Category: World

KATHMANDU: Shaken by deadly protests that ousted its veteran prime minister and set parliament ablaze, Nepal faces the pressing question of who will step into the political void. In the short term, the army has taken charge of the nation of 30 million people since the protests escalated on Tuesday. Nepali Army chief, General Ashok… Continue reading After protests oust PM, Nepal stares into political void

TOKYO: In the week before his fatal shooting, right-wing U.S. political activist Charlie Kirk cheered the boom of conservative young men in South Korea and warned about a “globalist menace” in Tokyo on his first speaking tour of Asia. Kirk, 31, who helped amplify Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda to young voters with often inflammatory… Continue reading Days before death, Charlie Kirk debuted his conservative message in Asia

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have solidified the status of his daughter Kim Ju Ae as his likely successor after she accompanied him on a visit to China, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday, citing the country’s spy agency. Ju Ae stayed at the North Korean embassy and avoided the public… Continue reading North Korea leader firming up status of daughter as successor, Seoul spy agency says

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump led prominent voices in the MAGA movement Wednesday to describe right-wing activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr” for conservative values after he was shot dead at a Utah university. Kirk “fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom,“ the 79-year-old Republican said… Continue reading Trump, US right dub Charlie Kirk a ‘martyr’ after murder

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that a massive US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG battery factory site was “bewildering” and could have a chilling effect on future investment. Seoul is expecting hundreds of workers detained during last week’s raid in the US state of Georgia to be released from detention on… Continue reading S. Korea says ‘bewildering’ immigration raid could chill investment

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that South Korean workers detained by US immigration authorities in Georgia will be released at 3 pm (Seoul time), voicing concerns that Korean firms would be hesitant about US investment due to the immigration raid, Yonhap News Agency reported. The US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG… Continue reading President Lee says detained Korean workers in Georgia set to be released at 3 pm

WASHINGTON: What was meant to be a moment of silence in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday for the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk erupted in shouting and finger-pointing, an episode that provided a bitter illustration of a nation divided by political acrimony. As news of Kirk’s fatal shooting at a Utah university spread,… Continue reading Death of Charlie Kirk lays bare deep US political divisions

JAKARTA: Flash floods swept two Indonesian islands, including tourist hotspot Bali, killing at least 13 people, with six others missing, the country’s disaster agency said on Wednesday. Torrential rain since late Tuesday triggered flooding across five Bali districts as well as the provincial capital city Denpasar, forcing the evacuation of nearly 200 people, National Disaster… Continue reading Deadly floods inundate Indonesia’s Bali and Flores islands

WASHINGTON: FBI Director Kash Patel said on Wednesday the person who was in custody in relation to the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk has been released after being interrogated by law enforcement. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release… Continue reading FBI director says subject in custody for Charlie Kirk’s shooting has been released

LOS ANGELES: Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at a US university on Wednesday, was the eloquent spokesman for a younger generation of Donald Trump’s hard-right Republican movement. The 31-year-old boasted millions of followers on social media who delighted at his whip-smart edits and provocative takedowns of hecklers and ideological challengers. Kirk’s conservative ideology was… Continue reading Charlie Kirk: Young hero of US conservatives

GENEVA: The UN’s health agency said Wednesday its workers will remain in Gaza City despite calls from Israel’s military for people to flee an assault it is mounting there. “To civilians in Gaza: WHO and partners remain in Gaza City,“ the World Health Organization said on its X account. Israel’s army is intensifying its attacks… Continue reading WHO says to remain in Gaza City despite Israel’s call to leave

MEXICO CITY: Nearly 60 people were wounded, 19 gravely, when a gas truck exploded in Mexico City on Wednesday causing widespread damage, municipal officials said. The vehicle blew up on a bridge in the populous Iztapalapa district in the capital’s east, leaving 19 people with second- and third-degree burns, civil protection official Myriam Urzua said.… Continue reading Dozens wounded in Mexico City gas truck blast

LOS ANGELES: Right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk, a major ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead Wednesday in a “political assassination” that sparked fears of more political violence in an increasingly febrile United States. Trump confirmed on social media that Kirk, 31, had died from his injuries. “The Great, and even Legendary,… Continue reading Charlie Kirk, a major ally of Trump was killed at a university

U.S. authorities have seized 4.7 million unauthorized e-cigarettes valued at $86.5 million in the largest operation of its kind to date, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday. The seizures, led by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were part of a joint federal operation in… Continue reading US FDA, border agency seize $86.5 million worth of unauthorized e-cigarettes

LEADERS and lawmakers across the political spectrum reacted with horror to the killing of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing activist, commentator and ally of U.S. President Donald Trump who was shot on Wednesday as he spoke at an outdoor event at a Utah university. Here are some reactions to his killing: U.S. President Donald Trump… Continue reading Reactions to the fatal shooting of US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk

TUNIS: Tunisia said on Wednesday the “assault” on a ship at Sidi Bou Said port was “orchestrated,“ after the Global Sumud Flotilla, preparing to deliver aid to Gaza, reported one of its boats was attacked by a drone in the second such strike in two days. GSF is set to sail for Gaza in an… Continue reading Tunisia says ‘assault’ on Gaza aid ship was ‘orchestrated’

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his decision to target Hamas inside Qatar wasn’t wise, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing senior administration officials. Trump made the comments during what the Journal described as a heated phone call on Tuesday after the attack. According to the newspaper,… Continue reading Trump told Netanyahu that striking Hamas inside Qatar was not wise, WSJ reports

QATAR hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a strongly worded statement early on Thursday, describing his remarks about the Gulf country’s hosting of a Hamas office as “reckless”. The heated exchange came more than a day after Israel attempted to kill Hamas political leaders in an air strike on Qatar on Tuesday,… Continue reading Qatar condemns Netanyahu’s ‘reckless’ remarks on hosting Hamas office

WASHINGTON: U.S. Senate Republicans narrowly turned away a surprise effort on Wednesday by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to force a vote on a measure ordering the Trump administration to release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. An amendment introduced by Schumer, requiring the Justice Department to release all Epstein files within 30… Continue reading US Senate Republicans narrowly reject Schumer bid to force vote on Epstein files

WASHINGTON: U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, an influential ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday at an event at a Utah university in what the governor described as a political assassination. It was not clear whether the suspect had been arrested. A “person of interest” is in… Continue reading Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah event

UTAH Governor Spencer Cox on Wednesday described the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk an “assassination”. “I’ve been in touch with President Trump, with FBI director Kash Patel. We are completely aligned with our state and federal partners as we work through this case,“ Cox said at a news conference. “I want to be very… Continue reading Utah governor describes Charlie Kirk’s death an ‘assassination’

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s army has restored control over Kathmandu following violent protests that ousted the prime minister and set parliament ablaze, marking the country’s worst unrest in two decades. Soldiers now patrol the capital’s streets under an enforced curfew while military leaders initiate talks with protest representatives to stabilise the political vacuum. Armoured personnel carriers move… Continue reading Nepal army restores order after protests oust PM and spark chaos

SYDNEY: A fire surveillance camera captured dramatic video of a tornado towering over thunderstorm-struck countryside in eastern Australia on Wednesday. Authorities issued a severe storm warning after the twister emerged in mid-afternoon over a lightly forested rural area approximately 260 kilometres inland from Sydney. A fire tower camera automatically captured images of the tornado’s tail… Continue reading Surveillance camera captures tornado in eastern Australia near Young

WARSAW: Poland has formally invoked NATO’s Article 4 to request urgent consultations following multiple violations of its airspace by Russian drones. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Poland identified 19 separate incursions overnight and successfully shot down at least three drones. He described the incident as a “Russian action” but confirmed that no casualties resulted… Continue reading Poland invokes NATO Article 4 after Russian drone incursions

STRASBOURG: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Europe to assert its independence in what she described as a hostile world during her annual State of the European Union address. She told the European Parliament that battlelines for a new world order based on power are being drawn right now and Europe must… Continue reading Von der Leyen urges EU to fight for place in hostile world order

STRASBOURG: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to sanction extremist Israeli ministers and restrict trade ties with Israel over the Gaza conflict. She warned the European Parliament that famine cannot serve as a weapon of war while condemning catastrophic conditions in Gaza. “What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the… Continue reading EU chief to push for sanctions on Israeli ministers over Gaza

DUESSELDORF: A German court has convicted Syrian citizen Issa Al Hasan for carrying out an Islamic State-inspired stabbing attack at a festival in Solingen during 2024. The attack resulted in three fatalities and left ten other individuals injured. Prosecutors stated that Al Hasan targeted the festival commemorating Solingen’s 650th anniversary because he believed “unbelievers” would… Continue reading Syrian migrant guilty of IS-inspired 2024 stabbing in Germany

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a joint air defence system with European allies following Russia’s overnight drone attack that violated Polish airspace. Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting Poland by flying drones through its territory during the latest barrage aimed at Ukraine. Poland confirmed it had shot down several Russian drones originally… Continue reading Zelensky calls for joint Europe-Ukraine air defence after Poland incident

VIENNA: The European Union’s highest court has upheld the European Commission’s decision to classify investments in natural gas and nuclear power as sustainable. The Court of Justice of the European Union dismissed Austria’s legal challenge against the 2022 decision that granted both energy sources a sustainable finance label. The European Commission had originally approved the… Continue reading EU court upholds green label for nuclear and gas investments

JAKARTA: Flash floods have swept across Indonesia’s Bali and Flores islands, killing at least six people and leaving four others missing according to the country’s disaster agency. Torrential rain since late Tuesday triggered flooding across four districts of Bali, forcing the evacuation of 85 people as confirmed by National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.… Continue reading Deadly floods hit Indonesia’s Bali and Flores islands, six killed

PARIS: France’s new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu assumed office on Wednesday amid nationwide protests disrupting transport, education and public services. The “Block Everything” demonstrations organised by left-wing groups represent an immediate challenge for Lecornu, a 39-year-old close ally of President Emmanuel Macron who previously served as defence minister. Approximately 80,000 police officers were deployed across… Continue reading France faces nationwide protests as new PM Lecornu takes office

COPENHAGEN: Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will eliminate 9,000 positions worldwide, representing 11% of its total workforce. The company expects to save eight billion kroner ($1.3 billion) through these job cuts, which include 5,000 positions in Denmark. This marks the third time this year that Novo Nordisk has lowered its earnings forecast, now projecting operating… Continue reading Novo Nordisk to cut 9,000 jobs globally amid rising obesity drug competition

SEOUL: A chartered aircraft departed from South Korea to the United States on Wednesday to repatriate hundreds of South Korean workers detained during an immigration enforcement operation. Korean Air confirmed that a Boeing 747-8I aircraft capable of seating over 350 passengers left Seoul for this specific mission. Immigration authorities revealed that South Korean nationals constituted… Continue reading South Korea sends plane to fetch detained workers from US immigration raid

JERUSALEM: Israel’s UN ambassador has stated his country does not always act in the interests of its ally the United States following Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. The remarks from Danny Danon came after President Donald Trump issued a rare rebuke over Israel’s decision to conduct military operations on Qatari soil. The White… Continue reading Israel’s UN envoy says country doesn’t always act in US interests

OSLO: Three 1,200-year-old Viking ships are undertaking their final and most perilous journey to a new permanent home in Norway. The Oseberg ship began its relocation on Wednesday, moving slowly from the old Viking Ship Museum to a newly constructed extension designed to preserve these national treasures under optimal conditions. This extremely fragile oak hull,… Continue reading Viking ships begin final high-risk relocation to new Oslo museum home

SEOUL: A South Korean court has acquitted a woman who was convicted six decades ago for defending herself against a sexual assault. Choi Mal-ja was 19 years old in 1964 when a 21-year-old man attacked her in the southern town of Gimhae. The aggressor pinned her to the ground and repeatedly forced his tongue into… Continue reading South Korean court acquits woman in 60-year-old self-defence case

THE HAGUE: A Dutch technology startup has announced a European speed record achievement for its hyperloop transport system during recent testing. Hardt Hyperloop confirmed its vehicle reached 85 kilometres per hour on the 420-metre European Hyperloop Center test track while performing a complex lane-switching manoeuvre. The successful lane-switching demonstration proves no technical barriers exist for… Continue reading Dutch hyperloop test hits European speed record in lane-switching trial

TOKYO: Japan Airlines issued a public apology on Wednesday following an incident involving an intoxicated pilot that delayed three flights. Company president Mitsuko Tottori held a press conference to address the August 28 occurrence where a pilot consumed excessive alcohol in Hawaii and became unfit to operate his scheduled flight to Nagoya. This disruption resulted… Continue reading Japan Airlines receives second warning over drunk pilots incident

CAPE TOWN: A surge of gang-related killings in Cape Town’s dangerous neighbourhoods has sparked community outrage and demands for protection as city officials admit lacking resources to control the violence. Protesters recently chanted “one gangster, one bullet” during marches organised by anti-gang groups in the Cape Flats area following 59 murders recorded over seven days… Continue reading Cape Town gang violence spikes with 59 murders in seven days

SAN SALVADOR: El Salvador seized packages containing 1.4 tons of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean. President Nayib Bukele announced the seizure on Tuesday and described it as a strike against international drug trafficking. The shipment was discovered approximately 1,600 kilometres southwest of El Cordoncillo at the mouth of the Jaltepeque estuary. This significant drug… Continue reading El Salvador seizes 1.4 tons of cocaine floating in Pacific Ocean