Category: World

SINGAPORE: RHB Singapore, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s fourth-largest banking group RHB, is set to play a crucial role in the bank’s regional expansion strategy. The unit aims to achieve a return on equity (ROE) of 12% by 2027, supported by Singapore’s favourable business environment and growing Southeast Asian markets. Singapore’s low taxes, political stability, and… Continue reading RHB Singapore drives regional growth with 12% ROE target by 2027

MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will visit the United States next week to discuss trade and security concerns, including proposed U.S. tariffs on Philippine exports. The trip marks the first by an ASEAN leader since President Donald Trump took office, with economic and defence cooperation high on the agenda. “The President’s official visit also… Continue reading Philippines’ Marcos to discuss trade, security in U.S. visit amid tariff concerns

BEIJING: China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss foreign investment and artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration. The ministry stated that Wang emphasized China’s commitment to welcoming multinational companies, including Nvidia, to provide high-quality products and services to Chinese customers. Huang acknowledged the attractiveness of the Chinese market and expressed Nvidia’s… Continue reading Nvidia CEO meets China commerce minister on AI and foreign investment

BEIRUT: Syrian security forces are gearing up to redeploy to Sweida city to suppress renewed clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters, a Syrian interior ministry spokesperson confirmed on Friday. This move risks reigniting tensions in Syria’s volatile south, where a fragile ceasefire had briefly halted violence earlier this week. The truce, announced on Wednesday, followed… Continue reading Syrian forces redeploy to Sweida despite Israeli warnings

PARIS: The Qatar-backed investment fund Mayhoola has denied reports suggesting it was in discussions with Kering, the owner of Gucci, about selling their jointly held fashion label Valentino. Mayhoola CEO Rachid Mohamed Rachid told Reuters, “This news is untrue,“ dismissing claims made in an Italian newspaper. Kering’s shares initially rose by 2.5% in early Paris… Continue reading Mayhoola denies Valentino sale talks with Kering amid speculation

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Friday that peace negotiations with Russia require “more momentum” and instructed Rustem Umerov, the newly appointed National Security and Defence Council secretary, to accelerate the process. “The implementation of the agreements from the second Istanbul meeting is ongoing,“ Zelenskiy posted on X, referencing discussions held earlier this year… Continue reading Zelenskiy seeks momentum in Russia-Ukraine peace talks

LONDON: GSK shares plunged more than 6% on Friday, hitting the lowest point in Britain’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index after a US FDA advisory panel voted against approving its blood cancer drug Blenrep. The panel raised concerns over side effects, dealing a blow to the British drugmaker’s efforts to revive the treatment, which was withdrawn… Continue reading GSK shares drop as US FDA panel rejects blood cancer drug Blenrep

SHANGHAI: Wells Fargo has suspended all travel to China after one of its bankers was barred from leaving the country, according to a source familiar with the matter. The incident has heightened concerns among multinational firms about the risks of operating in China, particularly regarding employee mobility and safety. Chenyue Mao, a managing director at… Continue reading Wells Fargo suspends China travel after employee exit ban

SYDNEY: Police arrested a man who attempted to import hundreds of firearm parts from the United States (US) into Australia, reported Xinhua. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a joint statement on Friday that the 34-year-old man was stopped for inspection by officials on arrival at the Brisbane Airport… Continue reading Australian man arrested for importing firearm parts

SEOUL: North Korea has blocked foreign tourists from entering its newly developed Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, just days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the site. The decision was announced by the North’s National Tourism Administration, which stated that “foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted” without providing further details. The resort, promoted as… Continue reading North Korea bans foreign tourists from new coastal resort

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, this time targeting a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters. Trump hinted at possible “fraud” as grounds for Powell’s removal, marking a new front in his long-running feud with the central bank chief. Legal experts say removing Powell… Continue reading Trump’s push to remove Fed Chair Powell over renovation costs

NEW YORK: Stephen Colbert’s long-running late-night show, “The Late Show,“ will end in May 2026, CBS and the host confirmed. The announcement, made during a live broadcast, was met with audience shock and disappointment. “Next year will be our last season,“ Colbert told viewers, adding, “The network will be ending the show in May (2026).”… Continue reading Stephen Colbert’s ‘The Late Show’ to end in May 2026, CBS confirms

BENGALURU: State authorities have placed blame on the management of India’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team for last month’s deadly stampede during celebrations for their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Eleven fans died, and over 50 were injured when crowds surged near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. A Karnataka state report released… Continue reading Bengaluru blames cricket team for deadly IPL victory stampede

BOLAND: Snout pressed to the ground, a border collie named Delta zigzagged through the shrubs on a private nature reserve near Cape Town, frantically sniffing for critically endangered tortoises. The dog stopped abruptly in front of a small bush and lay down, signalling a find as Delta’s handler moved in to search the surrounding area.… Continue reading Dogs help track South Africa’s endangered geometric tortoises

LONDON: American rapper Snoop Dogg has officially become a co-owner of Championship club Swansea City. The 53-year-old music icon, who recently promoted the club’s new shirt launch, confirmed his investment alongside Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. Snoop Dogg expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “My love of football is well known, but it feels special… Continue reading Snoop Dogg joins Swansea City as co-owner in surprise move

TOKYO: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan are bracing for the impact of US tariffs while relying on their niche expertise to stay competitive. Mitsuwa Electric, a 92-year-old firm specialising in precision metal components, exemplifies this resilience. Company president Yuji Miyazaki remains confident despite looming 25% tariffs on Japanese goods set for August 1.… Continue reading Japan SMEs adapt to Trump tariffs with niche expertise

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue The Wall Street Journal following its report on an alleged 2003 letter he wrote to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The letter, said to be part of a collection for Epstein’s 50th birthday, reportedly contained crude content and a drawing of a naked woman. Trump dismissed the… Continue reading Trump threatens lawsuit over WSJ Epstein letter story

BRASÍLIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has strongly criticised former US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 50% tariffs on Brazil, labelling it as “unacceptable blackmail.” The remarks came during a nationally televised address, escalating tensions between the two leaders. Trump announced the proposed tariffs on July 9, citing Brazil’s legal actions against… Continue reading Brazil’s Lula condemns Trump’s tariff threat as blackmail

WASHINGTON: American singer Connie Francis, whose hits such as “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” and “Stupid Cupid” topped the charts in the late 1950s and 1960s, has died aged 87, her publicist announced Thursday. The top-selling artist, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, had been hospitalized earlier in the month after experiencing severe pain and had recently undergone… Continue reading ‘Stupid Cupid’ singer Connie Francis dies at 87

LOS ANGELES: California will take legal action against the Trump administration after it cancelled billions in federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project, Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed. The governor accused the move of being politically motivated, stating it threatens jobs and progress on the only active high-speed rail construction in the US. “Trump’s termination… Continue reading California to sue Trump over cancelled high-speed rail funds

GAZA CITY: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced regret after Israeli tank fire killed three people at Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the territory’s only Catholic place of worship. The attack, which also wounded 10, drew condemnation from global leaders and religious figures. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the deaths, stating a tank shell struck the… Continue reading Israel PM regrets Gaza church strike killing three civilians

NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described recent Cyprus peace talks as “constructive,“ though key issues like crossing points and solar energy cooperation remain unresolved. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar made progress on forming a youth committee but failed to agree on opening four crossing points. Guterres stressed the urgency… Continue reading Cyprus peace talks show progress but key issues remain unresolved

SEOUL: North Korea has accused Japan of seeking to become a major military power, citing Tokyo’s latest defence policy white paper as evidence. A foreign ministry official from Pyongyang described the document as a “war scenario for realizing its ambition for reinvasion from A to Z,“ according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The… Continue reading North Korea accuses Japan of military expansion ambitions

MONTEVIDEO: An Uruguayan court has ordered the pre-trial detention of Pablo Carrasco, founder of the suspected Ponzi scheme Conexion Ganadera, which collapsed last year owing millions to investors. The scheme promised profits from cattle investments in a country with three cows per person. Prosecutors confirmed Carrasco will remain detained until February 10, 2026, while investigations… Continue reading Uruguay cattle investment scam founder detained in $250M fraud case

SAN FRANCISCO: Netflix has posted a stronger-than-expected second-quarter performance, with profits rising 45% year-over-year. The streaming giant attributed this growth to higher subscription prices and a rapidly expanding advertising business. Revenue climbed 16% to $11.1 billion for the quarter ending June 30, surpassing both analyst expectations and the company’s own projections. Net profit surged to… Continue reading Netflix profits soar with ads and higher subscription prices

WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives has passed three major cryptocurrency bills, marking a significant legislative victory for the Trump administration. The measures include the CLARITY Act, which aims to clarify regulatory oversight between the SEC and CFTC, and the GENIUS Act, which formalizes rules for stablecoins. Lawmakers approved the CLARITY Act with bipartisan support,… Continue reading US House passes key crypto bills in major win for Trump administration

WASHINGTON: The United States has announced preliminary anti-dumping duties of 93.5 percent on imports of graphite, a crucial battery component, from China. The decision follows an investigation prompted by a petition from the American Active Anode Material Producers, a coalition of US graphite manufacturers. The US Commerce Department stated that final determinations on the duties… Continue reading US to impose 93.5% anti-dumping duty on China battery material

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a benign but common vein condition, the White House announced. The 79-year-old president had recently displayed visible swelling in his legs and bruising on his hand, sparking public speculation about his health. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump’s leg swelling was due… Continue reading Trump diagnosed with vein condition after leg swelling and hand bruising

July 17: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday creating a new classification of non-career federal workers who can more easily be fired if they fail to carry out a president’s priorities, the White House said. The new classification, called Schedule G, will be for employees involved in policy making who will… Continue reading Trump reclassifies some federal workers, making them easier to fire

ISTANBUL: Turkish prosecutors are seeking at least five years in prison for political commentator Fatih Altayli, who faces charges of threatening President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The case, highlighted by rights group MLSA, stems from Altayli’s remarks on his YouTube show, where he referenced historical Ottoman sultans who were assassinated or strangled while discussing public opposition… Continue reading Turkey journalist faces jail for Erdogan criticism

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness over an Israeli strike that hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza, killing two people. The Vatican issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and renewed efforts for peace in the region. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the attack on Gaza’s only Catholic church, while… Continue reading Pope saddened by Gaza church strike, calls for ceasefire

SWEIDA: Syrian government troops withdrew from the Druze-majority province of Sweida on Thursday following days of deadly sectarian clashes, leaving bodies scattered in the streets. The decision came after Islamist-led interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa ordered the pullout, citing the need to de-escalate tensions and restore local leadership over security. An AFP photographer counted at least… Continue reading Syria troops withdraw from Druze heartland amid deadly clashes

LONDON: The British government announced plans to lower the voting age to 16 for general elections, a move that would place the UK among a small group of nations with one of the youngest voting ages globally. The proposal follows a pledge by the ruling Labour Party, which secured power last year, to reform the… Continue reading UK plans to lower voting age to 16 in general elections

MOSCOW: Russia announced on Thursday that its forces had taken control of Ukrainian villages in three separate regions, marking an expansion of its summer offensive despite international pressure to halt hostilities. Ukraine has not yet commented on these claims. The Russian defence ministry stated that its troops had “liberated” the settlements of Popiv Yar in… Continue reading Russia claims capture of Ukrainian villages in three front areas

LONDON: Britain’s unemployment rate has climbed to 4.7%, its highest level in nearly four years, according to the latest official data. The Office for National Statistics reported the increase for the three months leading to May, up from 4.6% in the previous quarter. The rise coincides with the implementation of higher business taxes introduced in… Continue reading UK unemployment hits near four-year high amid economic pressures

KABUL: The Taliban government has denied arresting or monitoring Afghans connected to a secret British resettlement plan following a recent data breach. The UK government revealed earlier this week that thousands of Afghans who worked with British forces were relocated under a confidential scheme after their safety was compromised in a 2022 data leak. The… Continue reading Taliban denies monitoring Afghans after UK data leak

PARIS: A French appeals court has ordered the release of Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah after 40 years in prison. The 74-year-old, convicted for the 1982 killings of two foreign diplomats, is among France’s longest-serving inmates. Abdallah was sentenced to life in 1987 for his role in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert… Continue reading French court orders release of Lebanese militant after 40 years

MOSCOW: Russia has transferred the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine under an agreement reached during recent peace talks, Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky announced on Telegram. The exchange, conducted on Thursday, follows two rounds of unsuccessful ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul, which instead facilitated large-scale prisoner swaps and repatriation of war dead. “Following the agreements… Continue reading Russia returns 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies in prisoner exchange

GAZA CITY: An apparent Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church killed two people and injured several others, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The attack targeted the Holy Family Compound, with conflicting initial reports on casualties. The Latin Patriarchate confirmed, “Two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the… Continue reading Gaza Catholic church strike kills two, injures several, says Patriarchate