Category: World

New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams, who won as a Democrat in his first mayoral bid in 2021, launched his reelection campaign on Thursday as an independent, after the surprise victory of progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary earlier this week. The mayor did not name Mamdani during the event held on the… Continue reading NYC Mayor Eric Adams launches reelection bid as independent

TOKYO: Japan on Friday executed a man dubbed the “Twitter killer” who murdered and dismembered nine people he met online, in the nation’s first enactment of the death penalty since 2022. Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, was hanged for killing his young victims, all but one of whom were women, after contacting them on the social media… Continue reading Japan executes ‘Twitter killer’ who murdered nine

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed hope that the conflict between Israel and Iran would soon be regarded as a matter of the past, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Speaking at the plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Minsk, Belarus, Putin noted that Iran is among the countries that have concluded a… Continue reading Putin hopes Iran-Israel conflict is now ‘in the past’

WASHINGTON: United States (US) President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the US signed a trade agreement with China. “Well, we just signed with China yesterday, right? Just signed with China,“ Anadolu Ajansi (AA) quoted Trump as saying at the One Big Beautiful Bill event held at the White House on Thursday, although details of… Continue reading Trump says US-China trade deal signed Wednesday

WASHINGTON: The White House said Thursday no decision is imminent on naming a successor to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, after a report suggested the president could do so this summer. “No decisions are imminent, although the president has the right to change his mind,“ a White House official told AFP. “The president has many… Continue reading Decision on naming next Fed chair not ‘imminent’: White House

GAZA CITY: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has described the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a “genocide,“ marking the strongest condemnation yet by a European leader. The statement comes as rescuers report 65 people killed by Israeli forces in the territory on Thursday. Sanchez urged the European Union to suspend its cooperation agreement with Israel,… Continue reading Spain PM calls Gaza situation ‘genocide’ as death toll rises

TEHRAN: Iran has firmly denied any plans to restart nuclear negotiations with the United States following a 12-day conflict with Israel, dismissing Washington’s claims about the effectiveness of recent strikes on its atomic facilities. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated there was “no agreement, arrangement or conversation” for fresh talks, calling such speculation baseless. Supreme Leader… Continue reading Iran denies new US nuclear talks, downplays strike impact

WASHINGTON: The United States has announced its first direct funding of $30 million for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial relief effort backed by Israel. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called on other nations to support the initiative, emphasizing its role in addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Israel’s blockade on food and essential supplies since… Continue reading US pledges $30 million for Gaza relief amid controversy

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Congress to pass his sweeping $4.5 trillion tax cuts package during a White House event Thursday, framing it as vital for economic growth and border security. The legislation, dubbed the “One, Big Beautiful Bill,“ seeks to extend Trump’s first-term tax reductions while triggering contentious cuts to Medicaid… Continue reading Trump urges Congress to approve $4.5 trillion tax cuts package

LONDON: British car exports to the United States slumped by over half in May in large part due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, data showed Friday, but are set to recover thanks to a US-UK trade deal. Britain’s automotive trade body SMMT said that exports of new vehicles fell more than 55 percent last month… Continue reading US tariffs slash UK car exports in May: data

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has strongly defended the success of recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites while launching sharp criticism against media outlets for their coverage of an intelligence assessment that cast doubt on the operation’s effectiveness. Last weekend, American B-2 bombers targeted two Iranian nuclear facilities with GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, while a guided… Continue reading Trump admin defends Iran strikes success amid media criticism

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed on Thursday that the recent 12-day conflict with Israel inflicted “serious” damage on the country’s nuclear sites. Authorities have begun evaluating the full extent of the destruction as diplomatic efforts to seek reparations gain momentum. “A detailed assessment of the damage is being carried out by experts from… Continue reading Iran assesses serious damage to nuclear sites

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claims that American strikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them exaggerated. In his first public appearance since a ceasefire took hold, Khamenei declared Iran’s “victory” over Israel and vowed resistance against US pressure. “The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways,… Continue reading Khamenei dismisses Trump’s claims on Iran nuclear strikes impact

NEW YORK: Anna Wintour, the legendary editor of US Vogue, has stepped down from her role after 37 years of shaping the fashion industry. The 75-year-old British-American icon, known for her signature bob and sunglasses, will no longer oversee the magazine’s daily operations but will retain her position as global editorial director for Vogue and… Continue reading Anna Wintour steps down as US Vogue editor after 37 years

ZAGREB: Temperatures soared across the Balkans on Thursday, with parts of the region expected to hit 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit), triggering heatwave health warnings. In Croatia, the capital Zagreb and the country’s east were at the highest risk of heat, according to the national Meteorological and Hydrological Service. Authorities remained on high alert after… Continue reading Heatwave triggers health warnings across Balkans

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted Thursday that American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were a success, backing President Donald Trump and berating the media for questioning the results of the operation. American B-2 bombers hit two Iranian nuclear sites with massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs last weekend, while a guided missile submarine struck a… Continue reading Pentagon chief backs Trump on success of Iran strikes

WARSAW: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Thursday that a new arms race could lead to the fall of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “regime”, just like it toppled the Soviet Union. The NATO member’s top diplomat spoke after the Western defence alliance agreed to massively ramp up defence spending, seen as vital to counter the… Continue reading Poland’s Sikorski says arms race could lead to Putin’s fall

BRUSSELS: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took part in a meeting of EU immigration hawks in Brussels Thursday, participants confirmed, in a sign of Berlin’s hardening stance on migration. It marked the first time a German leader has attended the gathering, which has become a stable fixture on the sidelines of EU summits of the bloc’s… Continue reading Germany’s Merz joins EU migration hawks meet

HONG KONG: The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as “perfectly normal” on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city… Continue reading US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief