services Committee, stated that China must engage in more dialogue with other global powers for basic military de-confliction.… Continue reading US lawmaker warns of military misunderstanding risk with China

UNITED NATIONS: Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday amid growing impatience with Russia at a United Nations summit. The US president is expected to present a pessimistic view of the world body’s future during his address. This marks Trump’s first UN speech since returning to office and reducing America’s international role.… Continue reading Trump to meet Zelensky and outline dark UN vision at summit

THESSALONIKI: Greek farmer Anna Aivazidi feels profound injustice over the massive European Union farm subsidy scandal that has penalised genuine producers. Aivazidi receives only 300 euros annually in subsidies while struggling daily to maintain her farm operations. She insists that financial support must be directed exclusively towards actual agricultural producers. Thousands of Greek farmers claim… Continue reading Greek farmers protest EU subsidy scandal hitting real producers

ERFURT: Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) firebrand Bjoern Hoecke believes his party shares significant common ground with the administration of US President Donald Trump. Hoecke cited America’s implementation of “remigration” policies under Trump as evidence of a broader Western shift toward resolving migration-related problems. The AfD leader pointed to shared social priorities like “the… Continue reading German far-right AfD leader sees common ground with Trump administration

SYDNEY: Australian officials are seeking answers from Indonesian authorities after the body of a young man who died in Bali was sent home without his heart. Queensland man Byron Haddow, aged 23, was discovered deceased in the plunge pool of his Bali villa earlier this year while on holiday. His body was repatriated to Australia… Continue reading Australia probes Bali tourist’s body returned home without heart

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Controller General of Immigration and Emigration has received a two-year prison sentence. The sentencing marks the latest high-profile conviction under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s anti-corruption campaign. Harsha Ilukpitiya pleaded guilty to charges of contempt for disregarding court orders to terminate a multi-million dollar visa services contract. A three-judge Supreme Court bench delivered… Continue reading Sri Lanka jails immigration chief for two years over visa contract

KYIV: Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine killed two people overnight according to Ukrainian officials on Tuesday. Russia’s defence ministry simultaneously reported that several Ukrainian drones had targeted the capital city of Moscow. These attacks coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s preparations to meet US President Donald Trump in New York. President Trump is expressing increasing… Continue reading Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine as drones target Moscow overnight

UNITED NATIONS: United States President Donald Trump will address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday as world leaders confront crises from Gaza to Ukraine. Many leaders now question whether America remains prepared for global leadership under its America First foreign policy. Trump has fundamentally reshaped United States foreign policy since taking office in January… Continue reading Trump to address UN with new asylum restrictions and America First policy

BEIJING: A United States congressional delegation visiting Beijing has discussed a significant aircraft purchase agreement with senior Chinese leaders. US Ambassador to China David Purdue confirmed that negotiations for the deal are in their final stages. The potential agreement involves the sale of as many as 500 Boeing jets to China. Representative Adam Smith, who… Continue reading US lawmakers discuss major Boeing jet deal during China visit

COPENHAGEN: Danish police said on Tuesday that drones that shut the country’s main airport on Monday appeared to have been flown by “a capable operator” seeking to demonstrate certain abilities, adding that no suspects had been identified. The airports in Copenhagen and Oslo, the two busiest in the Nordic region, were shut for hours after… Continue reading Drones that shut Copenhagen Airport sent by capable operator

MONTREAL: A major international aviation conference has commenced under the shadow of recent cyberattacks and deepening geopolitical divisions. The United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) triennial assembly runs from September 23 to October 3, bringing together global leaders to address critical industry challenges. Delegates are prioritising international cooperation to counter sophisticated cyber threats that… Continue reading Global aviation assembly opens amid cyber threats and geopolitical tensions

SYDNEY: A South Korean-born New Zealand woman has been convicted of murdering her two young children, whose bodies were found inside suitcases in an abandoned storage locker. Hakyung Lee admitted to killing the children, aged eight and six, but pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder on the grounds of insanity. She chose to… Continue reading New Zealand woman convicted of murdering children, hiding bodies in suitcases

SEOUL: The foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan, and the United States voiced serious concern about increasingly frequent destabilising activities in the Taiwan Strait. A joint statement issued after their meeting also expressed strong opposition to unlawful maritime claims and enforcement attempts in the South China Sea. The statement did not explicitly name China despite… Continue reading US, South Korea, Japan voice concern over Taiwan Strait activities

WASHINGTON: Dozens of Western nations called on Monday for the reopening of the medical corridor between Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The countries offered to provide financial aid and medical staff or equipment to treat Gaza’s patients in the West Bank. “We strongly appeal to Israel to restore the medical corridor to the occupied… Continue reading Western nations urge Israel to reopen Gaza-West Bank medical corridor

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has held discussions with United States envoy Keith Kellogg regarding the procurement of weapons. Zelenskiy stated the talks covered weapons that Ukraine has formally proposed to Washington for supply. The Ukrainian leader provided Kellogg with a briefing on the current situation at the front lines. He also detailed the results… Continue reading Zelenskiy discusses US weapons procurement with envoy Kellogg

HONG KONG: Hong Kong is preparing for Super Typhoon Ragasa on Tuesday by closing schools and many businesses while suspending most passenger flights until Thursday. Ragasa currently carries hurricane-force winds reaching 220 kilometres per hour as it approaches southern Guangdong province in China. Authorities will raise the typhoon signal to 8, the third highest level,… Continue reading Hong Kong shuts schools and businesses as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s parliament will vote on President Prabowo Subianto’s proposed 2026 budget, which outlines spending of 3,842.7 trillion rupiah ($231.5 billion). The budget forecasts a fiscal deficit of 2.68% of gross domestic product and assumes economic growth will accelerate to 5.4%. Revenue is targeted at 3,153.6 trillion rupiah for the 2026 fiscal year. Total proposed… Continue reading Indonesia parliament to vote on 2026 budget with $231 billion spending

UNITED NATIONS: The United States has imposed strict limits on the Iranian delegation attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, curbing their movement and banning access to wholesale stores and luxury goods. Tommy Pigott, deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in a statement that the move aims to “maximize pressure” on Iran’s… Continue reading US restricts Iranian UN delegation movement and bans luxury shopping

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced that Uzbekistan Airways has signed a deal with Boeing for over $8 billion. The agreement involves the airline’s plan to acquire up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Trump revealed the information in a post on his Truth Social platform. He stated that he had spoken with Uzbekistan President Shavkat… Continue reading Uzbekistan Airways to buy up to 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in $8bn deal

COPENHAGEN: Copenhagen Airport has reopened after a four-hour closure caused by drone sightings in the vicinity. Airport authorities confirmed the disruption ended early on Tuesday morning, allowing flights to resume. Passengers should anticipate significant delays and some cancelled departures as operations return to normal. Travellers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the… Continue reading Copenhagen Airport reopens after four-hour drone disruption

SEOUL: A South Korean court issued a warrant on Tuesday for the detention of Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church’s religious empire, according to a prosecutor. Han was jailed in relation to graft allegations involving the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. He has been accused of directing the church to bribe… Continue reading South Korea’s Unification Church leader jailed over graft allegations

WASHINGTON: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey will negotiate the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this week. During an appearance on Fox News’ “Special Report” show, Erdogan was asked if he expects to get the fighter jets following his visit to Washington, where he… Continue reading Turkey’s Erdogan to negotiate F-35 jets in meeting with Trump

NEW YORK: Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said he would like to strengthen the partnership with the U.S. and would like to thank U.S. President Donald Trump for his commitment to achieving peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “This does not mean that we will auction our mineral resources,“ Félix Tshisekedi, President of the… Continue reading Congo president says mineral resources will not be auctioned to US

LILONGWE: Former President Peter Mutharika has established a commanding lead over incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in Malawi’s presidential election according to provisional results. Mutharika secured approximately 66% of valid votes from 24 of the country’s 36 councils based on Reuters calculations from electoral commission data. Incumbent President Chakwera trails in second place with about 24% of… Continue reading Peter Mutharika leads Malawi presidential race with 66% of votes

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would promote relations with China “more vigorously,“ state media KCNA reported on Tuesday. Kim’s comments were made in a reply to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message on North Korea’s founding anniversary, KCNA said. Kim also said he could “feel well enough” China’s support during his… Continue reading Kim Jong Un pledges to strengthen North Korea-China ties more vigorously

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will present a group of Arab and Muslim leaders on Tuesday with a proposal for peace and post-war governance in Gaza. Axios reported the development on Monday, citing two US officials and two Arab officials. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan will participate… Continue reading Trump to present Arab leaders with US proposal for ending Gaza war