Category: World

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed his defence minister and close ally Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister to address a deepening political crisis amid looming protests. The 39-year-old Lecornu replaces Francois Bayrou as the seventh premier of Macron’s mandate, representing a choice of loyalty over broader political outreach. Macron has instructed Lecornu… Continue reading Macron names close ally Lecornu as new French prime minister

PARIS: Apple has announced that its new iPhone 17 Air will be available globally without a physical SIM card slot, marking a significant advancement for eSIM technology. This move extends the company’s eSIM-only strategy, which began with the iPhone 14 in the United States in 2022, to the worldwide market. An eSIM is a digital… Continue reading Apple iPhone 17 Air goes eSIM-only globally, accelerating digital SIM adoption

BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Prince Laurent has publicly acknowledged fathering a son during an affair with a Flemish model before his royal marriage in 2003. The 61-year-old brother of King Philippe confirmed the paternity in an official statement released on Tuesday. Rumours had circulated since the 1990s about Laurent’s relationship with singer Wendy Van Wanten, whose real… Continue reading Belgian prince admits fathering son with model before royal marriage

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has again denied authoring a lewd birthday letter to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after the document was publicly released. The Wall Street Journal first reported the existence of the alleged 2003 letter in July, prompting Trump to file a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and its owners. The… Continue reading Trump denies signing Epstein letter, calls it a hoax by Democrats

WASHINGTON: Former and current Meta employees have testified that the company systematically suppressed internal research highlighting child safety risks on its virtual reality platforms. Six researchers alleged that Meta deployed lawyers to screen, edit and sometimes veto sensitive safety studies following congressional scrutiny in 2021. The whistleblowers claim Meta’s legal team sought to establish plausible… Continue reading Meta accused of suppressing child safety research in VR platforms

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump issued a rare public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Israel’s military strikes against Hamas targets within Qatar. Trump emphasised that he played no part in the decision for one close US ally to attack another and stated he had attempted to intervene but was too late to prevent… Continue reading Trump rebukes Netanyahu over Israeli strikes in Qatar amid Gaza talks

LOS ANGELES: A California woman appeared in court on Tuesday facing multiple felony charges for allegedly registering her dog to vote in state elections. Laura Yourex, 62, could potentially face up to six years in jail if convicted on all counts related to the voter fraud case. The charges stem from social media posts she… Continue reading US woman charged with registering her dog to vote faces six years

HONG KONG: The city’s legislature will vote on Wednesday whether to grant limited rights to same-sex couples through a new partnership registration bill. This proposed legislation would only recognise partnerships that were legally registered abroad, excluding local same-sex couples from obtaining similar recognition. LGBTQ activists have criticised the bill’s narrow scope while pro-Beijing politicians have… Continue reading Hong Kong legislature votes on limited same-sex partnership rights bill

STRASBOURG: European Parliament members have accidentally passed a motion criticising the European Union’s own Ukraine policy during a session in France. Absent-minded lawmakers approved a stern text condemning the EU’s failed militaristic strategy in Ukraine, with many voting by mistake. The parliament voted on multiple texts including one addressing Brussels’ response to Russia’s ongoing invasion… Continue reading EU parliament criticises EU’s Ukraine policy … by mistake

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that trade negotiations between the United States and India will continue despite recent tensions. Trump announced the development through his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, expressing confidence in reaching a successful agreement. “I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations… Continue reading Trump says US-India trade talks continuing, will speak to Modi soon

WASHINGTON: US Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged to pursue the maximum penalty against a man charged with murdering a Ukrainian refugee on public transportation. Authorities allege that 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown Jr repeatedly stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska from behind while she rode a light rail train in Charlotte last month. “We will seek the maximum… Continue reading US to seek maximum penalty for Ukrainian refugee murder case

WASHINGTON: US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has unveiled the Trump administration’s roadmap to tackle chronic disease while avoiding direct restrictions on ultra-processed foods or pesticides. The plan calls for better nutrition, tighter scrutiny of medical advertising, and a new push to boost fertility without imposing concrete limits on food and agricultural industries. Kennedy… Continue reading US health plan avoids junk food and pesticide restrictions, critics say

WASHINGTON: The United States stands ready to expand tariffs targeting purchasers of Russian oil if the European Union implements similar measures to undermine Moscow’s war funding. President Donald Trump participated in US-EU discussions by phone, proposing tariff rates between 50% and 100% on nations buying Russian oil including China and India. These high-level talks coincide… Continue reading US ready to match EU tariffs on Russian oil buyers to pressure Putin

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in November regarding the legality of President Donald Trump’s extensive tariffs. His administration requested an expedited ruling after a lower court found he exceeded his authority by using emergency economic powers to impose broad duties. That court permitted the tariffs to remain temporarily in place,… Continue reading US Supreme Court to hear Trump tariff case in November

BAGHDAD: Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released in Iraq after 903 days in captivity following her kidnapping in Baghdad in March 2023. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US President Donald Trump jointly announced her freedom on Tuesday after extensive security and intelligence operations. Sudani stated on social media platform X that Tsurkov’s… Continue reading Elizabeth Tsurkov released in Iraq after 903 days in captivity

DOHA: Israel’s military confirmed conducting strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday. Qatar strongly condemned the attack on buildings housing members of the Palestinian militant movement’s political bureau in its capital city. The Israeli military stated these Hamas leaders had directed the organisation’s operations and were directly responsible for the October 7, 2023… Continue reading Israel strikes Hamas officials in Qatar, targeting political leadership in Doha

HELSINKI: Polish President Karol Nawrocki has issued a stark warning about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expansionist intentions beyond Ukraine. Nawrocki expressed deep distrust toward Putin’s intentions during a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on Tuesday. Both Poland and Finland share borders with Russia and remain concerned following Moscow’s 2022 invasion… Continue reading Polish president warns Putin ready to invade other countries after Ukraine

MADRID: Spain has escalated its diplomatic confrontation with Israel by barring two far-right Israeli government ministers from entering Spanish territory. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced sanctions against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a press conference on Tuesday. This decision follows Monday’s announcement of nine measures by Prime… Continue reading Spain bars two far-right Israeli ministers over Gaza genocide allegations

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