Category: World

PARIS: More than one million people have signed a petition urging the French government to scrap a controversial law allowing the reintroduction of acetamiprid, a pesticide banned since 2018 due to its harmful effects on bees. The petition, launched by a 23-year-old environmental health student, gained rapid support, with over 500,000 signatures added in just… Continue reading French petition hits 1mn signatures against bee-killing pesticide

LOS ANGELES: The Man of Steel continues his box office reign as “Superman” secures the top spot in North America for the second consecutive week, crossing the $400 million milestone worldwide. Industry estimates confirm the Warner Bros and DC Studios blockbuster earned $57.3 million domestically, bringing its total to $235 million in the U.S. and… Continue reading Superman dominates N. American box office again, crosses $400M

OSTEND: A sunken cargo ship off Belgium’s coast has become an unlikely sanctuary for rare flat oysters, marking a significant step in marine ecosystem restoration. The mollusc, nearly wiped out in the North Sea due to overfishing and environmental changes, is being reintroduced to revive underwater habitats. The “Belreefs” project, backed by the Belgian government… Continue reading Rare oysters reintroduced in Belgian shipwreck to boost marine life

LYON: A British woman has died following a white-water rafting accident in the French Alps, according to regional prosecutor Marion Lozac’hmeur. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Guisane river near Briancon in southeastern France. The victim, born in 1956, fell from her raft and was later discovered on the riverbank. Emergency services transported… Continue reading British woman dies in French Alps rafting accident

NUSEIRAT: Malnutrition in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with tens of thousands of children and women in urgent need of treatment, according to the UN. Aid remains scarce as the humanitarian crisis deepens in the war-torn Palestinian territory. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported a rise in infant deaths due to severe hunger and malnutrition, with… Continue reading Gaza malnutrition crisis worsens as children suffer most

LONDON: A performer at London’s Royal Opera House caused a stir by displaying a Palestinian flag during the curtain call of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore. The incident, captured in online footage, showed a brief scuffle as a staff member attempted to remove the flag. The Royal Ballet and Opera condemned the act, calling it “wholly… Continue reading Scuffle at London opera as performer displays Palestinian flag

SWEIDA: Calm has returned to southern Syria’s Sweida province following a week of sectarian violence that left more than 1,000 dead, according to monitors and AFP correspondents. A ceasefire announced on Saturday appeared to hold, with no clashes reported on Sunday morning. Government forces were deployed to enforce the truce, while the first humanitarian aid… Continue reading Calm returns to south Syria after deadly sectarian violence

BERLIN: European powers are preparing for fresh talks with Iran regarding its nuclear programme, marking the first diplomatic engagement since the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities last month. A German diplomatic source confirmed that Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, are coordinating with Tehran to schedule discussions in the coming week. The… Continue reading European powers set for fresh nuclear talks with Iran amid tensions

LONDON: British consumer confidence suffered its steepest drop in nearly three years last quarter as concerns over job security and persistent inflation weighed on sentiment, according to a Deloitte survey released on Monday. The consumer confidence index fell by 2.6 percentage points to 10.4% in Q2 2024, the lowest level since early 2024. This marks… Continue reading UK consumer confidence drops sharply for first time in 3 years

QUITO: Notorious Ecuadorian gang leader Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, widely known as “Fito,“ has been removed from prison in preparation for his extradition to the United States, according to a statement from the country’s penitentiary system. Fito, the head of the Los Choneros criminal organization, was photographed in handcuffs, wearing a helmet and a vest,… Continue reading Ecuador gang leader Fito removed from prison for US extradition

TOKYO: Japan’s ruling coalition has lost its majority in the upper house following Sunday’s election, public broadcaster NHK reported, further weakening Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s administration ahead of a crucial US tariff deadline. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito failed to secure the 50 seats needed to maintain control of the… Continue reading Japan’s ruling coalition loses upper house control as opposition gains

QUETTA: Pakistani authorities have arrested a suspect after a disturbing video surfaced online showing a couple being executed for marrying against their families’ wishes. The incident, described as an honour killing, occurred last month in Balochistan province. Provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed the arrest, stating that investigators identified the location and individuals in the… Continue reading Pakistan arrests suspect in honour killing after viral video shocks nation

TOKYO: The far-right Sanseito party has emerged as a significant force in Japan’s upper house election, capitalizing on anti-immigration rhetoric and promises of tax cuts and welfare spending. The party, which began on YouTube during the pandemic, gained traction with its “Japanese First” campaign, securing between 10 and 22 seats, according to NHK projections. Sanseito… Continue reading Sanseito party gains traction in Japan with tough immigration stance

SEOUL: U.S. President Donald Trump may visit China before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in October or meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the event in South Korea, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The two leaders could discuss ongoing trade disputes, as both nations attempt… Continue reading Trump and Xi may meet before or during October APEC summit in South Korea

BEIJING: Chinese electric vehicle brands Neta and Zeekr reportedly inflated sales figures by insuring cars before they were sold, allowing them to book early sales and meet aggressive targets. Documents reviewed by Reuters reveal Neta recorded over 64,719 premature sales between January 2023 and March 2024, more than half its reported 117,000 sales in that… Continue reading China EV brands Zeekr, Neta accused of inflating car sales via insurance scheme

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to move toward a peaceful resolution in Ukraine, though Moscow remains focused on achieving its strategic goals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in a televised interview. Peskov acknowledged that the international community has grown accustomed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s occasionally “harsh” rhetoric but noted that Trump has… Continue reading Putin open to Ukraine peace talks but insists on Russian goals

DHAKA: Bangladesh has finalised an agreement to import 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the United States for the next five years, a strategic move to ease trade tensions ahead of impending US tariffs. The deal, formalised through a memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Food and US Wheat Associates, seeks to stabilise trade… Continue reading Bangladesh secures US wheat deal to ease tariff pressure

CASTEL GANDOLFO: Pope Leo expressed deep sorrow over the recent Israeli strike on Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the region, which killed three people and injured several others, including the parish priest. The attack on Thursday left the church’s roof damaged near the main cross, with the stone facade scorched and… Continue reading Pope Leo condemns Gaza church strike, urges end to war barbarity

SEOUL: South Korea’s national security adviser Wi Sung-lac has arrived in Washington for urgent talks, just days before a critical August 1 deadline set by US President Donald Trump. The deadline threatens steep tariffs if a trade deal is not reached. This marks Wi’s second visit to Washington in two weeks, following earlier discussions on… Continue reading South Korea security adviser in Washington ahead of US tariff deadline

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recovering from food poisoning and will rest at home for the next three days, his office announced on Sunday. The 75-year-old leader fell ill overnight and was diagnosed with intestinal inflammation and dehydration, requiring intravenous fluids. Netanyahu will continue performing his duties remotely while following doctors’ orders to… Continue reading Netanyahu recovers from food poisoning, to rest for three days

MOSCOW: Russia’s defence ministry announced the downing of 138 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 23 over the Moscow region. The drones were reportedly intercepted across multiple regions in the European part of Russia and over the Black Sea. The ministry stated, “Russia’s defence ministry said it had downed 138 drones overnight, including 23 over the Moscow… Continue reading Russia downs 138 Ukrainian drones, 23 over Moscow region

BEIJING: China’s exports of rare earth magnets to the United States skyrocketed in June, surging more than six times compared to May. The rebound follows a trade agreement between the two nations, easing restrictions on critical minerals essential for electric vehicles and wind turbines. Customs data released on Sunday revealed shipments to the US surged… Continue reading China’s rare earth magnet exports to US surge 660% in June

HALONG BAY: The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay has risen to at least 38, with several people still missing, according to government officials. Rescue efforts continue as authorities brace for the impact of Typhoon Wipha. The boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, capsized on Saturday afternoon in… Continue reading Vietnam tourist boat accident death toll rises to 38 in Halong Bay

DUBAI: Iran, Britain, France, and Germany have agreed to hold discussions on Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The report follows warnings from the three European nations that failure to resume negotiations could lead to the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran. “The principle of talks has been agreed upon, but… Continue reading Iran nuclear talks with European powers set for next week

KAMCHATKA: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka region on Sunday, prompting tsunami warnings for nearby areas. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km, according to data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) confirmed the… Continue reading 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Russia’s Kamchatka, tsunami alert issued

SEOUL: The death toll from South Korea’s relentless downpours has climbed to 14, with two more fatalities reported on Sunday. The interior ministry confirmed the latest casualties as rescue teams continue searching for 12 missing individuals amid ongoing heavy rainfall. Gapyeong county in Gyeonggi province recorded nearly 170 millimetres of rain early Sunday, resulting in… Continue reading South Korea rain death toll hits 14 as heavy downpours continue

BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has positioned himself as a pioneer of far-right governance, earning comparisons to former US President Donald Trump. With a self-proclaimed “illiberal state” model, Orban’s policies have reshaped Hungary’s political landscape, drawing both admiration and criticism. At a recent US Independence Day celebration in Budapest, American charge d’affaires Robert Palladino… Continue reading Orban’s illiberal model in Hungary draws Trump comparisons

HONG KONG: Authorities in Hong Kong raised the highest tropical cyclone warning on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha moved closer, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and suspension of classes. The storm, located 60 kilometres southeast of the city, brought destructive winds and heavy rain. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a T10 hurricane alert, warning… Continue reading Hong Kong cancels flights, classes as Typhoon Wipha nears

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s National Police Commission has dismissed a senior officer for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which left 279 dead, including 45 foreigners. Nilantha Jayawardena (pic), former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), was found guilty on seven counts of negligence by a disciplinary inquiry. Court records reveal Jayawardena received… Continue reading Sri Lanka sacks top cop over Easter Sunday bombings failure

TUBA CITY: Rising gas prices and economic frustrations have led some Native American voters to shift their political allegiance toward US president Donald Trump, marking a surprising trend in traditionally Democratic-leaning communities. Nita Mexican, a 77-year-old Navajo Nation resident, voted for Trump last November, citing his hardline stance on immigration and focus on American jobs.… Continue reading Trump gains Native American support amid economic concerns

RIYADH: Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, widely referred to as the “Sleeping Prince,“ has died after spending 20 years in a coma. According to Saudi Gazette, the Saudi royal family confirmed his passing at a specialised medical facility in the kingdom. Born in April 1990, Prince Al Waleed was the eldest… Continue reading Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’ dies after 20-year coma

SEOUL: Heavy rains and landslides in South Korea have left 10 people dead and nine missing, with rescue operations ongoing in the worst-hit areas. The government confirmed the toll on Sunday, with the southern county of Sancheong accounting for six deaths and seven missing persons. The interior ministry and National Fire Agency reported that as… Continue reading South Korea heavy rains kill 10, nine missing in landslides

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defence agency reported on Saturday that Israeli fire killed 39 people and wounded over 100 near two aid centres in southern Gaza. The deaths occurred near Khan Yunis and Rafah, with witnesses describing chaotic scenes as civilians sought food amid gunfire. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal attributed the fatalities to “Israeli… Continue reading Gaza civil defence reports 39 killed near aid centres in Israeli fire

TAVETA: The abrupt termination of U.S. foreign aid has left critical water and sanitation projects incomplete across 16 countries, endangering millions who relied on them for clean water and flood protection. Reuters uncovered 21 abandoned initiatives, with workers forced to leave behind half-dug canals, unsecured materials, and unfinished infrastructure. In Mali, water towers meant for… Continue reading Unfinished US water projects leave global communities at risk

HANOI: At least 27 people died after a tourist boat capsized in stormy weather in Vietnam’s Halong Bay on Saturday, state media reported. The boat, carrying 53 people, tipped over at around 2 p.m. local time as Storm Wipha approached the country across the South China Sea. Strong winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning were reported… Continue reading Vietnam tourist boat capsizes in Halong Bay, 27 dead