Category: World

BUDAPEST: The world is a safer place following the meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. “For years, we have watched the two largest nuclear powers eliminate the framework of their cooperation and send messages to each other,“ Orban wrote… Continue reading Hungarian PM Orban says world is safer after Trump-Putin summit

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump held a lengthy phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and subsequently spoke to NATO leaders after the U.S. president’s Friday summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said. Trump held the calls on his way back to Washington, landing in the early hours of Saturday morning. European… Continue reading Trump speaks with Zelenskiy, NATO leaders after summit with Putin

BEIJING: Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday, for talks about a disputed border in the Himalayas. This is only the second such meeting since a deadly clash in 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops at the border. Relations between the… Continue reading Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to visit India from Monday, China’s foreign ministry says

TALKS between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska showed that the Russian president is not looking for peace and wants to weaken Western unity, Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said on Saturday. “The Trump-Putin talks in Alaska did not bring significant progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, but they confirmed that Putin is… Continue reading Alaska talks showed Putin is not looking for peace, says Czech minister

KYIV: Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, according to Kyiv’s airforce. The assault occurred hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump concluded talks in Alaska. The meeting between the two leaders ended without any progress toward stopping Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s airforce confirmed… Continue reading Russia launches 85 drones and missile on Ukraine after Putin-Trump talks

KUALA LUMPUR: Seramai 478 pengamal media di seluruh negara menerima manfaat daripada Tabung Kasih@HAWANA dengan jumlah sumbangan keseluruhan mencecah RM1.3 juta setakat ini. Timbalan Menteri Komunikasi Teo Nie Ching berkata inisiatif itu terus membantu pengamal media termasuk yang tidak lagi bertugas sekiranya memerlukan bantuan. Beliau menyatakan 56 penerima merupakan pengamal media Tamil dan menggesa mereka… Continue reading 478 pengamal media terima sumbangan Tabung Kasih@HAWANA

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will visit India next week for critical border negotiations, Beijing’s foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday. The talks, scheduled from August 18 to 20, mark the 24th special representatives meeting on the China-India boundary issue. “Wang Yi will upon invitation visit India and hold the 24th special representatives meeting on… Continue reading China’s top diplomat visits India for crucial border talks

BRUSSELS: US President Donald Trump held discussions with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and key European figures early Saturday. The talks focused on his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a European Commission spokesperson. Trump engaged in a lengthy conversation lasting over an hour with Zelensky and other leaders. Among those on the… Continue reading Trump updates Zelensky and EU leaders on Putin summit talks

TEHRAN: Gunmen killed a police officer and injured another during a clash with security forces in Iran’s volatile southeast. The incident took place in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran’s poorest regions and a hotspot for violence involving rebels, extremists, and drug traffickers. “In an exchange of fire… between Iranshahr police and armed men, one officer was… Continue reading Iran policeman killed in clash with gunmen in restive southeast

ISLAMABAD: The death toll from devastating monsoon rains in northern Pakistan has climbed to 225 within 48 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bore the brunt with 211 fatalities, while nine deaths occurred in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and five in Gilgit-Baltistan. Most casualties resulted from flash floods and collapsing houses, with… Continue reading Pakistan monsoon death toll hits 225 as floods devastate northern regions

TORONTO: Air Canada’s flight attendants are set to strike, forcing the airline to cancel hundreds of flights and disrupt travel for over 100,000 passengers. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 10,000 attendants, issued a strike notice on Wednesday, allowing a legal walkout from 12:01 am Saturday. CBC reported the strike could begin by… Continue reading Air Canada flight attendants strike shuts down flights affecting 100,000

TORONTO: Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party leader, is attempting a political comeback in Canada after a surprising defeat linked to Donald Trump’s influence. Poilievre, once a frontrunner for prime minister, lost his Ottawa-area seat in April’s general election as voters shifted towards Liberal leader Mark Carney. The Conservative leader now faces a critical by-election in… Continue reading Pierre Poilievre seeks political comeback in Canada amid Trump shadow

SAN SALVADOR: Tens of thousands of suspected gang members in El Salvador will remain jailed without trial until at least 2027 after lawmakers extended a controversial emergency measure. The Legislative Assembly, dominated by President Nayib Bukele’s party, passed the reform just days before a two-year deadline to file charges expired. Over 80,000 people have been… Continue reading El Salvador extends gang suspects’ detention without trial until 2027

JERUSALEM: The UN human rights office revealed on Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access aid in Gaza since late May. This marks a significant increase from the 1,373 deaths reported by the same office at the beginning of August. “Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we… Continue reading UN reports 1,760 killed seeking aid in Gaza since May

ALASKA: Vladimir Putin made his first appearance on Western soil since ordering the invasion of Ukraine, greeted by a carefully staged reception from Donald Trump. The Russian leader arrived at Elmendorf Air Base, a key US military installation historically used to monitor Soviet activities. Trump waited aboard Air Force One until Putin’s plane landed, then… Continue reading Trump hosts Putin in Alaska amid Ukraine tensions and global scrutiny

ANCHORAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he reached an “understanding” with US counterpart Donald Trump during their Alaska summit, potentially advancing peace efforts in Ukraine. The leaders met to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though no concrete breakthrough was announced. “We hope that the understanding we have reached will… pave the way for peace in… Continue reading Putin and Trump reach Ukraine understanding in Alaska summit

ANCHORAGE: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a summit in Alaska but announced no breakthrough on ending the Ukraine war. The two leaders met for three hours at an air base, their first face-to-face talks since 2019. Trump described the meeting as “extremely productive” but admitted key issues remain unresolved. “We have a very good… Continue reading Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine but reach no deal in Alaska summit

SAN FRANCISCO: A US senator has launched an investigation into Meta over concerns that its AI chatbots engaged in harmful exchanges with children. Republican Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding all related documents. The letter follows reports that Meta’s AI chatbots were permitted to have “romantic” and “sensual” conversations… Continue reading US senator probes Meta over AI chatbot interactions with children

WASHINGTON: The District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump over his attempt to take control of the city’s police department. The legal action marks a sharp escalation in the power struggle between Trump and Washington’s local leadership. District Attorney General Brian Schwalb initiated the lawsuit hours after the Trump administration… Continue reading Washington sues Trump over federal police takeover bid

NEW YORK: A US appeals court has temporarily halted an order requiring Argentina to surrender its 51% stake in YPF to satisfy a $16.1 billion judgment. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan paused the June 30 turnover ruling while Argentina contests the decision. The stay offers relief to President Javier Milei’s government,… Continue reading US court halts YPF share turnover in Argentina’s $16.1bn dispute

SILICON VALLEY: Meta is reportedly planning its fourth major restructuring of artificial intelligence efforts in just six months. The Information reported the move on Friday, citing three sources familiar with the matter. The company will split its AI unit, Superintelligence Labs, into four distinct groups. A new “TBD Lab,“ short for to be determined, will… Continue reading Meta plans fourth AI restructuring amid Silicon Valley race

ANCHORAGE: US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held direct talks for nearly three hours on Friday to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting but did not disclose any immediate progress toward a ceasefire. Both leaders were expected to address reporters jointly following the discussions. The talks took… Continue reading Trump and Putin hold direct talks on Ukraine ceasefire in Alaska summit

BELGRADE: Serbian police used teargas and crowd control vehicles on Friday evening to disperse anti-government protesters in Belgrade. Protesters threw firecrackers and flares at officers, escalating tensions in the nine-month-long demonstrations. The crowd gathered near the army headquarters building, which was bombed by NATO in 1999, before clashes erupted. Trash containers were overturned and set… Continue reading Serbia police use teargas as anti-government protests escalate

SAN FRANCISCO: Current and former OpenAI employees are in talks to sell nearly $6 billion worth of shares to investors including SoftBank Group and Thrive Capital. The deal could value the ChatGPT maker at $500 billion, a significant jump from its current $300 billion valuation. This reflects OpenAI’s rapid growth in users and revenue, as… Continue reading OpenAI staff seek $6 billion share sale to SoftBank, Thrive Capital

ANCHORAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow has developed strong and direct ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. The statement followed high-level discussions between the two leaders in Alaska. Putin emphasised that relations had improved after a challenging phase between the two nations. He expressed Russia’s genuine commitment to ending the ongoing conflict in… Continue reading Putin confirms strong Russia-US ties under Trump after Alaska talks

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto highlighted the country’s resilient economy and ambitious welfare programmes during his first state address to parliament. The former military leader, who took office in October, has focused on rapid state-driven growth to position Indonesia as a global economic force. His administration faces scrutiny over costly initiatives like the free school… Continue reading Indonesia’s president highlights economic growth and welfare reforms

ISLAMABAD: Heavy monsoon rains have triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan, leaving at least 169 people dead in the last 24 hours, national and local officials said Friday. The majority of the deaths, 150, were recorded in mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. Nine more people were killed… Continue reading Heavy monsoon rains kill 169 in Pakistan, trigger landslides

STOCKHOLM: Two people were wounded Friday in a shooting near a mosque in the Swedish town of Orebro, police said, with local media reporting one person was shot as he left the mosque. Police provided no details about the circumstances of the shooting, but urged the public to stay away from the scene as they… Continue reading Two wounded in shooting near mosque in Sweden

SRINAGAR: Rescuers in Indian Kashmir used shovels and earthmovers to search for survivors under boulders and debris on Friday, a day after sudden floods triggered by heavy rains killed at least 60 people and left 200 others missing. Gushing mudslides and floodwaters inundated the village of Chasoti on Thursday, washing away pilgrims who had gathered… Continue reading Floods and landslides in Indian Kashmir kill 60, over 200 missing

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not negotiate on behalf of Ukraine in his Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would let Kyiv decide whether to engage in territorial swaps with Russia. Trump said his goal was to get the two sides to start a negotiation, with any… Continue reading Trump says it will be up to Ukraine to decide on territorial swaps

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he would set tariffs on imports of steel next week and on semiconductor chips the following week. “I’ll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say, chips,“ Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he… Continue reading Trump says will set tariffs on steel and semiconductor chips next week

TOKYO: Tens of thousands of people braved blazing heat to pay their respects at a controversial Japanese shrine on Friday, as Emperor Naruhito spoke of his “deep remorse” on the 80th anniversary of the nation’s World War II surrender. Two cabinet ministers were among the visitors to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honours 2.5… Continue reading Japan’s emperor expresses ‘deep remorse’ 80 years after WWII

KYIV: As President Donald Trump prepared to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Ukrainians were watching warily, fearful the U.S. leader could sell Kyiv out in his bid for a quick deal with Moscow. The American leader, who has set his sights on securing a truce in Russia’s 3-1/2-year-old war in… Continue reading In Kyiv, disheartened Ukrainians wary ahead of Trump-Putin summit

LONDON: Oil prices fell on Friday as traders awaited talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which some expect could lead to an easing of the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine war. Brent crude futures fell 50 cents, or 0.8%, to $66.34 a barrel by 0923 GMT. U.S. West… Continue reading Oil falls ahead of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is discussing a refugee admissions cap of around 40,000 for the coming year with a majority allocated to white South Africans, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the matter and an internal refugee program email, reflecting a major shift in the U.S. approach to refugees. Angie Salazar, the… Continue reading Trump administration weighing refugee cap of 40,000 with focus on white South Africans

MONTREAL: Air Canada and its unionized flight attendants remained at odds on Friday, despite government pleas for both sides to return to bargaining to avert a strike that would upend travel for tens of thousands of passengers. Canada’s largest carrier has said it expects to cancel 500 flights by the end of the day, ahead… Continue reading Air Canada, union deadlocked despite government plea for deal to avert Saturday strike

PARIS: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Friday condemned an act of “anti-Semitic hatred” after a memorial tree planted in tribute to a young French Jewish man tortured to death in 2006 had been cut down outside Paris. On January 20, 2006, 23-year-old Ilan Halimi, was kidnapped by a gang of youths and tortured in… Continue reading French PM decries ‘anti-Semitic hatred’ after memorial tree cut down

BAMAKO: Mali’s military-led government has arrested two generals and a French national, accusing them of participating in an alleged plot to destabilise the West African nation, according to a government statement and state-owned media. Mali has endured over a decade of turmoil marked by Islamist insurgencies in its arid north along with political instability that… Continue reading Mali arrests generals, French national accused in alleged destabilisation plot