Category: World

SEOUL: North Korea has accused South Korean troops of firing warning shots near their heavily fortified border this week. State media outlet KCNA reported the incident occurred on Tuesday as North Korean soldiers worked to permanently seal the border. Army Lieutenant General Ko Jong Chol called the shooting a serious provocation that risked raising tensions… Continue reading North Korea accuses South of firing warning shots near border

MUNICH: The Gulf Coast of the United States faces growing hurricane vulnerability two decades after Katrina’s devastation according to a new scientific review. Meteorologist Marc Bove from German reinsurer Munich Re documented increasing landfall risks for major hurricanes in the region. His analysis indicates that post-Katrina flood defense systems will gradually lose effectiveness over time.… Continue reading Gulf Coast hurricane risks rising 20 years after Katrina, scientist warns

PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on Friday that talks would be held next week between Iran and European powers over Iran’s nuclear programme. “We just had an important call involving my colleagues David Lammy, the Germany foreign minister, and Kaja Kallas with our Iranian counterpart regarding the nuclear program and the sanctions against… Continue reading France confirms talks between Iran and European powers next week

KYIV/BUDAPEST: Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days after a Ukrainian strike on a facility in Russia, Hungarian and Slovakian officials said on Friday, in a widening of the fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure,… Continue reading Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia

LONDON: A British woman has regained her original speaking voice after twenty five years of silence caused by motor neurone disease, thanks to groundbreaking artificial intelligence technology. Sarah Ezekiel lost her ability to speak when diagnosed with MND at age thirty four while pregnant with her second child a quarter century ago. The progressive neurological… Continue reading AI restores UK woman’s original voice after 25 years of silence

BERLIN: Germany’s postal service has announced temporary restrictions on package deliveries to the United States following new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. DHL, which operates Deutsche Post, will temporarily suspend its standard package delivery service to the US starting Saturday. “The reason for the restrictions, which we expect to be temporary, are new processes… Continue reading German post office restricts US packages over Trump tariff changes

KYIV: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for robust security guarantees for Ukraine during his official visit to Kyiv. Rutte emphasised that such guarantees would ensure Russia upholds any potential peace agreement and never attempts to seize Ukrainian territory again. “Robust security guarantees will be essential and this is what we are now working… Continue reading NATO chief calls for robust security guarantees during Ukraine visit

BUDAPEST: Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has requested American assistance following Ukrainian military actions that disrupted critical oil supplies. Orban complained directly to US President Donald Trump after Ukraine’s strikes against Russian infrastructure affected the Druzhba pipeline. Hungary has experienced its third oil supply interruption in recent days through this crucial energy conduit. A Ukrainian… Continue reading Hungary seeks US help over Ukraine war oil supply disruptions

JERUSALEM: Israeli police have pressed charges against a man suspected of seeking religious permission to assassinate the country’s attorney general. The 36-year-old suspect was arrested in Jerusalem on Wednesday after delivering a letter to influential rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. Yosef immediately alerted the police, who traced the man to his home and took him into custody.… Continue reading Israeli man indicted for seeking rabbi’s approval to kill attorney general

BEIJING: Twelve people have been confirmed dead with four others missing after a bridge under construction collapsed in northwest China on Friday. State media reported the incident occurred when the middle section of the bridge’s arch suddenly gave way and plunged into the Yellow River below. The cause of the collapse was identified as a… Continue reading Twelve dead and four missing after bridge collapse in northwest China

PARIS: The leaders of France, Germany and Poland will visit Moldova on August 27 to demonstrate support for the European Union candidate country. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will travel to Chisinau at the invitation of pro-European President Maia Sandu. The visit coincides with Moldova’s 34th… Continue reading Macron, Merz, Tusk visit Moldova to support security and sovereignty

WASHINGTON: The United States Commerce Department has initiated a national security investigation concerning wind turbine imports and their components. This action follows President Donald Trump’s consistent criticisms regarding wind energy sources. The White House recently expanded its existing 50% steel and aluminium tariffs to incorporate wind turbines and associated parts. Additional tariffs, quotas or other… Continue reading US launches national security probe into wind turbine imports

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s former president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday for allegedly “misusing government funds”, a senior police detective told AFP. Wickremesinghe was taken into custody after being questioned about a September 2023 visit to London to attend a ceremony for his wife at a British university while he was head of state, the… Continue reading Sri Lanka ex-president Wickremesinghe arrested for misusing funds

JERUSALEM: Israel has firmly rejected a United Nations-backed food security report confirming famine conditions in Gaza City. The foreign ministry statement on Friday dismissed the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) findings as based on “Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests”. “There is no famine in Gaza,“ the ministry declared, asserting that recent… Continue reading Israel rejects UN-backed famine report, says no starvation in Gaza

ROME: The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, marking the first such occurrence in the Middle East. UN experts confirmed that 500,000 people are currently facing catastrophic hunger conditions. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher stated that the famine was entirely preventable, blaming systematic obstruction by Israel for preventing food from reaching… Continue reading UN declares first-ever famine in Gaza, affecting 500,000 people

SULAIMANIYAH: Three members of the security forces in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region were killed and 19 wounded during the arrest of an opposition figure on Friday. Lahur Sheikh Jangi, a member of the influential Talabani family, which is one of two ruling clans in the autonomous region, “surrendered” while “his brother Bolad was injured… Continue reading Iraqi Kurdistan opposition figure arrested after deadly clashes in Sulaimaniyah

LA PAZ: Bolivia’s center-right senator Rodrigo Paz and right-wing former president Jorge Quiroga will face off in an October 19 runoff election after ending two decades of leftist rule, according to final results. Paz won Sunday’s first round with 32% of valid votes, while Quiroga secured 26.7%, the election commission said Thursday after counting 100%… Continue reading Bolivia’s right-wing candidates head to historic presidential runoff

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump visited police and National Guard troops deployed throughout the United States capital on Thursday as part of his announced crime crackdown initiative. Trump stated that these forces would “stay here for a while” during his appearance at a US Park Police facility surrounded by various law enforcement agencies. The Republican president… Continue reading Trump visits police and troops in Washington amid crime crackdown

JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to completely destroy Gaza City unless Hamas agrees to disarm and release all remaining hostages. Katz declared that hell would soon open upon Hamas militants in Gaza until they accept Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict. He specifically warned that Gaza City would suffer the same fate… Continue reading Israel threatens to destroy Gaza City if Hamas rejects disarmament terms

NEW DELHI: India’s parliament has enacted a comprehensive ban on online gambling platforms following alarming financial losses nationwide. The new legislation criminalises all forms of online betting, including card games, poker and fantasy sports applications. Government data revealed that gambling companies extracted $2.3 billion annually from 450 million citizens. This sweeping prohibition directly impacts India’s… Continue reading India bans online gambling to curb addiction and financial ruin

SAN JOSE: A single text prompt to Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) software, Gemini, consumes roughly as much electricity as watching television for just under nine seconds, the company said on Thursday, reported German Press Agency (dpa). Google estimated the median energy use at 0.24 watt-hours per text prompt and said around five drops of water,… Continue reading Google: One AI prompt uses as much energy as nine seconds of TV

A US federal judge on Thursday barred the Trump administration and Florida state government from bringing any new migrants to the detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” and ordered much of the site to be dismantled, effectively shuttering the facility. Florida’s government swiftly announced it would appeal the decision. The detention center was hastily assembled… Continue reading US judge orders dismantling of Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

GAZA CITY: The hunger crisis in Gaza is at a tipping point, with critically low supplies of fortified milk and special nutritious pastes exacerbating food shortages and pushing greater numbers of children into starvation, according to aid agencies, malnutrition experts and the United Nations. A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the… Continue reading Famine plays out in Gaza as children denied nourishing food supplements

U.S PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, plans to visit Tokyo and will attend a shareholder meeting of Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet on September 1, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The Trump Organisation and Metaplanet did not immediately respond to Reuters… Continue reading Eric Trump plans to visit Japan in September, Bloomberg News reports

LONDON: Governments and employers should take urgent action to help protect the health of workers who are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, the United Nations said on Friday. Climate change is making heatwaves more common and intense, and workers worldwide are already experiencing the health impacts, the agencies said in what they described as a… Continue reading Urgent action’ needed to protect workers from heat stress in warming world, UN says

BANGKOK: Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was cleared on Friday of royal defamation charges, relieving a threat to his embattled political dynasty which has dominated Thai politics for two decades. The 76-year-old had faced up to 15 years in prison, but a Bangkok court found him not guilty of breaching the kingdom’s strict lese-majeste… Continue reading Thai ex-PM Thaksin acquitted of royal insult charges

KARACHI: An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the Pakistani city of Karachi killed four people and injured more than 30 on Thursday, police said. The warehouse and some nearby shops caught fire after the initial blast, which was followed by several smaller explosions, forcing residents to flee for safety. “I thought several bombs have… Continue reading Pakistan fireworks warehouse blast kills 4, injures more than 30

LOS ANGELES: Erik Menendez, who along with his brother Lyle has served 35 years of a life prison term for fatally shooting their parents as they watched television in their Beverly Hills, California, home in 1989, was denied parole on Thursday. The decision by California parole commissioners was announced after a 10-hour hearing in which… Continue reading Erik Menendez denied parole after 35 years in prison for parents’ murder

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Thursday, the waters between South America’s southern tip and Antarctica. Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a tsunami precaution for the Chilean Antarctic territory following an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck 258 km (160 miles)northwest of Base Frei on Wednesday evening, it said in a bulletin.… Continue reading Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 hits Drake Passage off South America

LOS ANGELES: A nearly naked Lil Nas X was picked up by police Thursday after being found wandering through Los Angeles in just his underwear and a pair of white cowboy boots. Video posted on TMZ appeared to show the “Old Town Road” artist almost in the buff as he strutted down the major thoroughfare… Continue reading Lil Nas X arrested after nearly naked nighttime stroll in LA

WASHINGTON: All 55 million foreigners who hold visas for the United States are subject to continuous review, the State Department warned Thursday as President Donald Trump ramps up his crackdown on visas and immigration. “The Department’s continuous vetting includes all of the more than 55 million foreigners who currently hold valid US visas,“ a State… Continue reading US says all 55 million visas fair game for review

BOGOTÁ: Six Colombian police officers were killed and seven injured Thursday in clashes with the country’s biggest drug cartel, which used a drone to down a police helicopter, the security forces said. The attack took place as the police were eradicating coca crops — coca leaves are the main ingredient in cocaine — in northwestern… Continue reading Six Colombian police killed in clashes with drug cartel

WASHINGTON: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will blast into space on Thursday night carrying the US military’s secretive X-37B drone on its eighth mission. The rocket is due to launch at 11:50 pm (0450 GMT on Friday), according to SpaceX, which said a backup window is available at the same time the following day. The… Continue reading SpaceX to launch secretive US military spacecraft

CALI: Colombian authorities said five people were killed and dozens more injured when a truck bomb tore through a busy street in the city of Cali on Thursday, deepening the country’s most serious security crisis in decades. Police said the explosion targeted a military aviation school in the city’s north — a fresh challenge to… Continue reading Five dead as ‘thunderous’ bomb attack hits Colombian city

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded “heroic” North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine, in a ceremony decorating soldiers of the army’s overseas operation, state media KCNA said on Friday. Kim said in a speech, “The combat activities of overseas operational forces… proved without regret the power of… Continue reading North Korea’s Kim Jong Un decorates soldiers who fought for Russia, KCNA says

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump took his law-and-order message to the streets of the nation’s capital on Thursday, visiting a command center to thank law enforcement officers who are carrying out his crime crackdown. Trump last week deployed National Guard soldiers and federal agents to the city. He said he was temporarily taking over the… Continue reading Trump visits police, military in Washington amid crime crackdown

WASHINGTON: The United States is immediately pausing the issuance of all worker visas for commercial truck drivers, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday. “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,“ Rubio said in a post… Continue reading US halts worker visas for commercial truck drivers, Rubio says

SEOUL: South Korean entertainment companies riding the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, are scrambling to widen their global reach as Asia’s fourth-largest economy bets on cultural exports at a time of growing protectionist barriers for traditional manufacturers. Although growing fast from a low base, thanks to substantial government support and high visibility on the world stage… Continue reading South Korea turns to culture in search of next fillip for growth

BANGKOK: A criminal court in Thailand will on Friday deliver a verdict in a high-profile case of royal insult involving influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the first in a series of upcoming rulings involving the powerful Shinawatra dynasty. Despite officially being retired, divisive billionaire Thaksin remains a major force in Thai politics and is accused… Continue reading Thai court to deliver ruling in ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s royal insult case, today