Category: World

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

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 42 people killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday as the military prepared for a new assault on the Palestinian territory’s largest city. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said there had been several air strikes around Gaza City, including one in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood that killed eight… Continue reading Gaza civil defence reports 42 killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that direct talks with Vladimir Putin represent the most effective path forward despite stalled peace efforts. Ukraine’s military commander confirmed the recapture of three Donetsk region villages previously under Russian control. Ukrainian drone strikes triggered a fire at a Russian nuclear power plant, though authorities reported no radiation leaks or… Continue reading Zelensky calls for Putin talks as Ukraine war continues

SANA’A: Israeli airstrikes in Yemen’s capital killed at least four people and wounded 67 others according to Huthi rebel authorities. The Iran-backed Huthi rebels reported the strikes targeted central Sana’a including a presidential palace compound and energy infrastructure. AFP images captured a massive fireball illuminating the night sky over the rebel-held capital followed by thick… Continue reading Israeli strikes kill four in Yemen’s capital, Huthis vow retaliation

AL MUGHAYYIR: Israeli bulldozers uprooted hundreds of trees in the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir on Sunday under military supervision. Most of the destroyed vegetation consisted of olive trees, which are vital to the local economy and culture in the occupied territory. Local farmer Abdelatif Mohammed Abu Aliya reported losing olive trees over 70 years… Continue reading Israeli bulldozers uproot hundreds of olive trees in West Bank village

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND: SpaceX cancelled 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 problems have led some observers to doubt whether the world’s biggest and most powerful launch vehicle will be… Continue reading SpaceX cancels Starship launch amid ongoing technical setbacks

BEIJING: China experienced a significant increase in new coal power capacity during the first half of 2025 despite achieving record levels of clean energy installation. The country brought 21 gigawatts of coal power online in the first six months of this year, representing the highest first-half total since 2016 according to a joint report by… Continue reading China coal power surges despite record renewable energy growth in 2025

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a united national front to confront what he described as US efforts to subjugate the Islamic republic. The remarks come two months since fighting halted between Iran and its sworn enemy Israel in a war that the United States had briefly joined, and as Tehran… Continue reading Iran’s Khamenei vows defiance against US subjugation efforts

HANOI: Vietnam plans to evacuate more than 300,000 people and has cancelled over a dozen domestic flights as Typhoon Kajiki approaches. More than 325,500 residents in five coastal provinces will be moved to schools and public buildings turned into temporary evacuation centres. The storm is set to make landfall on Vietnam’s east coast on Monday.… Continue reading Vietnam evacuates 300,000 as Typhoon Kajiki approaches coast

DHAKA: Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen their long-strained bilateral relations through increased trade and cultural exchanges. The agreement marks a significant step between two nations that became bitter enemies following their separation in 1971. Dhaka confirmed that its demand for an apology from Islamabad for wartime atrocities remains unresolved despite the diplomatic progress.… Continue reading Bangladesh and Pakistan strengthen ties but war apology remains unresolved

PARIS: France’s broadcast regulator has confirmed it lacks the authority to block the online channel of a streamer who died during a live broadcast. ARCOM agency chief Martin Ajdari stated that because the channel was hosted on Australian platform Kick, which has no French representation, “it does not come under the direct authority of ARCOM”.… Continue reading France regulator cannot block dead streamer’s channel on foreign platform

BERLIN: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has defended the tariff compromise reached between the European Union and US President Donald Trump. The agreement represents a “conscious decision: stability and predictability instead of escalation and confrontation,“ von der Leyen writes in an article for the German national daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Imagine for a… Continue reading Von der Leyen defends EU-US tariff deal with Trump amid criticism

PUTRAJAYA: The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, will undertake a state visit to Malaysia from tomorrow until Thursday at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. The visit will be followed by the 26th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC), said the Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday. The Sultan… Continue reading Sultan of Brunei to visit Malaysia for state visit and annual consultation

SINGAPORE: Singapore will officially classify etomidate as an illegal Class C controlled substance from September 1. The anaesthetic agent has become increasingly abused through electronic vaporisers according to local media reports. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed the substance will move from regulation under the Poisons Act to the stricter Misuse of Drugs Act. “As… Continue reading Singapore to classify etomidate as Class C drug from September 1

MOSCOW: The European Union transferred 10.1 billion euros (US$11.8 billion) in income from frozen Russian central bank assets to Ukraine between January and July this year. Brussels uses these funds to support both military and civilian projects in Ukraine according to the European Commission data. Ukraine received one billion euros each in March, May, June… Continue reading EU transfers US$11.8 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

JAKARTA: Indonesia must develop its villages boldly to achieve parity with major global powers according to Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman. He emphasised that true national advancement originates from grassroots development during the briefing and send-off of the Patriot Expedition Team in Jakarta. “If we want to be on par with big nations, we… Continue reading Indonesia must build from villages to match big nations, says minister

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Western nations of attempting to obstruct peace negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov made these remarks during a Sunday interview with state television channel Rossiya that was subsequently broadcast on Telegram. “They’re just looking for a pretext to block negotiations,“ Lavrov said in his televised… Continue reading Russia accuses West of blocking Ukraine peace talks amid diplomatic tensions

MADRID: Spain’s recent sixteen-day heatwave has been declared the most intense ever recorded in the country’s history. The State Meteorological Agency confirmed that provisional readings from August third to eighteenth surpassed the previous record set in July 2022. Temperatures during this period averaged 4.6 degrees Celsius higher than typical heatwave conditions. This extreme weather event… Continue reading Spain’s August heatwave breaks records as most intense ever

SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors have filed an arrest warrant for former prime minister Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. Prosecutors accuse the 76-year-old career bureaucrat of aiding Yoon in declaring martial law last December and later providing false testimony in court. A court will review the validity… Continue reading South Korean prosecutors seek arrest of ex-PM Han over martial law

LONDON: The UK government has pledged to overhaul its asylum system following weekend protests at hotels housing migrants across the country. The government announced it will establish a new independent body to hear appeals by failed applicants more quickly as it attempts to end the costly use of so-called asylum hotels. The Labour government said… Continue reading UK pledges faster asylum claims amid nationwide hotel protests

QAMISHLI: Syria’s Kurdish administration has condemned the upcoming selection process for a transitional parliament as fundamentally undemocratic following its postponement in Kurdish-controlled northern regions. Authorities delayed the parliamentary selection in Kurdish-held Raqa and Hasakeh provinces along with Druze-majority Sweida province citing security challenges. An election committee official stated the process could only proceed in territories… Continue reading Syrian Kurds criticise transitional parliament selection as undemocratic

HAIKOU: Hainan province has upgraded its emergency response to the highest level as Typhoon Kajiki approaches with maximum sustained winds of 38 metres per second. The typhoon was located approximately 210 kilometres southeast of Sanya at 8am Sunday and continues to strengthen while moving toward the southern coast. Authorities have successfully evacuated 20,728 individuals from… Continue reading Hainan activates highest alert as Typhoon Kajiki nears with 38m/s winds

BERLIN: A central Berlin street was officially renamed on Saturday despite a last-minute legal challenge, bidding farewell at an unveiling ceremony to a name marked by racist overtones. Berlin’s Mitte district, along with several civil initiatives, has long sought to rename Mohrenstrasse, as the term “Mohr” was historically used to describe people of African descent,… Continue reading Berlin street renamed after African scholar despite legal challenge

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is reportedly planning to deploy troops to Chicago, Illinois, to combat rising crime levels in the city. This potential mobilisation could involve at least several thousand National Guard members, according to officials cited in the report. The Washington Post newspaper report indicates that active duty troops might also be deployed as part… Continue reading Pentagon plans to send troops to Chicago to fight crime, reports say

KYIV: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to mark Ukrainian independence day as world leaders push for an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia. “On this Ukrainian Independence Day, and at this critical moment in their nation’s history, Canada is stepping up our support and our efforts towards a… Continue reading Canadian PM visits Kyiv for Ukraine independence day amid war

PEKANBARU: An 11-year-old boy’s viral dance performance has dramatically increased international tourist attendance at Indonesia’s traditional Pacu Jalur boat race. Rayyan Arkan Dikha’s 20-second dance clip on social media attracted millions of views and celebrity imitations from sports stars including Formula One’s Alex Albon and MotoGP’s Marc Marquez. Australian tourist Duncan McNaught told AFP “I… Continue reading Indonesian boy’s viral dance boosts tourist numbers at traditional boat race

MEXICO CITY: Two people have died in central Mexico due to flooding triggered by heavy rainfall, according to local authorities. The victims were discovered in Queretaro city shortly before midnight on Friday, as confirmed by a civil protection report. “They were swept away by rainwater,“ the report said. Queretaro experienced significant rainfall on Saturday, resulting… Continue reading Two dead in central Mexico flooding as heavy rains continue

PARIS: Irish rap group Kneecap will perform at the Rock en Seine festival despite facing objections from French Jewish groups and government officials. One member faces a British terror charge for allegedly supporting Hezbollah during a London concert in November. Local authorities have withdrawn their 40,000 euro subsidy from the music festival following the controversial… Continue reading Irish band Kneecap to perform in Paris despite terror charge controversy

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s jailed former president Ranil Wickremesinghe was hospitalised on Saturday according to local media reports. The 76 year old former leader was arrested on Friday over allegations of misusing public funds during his presidency. Wickremesinghe led the South Asian island nation during a devastating economic crisis before losing the presidency last year. He… Continue reading Sri Lanka ex-president Wickremesinghe hospitalised after arrest on fund misuse

UST-LUGA: Debris from a destroyed Ukrainian drone sparked a fire at Novatek’s Ust-Luga terminal early on Sunday. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region where the port is located, confirmed the incident via the Telegram messaging app. “Firefighters and emergency services are currently working to extinguish the blaze,“ Drozdenko said. “According to preliminary reports, there… Continue reading Ukrainian drone debris sparks fire at Russian Novatek terminal

LONDON: Spotify will increase prices while investing in new features as part of its strategy to reach one billion users worldwide. The Financial Times reported this development on Sunday, citing comments from Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norstrom. These price adjustments will accompany planned new services and features according to the newspaper’s interview… Continue reading Spotify plans price rises for new services amid one billion user goal

BEIJING: The southern Chinese city of Sanya has closed tourist attractions, businesses and suspended public transport while bracing for intensifying Typhoon Kajiki. This tropical cyclone was approximately two hundred kilometres southeast of Sanya on Hainan island at nine o’clock this morning. It packed maximum sustained winds of thirty eight metres per second near its centre… Continue reading Sanya shuts down as Typhoon Kajiki approaches with 48 m/s winds

NEW DELHI: The Indian government is considering significant goods and services tax reductions to counter potential US trade tariffs and support middle-income households. Any final decision on these tax cuts ultimately rests with the GST Council, which includes representatives from state governments and has struggled to achieve broad consensus in the past. If approved, the… Continue reading India considers GST cuts to counter US tariffs and aid middle class

MALANG: Indonesian authorities have imposed restrictions on deafening loudspeaker towers following health concerns and a religious ruling declaring excessive noise forbidden under Islamic law. Residents in East Java villages have reported cracked walls, broken windows, and falling roof tiles caused by the intense vibrations from massive speaker systems mounted on trucks. The sound systems commonly… Continue reading Indonesia restricts loudspeaker towers after health and religious concerns

MOSCOW: A fire erupted at a Russian nuclear power plant after the country’s military intercepted a Ukrainian drone on Sunday. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia confirmed the incident occurred when the device detonated upon impact. Facility officials stated that “was extinguished by fire crews” following the explosion. No casualties resulted from the… Continue reading Fire breaks out at Russian nuclear plant after Ukrainian drone downed

LONDON: The United Kingdom has become the only European nation to deploy real-time facial recognition technology on a massive scale across public spaces and retail environments. Outside supermarkets and within festival crowds, millions of people are having their facial features scanned by AI-powered systems without their knowledge or consent. At London’s Notting Hill Carnival, facial… Continue reading UK facial recognition roll-out sparks rights group alarm over privacy