Category: World

ISTANBUL: Some of the most senior U.S. diplomats focused on Syria have been abruptly let go from their posts in recent days, according to five people familiar with the matter, a shake-up that comes as Washington seeks to integrate its Syrian Kurdish allies with the central administration in Damascus. The diplomats at the Syria Regional… Continue reading U.S. diplomats on Syria abruptly let go amid pro-Damascus policy push, sources say

LOS ANGELES: Hollywood blasted the White House for targeting free speech after ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s talk on Wednesday under regulatory threats from Donald Trump’s administration, rallying behind the late-night comic after his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Walt Disney-owned broadcaster said it was yanking “Jimmy Kimmel Live” indefinitely after… Continue reading Hollywood comes to Kimmel’s defense after ABC pulls late-night show

NEW YORK: A driver rammed a car into an entrance gate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) building in Pittsburgh, United States (US), early Wednesday, before fleeing, said authorities, reported Xinhua. The incident took place around 2.40 am Eastern Time (0640 GMT), and the suspect threw an American flag over the gate before leaving,… Continue reading Driver rams car into FBI building gate in US Pittsburgh

GENEVA: The UN investigator who this week accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza said she sees parallels with the butchery in Rwanda, and that she hopes one day Israeli leaders will be put behind bars. Navi Pillay, a South African former judge who headed the international tribunal for the 1994 Rwanda genocide and also… Continue reading Top UN Gaza investigator hopeful Israeli leaders will be prosecuted

MENLO PARK: Meta showed off new smart glasses on Wednesday as it continued to bank on a lifestyle shift toward blending reality and virtual space despite the efforts inflicting heavy financial losses. Announcements included the debut of Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses that have built-in screens that allow wearers to see messages, photos and more… Continue reading Meta expands AI glasses line in a bet on the future

BANGKOK: Thai police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Cambodian civilians in a disputed border area on Wednesday, authorities in both countries said, the most significant escalation since they declared a ceasefire to end a deadly five-day conflict in July. At least 23 Cambodians were injured in the incident, according to Cambodian authorities, while… Continue reading Thai police fire tear gas at Cambodian protesters at a disputed border village

BOGOTA: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was diagnosed with the early stages of skin cancer on Wednesday, one day after being admitted to a hospital for the second time in a week, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. The hospital reported that skin lesions detected on his body showed the “presence of squamous cell carcinoma.” Doctors said… Continue reading Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro diagnosed with skin cancer

WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the first time this year, flagging slower job gains and risks to employment as policymakers face heightened pressure under President Donald Trump. The Fed cut the benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points, to a range between 4.0 percent and 4.25 percent, while penciling… Continue reading US Fed makes first rate cut of 2025 over employment risks

LOS ANGELES: A dismembered corpse found rotting in an impounded Tesla registered to rising American rap star D4vd was that of a teenage girl, a US medical examiner has said. Los Angeles police discovered the body in the car’s trunk last week when they were called to a Hollywood tow yard by workers and neighbors… Continue reading Decaying body found in US rapper’s Tesla identified as teen girl

WINDSOR: US President Donald Trump got a succulent menu for his UK state banquet — but there was also an awkward guest at the feast in the form of Rupert Murdoch. As Trump dined on watercress panna cotta and chicken ballotine, in the same room was the media mogul whom he has sued over a… Continue reading Trump gets lavish UK banquet – and an awkward guest

LOS ANGELES: Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night television show has been taken off air “indefinitely” after the host was criticized for comments about the motives behind the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, ABC said. “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely,“ an ABC spokesperson told AFP, using a television industry term for when a show is… Continue reading ABC says Jimmy Kimmel off air ‘indefinitely’ after Charlie Kirk comments

GOOGLE and PayPal have entered a multi-year strategic partnership to bring new AI shopping and payment experiences to their users, the companies said on Wednesday. PayPal’s shares ticked up over 3% in late afternoon trading. The digital payments company’s solutions, including PayPal-branded checkout, Hyperwallet and Payouts solutions, will now be integrated into a range of… Continue reading Google, PayPal partner to roll out AI-powered solutions across platforms

WASHINGTON: More than 120 left-leaning groups, facing a threatened crackdown by President Donald Trump, released a letter on Wednesday condemning what they call efforts to exploit political violence to distort their work and curb their “fundamental freedoms.” The Trump administration has intensified scrutiny of liberal organizations following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Trump… Continue reading Liberal nonprofit groups push back against Trump’s threats after Kirk murder

UTAH prosecutors said on Tuesday they will seek the death penalty for the trade school student suspected of assassinating right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. Below is a look at the use of capital punishment in the United States and in Utah. Why are prosecutors seeking the death penalty? Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with assassinating… Continue reading What to know about Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the death penalty

A day after Utah prosecutors unveiled formal charges against the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, questions remain about how he planned the shooting, his precise motives for killing the conservative activist and whether anyone else knew what he intended to do. Prosecutors began outlining the case against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Tuesday, when… Continue reading Unresolved questions hang over case against Charlie Kirk’s accused killer

WASHINGTON: A U.S. House committee on Wednesday asked the CEOs of online platforms Discord, Steam, Amazon-owned Twitch and Reddit to testify at an October 8 hearing following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, citing the “radicalization of online forum users.” Kirk, 31, co-founder of the conservative student movement Turning Point USA and a key ally of… Continue reading US House panel asks online forum CEOs to testify after Charlie Kirk assassination

TESLA is looking to combine the electronic and manual door-release mechanisms, which are currently in separate locations, the company’s longtime design chief, Franz von Holzhausen, said on a Bloomberg News podcast on Wednesday. Von Holzhausen said the decision is intended to make the handles more intuitive for occupants in “a panic situation”. The U.S. National… Continue reading Tesla redesigning door handles that drew scrutiny over safety, Bloomberg News reports

THREE law enforcement officers were killed and two others were injured on Wednesday in a shooting in the Codorus Township, Pennsylvania, State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris said. The shooter is also dead, Paris told reporters in a press conference – REUTERS

QAMISHLI: Thousands of Syrian Kurds demonstrated in northeastern Syria on Wednesday to support their autonomous administration and demand decentralisation. The rally occurred as negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish leaders over integrating Kurdish institutions into the central government reached a stalemate. Protesters filled the streets of Qamishli, waving flags of the autonomous administration and the US-backed… Continue reading Syrian Kurds rally for decentralisation amid stalled Damascus talks

RIGA: Latvia’s State Security Service has arrested one of its own citizens on suspicion of spying for neighbouring Russia. The alleged spy is accused of revealing the locations and security measures of Latvian and allied NATO troops to his Moscow handlers. According to the agency, the male has also shared other information with Russian intelligence… Continue reading Latvia arrests citizen suspected of spying for Russia

LONDON: Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has resigned from the company following a public dispute with parent company Unilever over the Gaza conflict. Greenfield stated in an open letter that Unilever had silenced the ice cream brand’s social activism efforts in recent years. The 74-year-old co-founder expressed his inability to remain with the company… Continue reading Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over Gaza dispute with Unilever

GAZA CITY: The Israeli military announced the opening of a temporary new evacuation route on Wednesday to allow civilians to flee Gaza City during its ongoing major ground assault against Hamas. This development follows a massive pre-dawn bombardment on Tuesday that saw Israeli troops push deeper into the Gaza Strip’s largest urban centre. The United… Continue reading Israel opens new Gaza evacuation route amid intensified ground assault

MANILA: The speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives resigned from his position on Wednesday as a corruption investigation into infrastructure projects gained momentum. Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos, told lawmakers he was stepping down with a clear conscience to allow investigations to proceed without undue influence. His resignation follows that of… Continue reading Philippine House Speaker resigns amid corruption probe into ghost projects

SEHNDE: Christian Brueckner, the primary suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, has been released from a German prison after serving his full sentence for an unrelated rape conviction. The 48-year-old German national walked free from Sehnde prison in northern Germany on Wednesday despite being identified by prosecutors as the leading figure… Continue reading Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner freed from German prison

MALÉ: The Maldivian parliament has passed legislation to regulate journalists and media institutions despite widespread concerns about press freedom. Lawmakers approved the Media and Broadcasting Regulations Bill late Tuesday despite opposition from local and international rights groups. The legislation establishes a regulatory commission with powers to suspend media outlets and block newspaper websites during investigations.… Continue reading Maldives parliament passes media regulation bill despite press freedom fears

LOS ANGELES: Lyle and Erik Menendez have lost their bid for a new trial after spending over three decades in prison for murdering their parents with shotguns at the family’s Beverly Hills mansion. A Los Angeles judge’s ruling late Monday represents the latest setback in the brothers’ high-profile campaign for freedom following their parole denials… Continue reading Menendez brothers denied new trial in 1989 parents murder case

MACHU PICCHU: Peruvian authorities have evacuated approximately 1,600 tourists from the train station serving the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu following escalating local protests. The protest began when residents blocked the railway tracks with logs and rocks to demand representation in the bidding process for a new bus operator after the previous firm’s 30-year… Continue reading Peru evacuates 1,600 tourists from Machu Picchu amid local protests

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced that his Republican Party will hold a convention ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, an unusual move that the Democratic opposition is reportedly considering as well. Such major political events typically occur only once every four years before presidential elections. “The Republicans are going to do a Midterm… Continue reading Trump announces rare Republican midterm convention for 2026 elections

LONDON: Microsoft has announced a plan to invest $30 billion in the United Kingdom over the next four years, with half dedicated to cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. This represents the largest single commitment among several US tech pledges totalling $42 billion, unveiled as President Donald Trump began a historic second state visit. The… Continue reading Microsoft pledges $30 billion UK investment during Trump visit

LONDON: US President Donald Trump has arrived in Britain for an unprecedented second state visit, receiving a royal red carpet welcome from the UK government. The 79-year-old Republican leader expressed his affection for the country upon arrival with First Lady Melania Trump at Stansted Airport near London. King Charles III will host President Trump at… Continue reading Trump arrives in UK for historic second state visit with royal welcome

HONG KONG: Leader John Lee has pledged to boost Hong Kong’s economy and improve livelihoods while cementing its role as an international centre. He unveiled measures including developing a gold trading market during his fourth policy address of his term. Lee reaffirmed the city’s economic growth forecast of 2% to 3% for 2025 and highlighted… Continue reading Hong Kong leader pledges economic boost with gold market and housing

LONDON: British inflation remained unchanged in August, according to official data released on Wednesday. The Consumer Prices Index held steady at 3.8% last month, matching the July figure as reported by the Office for National Statistics. This reading aligned precisely with analysts’ forecasts ahead of the announcement. The Bank of England reduced borrowing costs to… Continue reading UK inflation holds at 3.8% as Bank of England rate decision looms

SYDNEY: Software owned by Australia’s largest banks is undergoing testing to comply with a new teen social media ban starting in December. ConnectID serves as an identity verification tool owned by the country’s top lenders that can confirm a person’s age using bank account details. Singapore-based age estimation provider k-ID includes ConnectID in its software… Continue reading ConnectID software tested to enforce teen social media ban

VIENNA: Intersex people across the European Union are experiencing increasingly severe violence and harassment according to the bloc’s fundamental rights agency. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights published its second comprehensive report based on an online survey of 1,920 intersex individuals across 30 EU and Western Balkan countries conducted in 2023. FRA director Sirpa… Continue reading EU rights agency reports alarming violence against intersex people

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will prohibit four species of predatory ornamental fish including Piranhas that have escaped into natural waterways and caused significant ecological damage. Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar announced the ban aims to protect inland water bodies from invasive species that threaten native biodiversity and local fishing communities. The import, sale and transportation of Redline… Continue reading Sri Lanka bans predatory pet fish to protect native ecosystems