Category: World

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities executed a man on Saturday after convicting him over a deadly attack on security personnel during nationwide protests in 2022, the country’s judiciary announced. Mehran Bahramian was found to have been among a group of people who opened fire on a vehicle carrying security personnel in the city of Semirom in the… Continue reading Iran executes man over attack on security forces at 2022 protests

HONG KONG: Two warships from Canada and Australia transited the Taiwan Strait while being monitored by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s state media reported on Saturday. China’s state-run Global Times newspaper said in a report the Canadian frigate Ville de Quebec and the Australian guided-missile destroyer Brisbane were the two vessels that passed through… Continue reading Canadian and Australian warships transit Taiwan Strait, China media reports

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered all-out efforts on Saturday to respond to the arrests of hundreds of the nation’s citizens in a U.S. immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor car battery factory. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the government has set up a team to respond to Thursday’s arrest of over 300… Continue reading South Korea vows support to Koreans arrested in US immigration raid

AROUND 100 firefighters were called to a blaze on Saturday at the former BBC headquarters Television Centre in London’s White City, the British public broadcaster reported. The London Fire Brigade said firefighters from Hammersmith, North Kensington, Kensington, Chiswick and surrounding fire stations were mobilised after it was called to a fire at a nine-storey building… Continue reading Fire breaks out at former BBC headquarters in west London, broadcaster reports

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday New Delhi and Washington still shared “very positive” ties, after US President Donald Trump reaffirmed their personal friendship and downplayed his earlier remarks about “losing India” to China. The exchange comes amid strains after Washington imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian imports, accusing… Continue reading India’s Modi says ties with US still ‘very positive’

SYDNEY: A suspected “large shark” mauled a surfer to death in a rare fatal attack off a Sydney beach on Saturday, Australian police and rescuers said, leading to a string of beach closures. The man was pulled out of the Pacific surf onto shore at northern Sydney’s Long Reef Beach but died at the scene,… Continue reading ‘Large shark’ kills man off Sydney beach

MILAN: Members of the public began paying their respects Saturday to fashion legend Giorgio Armani as his coffin was put on display in Milan. Hundreds of people queued up before the opening of the viewing at 9:00 am (0700 GMT), which will last two days ahead of a private funeral on Monday for Italy’s most… Continue reading Public viewing of Giorgio Armani’s coffin in Milan begins

TEL AVIV: The Israeli military on Saturday said Palestinians in Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban area, should leave for the south, warning that the military was operating throughout the city. Israeli forces have been carrying out an offensive on the suburbs of the northern city for weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered… Continue reading Israeli military urges Gaza City residents to leave

VENICE: Twenty-one films are competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival’s closing ceremony on Saturday. The selection includes a heart-wrenching docudrama about the Gaza war, a wrestling-themed love story starring Dwayne Johnson, and a darkly satirical South Korean thriller. American director Alexander Payne heads the jury that will announce the… Continue reading 21 films compete for top prize at Venice Film Festival 2025

TORONTO: Hollywood stars Matthew McConaughey and Jamie Lee Curtis have brought a deeply personal project to screen with their new film about California’s deadliest wildfire. “The Lost Bus” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, telling the true story of a school bus driver who saved 22 children from the 2018 Paradise inferno. Both actors… Continue reading McConaughey and Curtis premiere urgent California wildfire film ‘The Lost Bus’

TOKYO: Japan celebrated the coming-of-age of Prince Hisahito with a formal ceremony at the Imperial Palace on Saturday amid growing concerns about the future of the imperial succession. The 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito received a traditional black silk and lacquer crown during the elaborate ceremony marking his transition into royal adulthood. Hisahito expressed gratitude… Continue reading Japan’s Prince Hisahito comes of age amid imperial succession debate

MILAN: The death of Giorgio Armani at age 91 has created a significant leadership void within his multi-billion dollar luxury empire, an independent business he personally built over five decades that extends from high fashion to hospitality. Born into a modest northern Italian family, Armani evolved into one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and Italy’s… Continue reading Giorgio Armani’s death leaves luxury empire and succession plan

MILAN: Thousands of mourners from the fashion industry and general public are expected to pay homage to Italian designer Giorgio Armani following his death at age 91. The billionaire luxury empire king dressed Hollywood actors, pop stars, and royals in his understated yet exquisitely tailored creations throughout his legendary career. Armani passed away on Thursday… Continue reading Thousands pay respects to Giorgio Armani at Milan memorial

TORONTO: Sydney Sweeney discussed her rigorous physical preparation for portraying boxing pioneer Christy Martin in the new biopic “Christy” during its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The actress revealed her transformation involved consuming large quantities of Chick-fil-A, Smucker’s products, milkshakes, and protein shakes to gain necessary weight for the role. Sweeney trained… Continue reading Sydney Sweeney details intense training for Christy Martin boxing biopic

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, describing the move as a message of victory to the world. The Republican president stated that the current name, used for over 70 years, was too politically correct during a White House ceremony… Continue reading Trump rebrands Pentagon as Department of War in victory message

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower will honour 72 women scholars to achieve gender parity and rectify a historic oversight from its original construction. Gustave Eiffel originally inscribed the names of 72 male scholars in golden letters on the monument’s base over 130 years ago. An expert commission presented its conclusions to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on… Continue reading Eiffel Tower to honour 72 women scholars for historic gender parity

NEW YORK: Tesla has unveiled a proposed compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that could exceed $1 trillion if he delivers on ambitious growth targets involving new technologies. The plan would grant Musk up to 12% of additional company shares should Tesla achieve specific performance milestones outlined in a filing with the US Securities and… Continue reading Tesla proposes $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk if targets met

UZHHOROD: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to immediately cease oil imports from Russia during their meeting in western Ukraine. Zelensky emphasised that Russia uses export revenues from these oil sales to finance its ongoing three-and-a-half-year war against Ukraine. The European Union has implemented broad bans on Russian oil imports… Continue reading Zelensky urges Slovakia to halt Russian oil imports funding Ukraine war

CASTEL GANDOLFO: Pope Leo XIV officially opened a new sustainability-focused training centre on the outskirts of Rome, continuing the environmental advocacy championed by his predecessor Pope Francis. The Vatican-operated facility, situated within the papal residence near Lake Albano southeast of Rome, spans 55 hectares and features farmland, a nursery, vineyards, olive groves, a solar-panelled greenhouse,… Continue reading Pope Leo XIV inaugurates eco training centre near Rome

TUNIS: Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela announced he would join pro-Palestinian activists attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza with an aid vessel departing from Tunisia. The South African anti-apartheid icon’s descendant revealed his participation during a press conference in Tunis on Friday alongside flotilla organisers. Mandela emphasised that the South African delegation specifically… Continue reading Mandela grandson to join Gaza aid flotilla from Tunisia

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with retaliatory tariffs following its $3.47 billion antitrust fine against Google, which he labelled as unfair. Trump’s criticism emerged just one day after he hosted a White House dinner attended by prominent tech leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin. “Europe today… Continue reading Trump threatens EU tariffs over Google antitrust fine ruling

BRUSSELS: The European Union has imposed a massive 2.95 billion euro antitrust fine on Google for favouring its own advertising services. US President Donald Trump issued a furious rebuke and threatened fresh tariffs against Europe in response to the decision. Google vowed to appeal the ruling by the European Commission, which accused the American firm… Continue reading EU fines Google 2.95 billion euros, drawing Trump tariff threat

GAZA CITY: The Israeli military destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza City on Friday shortly after announcing it would target tall structures identified as being used by Hamas. This action comes ahead of Israel’s planned seizure of the Palestinian territory’s largest urban centre despite mounting international pressure to halt its nearly two-year offensive. The military… Continue reading Israel destroys Gaza high-rise ahead of planned city offensive

NOVI SAD: Police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse anti-government protesters in the Serbian city of Novi Sad late Friday. Thousands had rallied to demand early elections in the latest student-led demonstration against perceived misgovernance. The protests were sparked by the fatal collapse of the Novi Sad train station roof in November, which… Continue reading Serbian police use tear gas on anti-government protesters in Novi Sad

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has threatened to shoot down Venezuelan military aircraft if they endanger American forces. This warning comes as Washington deploys ten F-35 warplanes to Puerto Rico to intensify its campaign against drug cartels. The advanced aircraft will join US warships already positioned in the southern Caribbean. Trump is increasing pressure on… Continue reading Trump threatens to shoot down Venezuelan jets amid drug cartel war

NEW YORK: Weak US employment figures have strengthened expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut this month despite triggering stock market declines over economic worries. Wall Street’s three main indices initially opened higher after official data revealed the US economy added just 22,000 jobs in August, significantly below July’s 79,000 figure. Analysts had anticipated… Continue reading US jobs data fuels rate cut hopes but stocks fall on economic fears

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump stated that more hostages held in Gaza may have died recently amid ongoing negotiations. Trump, a staunch ally of Israel, expressed his concerns during a press briefing in the Oval Office on Friday. “There could be some that have recently died, is what I’m hearing,“ Trump told reporters, adding that… Continue reading Trump says more Gaza hostages may be dead amid US-Hamas talks

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced he will host the 2026 G20 summit at his Trump National Doral golf resort in Miami despite previous corruption accusations. The billionaire president stated his Florida property was the ideal choice for the December gathering next year due to its beauty and favourable weather conditions. Trump told reporters in… Continue reading Trump to host 2026 G20 at his Miami golf resort despite past criticism

SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic will pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a US class action lawsuit over its alleged use of pirated books to train its artificial intelligence models. Plaintiffs’ attorney Justin Nelson described the settlement as a landmark recovery that far surpasses any other known copyright case in the AI era. The lawsuit was… Continue reading Anthropic to pay $1.5 billion over pirated books for AI training