Category: World

PITTSBURGH: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded a new trade deal signed with Indonesia and said the United States would be fighting China “in a very friendly fashion.” Trump told an energy summit at Carnegie Mellon University that other trade deals could be reached, including potentially with India. Trump has launched a global trade… Continue reading Trump says US will engage China ‘in very friendly fashion’ on trade

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK agreed in a phone call on Monday to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Axios reported, citing three sources. If no deal is reached by that deadline, the… Continue reading US and allies set August deadline for Iran nuclear deal

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Senate is due to begin voting on Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s request to slash billions in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting previously approved by Congress, the latest test of Trump’s control over his fellow Republicans. However, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told reporters it will no… Continue reading US Senate votes on Trump foreign aid cuts, PEPFAR funding preserved

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations needs reform and the United States must have a strong voice to counter China, Mike Waltz, U.S. President Donald Trump’s pick to be his U.N. envoy, said on Tuesday, adding that he is “confident we can make the U.N. great again.” Waltz – a retired Army Green Beret and former… Continue reading Trump’s UN envoy pick Waltz vows to counter China’s influence

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday he has asked Israel to “aggressively” investigate the death of an American citizen who was beaten to death in the West Bank. “There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act. Saif was just 20 yrs old,“ Huckabee said in a post on X. The… Continue reading US demands probe into American’s death in West Bank

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO: Brazilian meatpackers are weighing whether to make new shipments of beef products to the United States after President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazil last week, Roberto Perosa, president of Brazilian beef lobby ABIEC, said. The United States is Brazil’s second most important beef products market after China, according… Continue reading Brazilian beef exporters reassess US shipments after 50% tariff hike

A wildfire in tinder-dry forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon grew around 50% on Tuesday after it destroyed dozens of buildings, prompting public outrage that it was left to burn for a week before firefighters tried to fully extinguish it. The so-called Dragon Bravo Fire swelled to 8,570 acres (3,468 hectares) after… Continue reading Grand Canyon wildfire grows 50% after destroying historic lodge

KATSINA (Nigeria): Nigeria’s former President Muhammad Buhari was buried on Tuesday in the backyard of his home in northern Katsina state, as residents climbed trees to bid farewell to the 82-year-old. Buhari ruled Africa’s most populous nation between 2015 and 2023 and died in a London hospital on Sunday after an undisclosed illness. He was… Continue reading Former Nigeria president Buhari laid to rest in Katsina with national honours

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners and ways to shrink a huge… Continue reading Trump imposes 19% tariff on Indonesia goods as EU prepares retaliation

THE U.S. Department of Defense plans to continue investing in critical minerals projects to ensure a diverse American supply of the building blocks for weapons and many electronics, a defense official told Reuters on Tuesday. The Pentagon signed a multibillion-dollar deal last week to become the largest shareholder in rare earths producer MP Materials and… Continue reading Pentagon aims to boost US rare earth supply with local firms

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he expects to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Aberdeen, Scotland, later this month to refine a U.S.-British trade deal. A White House official said Trump plans to visit his golf properties in Scotland late this month, recreating a trip he made in 2016 during his… Continue reading Trump to meet Starmer in Scotland for trade talks during golf visit

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy should not target Moscow and that Russian President Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in. His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on Tuesday that Trump… Continue reading Trump warns Zelenskiy against targeting Moscow amid Ukraine conflict

LONDON: The Church of England’s governing body voted on Tuesday to do away with requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offensive. The document, titled “Issues in Human Sexuality,“ described “homosexual practice as especially dishonourable”… Continue reading Church of England removes outdated sexuality document for clergy selection

LIMA: Miners in Peru who have been allowed to operate with temporary permits have paused protests that blocked a major copper transit route for more than two weeks, one of the protest leaders, Luis Huaman, told Reuters on Tuesday. He said they planned to suspend the protest at least through Friday, while continuing to press… Continue reading Peru miners suspend protests, unblock key copper route

PARIS: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed scrapping two public holidays and freezing most public spending as part of a 43.8 billion euro ($50.88 billion) budget squeeze he outlined on Tuesday. Bayrou’s plan involves freezing welfare spending and tax brackets in 2026 at 2025 levels, not even adjusting for inflation, which was immediately criticised by… Continue reading France plans to cut two public holidays to tackle budget deficit

MIAMI: A 54-year-old man convicted of a 1993 revenge killing is set to be executed in Florida on Tuesday, marking the 26th execution in the United States this year—the highest number in a decade. Michael Bell will receive a lethal injection at 6:00 pm (2200 GMT) at Florida State Prison in Raiford for the murders… Continue reading Florida to execute revenge killer in 26th US death penalty case this year

VIENNA: Austrian prosecutors have formally charged Rene Benko, the disgraced founder of the failed Signa property empire, with insolvency-related fraud. The former billionaire has been detained for over five months as authorities investigate multiple financial crimes. The Central Prosecutors’ Office for Economic Crimes and Corruption (WKStA) alleges Benko diverted assets that should have repaid creditors,… Continue reading Austrian prosecutors charge property tycoon Benko with fraud

LONDON: Thousands of Afghans who assisted the UK government were secretly brought to Britain following a major data breach that exposed their identities to Taliban threats, Defence Minister John Healey disclosed. The revelation came after a High Court lifted a gag order that had suppressed reporting on the sensitive operation. The incident traces back to… Continue reading UK secretly relocated thousands of Afghans after data breach

LONDON: US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in Britain’s willingness to defend the United States but cast doubt on the European Union’s reliability in a military alliance. His remarks, made in a BBC interview, highlighted his scepticism toward NATO members despite their pledged defence spending increases. Trump questioned NATO’s mutual defence commitment, stating, “One of… Continue reading Trump doubts EU support but praises UK loyalty in

GENEVA: The United Nations human rights office has reported a surge in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with increased killings, attacks, and harassment by Israeli settlers and security forces. Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated, “Israeli settlers and security forces have intensified… Continue reading Escalating violence against Palestinians in West Bank, UN reports

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for stronger mutual support between China and Russia during talks with Moscow’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov, as foreign ministers gathered for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings. State media reported Xi emphasised collaboration to reshape global governance in favour of developing nations. The meeting occurred hours after former US President… Continue reading China’s Xi pledges stronger Russia ties as SCO talks begin

ROME: Italian fashion house Loro Piana, owned by French giant LVMH, has been placed under court administration for allegedly facilitating the exploitation of workers by subcontractors. In a statement, the carabinieri police said the company had been deemed “incapable of preventing or curbing labour exploitation within the production cycle by failing to implement adequate measures… Continue reading LVMH Italian fashion house Loro Piana put under court administration

NAIROBI: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) revealed on Tuesday that three of its staff members were “intentionally” killed during the 2021 conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The medical charity accused the Ethiopian government of failing to conduct a proper investigation, stating authorities had not fulfilled their “moral obligations.” The Tigray war, which raged from 2020 to… Continue reading Three MSF aid workers intentionally killed in Tigray war

BEIJING: China and Australia have pledged to maintain open dialogue and explore areas of cooperation despite strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region. The commitment came during a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Xi expressed China’s willingness to “promote further development in the China-Australia relationship,“ while Albanese… Continue reading Australia and China seek dialogue, cooperation amid regional tensions

SWEIDA: Syrian government forces have entered the majority Druze city of Sweida following deadly clashes between local factions and Bedouin tribes that left nearly 100 people dead. The interior ministry confirmed the deployment, stating that troops were sent to restore order after days of escalating violence. The southern city, previously under the control of armed… Continue reading Syrian forces enter Druze city after deadly clashes in Sweida

MOSCOW: A Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian city of Voronezh left 16 people wounded, according to local officials. The attack, which occurred overnight, resulted in shrapnel and cut wounds, with 13 individuals requiring hospitalization. Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev confirmed the casualties in a social media post, stating, “At the moment we know of 16… Continue reading Ukrainian drone strike on Voronezh injures 16 amid escalating conflict

ARBIL: A drone strike disrupted operations at a US-operated oil field in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, marking another attack on the area’s critical energy infrastructure. The Kurdistan Regional Government condemned the strike on the Sarsang oil field in Duhok province as an act of terrorism. HKN Energy, the US firm managing the site, confirmed the… Continue reading Drone attack halts US-run oil field in Iraq’s Kurdistan

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military confirmed strikes on Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in eastern Lebanon, marking another violation of the November ceasefire. The attacks targeted training compounds in the Beqaa region, which Israel claims were used to plan operations against its troops. The Israeli Air Force stated the strikes aimed to disrupt Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its… Continue reading Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in east Lebanon amid ceasefire tensions

LONDON: Oil prices dropped on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50-day deadline for Russia to end the Ukraine conflict eased immediate concerns over potential supply disruptions. Brent crude futures fell 56 cents, or 0.8%, to $68.65 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures declined 62 cents, or 0.9%, to $66.36. “The focus… Continue reading Oil prices drop as Trump’s 50-day Russia deadline eases supply fears

PADANG: Most of the 11 people reported missing after a boat capsized off Indonesia’s western island of Sumatra have been rescued, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The vessel overturned near the Mentawai Islands, with survivors clinging to debris until help arrived. The Mentawai search and rescue agency stated the boat capsized around 11:00 am Monday while navigating… Continue reading Most missing persons rescued after boat capsizes off Sumatra

JALANDHAR: Fauja Singh, widely regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner, has passed away at the age of 114 following a road accident in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. The Indian-born British national, affectionately known as the “Turbaned Tornado,“ was struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road in his village of Bias. Singh’s biographer, Khushwant… Continue reading World’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in accident

TOKYO: Struggling automaker Nissan has confirmed it will cease production at its Oppama plant in Japan by the end of fiscal year 2027. The decision follows a net loss of 671 billion yen ($4.5 billion) last year and plans to reduce its global workforce by 15 percent. “The company will cease vehicle production at the… Continue reading Nissan to halt Oppama plant production by 2027 amid restructuring

MUMBAI: Tesla officially entered the Indian market with its first showroom opening in Mumbai, marking a strategic move by Elon Musk’s electric vehicle giant to expand beyond slowing sales in the US and Europe. The inauguration was led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with select visitors granted early access. Tesla’s India debut follows years… Continue reading Tesla opens first India showroom in Mumbai amid EV push

SINGAPORE: The women’s 10km open water race at the world swimming championships has been postponed after water quality tests at Sentosa Island exceeded safety limits. World Aquatics announced the delay on Tuesday, prioritising athlete welfare. The event, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, will now take place on Wednesday alongside the men’s race. Organisers confirmed that… Continue reading Singapore open water race postponed due to poor water quality

CAIRO: The much-anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been postponed yet again, dealing a blow to local businesses and tourism operators banking on a surge in visitors. Originally scheduled for early July 2025, the museum’s full launch has been pushed to the final quarter of the year, leaving many in the industry scrambling… Continue reading Egypt grand museum delay impacts tourism revival hopes

NEW DELHI: India has instructed airlines to inspect fuel switches on certain Boeing aircraft after an Air India crash last month killed 260 people. The directive follows a preliminary report indicating the fuel switches moved from run to cutoff shortly after takeoff. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s report, released Saturday, revealed that one pilot questioned… Continue reading India orders fuel switch checks on Boeing jets after Air India crash

BEIJING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting. The discussions focused on high-level political engagements, including preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to China. The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the meeting, stating that both… Continue reading Lavrov meets Xi Jinping in Beijing amid SCO talks

BEIJING: US tech giant Nvidia announced plans to resume sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China after securing US government approval. The decision follows months of export restrictions that halted shipments of advanced semiconductors over concerns about military applications. The California-based company developed the H20 as a less powerful alternative to its high-end… Continue reading Nvidia to resume H20 AI chip sales in China after US approval

ATLANTA: Unreleased music by global superstar Beyonce and confidential concert plans were stolen from a rental car in Atlanta last week, police confirmed. The theft occurred on July 8, just two days before the Atlanta leg of her “Cowboy Carter” tour began. According to a police report, the stolen items belonged to Beyonce’s choreographer, Christopher… Continue reading Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car in Atlanta

WASHINGTON: The United States has introduced a 17.09 percent antidumping duty on most fresh tomato imports from Mexico, marking a significant escalation in trade tensions between the two nations. The decision, announced by the US Commerce Department, follows the termination of a 2019 agreement that previously prevented such tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated, “Mexico… Continue reading US slaps 17% duty on Mexican tomatoes amid trade dispute

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump told Russia on Monday to end its Ukraine war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions as he laid out plans for new infusions of weaponry for Kyiv via NATO. Trump said he was “very, very unhappy” with Vladimir Putin, underlining his insistence that his patience had finally… Continue reading Trump gives Russia 50 days to make Ukraine deal