Category: World

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli fire killed at least 25 people on Thursday, including 15 who had gathered near an aid distribution site. Civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir told AFP that 15 people were killed and 60 wounded, while waiting for aid in central Gaza’s Netzarim corridor, where thousands of people have… Continue reading Gaza rescuers say 25 killed by Israeli fire

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologised on Thursday for a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen that has provoked widespread anger and put her government on the brink of collapse. Her main coalition partner has quit and she faces calls to resign or hold an election, throwing the kingdom into a… Continue reading Thai PM apologises as crisis threatens to topple government

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Iran in a phone call and stressed the need for a diplomatic solution, Moscow and Beijing said. Israel has launched an unprecedented wave of strikes at Iran that prompted Tehran to respond with its own attacks with… Continue reading Putin, Xi ‘strongly condemn’ Israeli strikes on Iran, urge diplomatic solution

JERUSALEM: Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Thursday, the seventh day of the war between the longtime enemies. Here are the latest developments: Hospital strike A hospital in southern Israel was hit as Iran fired a barrage of “dozens” of missiles, officials said, with impacts also reported in two Israeli towns close to commercial… Continue reading Iran-Israel war: latest developments

KYIV: Ukraine said on Thursday that Russia has for more than three months been refusing a US and Ukrainian proposal to halt some three years of fighting without any preconditions. The inauguration of US leader Donald Trump earlier this year has spurred a flurry of meetings between US, Russian and Ukrainian officials with the aim… Continue reading Kyiv says Russia has been rejecting ceasefire calls for 100 days

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s government said Thursday it had gained the support of all parties in parliament for a massive boost in defence spending, as the United States pressures Europe take more responsibility for security. The 300 billion kronor ($31 billion) boost over the next decade, first announced in March and due to be finalised in forthcoming… Continue reading Sweden parties back govt’s defence spending hike

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay a heavy price” after a hospital in southern Israel was hit during an Iranian missile attack on Thursday, while his defence minister said Iran’s supreme leader would be “held accountable”. “This morning, Iran’s terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital… and at civilians in the centre… Continue reading Israel’s Netanyahu says Iran will ‘pay heavy price’ after hospital hit

TEHRAN: Iran accused the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday of acting as a “partner” in what it described as Israel’s “war of aggression”. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Iran of a lack of cooperation prior to the start of the Iran-Israel war. The IAEA’s board of governors then adopted a resolution censuring Iran… Continue reading Iran calls IAEA a ‘partner’ in Israel’s ‘war of aggression’

LUXEMBOURG: Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice on Thursday, when the body’s adviser recommended upholding a record fine imposed on the company for anti-competitive practices. The US tech giant has been trying to overturn on appeal a 4.3-billion-euro ($4.9 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2018, which was… Continue reading Google suffers setback as EU legal opinion backs record fine

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina said it has detected Russian spies operating in the country to promote Moscow’s interests through disinformation campaigns and fake news. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said intelligence officers identified an organisation called “The Company,“ allegedly linked to Russia’s government and Project Lakhta, which the United States says is a Moscow-based operation conducting political… Continue reading Argentina says Russian spy ring promoted disinformation

TEHRAN: Iran said Thursday the main target of a missile attack in which a hospital in southern Israel was hit was an Israeli military and intelligence base, not the health facility. A hospital in southern Israel and two towns near Tel Aviv were struck after a barrage of Iranian missiles, with Israeli rescuers reporting at… Continue reading Iran says ‘main target’ of attack that hit Israel hospital was military site

HOUSTON: One of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test late Wednesday in Texas, law enforcement said, adding that no one was injured. The Starship 36 suffered “catastrophic failure and exploded” at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11:00 pm (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by the Cameron County authorities… Continue reading SpaceX Starship explodes during ‘routine’ test: Texas officials

PUERTO ESCONDIDO: Hurricane Erick strengthened to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 early Thursday as it barreled toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods. Erick is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning bringing “life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain”, the center’s latest bulletin… Continue reading Hurricane Erick strengthens as it barrels toward Mexico

HONG KONG: Governments around the world are attempting to evacuate thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot. Foreigners have rushed to leave both countries after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign last Friday targeting Iran’s nuclear… Continue reading Govts scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran

TEHRAN: Iran launched a fresh salvo of missiles at Israel on Thursday, with a hospital reported hit, as President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action in the conflict. AFP journalists heard violent, sustained explosions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and sirens sounded in several parts of the country to warn of incoming… Continue reading Iran strikes Israel as Trump weighs US involvement

PESHAWAR: Pakistan says it has expelled more than a million Afghans in the past two years, yet many have quickly attempted to return — preferring to take their chances dodging the law than struggle for existence in a homeland some had never even seen before. “Going back there would be sentencing my family to death,“… Continue reading Homeland insecurity: Expelled Afghans seek swift return to Pakistan

PRAGUE: The Czech Republic signed a contract earlier this month with South Korea’s KHNP to build two nuclear reactors, but experts question its future over complaints raised by KHNP’s French rival EDF. The deal is crucial for the EU member country of 10.9 million people, relying on nuclear power produced by the southern Dukovany and… Continue reading Czechs sign record nuclear deal but questions remain

WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive meeting Wednesday, forecasting higher inflation and cooler growth this year as President Donald Trump’s tariffs begin to take hold and geopolitical uncertainty swirls. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters the central bank would make better decisions if it waited a few months… Continue reading US Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in face of Trump criticism

YANGON: Myanmar’s deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 80th birthday in junta detention on Thursday, serving a raft of sentences set to last the rest of her life. Suu Kyi was the figurehead of Myanmar’s decade-long democratic thaw, becoming de facto leader as it opened up from military rule. But as the… Continue reading Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi marks 80th birthday in junta jail

STRASBOURG: Compulsory microchipping, as well as bans on ear-cropping and tail-docking, are among a set of new rules to protect cats and dogs that European lawmakers are due to vote on Thursday. The European Union is home to more than 72 million dogs and 83 million cats, according to the European Commission, which so far… Continue reading Mutilation ban and microchips: EU lawmakers vote on cat and dog welfare

SYDNEY: An Australian woman accused of killing three lunch guests with toxic mushrooms fell sick from the same meal, her defence said Thursday, rejecting claims she faked her symptoms. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with murdering her estranged husband’s parents and aunt in July 2023 by spiking their beef Wellington lunch with death cap mushrooms.… Continue reading Mushroom murder suspect fell sick from same meal: defence

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on Thursday confirmed two local Zika cases at Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32. In a Facebook post, the NEA said it has commenced wastewater and mosquito surveillance in the surrounding residential areas following each case notification. “This enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent… Continue reading Singapore confirms two Zika cases in Woodlands

DAMASCUS: For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the new government in Damascus has so far remained officially silent on the unprecedented conflict. Iran was one of former ruler Bashar al-Assad’s biggest backers, playing a crucial role in propping up his government by… Continue reading Syrians watch Iran-Israel crossfire as government stays silent

ATHENS: Greece’s parliament voted Thursday to investigate a former transport minister over the country’s worst rail tragedy that left 57 dead in 2023. Government lawmakers approved the probe into the actions of Kostas Karamanlis, who has welcomed the investigation as an opportunity to clear his name. Fifty-seven people, most of them young students, were killed… Continue reading Greek ex-transport minister to be investigated over train tragedy

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faced mounting calls Thursday to resign after a leaked phone call she had with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen provoked widespread anger and prompted a key coalition partner to quit. The coalition government led by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party appears on the brink of collapse, throwing the kingdom into… Continue reading Thai PM faces growing calls to quit following Cambodia phone row

BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his counterparts in France and the United Kingdom (UK) are planning to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday, German Press Agency (dpa) has learned from diplomatic sources. Wadephul had adjusted his originally planned Middle East trip to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel immediately after… Continue reading Foreign ministers from Germany, France, UK to meet with Iran’s FM

SYDNEY: A Qantas aircraft was damaged after it struck a passenger jet bridge at Brisbane International Airport on Wednesday evening, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the Brisbane Times, Flight QF186 from Queenstown, New Zealand, collided with the jet bridge shortly before 6.40 pm local time after landing. Photos published by the newspaper showed that… Continue reading Qantas plane damaged after hitting jet bridge in Australia’s Brisbane Airport

TOKYO: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the Nemuro Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported according to Japan’s weather agency. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the tremor occurred at 8.08 am local time (2308 GMT Wednesday) at a shallow depth off the southeastern coast of the peninsula. It registered a lower… Continue reading 6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan’s Hokkaido

WASHINGTON: United States (US) President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has yet to make a final decision on whether to authorise military strikes on Iran, adding that he prefers to wait until the “last second.” “I don’t want to fight either. I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between fighting… Continue reading Trump says no final decision yet on US strikes against Iran

JERUSALEM: Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Wednesday, the sixth day of strikes in their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East. Here are the latest developments: New missile salvo Israel’s army on Wednesday said it had detected new missiles launched from Iran, adding… Continue reading Iran-Israel war: Latest developments

NEW YORK: A Salvadoran journalist who was arrested by local police while covering anti-Donald Trump protests in Atlanta has been held by immigration officers, a media advocacy group has said. Mario Guevara, who has a significant following for his online videos of immigration raids, was detained for obstructing officers and “improperly entering a roadway” by… Continue reading Salvadoran journalist detained by US immigration agents: CPJ

Microsoft prepared to abandon high-stakes talks with OpenAI, FT reports MICROSOFT is prepared to abandon its high-stakes negotiations with OpenAI over the future of its alliance, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The tech giant has considered pausing discussions with the ChatGPT maker if the two sides remain unable to agree on critical issues such… Continue reading Microsoft prepared to abandon high-stakes talks with OpenAI, FT reports

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday, in an unprecedented meeting that risked worsening a disagreement with India over the president’s claim that he stopped the recent war between the nuclear-armed South Asian foes. The lunch meeting was the first time a… Continue reading Trump hosts Pakistani army chief, disagrees with India over India-Pakistan war mediation

META Platforms is in talks to hire former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman to join the Facebook parent’s AI efforts, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The social media giant is also in discussion with Daniel Gross, Friedman’s partner in the investment fund NFDG, about joining the company to work… Continue reading Meta in talks to hire former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman to join AI efforts, The Information reports

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple is interested in tapping generative artificial intelligence to help speed up the design of the custom chips at the heart of its devices, its top hardware technology executive said in private remarks last month. Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made the remarks in a speech in Belgium, where… Continue reading Apple eyes using AI to design its chips, technology executive says

ST PETERSBURG: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday cautioned Germany that Moscow would consider it to be directly involved in the war in Ukraine if Berlin supplied Kyiv with Taurus cruise missiles, but said he was ready to speak to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier this month that Germany is… Continue reading Putin cautions Germany over any Taurus missile supplies to Ukraine

BEIJING: China’s embassy in Israel will assist Chinese citizens who want to evacuate to leave in batches beginning on Friday, the embassy said in a notice on Thursday. The evacuation operation will bring Chinese nationals to the Taba Border Crossing into Egypt via bus, about 360 km (224 miles) from Tel Aviv. “The Israel-Iran conflict… Continue reading China will assist citizens in Israel to evacuate to Egypt from Friday

ISTANBUL: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Iran is not seeking military support from Moscow despite heightened tensions with Israel, dismissing the notion of a military alliance between the two countries. “Iran is not asking us for any military assistance,” he told international news agency executives during a meeting in St. Petersburg. “Even… Continue reading Putin denies Iran sought military backing from Moscow

WASHINGTON: The United States is restarting student visa appointments but will significantly tighten its social media vetting in a bid to identify applicants who are hostile towards the United States or pose a threat to national security, according to an internal State Department cable reviewed by Reuters. U.S. consular officers are required to conduct a… Continue reading Trump administration tightens social media vetting for foreign students

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to participate in person at the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague, a source in the Ukrainian presidency told AFP on Wednesday. NATO members are expected to agree a major increase in defence spending under pressure from US President Donald Trump at the gathering. “The decision will… Continue reading Zelensky plans to attend NATO summit in person: Kyiv source to AFP