Category: World

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON/CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal. Netanyahu said Israel was now mulling “alternative” options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza… Continue reading Netanyahu, Trump halt Gaza ceasefire talks as humanitarian crisis worsens

WASHINGTON/CANBERRA/CHICAGO: President Donald Trump said the U.S. will sell “so much” beef to Australia after Canberra relaxed import restrictions on Thursday, but economists and traders said high prices and tight supplies make major American exports unlikely. Australia said it would loosen biosecurity rules for U.S. beef. The move will not significantly increase U.S. shipments, though,… Continue reading Economists skeptical of Trump’s US beef export claims to Australia

PARIS: French luxury conglomerate LVMH is in discussions with multiple buyers, including Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, to sell its fashion label Marc Jacobs, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deal could be valued at around $1 billion, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The Bernard Arnault-led company has been exploring… Continue reading LVMH in talks to sell Marc Jacobs for $1 billion, sources reveal

WASHINGTON: The White House is pushing for financial penalties from multiple universities, including Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, and Brown, over alleged failures to address antisemitism on campus. The move aims to restore federal funding, according to a Trump administration official. The official, speaking anonymously, confirmed discussions with several institutions, noting that Northwestern and Brown are… Continue reading White House seeks fines from universities over antisemitism claims

BARBADOS: A snake so small it could be mistaken for a worm has been spotted in Barbados, nearly two decades after it was thought to have been “lost” to science. The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae) was found hiding under a rock in central Barbados during an ecological survey in March by the Barbados Ministry of… Continue reading World’s smallest snake rediscovered in Barbados after decades

WASHINGTON: Fake AI-generated photos and videos claiming to show former US President Donald Trump with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have gone viral, raising concerns over misinformation. Researchers found at least seven manipulated images and one video, collectively amassing over 7.2 million views. One widely shared deepfake video depicts Trump and Epstein watching young girls… Continue reading Fake AI photos of Trump with Epstein spread online

FAIRTON, NEW JERSEY: Disgraced former US congressman George Santos surrendered to authorities on Friday to begin serving a seven-year prison sentence. The 37-year-old ex-lawmaker, expelled from Congress in 2023, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft after misusing donor funds for personal luxuries. Santos reported to the federal prison in Fairton, New Jersey, as… Continue reading Disgraced ex-congressman Santos begins 7-year prison term

GLASGOW: US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Scotland on Sunday in a final push to resolve a months-long trade dispute. The high-stakes talks aim to avoid sweeping US tariffs on EU goods, which could rise to 30 percent if no agreement is reached by August 1.… Continue reading Trump and EU chief to meet Sunday for crucial trade deal talks

RAMALLAH: Palestinians voiced mixed reactions after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state, with optimism tempered by ongoing suffering in Gaza. Nabil Abdel Razek, a Ramallah resident, expressed cautious hope, saying, “We hope it will be implemented, and we hope that most or all countries around the world will follow France’s… Continue reading Mixed Palestinian reactions to France’s plan to recognise state

TALLAHASSEE: The US Justice Department’s deputy chief continued questioning Ghislaine Maxwell for a second day, probing the imprisoned associate of late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Todd Blanche, a former attorney for Donald Trump, led the session but remained tight-lipped on details. Maxwell’s lawyer, David Markus, confirmed she answered all questions, covering “every possible thing you could… Continue reading Ghislaine Maxwell questioned again as Trump denies Epstein links

LONDON: The UK government has strongly condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering financial rewards in exchange for information leading to the arrest of pro-democracy activists residing in Britain. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a joint statement denouncing the move as “another example of transnational repression.” Hong Kong police announced cash… Continue reading UK condemns Hong Kong’s bounty offers for activists in Britain

DUBAI: Israel will allow foreign countries to parachute aid into Gaza starting on Friday, Israeli army radio quoted a military official as saying. An Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on the report. The Gaza health ministry says more than 100 people have died from starvation in the… Continue reading Israel to allow airdrops of foreign aid into Gaza

FORMULA ONE leader Oscar Piastri showed impressive speed in sole practice for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday with Max Verstappen starting Red Bull’s new era by denying champions McLaren the one-two. Piastri was a hefty 0.404 quicker than four-times world champion Verstappen, whose team are racing without Christian Horner in charge for the first… Continue reading Piastri fastest in sole Belgian GP practice

BERLIN: Germany is not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make “long-overdue progress” towards a two-state solution, a German government spokesperson said on Friday. “Israel’s security is of paramount importance to the German government,“ said the spokesperson. “The German government therefore has no plans… Continue reading Germany rules out short-term recognition of Palestinian state

BEIJING: Billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla outperformed Chinese rivals including BYD, Xiaomi and Huawei in a test of assisted driving technologies on China’s highways, according to results published by TikTok owner Bytedance’s auto unit Dcar. State television CCTV and Dcar jointly tested the level 2 advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) from more than 20 electric vehicle… Continue reading Tesla tops Chinese rivals in assisted driving tests

JAKARTA: An Indonesian court on Friday sentenced a senior politician from the only opposition party in parliament to 3-1/2 years in jail, in a bribery case linked to a parliamentary appointment. Prosecutors had charged Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP, with bribing an election official with 57,530 Singapore… Continue reading Indonesia court jails PDIP official in bribery case

MOSCOW: Russia dismissed a senior executive of the TASS state news agency on Friday after he attended an event hosted by the president of Azerbaijan, whose relations with Moscow have deteriorated in recent months. Mikhail Gusman, who oversaw international relations at TASS as first deputy CEO, interviewed world leaders on his own television show and… Continue reading Russia fires TASS executive after Azerbaijan visit

MOSCOW: A spot check on Angara Airlines, which operated the Antonov An-24 plane which crashed in Russia’s far east on Thursday killing all 48 on board, had uncovered serious safety violations a month beforehand, the Izvestia news outlet reported on Friday. The plane, which was 49 years old, crashed as it prepared to land, in… Continue reading Russian airline safety violations found before fatal crash, report says

NEW DELHI: India’s trade deal with Britain is a sign of New Delhi’s new gradual shift to opening up its markets while shielding crucial sectors from competition and could be its template for future agreements, government officials and analysts said on Friday. Signed on Thursday and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a blueprint… Continue reading India-UK trade deal signals shift in market openness, eyes EU-US pacts

NEW DELHI: Seven children were killed and 20 injured in India’s western state of Rajasthan on Friday when the roof of a school building collapsed, authorities said, after all those trapped under the rubble had been accounted for. The school building was old and collapsed as a result of heavy rainfall in the region, Amit… Continue reading Rajasthan school roof collapse kills 7 students, injures 20

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Friday that a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could only happen as a final step to seal a peace deal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was unlikely that such a meeting could occur by the end of August, as Ukraine has proposed.… Continue reading Putin-Zelenskiy summit only possible as final peace deal step, says Kremlin

CAMBODIA’S prime minister Hun Manet said on Friday that he had supported a proposal by the Malaysian premier for a ceasefire with Thailand, which later withdrew its initial backing of the plan. The two Southeast Asian neighbours are currently locked in their heaviest fighting in over a decade, which Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim – also the… Continue reading Cambodia backs ceasefire plan to end Thailand conflict

MOSCOW: The escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia could cause a serious shortage of canned tuna due to Thailand’s dominant position in this market, according to RIA Novosti’s analysis of Thai Tuna Industry Association data. In 2023, global exports of canned tuna totalled 1.6 million tonnes, with Thailand accounting for a dominant 28 per cent… Continue reading Thailand-Cambodia tensions threaten global tuna and pet food supplies

SINGAPORE: Iran has indicated that it will be ready to restart technical-level discussions on its nuclear programme with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it must be allowed to resume inspections after Israeli and U.S. airstrikes last month that aimed to destroy… Continue reading Iran agrees to restart nuclear talks with UN watchdog, says IAEA chief

GENEVA: Hospitals in the southern Syrian city of Sweida are under immense pressure, following an escalation of sectarian clashes this month between the Druze – a religious minority native to the area – and Syrian Bedouin tribes. “Inside of Sweida it’s a grim picture with the health facilities under immense strain…Electricity and water are cut… Continue reading Sweida hospitals overwhelmed amid sectarian clashes, warns WHO

GAZA ceasefire talks are expected to resume next week following Israel’s review of the response by Palestinian Hamas militants, Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said on Friday, citing an Egyptian source. Al Qahera said the Israeli delegation left one day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the negotiating team for consultations. Close Israeli ally… Continue reading Gaza truce talks to resume next week as Israel reviews Hamas response

KYIV: Ukraine has received confirmation from partners that they will provide three Patriot missile defence systems and discussions are underway to obtain seven more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday. “I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems, and from Norway for one. We are currently working with Dutch partners,“ he told… Continue reading Ukraine secures three Patriot systems, seeks funding for seven more

MANILA: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte scored a major legal victory on Friday after the Supreme Court struck down an impeachment complaint against her, ruling it was unconstitutional. The Philippines’ lower house of Congress impeached Duterte in February, accusing her of misusing public funds, amassing unusual wealth and threatening to kill Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos… Continue reading Philippine Supreme Court dismisses impeachment case against Duterte

BEIJING: Storms in northern China have poured nearly a year’s rainfall on Baoding, an industrial city on the doorstep of the capital Beijing, forcing over 19,000 people out of their homes as streets began to go under water and roads were being cut off. As much as 447.4 mm (17.6 inches) of rain fell in… Continue reading Northern China storms force 19,000 evacuations as year’s rain falls

TOKYO: Yuta Kato is increasingly annoyed by foreigners ignorant of Japan’s social etiquette, whether that involves blocking the streets near his work in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district or distracting commuters by playing loud videos on their phones. The 38-year-old hairdresser is among a growing number of Japanese voters drawn to the right-wing Sanseito party, whose… Continue reading Japan’s Sanseito party gains traction with anti-foreigner YouTube campaign

WASHINGTON: An internal U.S. government analysis found no evidence of systematic theft by the Palestinian militant group Hamas of U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies, challenging the main rationale that Israel and the U.S. give for backing a new armed private aid operation. The analysis, which has not been previously reported, was conducted by a bureau within the… Continue reading USAID finds no proof of Hamas stealing Gaza aid, contradicts Israel claims

SUSTAINING Sri Lanka’s reform momentum is critical to safeguarding the country’s macroeconomic stability, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday after its staff concluded a visit to the island nation. Supported by a $2.9 billion programme from the global lender, Sri Lanka is gradually recovering from its worst financial crisis in decades, triggered by a… Continue reading Sri Lanka must sustain reforms for stability, IMF warns amid tariff risks

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organizing or participating in the “Hong Kong Parliament”, a group authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert… Continue reading Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists with bounties

WASHINGTON/CANBERRA: The United States will sell “so much” beef to Australia, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday after Canberra relaxed import restrictions, adding that other countries that refused U.S. beef products were on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for U.S. beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase U.S.… Continue reading Trump pledges massive US beef sales to Australia after import rule changes

MOSCOW: A Russian passenger plane operated by S7 Airlines landed safely on Friday after turning back to Novosibirsk airport in Siberia to check its cabin pressure systems, flight tracking data showed. S7 had said in a statement earlier on Friday that the plane, which had been flying to the southern Russian resort city of Sochi,… Continue reading Russian passenger plane returns to Siberia after depressurisation

BANGKOK: Thailand has rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end the ongoing conflict with Cambodia, insisting that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, its foreign ministry said on Friday. Simmering border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared into open hostilities at multiple locations along the frontline, with… Continue reading Thailand rejects international mediation in Cambodia border conflict

SYDNEY: U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Friday the deteriorating situation in Gaza was “indefensible”, repeating calls for a ceasefire. “The sight of children reaching for aid and losing their lives has caused consternation over much of the world. And that is why I repeat my call today for a ceasefire,“ Lammy said in… Continue reading UK foreign minister condemns Gaza crisis as ‘indefensible’

TOKYO: Japan’s government said on Friday that profits from a $550 billion investment package agreed in this week’s tariff deal with the U.S. would be split between Japan and the U.S. according to the degree of contributions by each side. The comment from a Japanese government official suggests the investment scheme would involve substantial contributions… Continue reading Japan-US trade deal profits split by contribution levels

EDINBURGH/LONDON: U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, heads to Scotland on Friday for a trip that will mix golf with politics mostly out of the public view. Trump plans to visit his golf resort in Turnberry on Scotland’s east coast, where he will… Continue reading Trump visits Scotland for golf and talks amid Epstein controversy

SHANGHAI: US tech giant Amazon has closed its artificial intelligence research lab in Shanghai, according to a source familiar with the matter. The lab, part of Amazon Web Services (AWS), was disbanded as AI becomes a key battleground in US-China tech competition. A WeChat post by Wang Minjie, a scientist at the lab, stated the… Continue reading Amazon closes Shanghai AI lab amid US-China tech tensions

SURIN: More than 100,000 civilians have fled escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, marking the deadliest fighting in a decade. The Thai government confirmed the displacement as the death toll rose to 15, with 46 wounded. The conflict erupted on Thursday with heavy artillery, tanks, and aerial strikes, prompting the UN Security Council to… Continue reading Over 100,000 flee Thailand-Cambodia border clashes as fighting escalates

BANGKOK: Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai cautioned that ongoing cross-border clashes with Cambodia could escalate into a larger conflict. The warning comes as both nations exchanged deadly strikes for the second consecutive day. “If the situation escalates it could develop into war, though for now it remains limited to clashes,“ Phumtham told reporters in… Continue reading Thailand acting PM warns Cambodia clashes may escalate to war