Category: World

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s army will fully disarm Hezbollah near the border with Israel within three months according to Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. The minister told AFP on Tuesday that the military would complete weapons removal south of the Litani River by the end of November. This follows the Lebanese government’s August order for the army to… Continue reading Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah near Israeli border within three months

STRASBOURG: Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned European lawmakers about extensive Russian interference in her country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Sandu addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, stating that Russia is deploying unlimited hybrid warfare tactics to influence Moldova’s September 28 vote. She described the upcoming election as the most consequential in Moldovan history,… Continue reading Moldova president warns Russia seeks to capture nation through election interference

PARIS: French police have launched an investigation after discovering at least nine pigs’ heads deliberately placed outside mosques across the Paris region. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez confirmed the disturbing incidents occurred on Tuesday, describing the acts as despicable and alarming for the Muslim community. Four pig heads were found outside mosques within Paris city… Continue reading Nine pigs’ heads found outside Paris mosques in anti-Muslim hate incidents

ZAGREB: Israel’s foreign minister has warned that recognising Palestinian statehood will destabilise the Middle East as several nations announce their intention to make this diplomatic move. President Emmanuel Macron stated in July that France would recognise a Palestinian state at this month’s UN General Assembly meeting. Several other countries including Australia, Belgium and Canada have… Continue reading Israel warns Palestinian state recognition will destabilise Middle East

HONG KONG: A Hong Kong High Court judge has ruled in favour of a lesbian woman seeking to have her partner registered as a parent on their child’s birth certificate. Justice Russell Coleman delivered the landmark judgment on Tuesday in the case involving reciprocal in vitro fertilisation (RIVF). The couple, who remain anonymous by court… Continue reading Hong Kong court rules for lesbian couple in IVF birth certificate case

KYIV: A Russian airstrike on a village in eastern Ukraine has killed at least 20 civilians according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack targeted the rural settlement of Yarova in the Donetsk region during pension disbursement hours on Tuesday. President Zelensky described the strike as brutally savage and directly aimed at ordinary civilians in… Continue reading Russian strike kills at least 20 civilians in east Ukraine, Zelensky confirms

LONDON: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside a major arms exhibition in London as it opened without Israeli government officials due to tensions over the Gaza conflict. Approximately 300 protesters waved Palestinian flags and displayed placards reading messages such as “UK: Stop arming Israel” and “Stop the Gaza Genocide” under police supervision. The British government… Continue reading Pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside London arms fair amid Israel exclusion

KATHMANDU: Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday amid escalating anti-corruption protests that defied an indefinite curfew and resulted in violent clashes with police. The resignation follows Monday’s deadly unrest that killed 19 people and injured more than 100 others during demonstrations triggered by the government’s social media ban. Oli’s government lifted the… Continue reading Nepal PM Oli resigns amid deadly anti-corruption protests and social media ban

TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will select its new leader on October 4 following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after significant election setbacks. The party president typically becomes prime minister due to the LDP’s parliamentary dominance despite recent coalition challenges. The LDP has governed Japan for all but four years since its establishment in… Continue reading Japan’s ruling party to select new leader on October 4 after PM resignation

PARIS: The World Health Organization has recommended several blockbuster weight-loss drugs for global treatment of diabetes and obesity for the first time. The UN health agency called for affordable generic versions to be made available for people in developing countries during its Friday announcement. This new generation of appetite-suppressing drugs called GLP-1 agonists includes popular… Continue reading WHO recommends weight-loss drugs for global use, urges affordable generics

KYIV: Russia employed a missile to strike a Ukrainian government building in Kyiv during the weekend, marking the first such attack in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian presidential administration head Andriy Yermak confirmed the missile attack occurred on Sunday after discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Yermak stated on social media platform X that… Continue reading Russia uses Iskander missile in first Kyiv government building attack

JAKARTA: Two British nationals have been arrested in Bali for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into Indonesia. The suspects, identified only by their initials K.G. and P.E., were apprehended in separate operations last week. Bali Narcotics Agency head Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat confirmed the arrests during a press conference on Tuesday. Airport security intercepted 29-year-old K.G.… Continue reading British nationals arrested in Bali for alleged cocaine smuggling operation

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in Cairo on Tuesday. This meeting marks the first direct engagement between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog since Iran suspended cooperation two months ago. Iran’s official IRNA news agency confirmed the meeting would focus on concluding negotiations for a… Continue reading Iran’s foreign minister to meet IAEA chief in Egypt for nuclear talks

BEIRUT: Lebanese state media has reported an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle south of Beirut on Tuesday. The National News Agency stated that an enemy drone targeted a car between the towns of Jiyeh and Barja, approximately 30 kilometres south of the capital. An AFP photographer observed a completely burnt vehicle near a mosque… Continue reading Israeli drone strike targets car south of Beirut amid ongoing tensions

ATHENS: A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the Greek island of Euboea early Tuesday and was strongly felt in Athens according to authorities. The quake hit at 00:30 local time (2130 GMT) offshore 45 kilometres northeast of the Greek capital as reported by the Institute of Geodynamics at the National Observatory of Athens. The epicentre… Continue reading 5.3-magnitude earthquake strikes off Greek island of Euboea near Athens

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple is preparing to launch its iPhone 17 lineup on Tuesday with artificial intelligence enhancements expected to be the main attraction. The technology giant has kept details secret about its “Awe Dropping” event, which coincides with Apple’s traditional annual iPhone announcement schedule. Despite maintaining premium market positioning, Apple faces increasing pressure to demonstrate… Continue reading Apple iPhone 17 launch expected to focus on AI features and ultra-thin design

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has announced it will operate with greater force in Gaza City while warning residents to evacuate immediately. Colonel Avichay Adraee stated on social media platform X that defence forces remain determined to defeat Hamas through intensified operations in the Gaza City area. He specifically instructed all Gaza City residents to evacuate… Continue reading Israeli military warns Gaza City residents to evacuate before intensified operations

SEOUL: More than 100 South Korean women forced into prostitution for US military personnel have filed a landmark lawsuit against Washington for systematic abuse. Their lawyers announced the unprecedented legal action on Tuesday, marking the first official accusation against the United States military itself. Historians and activists confirm tens of thousands of South Korean women… Continue reading South Korean women sue US military in landmark prostitution case

KATHMANDU: Nepal has lifted its social media ban just one day after at least 19 people died during youth protests demanding government action against corruption and digital restrictions. All major social media platforms became accessible again on Tuesday according to an AFP reporter in the capital as authorities announced an investigation into the violent police… Continue reading Nepal lifts social media ban after deadly protests over corruption

CARACAS: President Nicolas Maduro has once again decreed that Christmas will begin on October 1 in Venezuela, moving the famous December holiday forward for the second consecutive year. The 2024 decision follows a similar move during last year’s political crisis after a disputed presidential election that opponents and the United States accused Maduro of stealing.… Continue reading Maduro decrees Christmas in October for Venezuela again in 2025

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year prison term after ruling his previous hospital stay was an improper substitute for incarceration. The court determined that the 76-year-old politician’s 2023 hospitalisation did not legally count as serving his prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power convictions. Thaksin… Continue reading Thai court orders ex-PM Thaksin to serve one-year jail term

WASHINGTON: The son of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has stated that his father’s potential death in prison would only strengthen his symbolic power as a democracy martyr. Sebastien Lai, currently meeting with US officials in Washington, argued that keeping his 77-year-old father jailed ultimately serves Beijing’s opponents more than his release would.… Continue reading Jimmy Lai’s son says death in prison would strengthen democracy message

BRASÍLIA: Brazil’s Supreme Court begins voting on Tuesday to determine whether far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro will be convicted or acquitted in a landmark coup trial. The 70-year-old former leader faces a potential prison sentence exceeding 40 years if found guilty of attempting to retain power following his 2022 electoral defeat to leftist Luiz Inacio… Continue reading Bolsonaro faces coup trial as Brazil’s Supreme Court begins voting

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised a critical test of a solid-fuel engine designed for intercontinental ballistic missiles according to state media reports. The country’s Missile Administration conducted its ninth ground jet test of the high-thrust solid-fuel engine using composite carbon fiber material on September 8. Kim Jong Un observed this important… Continue reading North Korea tests ICBM solid-fuel engine under Kim Jong Un’s supervision

SINGAPORE: The sudden removal of Indonesia’s influential Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has unsettled markets amid investor concerns about potential erosion of hard-won fiscal credibility under President Prabowo Subianto’s populist spending agenda. Global investors regarded Sri Mulyani, who served three separate terms as one of Indonesia’s longest-serving finance ministers, as crucial to their investment decisions… Continue reading Indonesia finance minister removal unnerves investors over fiscal fears

NAIROBI: Ethiopia officially inaugurated Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam on Tuesday amid ongoing tensions with downstream neighbour Egypt over water rights. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam represents a $5 billion project central to Ethiopia’s economic development ambitions for its 120 million population. Construction began in 2011 with power generation capacity eventually reaching 5,150 megawatts from the… Continue reading Ethiopia launches massive Nile dam despite bitter Egyptian opposition

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration launched new immigration enforcement operations in Chicago on Monday, targeting what officials described as the worst criminal elements. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin announced Operation Midway Blitz following President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to send National Guard troops into Illinois. McLaughlin accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other… Continue reading Trump administration launches immigration raids in Chicago targeting criminals

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Supreme Court will deliver a crucial judgment on Tuesday regarding former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison sentence avoidance through hospital detention. The court must determine whether the influential tycoon’s time in a hospital VIP wing should count as serving his one-year sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power. Thaksin returned from 15… Continue reading Thailand’s top court to rule on Thaksin’s hospital detention validity

SAN FRANCISCO: A former senior security executive at WhatsApp has filed a federal lawsuit against parent company Meta, alleging systematic cybersecurity violations and retaliatory actions. Attaullah Baig, who served as WhatsApp’s head of security from 2021 to 2025, claims approximately 1,500 engineers had unrestricted access to user data without proper oversight. The lawsuit alleges Meta… Continue reading Ex-WhatsApp executive sues Meta over alleged security failures

NEW YORK: The Murdoch family has resolved their legal dispute regarding control over media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s corporate empire through a newly announced settlement. News Corp and Fox Corporation jointly confirmed the resolution on Monday following prolonged litigation among the media dynasty’s heirs. Some siblings had previously contested their 94-year-old father’s attempt to appoint his… Continue reading Murdoch family settles legal dispute over media empire control

PARIS: France’s parliament has ousted Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s government through a confidence vote after just nine months in office. President Emmanuel Macron must now urgently find a viable successor within the coming days to lead the government. Bayrou surprised even his allies by calling the confidence vote to resolve a prolonged standoff over his… Continue reading French PM ousted in confidence vote, Macron seeks new government

NEW YORK: A federal appeals court on Monday refused to throw out an $83.3 million jury verdict against U.S. President Donald Trump for damaging the reputation of the writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019 when he denied her rape claim. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s argument that the January… Continue reading Trump fails to overturn E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million verdict

LONDON: London’s underground rail network came to a standstill on Monday as staff began a week of strikes over pay and working conditions, disrupting travel for commuters and tourists. Almost no underground trains are expected to run until Thursday, so that people who take 3.7 million daily journeys on the “Tube” were either working from… Continue reading London’s Tube network shuts as workers begin week of strikes

LONDON: Prince William and his wife Kate led royal tributes to mark the third anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth on Monday, as his brother Prince Harry flew into Britain and also paid respects to his grandmother at her final resting place. Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died aged 96 on Sept. 8, 2022, at… Continue reading Prince William and brother Harry pay tributes to late Queen Elizabeth

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday removed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle following deadly anti-government protests across the country. Sri Mulyani is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and was finance minister under three different presidents. Her house was ransacked during the recent… Continue reading Indonesia replaces finance minister after violent protests

ISTANBUL: Police fired pepper spray and detained supporters of Turkey’s main opposition party on Monday as protesters gathered at the party’s Istanbul headquarters to prevent the replacement of a senior party official ordered by a court last week. Hundreds of riot police maintained barricades around the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building, scuffling with a group… Continue reading Turkish police fire pepper spray in standoff at opposition HQ

KATHMANDU: Unrest killed at least 14 people and injured dozens in Nepal’s capital on Monday, state TV said, as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters trying to storm parliament in anger at a social media shutdown and corruption. Some protesters forced their way into the parliament complex by breaking through a barricade,… Continue reading Fourteen killed in Nepal in ‘Gen Z’ protest over social media ban

TOKYO: A former Japanese mayor who resigned over 99 sexual harassment allegations has been elected as a town councillor, officials said Monday, sparking anger and shock online. Hideo Kojima stepped down in March last year after an official investigation accused him of incidents of harassment in the town in central Gifu region, including touching a… Continue reading Japan ex-mayor hit with 99 harassment claims wins council seat

JERUSALEM: Israel’s emergency service said it received reports of more than a dozen people injured by gunfire Monday at a road junction in east Jerusalem, with police saying the assailants had been “neutralised”. “At 10:13 am (0713 GMT), reports were received… about approximately 15 injured, apparently from gunfire, at the Ramot Junction on Yigal Yadin… Continue reading Shooting attack in east Jerusalem, injuries reported: Israel emergency service

ISTANBUL: Two policemen were killed and two others injured in a shooting attack on a police station near the Turkish city of Izmir on Monday, with a 16-year-old suspect arrested, a minister said. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the “heinous” attack on the police station in Balcova, a district just west of the resort city,… Continue reading Teen arrested as two police shot dead near Turkey’s Izmir: minister

ISTANBUL: Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters gathered outside the Istanbul branch of Turkey’s main opposition CHP party on Monday, just days after a court ousted its leadership and appointed a replacement, an AFP correspondent said. The move came as scuffles broke out with up to 200 protesters — among them lawmakers — many… Continue reading Turkey police fire tear gas at protesters outside opposition’s Istanbul HQ