Category: World

TOKYO: Japan’s top law enforcement officials have apologised to the family of a businessman who died following wrongful arrest and months of illegal detention. Shizuo Aishima, a former advisor to machinery firm Ohkawara Kakohki, was one of three company executives illegally held in pretrial detention for months on charges that were later dropped. Human rights… Continue reading Japan police apologise for wrongful detention death in hostage justice case

OSLO: The Norwegian government aims to maintain its aid to Ukraine at 85 billion kroner ($8.4 billion) in 2026, the same level as this year, the office of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Monday. The proposal, made as Store visited Kyiv, must be ratified by parliament and if passed would take to 275 billion… Continue reading Norway proposes maintaining Ukraine aid at $8.4 billion in 2026

OSLO: An eighteen-year-old Norwegian faces terrorism charges following the murder of a social worker in Oslo that authorities believe may have been racially motivated. The victim worked at a residential facility dedicated to helping vulnerable young people integrate into society and was killed during the night between Saturday and Sunday at her workplace. Norwegian media… Continue reading Norway teen faces terrorism charges in Oslo social worker murder case

PARIS: The United States ambassador to France received a formal summons to the French foreign ministry following his criticism of Paris regarding antisemitism. Ambassador Charles Kushner faced diplomatic repercussions after alleging insufficient French government action against rising antisemitic incidents. This diplomatic tension emerges alongside growing concerns about increased antisemitic acts and hate crimes throughout France.… Continue reading France summons US ambassador over antisemitism claims in diplomatic row

LISBON: Nearly 1,000 firefighters remained mobilised on Monday in central Portugal to prevent flare-ups of what authorities described as the country’s largest recorded forest fire. The blaze was only brought under control on Sunday after raging for 11 days and having burned 64,451 hectares (160,000 acres), according to National Civil Protection Authority spokesman Commander Telmo… Continue reading Portugal battles aftermath of largest forest fire in its history

SEOUL: South Korea hopes to normalise relations with China that have been strained in recent years, a special envoy from Seoul told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, and agreed to boost economic cooperation, Seoul’s foreign ministry said. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung sent a special delegation led by former parliament speaker Park… Continue reading South Korea tells China it wants to normalise ties, upgrade economic relations

COPENHAGEN: Wind farm developer Orsted’s plan to raise much-needed capital is at risk following a U.S. order to halt construction of a near-complete project, and the Danish group’s share price could come under pressure on Monday, analysts said. Orsted said on Monday it would proceed with the planned rights issue despite the U.S. order and… Continue reading Orsted cash plan at risk as Trump government blocks US wind project

SYDNEY: Thousands of Australians participated in nationwide pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Sunday amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Israel and Australia. Organisers from the Palestine Action Group reported more than forty separate protests occurring across the country with significant gatherings in major state capitals. The group claimed approximately 350,000 attendees nationwide including an estimated 50,000 participants in… Continue reading Thousands join pro-Palestinian rallies across Australia amid diplomatic tensions

KILMAR ABREGO, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador made him a symbol of U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, has been summoned to appear before federal officials in Baltimore on Monday while facing the possibility of being deported again, this time to Uganda. Abrego, 30, was released from criminal custody in Tennessee… Continue reading Wrongly deported migrant Abrego again faces possible removal to Uganda or Costa Rica

THOUSANDS of Australians joined pro-Palestinian rallies on Sunday, organisers said, amid strained relations between Israel and Australia following the centre-left government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. More than 40 protests took place across Australia on Sunday, Palestine Action Group said, including large turnouts in state capitals Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The group said around… Continue reading Widespread protests held in Australia to support Palestinians

DOHA: Al Jazeera on Monday said one of its journalists was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, two weeks after the broadcaster lost six staff and freelancers in an attack. Mohammad Salama, a photojournalist and cameraman, was killed in an attack on a medical complex that left 14 people dead, the Qatar-based news network… Continue reading Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli strike in Gaza: broadcaster

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND: SpaceX delayed a planned test flight for its Starship megarocket by 24 hours until Monday, saying it needed time to troubleshoot problems. This represents the latest setback for Elon Musk’s behemoth after a series of explosive failures. The recent problems have led some observers to doubt whether the world’s biggest and most… Continue reading SpaceX Starship launch delayed again amid technical setbacks

PRAGUE: The 3.18-million-year-old bone fragments of human ancestor Lucy, which rarely leave Ethiopia, will go on display in Europe for the first time Monday at the Czech National Museum in Prague. The ancient remains of the Australopithecus afarensis were discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. The find was, at the time, the most complete ever made… Continue reading Human ancestor Lucy gets first European showing in Prague

TEHRAN: Nuclear talks scheduled for Tuesday between Iran and Britain, France and Germany will be held in Geneva, Iranian state media reported. “On Tuesday, Iran and the three European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, along with the European Union, will hold a new round of talks at the level of deputy foreign ministers in… Continue reading Iran nuclear talks with European powers to be held in Geneva

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set up a new mineral industry agency that will oversee the development of rare earths and radioactive materials, the agency’s new chief told reporters on Monday. “This agency will manage the strategic materials industry that relates to the defence industry, because strategic materials are quite important for the sovereignty… Continue reading Indonesia sets up new mineral industry agency to oversee rare earths development

VINH, VIETNAM: Tens of thousands of residents were being evacuated from coastal Vietnam on Monday, as Typhoon Kajiki barrelled towards landfall expected to lash the country’s central belt with gales of around 160 kmh. The typhoon — the fifth to affect Vietnam this year — is currently at sea, roiling the Gulf of Tonkin with… Continue reading Vietnam evacuates tens of thousands ahead of Typhoon Kajiki

COX’S BAZAR: Bangladesh cannot mobilise additional resources for the 1.3 million Rohingya refugees living in the country, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said on Monday, urging the international community to find a sustainable solution to the crisis. Nobel peace laureate Yunus, the de-facto prime minister of Bangladesh, also proposed seven action points to solve the crisis… Continue reading Bangladesh cannot mobilise more resources for Rohingya refugees, chief advisor says

JAKARTA: A 16-year-old Malaysian hiker was rescued after collapsing from hypothermia on Mount Sagara in Indonesia’s West Java province, local police said. The teenager fainted at Post Four of the trail near Sagara village at around 1 pm local time on Saturday while trekking with several companions. According to Garut Police, she was saved by… Continue reading Malaysian teen rescued from hypothermia on Mt Sagara

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian parliamentarians passed on Monday legislation allowing people who collude with foreign countries to be stripped of citizenship, a law rights groups fear will be used to banish dissent. All 120 lawmakers in attendance at the National Assembly session, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted unanimously to approve the bill. Rights monitors have… Continue reading Cambodia MPs pass law allowing stripping of citizenship

AT least eight people, including two women and a child, were killed, and around 43 others injured when a container truck collided with a tractor carrying devotees in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh early on Monday, police said. “Three people are in serious condition on ventilator,“ Bulandshahr district police chief Dinesh Kumar Singh said… Continue reading Container truck collision with tractor kills 8, injures 43 in India, police say

PARONG: India fears a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet will reduce water flows on a major river by up to 85% during the dry season, according to four sources familiar with the matter and a government analysis seen by Reuters, prompting Delhi to fast-track plans for its own dam to mitigate the effects. The Indian… Continue reading China’s new mega dam triggers fears of water war in India

SYDNEY: The lone surviving guest of a lunch where three others died after being served food laced with deadly mushrooms told an Australian court on Monday the actions of host and convicted murderer Erin Patterson had left him feeling “half alive”. Patterson was found guilty last month of luring her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald… Continue reading Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson left me ‘half alive’, lone surviving victim says

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump threatened to deploy National Guard troops Sunday to yet another Democratic stronghold, the Maryland city of Baltimore, as the US president seeks to expand his crackdown on crime and immigration. The Republican’s latest online rant about an “out of control, crime-ridden” city comes as Democratic state leaders — including Maryland Governor Wes… Continue reading Trump clashes with Democrats as he expands National Guard plans

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND: SpaceX called off a planned test flight for its Starship megarocket on Sunday, saying it needed time to troubleshoot problems, in the latest setback for Elon Musk’s behemoth after a series of explosive failures. The recent problems have led some observers to doubt whether the world’s biggest and most powerful launch vehicle… Continue reading SpaceX calls off Starship megarocket launch in latest setback

SANAA: Israeli strikes in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday killed at least six people, according to the country’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel throughout the Gaza war. AFP images showed a large fireball lighting up the skies over the rebel-held capital, leaving behind a column of thick, black… Continue reading Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa kill 6, hit Huthi targets

BEIJING: Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin announced he will discuss countering sanctions pressure and external interference during meetings with Chinese counterparts this week. Volodin arrived in China on Monday leading a Russian parliamentary delegation for an official visit. “On the agenda: countering sanctions pressure and external interference; expanding trade and economic ties; defending historical… Continue reading Russian parliamentary speaker to discuss countering sanctions in Beijing

WASHINGTON: South Korea’s new president Lee Jae Myung faces a pivotal moment on Monday when he meets US President Donald Trump in Washington for their first summit. The countries’ decades-old alliance strains to confront rapid geopolitical changes. Much is riding on the meeting for Lee, who took office in June after a snap election called… Continue reading South Korea’s Lee faces pivotal test at first summit with Trump

GANZHOU: Chinese copper flat wire manufacturer Wellascent Electronic has turned geopolitical risks into competitive advantages through strategic investment in Texas. The company’s early 2023 decision to build a factory in Grand Prairie now shields American clients from 50% import tariffs on copper wire and semi-finished products. “A few prospective clients in the United States were… Continue reading Chinese copper firm’s Texas factory thrives amid US tariff war

TOKYO: Japan’s government is evaluating a new tax to fund repairs for aging public infrastructure as a replacement for a decades-old gasoline surcharge scheduled for abolition by year-end. The Asahi newspaper reported that this potential levy would likely target automobile drivers, substituting the so-called provisional gasoline tax that ruling and opposition parties agreed to terminate… Continue reading Japan considers new infrastructure tax to replace expiring gasoline surcharge

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has experienced a remarkable surge in public support despite his ruling coalition’s recent parliamentary election setback. A Yomiuri newspaper public opinion poll revealed a nearly 20 percentage point increase in cabinet approval ratings on Monday. Support for Ishiba’s cabinet stood at 39%, surging by 17 percentage points from last… Continue reading Japan PM Ishiba’s support surges 20 points despite election loss

MELBOURNE: Australian mushroom killer Erin Patterson faces her victims’ relatives in court as a judge prepares to sentence her for a triple murder that captured global attention. The fifty-year-old appears for the first time since a jury convicted her in July of murder by preparing a beef Wellington meal containing death cap mushrooms. She deliberately… Continue reading Australian mushroom killer faces victims’ family in sentencing hearing

QUITO: Ecuadorian authorities have intercepted a major shipment of bomb-making materials destined for use in terrorist attacks within Colombia. Police seized three thousand seven hundred and fifty cartridges of explosive emulsion alongside fifteen miles of detonating cord during a border operation. “We identified explosive material that was intended to be used to carry out terrorist… Continue reading Ecuador seizes bomb materials bound for Colombia in terror plot

PARIS: Irish rap group Kneecap openly criticised Israel’s war in Gaza during their performance at a music festival near Paris despite objections from French Jewish groups and government officials. The Belfast trio performed before thousands of attendees at the Rock en Seine festival in Saint-Cloud on Sunday evening amidst ongoing controversy surrounding their political statements.… Continue reading Irish rap group Kneecap chants ‘Free Palestine’ at Paris festival gig