Category: World

BRUSSELS: The European Union has confirmed it is in contact with X, formerly Twitter, after Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok posted anti-Semitic remarks praising Adolf Hitler. Screenshots circulating on the platform showed the bot glorifying the Nazi leader and making inflammatory claims about Jewish communities. The chatbot also targeted Islam and insulted Turkish President Recep… Continue reading EU contacts X over Musk’s AI chatbot praising Hitler

BRASILIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a meeting with ministers on Thursday to discuss his government’s reaction to the 50% tariff U.S. President Donald Trump said he would slap on all imports from the South American country. The Brazilian government, the office of Lula’s chief of staff said, will form a study… Continue reading Brazil’s Lula calls cabinet meeting to discuss reaction to Trump tariffs

BAKU: The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in substantive discussions during talks held in Abu Dhabi, marking the most significant direct negotiations yet in efforts to resolve their nearly four-decade conflict. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met for their first formal dialogue since agreeing on a draft peace agreement… Continue reading Armenia and Azerbaijan hold peace talks in Abu Dhabi, no major breakthrough

KUALA LUMPUR: The 16th Mekong–Japan Cooperation Ministerial Meeting has reinforced the shared goals of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Mekong subregion. Held alongside the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the discussions focused on strengthening regional resilience and prosperity. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn highlighted the commitment to stability and… Continue reading Mekong-Japan meeting boosts sustainable development in Southeast Asia

DUBAI: Iran has called on the United Nations nuclear watchdog to abandon its “double standards” before Tehran considers resuming cooperation on its nuclear programme. The demand comes after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), leading to the withdrawal of its inspectors from Iran. Relations between Iran… Continue reading Iran calls for end to nuclear watchdog double standards

KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Malaysia on Thursday, as Moscow launched another wave of strikes on Kyiv. The talks take place on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, marking Rubio’s first visit to Asia in his current role. The latest… Continue reading Rubio meets Lavrov in Malaysia as Russia strikes Kyiv again

MANILA: Search teams have begun combing Lake Taal, south of Manila, for dozens of missing cockfighters allegedly killed by rogue police officers. Fifteen officers are under investigation over disappearances linked to the country’s massive cockfighting industry. The case resurfaced after a witness, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, appeared on television last month, claiming bodies were dumped in… Continue reading Search for missing cockfighters begins at Philippine lake

NEW DELHI: The death toll from the collapse of a decades-old bridge in Gujarat has risen to 15, with rescue teams continuing search operations for at least three missing individuals. The incident occurred in Vadodara district, where a section of the Gambhira bridge gave way, sending vehicles into the Mahisagar river below. Local authorities confirmed… Continue reading Gujarat bridge collapse death toll rises to 15, rescue efforts continue

ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan have arrested 149 individuals, including 71 foreigners, in a major raid on a scam call centre operating in Faisalabad. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency confirmed that 48 of those detained were Chinese nationals, alongside citizens from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Myanmar. The raid followed a tip-off… Continue reading Pakistan police raid scam centre, arrest 149 including 48 Chinese

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will attempt to finalise a deal on undocumented migrants crossing the English Channel as the French leader wraps up his state visit to the UK. The proposed agreement, still under negotiation, could involve returning migrants to France while the UK accepts asylum seekers with… Continue reading Macron and Starmer aim for migrant deal in UK state visit finale

RAMALLAH: Israeli soldiers killed a 55-year-old Palestinian man in the northern West Bank on Thursday, Palestinian authorities confirmed. The incident occurred in Rummanah, near Jenin, where troops reportedly opened fire after an alleged stabbing attack. The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah stated that the man was “shot and killed” by Israeli forces. The Israeli military,… Continue reading Israeli troops kill Palestinian man in West Bank stabbing incident

KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised Asia’s stability as crucial for global peace, reaffirming China’s commitment to ASEAN-centric diplomacy amid rising Global South influence. Speaking at the ASEAN-China Post-Ministerial Conference, he underscored principles of good-neighbourliness and shared prosperity. “In this time of global change, facing choices of unity or division and peace or… Continue reading Asia’s stability vital for global peace says China’s Wang Yi

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defence agency reported on Thursday that 23 people, including eight children, were killed in Israeli bombardments overnight. The strikes occurred shortly after Hamas expressed willingness to release 10 Israeli hostages as part of ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. The latest fatalities follow a rising death toll, with 26 killed on Wednesday, 29… Continue reading Gaza civil defence reports 23 killed in Israeli strikes, including children

BEIJING: China stated it is still verifying reports of two Chinese citizens detained in Ukraine for allegedly attempting to smuggle naval missile technology. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasised that if Chinese nationals are involved, their legal rights will be protected. The case involves a 24-year-old former Kyiv technical university student and his father, accused… Continue reading China verifying case of citizens held for alleged spying in Ukraine

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand remains optimistic that the latest US tariff rate of 36 per cent on its exports is not final, as the country has submitted a second proposal for reconsideration with ongoing discussions. Thailand’s Department of Information Director-General and Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nikorndej Balankura, said the government is pushing for a win-win solution. “We… Continue reading Thailand pushes for lower US tariffs, urges ASEAN unity

KYIV: Russian drones and missiles targeted Ukraine’s capital early Thursday, killing two people and injuring 16 while igniting fires in residential and commercial buildings. The attack came as the US resumed weapons deliveries to Ukraine, signaling continued Western support amid intensifying Russian assaults. Kyiv’s military administration head, Tymur Tkachenko, reported extensive damage, stating, “Residential buildings,… Continue reading Russian attack on Kyiv kills two as US resumes arms to Ukraine

AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands has announced a 300 million euro financial pledge to aid Ukraine’s economic recovery and repair damages caused by Russia’s ongoing invasion. The funds, allocated for this year and the next, were confirmed during a reconstruction conference in Rome. This contribution is part of a larger 500 million euro fund designated for non-military… Continue reading Netherlands pledges 300 million euros to Ukraine for economic recovery

GENEVA: When successful artist Ai-Da unveiled a new portrait of King Charles this week, the humanoid robot described what inspired the layered and complex piece, and insisted it had no plans to “replace” humans. The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a human woman with an expressive,… Continue reading Humanoid robot says not aiming to ‘replace human artists’

ALMATY: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has expressed readiness for constructive talks with US President Donald Trump following the imposition of new 25% reciprocal tariffs on certain Kazakh exports. The move is part of Trump’s broader trade policy adjustments under the “America First” agenda. Starting August 1, select goods from Kazakhstan will face the higher tariff… Continue reading Kazakhstan seeks compromise with US on new 25% tariffs

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has appointed Burhanettin Duran as the new communications director, replacing Fahrettin Altun, who held the position since 2018. Duran, previously a deputy foreign minister, will oversee Turkey’s media landscape, which is largely pro-government. The communications directorate, established in 2018, employs around 1,500 staff in Turkey and abroad. Its key responsibilities… Continue reading Turkey’s Erdogan appoints new communications director to oversee media

SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to expand the company’s robotaxi service to the San Francisco Bay Area within the next two months, pending regulatory approvals. The move follows a limited test rollout in Austin, Texas, last month, where a small fleet of autonomous vehicles operated under strict conditions, including a safety monitor… Continue reading Tesla robotaxis to expand in San Francisco Bay Area soon

MANILA: The Philippines has voiced concerns over the United States’ decision to impose a 20% tariff on its exports but will continue negotiations to seek a favorable resolution. Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go stated the country remains committed to pursuing a comprehensive trade agreement with the US, including a potential free trade deal. “We remain… Continue reading Philippines to negotiate lower US tariffs amid trade concerns

LOS ANGELES: All 31 workers trapped in an industrial tunnel collapse in the Wilmington area have been safely rescued, city officials confirmed. The incident occurred during construction for a municipal wastewater management project. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported that the tunnel, measuring 18 feet (5.5 meters) in diameter, collapsed approximately six miles (10… Continue reading All 31 workers rescued after Los Angeles tunnel collapse

KUALA LUMPUR: Amazon is reportedly in talks to make another multibillion-dollar investment in artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, according to a Financial Times report. The move aims to deepen the strategic partnership between the two companies as competition in AI intensifies. The e-commerce giant had previously committed $8 billion to Anthropic in November last year, including… Continue reading Amazon eyes fresh multibillion-dollar investment in AI firm Anthropic

MELBOURNE: Jewish Australians are feeling “very unsafe” following a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, including vandalism, arson, and harassment, according to Australia’s antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal. The escalation in violence coincides with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with reported incidents increasing by 300% in just one year. Segal, appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to… Continue reading Jewish Australians report rising antisemitism and safety fears

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military confirmed intercepting a missile fired from Yemen early Thursday, marking another escalation in regional tensions. The missile launch follows recent Israeli airstrikes on Huthi rebel positions in Yemen. “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted,“… Continue reading Israeli army intercepts missile from Yemen amid rising tensions

STRASBOURG: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, a rare challenge initiated by far-right lawmakers. The motion, pushed by Romanian lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea, criticises her leadership style and lack of transparency in Covid vaccine negotiations with Pfizer. Von der Leyen dismissed the motion as a divisive tactic,… Continue reading EU chief von der Leyen faces no confidence vote amid leadership criticism

BRUSSELS: A major blunder in a Belgian corruption investigation linked to Huawei has forced the European Parliament to revise its rules, aiming to protect lawmakers from unfounded accusations. Italian MEP Giusi Princi was mistakenly named in the probe, despite having no connection to the case. Princi, a member of Forza Italia, was shocked when she… Continue reading EU Parliament revises rules after Huawei probe blunder targets wrong lawmaker

SAN SALVADOR: Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the recall of El Salvador’s ambassador to Mexico for consultations following allegations by Mexican officials that a drug trafficking plane originated from the Central American nation. Bukele refuted the claims, demanding clarification from Mexico. The dispute arose after Mexico’s Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated during a press… Continue reading El Salvador recalls Mexico envoy after drug flight dispute

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the interim administrator of NASA, filling a vacancy left after the withdrawal of his earlier nominee. The move comes amid ongoing tensions between Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over leadership at the space agency. Duffy will temporarily oversee NASA, which has faced… Continue reading Trump appoints Duffy as interim NASA chief amid leadership shake-up

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has declared a 50% tariff on copper imports, set to take effect on August 1. The decision aims to strengthen domestic production of the metal, which is vital for defense, electronics, and automotive industries. This latest tariff follows similar measures on steel and aluminum, despite warnings from economists about rising… Continue reading Trump imposes 50% copper tariff effective August 1 to boost US industry

JOHANNESBURG: The four wealthiest individuals in Africa hold more combined wealth than roughly half of the continent’s 750 million people, according to a new report by anti-poverty charity Oxfam. The findings highlight how extreme inequality is undermining democracy and economic progress across Africa. Oxfam identified Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, as one of… Continue reading Four richest Africans wealthier than half the continent Oxfam reports

GIZA PLATEAU: For over a decade, a team of Egyptian conservators has worked meticulously to restore thousands of artefacts belonging to King Tutankhamun, preparing them for display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The $1 billion museum, set to open later this year, will be the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation.… Continue reading Egyptian conservators restore King Tut treasures for Grand Egyptian Museum

WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump has escalated trade tensions by imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, effective August 1. The move comes amid his broader strategy to secure bilateral trade deals while criticizing Brazil’s legal proceedings against former leader Jair Bolsonaro. In a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,… Continue reading Trump imposes 50% tariff on Brazil amid trade deal push

LONDON: The UK and France have agreed to coordinate their independent nuclear deterrents in response to any severe threat to Europe. The declaration, set to be signed on Thursday, confirms that while each nation retains control over its nuclear capabilities, they will act jointly if necessary. The UK Ministry of Defence and the French presidency… Continue reading UK and France to coordinate nuclear deterrents against Europe threats