Category: World

LAHORE: Pakistani authorities conducted a controlled explosion of a dam embankment to manage surging floodwaters from three rain-swollen rivers. The emergency measure at Qadirabad dam on the Chenab River aimed to reduce water pressure and prevent structural failure amid unprecedented monsoon flooding. “To save the structure, we have breached the right marginal embankment so that… Continue reading Pakistan blows up dam embankment to control monsoon flood surge

ISTANBUL: A groom tragically died from injuries sustained during celebratory gunfire following his wedding ceremony in northern Turkey. The 23-year-old identified as Ali K was wounded as newlyweds were being escorted home after their wedding celebration. State news agency Anadolu reported the fatal shooting allegedly came from a female relative of the bride. Authorities detained… Continue reading Groom killed by celebratory gunfire at Turkish wedding ceremony

COPENHAGEN: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has formally apologised to more than 4,500 Greenlandic victims of Denmark’s forced contraception campaign. From the 1960s until 1992, Danish authorities forced about half of the island’s 9,000 fertile Inuit women to wear a contraceptive coil without their or their family’s consent. Many of the women were left sterile… Continue reading Danish PM apologises to Greenland victims of forced contraception

BERLIN: The German cabinet has approved new measures to strengthen military recruitment and readiness amid heightened NATO-Russia tensions. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated the initiative aims to attract volunteers to the Bundeswehr while including provisions for potential compulsory service if recruitment targets are not met. Starting January 1 next year, all young German men and… Continue reading German cabinet approves new military recruitment and conscription measures

GAZA CITY: Israeli forces intensified operations around Gaza City on Wednesday amid growing international pressure to end the nearly two-year military campaign. President Donald Trump prepared to host a White House meeting to discuss post-war plans for the devastated Palestinian territory. The United Nations has declared a famine in Gaza governorate while mediators circulate a… Continue reading Israel intensifies Gaza City operations as Trump prepares post-war plan

MOSCOW: Russia has firmly rejected the possibility of European peacekeeping troops deploying to Ukraine while casting doubt on an imminent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow views discussions about European military presence in Ukraine “negatively” during a briefing with reporters. “We view such discussions negatively,“ Peskov said when… Continue reading Russia rejects EU troops in Ukraine and delays Zelensky meeting

SARAJEVO: Bosnia’s national museum has defended its decision to donate funds from displaying a precious Jewish manuscript to support Gaza’s population. Museum director Mirsad Sijaric stated that ticket sales for viewing the Sarajevo Haggadah would aid Palestinians suffering “systematic, calculated and cold-blooded terror, directly by the state of Israel”. The move provoked intense criticism from… Continue reading Sarajevo museum donates Jewish manuscript funds to Gaza amid controversy

POREPUNKAH: Police continue searching Australian bushland for a heavily armed 56-year-old gunman who allegedly killed two officers and wounded a third during a shootout. Officers hunted through the night for Dezi Freeman, who fled on foot into densely forested terrain after Tuesday morning’s incident in northeast Victoria. Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush stated “The… Continue reading Australian police hunt gunman after two officers killed in Victoria shootout

WASHINGTON: United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has confirmed that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have returned to Iran for the first time since Israeli and American strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities this year. Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following a twelve-day war with Israel in June, citing the agency’s failure to condemn… Continue reading UN nuclear inspectors return to Iran after suspension over strikes

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration suspended several Federal Emergency Management Agency employees following their public criticism of agency leadership. More than 180 current and former staff members signed an open letter marking Hurricane Katrina’s 20th anniversary that expressed concerns about recent reforms. The letter stated budget cuts, personnel decisions and other changes could recreate conditions behind… Continue reading FEMA employees suspended after criticising Trump administration policies

KYIV: Russian military strikes targeted the strategic Ukrainian port city of Kherson on Wednesday, resulting in one fatality and two injuries according to local officials. An 81-year-old woman was killed during the morning bombardment, while a 53-year-old individual sustained injuries and required hospitalisation. The regional military administration confirmed a separate drone strike wounded a 56-year-old… Continue reading Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Kherson kill elderly woman, officials confirm

CHISINAU: The leaders of France, Germany and Poland will arrive in Moldova on Wednesday to demonstrate European support during a critical pre-election period marked by Russian interference allegations. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet Moldovan President Maia Sandu to celebrate the country’s 34th independence anniversary… Continue reading France, Germany, Poland leaders visit Moldova to counter Russian interference

NAGOYA: A statue of powerful sixteenth-century warlord and samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi has been beheaded outside a Japanese shopping arcade. The vandalism occurred at the Endoji shopping arcade in Nagoya, where the statue served as a symbolic figure for the mall. Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century and is also known… Continue reading Feudal warlord statue beheaded in Japan shopping arcade

DAKAR: Human Rights Watch has accused Mauritanian security forces of committing serious human rights violations against migrants and asylum seekers over the past five years. The organisation detailed extensive abuses including torture, rape, and violence in a comprehensive report released on Wednesday. Mauritania serves as a critical transit point for undocumented migrants attempting the dangerous… Continue reading Mauritania accused of five years of migrant abuse by Human Rights Watch

COPENHAGEN: Denmark’s National Museum unveiled Wednesday what it described as the first “portrait” of a Viking: a miniature 10th-century figurine depicting a man with an imperial moustache, braided beard and neatly-groomed hairstyle. Carved out of ivory walrus tusk, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures just three centimetres (1.2 inches). “If you… Continue reading Denmark unveils smiling Viking figurine thought to be first portrait

SYDNEY: Australian streaming platform Kick has pledged full cooperation with French authorities following the death of a user during a livestream event. The platform faces increased scrutiny in France after a 46-year-old Frenchman died on August 18 during a 12-day livestreaming marathon on his channel. His channel specialised in showing the man, known online as… Continue reading Kick platform pledges cooperation with France after livestream death

TOKYO: The Japanese capital has endured a record 10 consecutive days with temperatures reaching 35C or higher, according to the national weather office. This marks the longest such streak since official records began in 1875, with Wednesday representing the tenth day of extreme heat. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of global heatwaves to… Continue reading Tokyo hits record 10 straight days above 35C amid heatwave

WUXIANG: An elderly Chinese war veteran’s shin still bears the mark of a bullet wound suffered while fighting Japanese forces as a teenager one year before World War II ended. Eighty years later, Li Jinshui’s scar remains as testimony to the bravery of Chinese troops in a conflict that killed millions of their people. Historians… Continue reading China promotes party role in WWII ahead of 80th anniversary events

SEOUL: North Korea has labelled South Korean President Lee Jae Myung a hypocrite following his recent remarks about denuclearisation during a visit to the United States. The official Korean Central News Agency accused Lee of revealing his true colours as a confrontation maniac despite initially pretending to seek improved relations. Since taking office in June,… Continue reading North Korea calls South’s president hypocrite over denuclearisation remarks

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND: SpaceX successfully launched its Starship megarocket on Tuesday, marking a crucial achievement after several explosive failures had raised doubts about the programme. The 403-foot tall rocket represents the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed and forms the cornerstone of Elon Musk’s ambition to transport humans to Mars. Engineers at the Texas Starbase… Continue reading SpaceX Starship test flight succeeds after fiery failures

DAMASCUS: An Israeli drone strike killed at least three Syrian soldiers near the capital on Tuesday according to a defence ministry official. The attack targeted a military building belonging to the Syrian army’s 44th division in Kiswah, west of Damascus. A Britain-based war monitoring group later reported the death toll had risen to six soldiers… Continue reading Israeli strike near Damascus kills at least three Syrian soldiers

DHAKA: Mohammad Kaisar fled Myanmar’s Maungdaw township barefoot and exhausted with his family during relentless rain eight years ago. He crossed the Naf River on a flimsy boat to reach Bangladesh alongside approximately one million fellow Rohingya Muslims escaping military persecution. The 28-year-old refugee now lives in a simple shelter within Cox’s Bazar’s sprawling camps… Continue reading Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps face ongoing crisis amid Myanmar conflict

GUAYAQUIL: The vibrant salsa-infused nightlife that once defined Ecuador’s largest city has fallen completely silent as bars, restaurants, and nightclubs shutter their doors to avoid cartel-linked violence. Valeria Buendia, a 36-year-old teacher, recalled weekly visits to Panama Street with friends before the area became empty and dangerous after dark. “I’m afraid of stray bullets,“ she… Continue reading Ecuador’s nightlife silenced as narco gangs extort and close venues

OSLO: Denmark’s foreign minister has summoned the most senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen over reports U.S. citizens have been conducting influence operations in Greenland, public broadcaster DR reported on Wednesday, citing the minister. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to take over the minerals-rich and strategically located… Continue reading Denmark summons US diplomat over Greenland influence operations

LONDON: The red and white St George’s Cross and the Union Jack flags have proliferated along streets across England in recent weeks in what supporters say is a campaign to show national pride, but others fear is part of growing anti-immigration sentiment. The flags have emerged during a politically charged summer in Britain that has… Continue reading England flags spark pride and concern amid anti-immigration protests

LAGOS (Nigeria): One morning in June, an ocean surge swept through the village of Apakin, one of Lagos’ last indigenous coastal communities, washing away fishing boats, nets and graves. It was only the latest event in the settlement of roughly 3,000 people that is losing homes and livelihoods to rising seas. Despite pledges of support… Continue reading Nigeria coastal community swept away as Commonwealth climate pledges stall

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: U.S. President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50% took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest democracies and strategic partners. A punitive 25% tariff imposed due to India’s purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump’s prior 25% tariff on many… Continue reading US doubles tariffs on Indian goods to 50% over Russian oil purchases

BEIJING: China said on Wednesday Taiwan was “blaspheming” the sacrifices of those who died fighting Japan in World War Two by denying the pivotal role of the communist party and denounced Taipei’s call for Taiwanese to stay away from Beijing’s commemorations. This year’s 80th anniversary of the end of the war, preceded in China by… Continue reading China condemns Taiwan’s denial of communist WWII role as blasphemy

TWO journalists for Reuters and the Associated Press who were killed in an Israeli attack on a Gaza hospital were not “a target of the strike,“ a military spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday, adding the army chief had ordered a further inquiry into how the decision to strike the hospital was made. Israeli forces struck… Continue reading Israeli military says journalists killed in Gaza hospital strike were not target

DAKAR: The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday it will be weeks before it can move forward with a waiver for Senegal’s debt misreporting case, as it continues discussions on corrective measures with the West African country. The IMF froze Senegal’s previous $1.9 billion lending programme after the nation’s then-new leaders in September 2024 said… Continue reading IMF delays Senegal debt misreporting case resolution for weeks

BRASILIA: Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Tuesday ordered police to tighten security around Jair Bolsonaro’s home, including 24-hour patrols, citing increased flight risk ahead of final arguments in the former president’s trial. Moraes put Bolsonaro under house arrest in a gated community in Brasilia earlier this month after finding the politician had… Continue reading Brazilian judge boosts police patrols at Bolsonaro’s home over flight risk

WASHINGTON: U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday that he will meet with representatives from Ukraine in New York this week while saying that Washington continues to talk with Russia as the United States seeks an end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine. “I’m meeting with the Ukrainians this week. So I will be meeting… Continue reading US envoy to meet Ukraine officials in New York amid Russia talks

HAMAS denied on Tuesday that any of the Palestinians killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza’s Nasser hospital on Monday were militants. Earlier, Israel said it had killed six militants in the attack but it was investigating how civilians, including five journalists, were killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “tragic mishap.” The… Continue reading Hamas disputes Israeli account of Gaza hospital attack casualties

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to intervene in its efforts to withhold billions of dollars from foreign aid organizations and lift an injunction that is forcing it to keep making payments. The U.S. Department of Justice in an emergency filing with the 6-3 conservative majority court noted that a… Continue reading Trump administration asks US Supreme Court to halt foreign aid payments

WASHINGTON: U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday President Donald Trump will chair a meeting on Gaza at the White House on Wednesday and added that Washington expected Israel’s war in the Palestinian territory to be settled by the end of the year. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Trump had promised a swift end to the… Continue reading Trump to chair White House meeting on Gaza war and post-war plans