Category: World

NEW DELHI: Torrential rains disrupted daily life in India’s financial hub Mumbai on Monday, forcing school closures and causing traffic snarls on waterlogged roads. India’s weather department issued an alert for more heavy rains in the city and many coastal districts in the western state of Maharashtra. Waterlogging was reported in many parts of the… Continue reading Heavy rains cripple daily life in Mumbai City

KYIV: Russian drones on Monday intentionally attacked an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region for the second time in two weeks, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, writing on X, said the “deliberate Russian strike…was an attack not only on us but also on our relations and… Continue reading Russia striking Azerbaijan’s SOCAR oil facilities in Ukraine on purpose, Kyiv says

BUNER: Rain on Monday halted search and rescue operations in northern Pakistan after flash floods that have killed nearly 350 people with around 200 still missing, officials said. Torrential rains across the country since Thursday have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the… Continue reading Rain halts rescue operation after Pakistan floods kill hundreds

KYIV: U.S. President Donald Trump told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO as he prepared to host President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in Washington on Monday to press Kyiv into accepting a peace deal with Russia. After rolling out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin… Continue reading Trump tells Ukraine to give up on NATO and Crimea ahead of Zelenskiy meeting

SHANGHAI: Swiss watchmaker Swatch issued an apology at the weekend and pulled ads featuring images of an Asian male model pulling the corners of his eyes up and backwards in a “slanted eye” pose. The images for the Swatch Essentials collection were widely condemned online in China, where many comments said they appeared to mimic… Continue reading Watchmaker Swatch apologises for ‘slanted eye’ ad after online backlash in China

WHITE HOUSE trade adviser Peter Navarro said India’s purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and had to stop. New Delhi was “now cozying up to both Russia and China,“ Navarro wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Monday. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic… Continue reading US adviser Navarro says India’s Russian crude buying must stop

YANGON: Myanmar’s junta said Monday that long-promised elections will start on December 28, despite a raging civil war that has put much of the country out of its control, and international monitors slating the poll as a charade. Myanmar has been consumed by conflict since the military deposed the government of democratic leader Aung San… Continue reading Myanmar junta sets December 28 poll date despite raging civil war

TOKYO: Asian stocks were mostly higher Monday ahead of talks between Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders in Washington. US President Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, but the summit failed to yield any breakthrough on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Zelensky, who will be joined in Washington by… Continue reading Asia stocks up before Trump-Zelensky talks

INDIA’S proposal to rationalise goods and services tax is a “huge reform”, which is bound to have good outcomes, RC Bhargava, chairman of the country’s top carmaker Maruti Suzuki, told Reuters on Monday. The restructuring will increase competitiveness of Indian products and the opening of trade borders will bring in the necessary competition, which will… Continue reading India’s tax restructuring a ‘huge reform’, will boost competitiveness, Maruti Suzuki chair says

JERUSALEM: Amnesty International has accused Israel of enforcing a deliberate policy of starvation in Gaza as humanitarian organisations warn of famine in the Palestinian territory. The rights group stated Israel is systematically destroying Palestinian health, well-being, and social structures in Gaza. “It is the intended outcome of plans and policies that Israel has designed and… Continue reading Amnesty accuses Israel of deliberate starvation policy in Gaza

TOKYO: Germany’s foreign minister has condemned China for what he described as increasingly aggressive actions in the Asia-Pacific region, including threats to alter borders. Johann Wadephul accused Beijing of openly seeking to shift territorial boundaries in its favour, particularly in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. “Any escalation in this sensitive… Continue reading German minister warns of China’s aggressive stance in Asia-Pacific

SEOUL: South Korea and the United States commenced their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises on 18 August, incorporating real-world threat scenarios and combat lessons from modern conflicts. The drills will run until 28 August, involving approximately 18,000 South Korean troops and a similar number of US personnel, matching last year’s participation levels. While… Continue reading South Korea and US launch annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills

MOSCOW: Scientists from Russia’s Tomsk University have issued a stark warning that approximately 20% of the world’s wetlands could vanish by 2050 if current trends continue. These vital ecosystems, which include swamps, lakes, rivers, artificial reservoirs, and coastal marine areas, represent some of Earth’s most valuable yet fragile environments. The researchers noted humanity has already… Continue reading Scientists warn 20% of world’s wetlands could vanish by 2050

KYIV: Russian drone strikes killed three people, including a child, and injured 18 others in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region overnight. Kharkiv police confirmed the casualties in a Telegram post, warning that victims might still be trapped under the rubble of a damaged five-storey apartment block. The city near the Russian border had already suffered a ballistic… Continue reading Russian strikes kill three in Ukraine’s Kharkiv ahead of key White House talks

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has completed its 73rd airdrop of humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of Operation Birds of Goodness under the broader Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 initiative. This latest mission was conducted in partnership with Jordan and involved participation from eight other nations including Germany, France and Singapore. The airdrop contained… Continue reading UAE conducts 73rd airdrop of aid to Gaza with international partners

LONDON: British manufacturing firms have slipped behind international competitors over the past 20 years due to poor adoption of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. A report by Make UK and Sage revealed the UK’s weak performance in robotics and AI implementation, with digital skills training failing to meet industry needs. Nearly 50% of UK… Continue reading UK manufacturers fall behind global rivals in automation adoption

OTTAWA: Air Canada has halted plans to restart limited flights on Sunday evening after its flight attendants refused to comply with a government back-to-work directive. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) unlawfully instructed its members to ignore an order from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to return to work, according to the airline’s… Continue reading Air Canada suspends flights as attendants defy back-to-work order

LONDON/KYIV/WASHINGTON: European leaders will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in talks with US President Donald Trump, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s position as Washington pushes for a swift peace agreement to end Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades. Trump has urged Zelenskiy to negotiate a settlement after aligning more closely with Moscow’s stance during recent discussions with… Continue reading European leaders to support Zelenskiy in Washington as Trump pushes Ukraine deal

LONDON: Words popularised by Gen Z and Gen Alpha such as “skibidi”, “delulu”, and “tradwife” are among 6,000 new entries added to the online edition of the Cambridge Dictionary over the past year. Cambridge University Press described “tradwife”, a blend of “traditional wife”, as reflecting a controversial social media trend embracing conventional gender roles. The… Continue reading Skibidi and tradwife among new Gen Z words added to Cambridge Dictionary

LONDON: Words popularised by Gen Z and Gen Alpha such as “skibidi”, “delulu”, and “tradwife” are among 6,000 new entries added to the online edition of the Cambridge Dictionary over the past year. Cambridge University Press described “tradwife”, a blend of “traditional wife”, as reflecting a controversial social media trend embracing conventional gender roles. The… Continue reading Skibidi and tradwife among new Gen Z words added to Cambridge Dictionary

LOS ANGELES: Horror thriller Weapons has secured the top spot at the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $25 million in ticket sales. The Warner Bros. production stars Julia Garner from Ozark and Josh Brolin of Avengers fame in a chilling tale about the unexplained vanishing of children from the same… Continue reading Weapons tops North American box office for second consecutive week

LONDON: British actor Terence Stamp, who became famous for playing brooding villains and starred in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, has died at the age of 87. His family confirmed the news on Sunday, stating he leaves behind a remarkable legacy in both acting and writing. “He leaves behind an extraordinary body… Continue reading Terence Stamp dies at 87, remembered as Superman villain and sixties icon

JERUSALEM: Israel confirmed it struck an energy infrastructure site in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday, targeting facilities linked to the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. A military statement said the operation hit “an energy infrastructure site that served the Huthi terrorist regime” near the rebel-held capital without specifying the exact location. Huthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported the attack… Continue reading Israel strikes Huthi energy site in Yemen amid ongoing conflict

ISTANBUL: Hundreds of residents have fled their homes as firefighters battle a fierce wildfire sweeping through Turkey’s historic Gallipoli peninsula. The blaze began on Saturday in Canakkale province, rapidly spreading through dry hills near Gelibolu town along the strategic Dardanelles Strait. Canakkale governor Omer Toraman confirmed 250 people were evacuated from five villages overnight, with… Continue reading Hundreds evacuated as wildfire rages on Turkey’s Gallipoli peninsula

OICHA: At least nine people died when a militia linked to Islamic State launched an overnight attack in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Allied Democratic Forces targeted civilians in Oicha town, looting shops and burning homes between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Local civil group leader Isaac Kavalami confirmed eight civilians and one… Continue reading Militia attack kills nine in eastern DR Congo town of Oicha

BOGOTÁ: Gunmen killed seven people at a pool hall in Ecuador’s Santo Domingo city, police confirmed on Sunday, marking the latest deadly attack in the nation’s escalating gang violence crisis. National police reported the victims died from gunshot wounds in the nightlife district of Santo Domingo, located 150 kilometres west of Quito. Authorities are investigating… Continue reading Seven killed in Ecuador pool hall shooting as gang violence surges

BAYSHONAI KALAY: Aziz Ahmed, a local schoolteacher in Buner, northwestern Pakistan said the thunder accompanying recent torrential rains was so loud he thought the “end of the world had come”. Water, rocks and trees were swept down the mountainside after two days of intense monsoon rains, burying people and homes in their path. “You can… Continue reading Flash floods devastate Buner, Pakistan after rare cloudburst kills hundreds

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed “big progress” on Russia, days after meeting his counterpart from that country, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska for a high-stakes summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating – AFP

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in Brussels on Sunday, said the current front lines in his country’s war against Russia should be the basis for peace talks. “We need real negotiations, which means we can start where the front line is now,“ Zelenskiy said, adding that European leaders supported this. Zelenskiy reiterated his position… Continue reading Zelenskiy says current front lines should be the start for negotiations

THE United States will keep trying to create a scenario to help end Russia’s war with Ukraine, but that might not be possible, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS on Sunday. “If peace is not going to be possible here and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will… Continue reading US may not be able to create scenario to end war in Ukraine, Rubio says

ISTANBUL: Three people were killed and eight others wounded when multiple gunmen opened fire inside a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York City, early Sunday, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers responded to reports of a shooting at the Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights just before… Continue reading 3 Dead, 8 injured in early morning mass shooting at NYC restaurant

BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities have begun excavating the site of a mass grave believed to contain thousands of victims of the Islamic State (IS) group near Mosul city, the project’s director told AFP on Sunday. The first phase, which was launched on August 10, includes surface-level excavation at the Khasfa site, director Ahmed al-Assadi said. An… Continue reading Iraq starts work on IS mass grave thought to contain thousands

CAIRO: Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Sunday that Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City constitutes a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area. The group said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel into southern Gaza was a “blatant deception”.… Continue reading Hamas rejects Israel’s Gaza relocation plan

LONDON: European leaders including from Germany, France and Britain will accompany Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet Donald Trump in Washington, they said on Sunday, seeking to bolster him as the U.S. president presses Ukraine to accept a quick peace. Ahead of the Washington talks on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British… Continue reading European leaders to join Zelenskiy for Washington talks as Trump presses peace deal

BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other European leaders on a visit to Washington for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump about Ukraine, the German government said on Sunday. “The talks will address, among other things, security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine in its defence against… Continue reading German chancellor Merz to join Zelenskiy for Trump talks in Washington

EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that she will be meeting U.S. President Donald Trump along with other European leaders in the White House on Monday at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. She also said that she will welcome Zelenskiy in Brussels later on Sunday and… Continue reading EU’s von der Leyen to meet Trump in White House

WASHINGTON: Offshore Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 storm early Sunday, as rain lashed Caribbean islands and weather officials warned of possible flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin briefly strengthened into a “catastrophic” Category 5 storm before its windspeeds weakened.… Continue reading Downgraded Hurricane Erin lashes Caribbean with rain

TEL AVIV: Demonstrators took to the streets across Israel Sunday calling for an end to the war in Gaza and a deal to release hostages still held by militants, as the military prepares a new offensive. The protests come more than a week after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, following 22… Continue reading Protests held across Israel calling for end to Gaza war, hostage deal

AIR CANADA said it planned to resume flights on Sunday after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) acted on a directive from Canada’s Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to end the strike resulting in the suspension of more than 700 flights. The CIRB directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and… Continue reading Air Canada to resume flights after directive ending strike