Category: World

ISTANBUL: Turkish police arrested five opposition mayors early Wednesday alongside 17 others as part of a probe into corruption allegations at CHP-held municipalities, a party spokesman told AFP. The latest arrests targeted a former lawmaker and three CHP mayors in Istanbul, and two more in the southern province of Adana, the spokesman said. The latest… Continue reading Turkey arrests five mayors from CHP opposition party

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to make his first visit to contested Kashmir since a conflict between India and Pakistan last month, inaugurating a strategic railway to the mountainous region, his office said Wednesday. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir is at the centre of a bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan, divided between… Continue reading India’s Modi to visit Kashmir to unveil strategic railway

BERLIN: Around 20,000 people were being evacuated from central Cologne Wednesday after three unexploded World War II bombs were found, the biggest such operation in the German city since the end of the war. Bomb squad technicians were planning to defuse the three American explosives, two weighing 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) and one 500 kg,… Continue reading World War II bombs spark large-scale evacuation in Cologne

HANOI: Vietnamese police said Wednesday they had arrested administrators of a YouTube channel with two million subscribers for allegedly spreading false information about state officials. Rights campaigners say the government in one-party Vietnam has in recent years stepped up a crackdown on civil society and weaponised the law to silence critics, especially people posting on… Continue reading Vietnam police arrest admin of popular YouTube channel

STOCKHOLM: A jihadist jailed over the Paris and Brussels attacks in 2015 and 2016 went on trial in Stockholm on Wednesday for his role in the 2014 capture and subsequent killing of a Jordanian pilot burned alive in Syria. The case is considered unique as the other jihadists involved in the brutal killing, which sparked… Continue reading Sweden tries sole surviving jihadist over Jordan pilot burnt to death

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has revoked a Biden-era health guideline that protected emergency abortions when medically required, even in states that ban the procedure. The Biden-era memo was issued in July 2022, weeks after the US Supreme Court struck down the constitutionally enshrined right to abortion. As health providers suddenly found themselves embroiled in legal… Continue reading Trump admin rescinds Biden-era guidance on emergency abortions

PARIS: Greenpeace activists overnight Tuesday to Wednesday returned a wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron they had stolen from a Paris museum as part of a protest against French economic ties with Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. After taking the waxwork from the Grevin Museum in a carefully planned heist on… Continue reading Activists return Macron waxwork stolen from Paris museum

BEIJING: Beijing hit back Wednesday at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for saying that the world will “never forget” the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, describing his remarks as an “attack” on China. Chinese troops and tanks forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, after weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political… Continue reading China calls Rubio’s comments on Tiananmen Square crackdown an ‘attack’

GAZA CITY: The civil defence agency in Gaza said an Israeli strike on a tent housing displaced Palestinians near the southern city of Khan Yunis on Wednesday killed at least 12 people. “At least 12 people were killed, including several children and women, in a strike by an Israeli drone this morning on a tent… Continue reading Rescuers say Israeli strike killed at least 12 people in south Gaza

TOKYO: Around 100 dead cats were discovered at the squalid home of a woman in southwest Japan who belonged to an animal welfare group, a local official said on Wednesday. The group, Animal Assist Senju, apologised on social media, posting pictures of the trash-strewn house it said “was overflowing with faeces and urine”. The residence… Continue reading Around 100 dead cats found at Japan woman’s home

ISLAMABAD: More than 200,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since the government renewed a deportation drive in April, Islamabad’s interior ministry told AFP. Pakistan has launched a strict campaign to evict more than 800,000 Afghans who have had their residence permits cancelled, including some who were born in Pakistan or lived there for decades. According to… Continue reading 200,000 Afghans left Pakistan since deportations renewed

WASHINGTON: The administration of US President Donald Trump rescinded on Tuesday guidance issued under his predecessor Joe Biden explicitly protecting hospitals for providing emergency abortions. The memo, which required hospitals to provide emergency abortions to women whose health was at risk, even in states with abortion restrictions, was rescinded by a branch of the US… Continue reading Trump admin rescinds Biden-era guidance on emergency abortions

PARIS: Nicole Croisille, a French singer who sang on the soundtrack of the hit 1966 film “A Man and a Woman”, has died, her agent told AFP on Wednesday. She was 88. Croisille died “following a long illness” in Paris during the night of Tuesday-Wednesday, Jacques Metges said. “Until the end, she fought with lots… Continue reading French singer Nicole Croisille, of ‘A Man and a Woman’ fame, dies at 88: agent

MOSCOW: Russia has said it was wrong to expect a quick breakthrough in Ukraine talks, after Moscow rejected Kyiv’s call for an unconditional ceasefire at negotiations in Istanbul. The sides agreed on a large-scale swap of captured soldiers and exchanged their roadmaps to peace, or so-called “memorandums”, at the discussions, which lasted less than two… Continue reading Russia says no quick breakthrough in ‘complex’ Ukraine talks

WASHINGTON: The United States doubled steel and aluminum tariffs Wednesday, casting a pall on a gathering of OECD ministers as President Donald Trump’s intensifying trade war weighs on the world economy. Trump’s sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike — including levies on imported steel and autos — have strained US ties with trading partners… Continue reading US doubles steel, aluminum tariffs as OECD ministers gather

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he wanted to “expand and strengthen” ties with South Korea, sending congratulations as centre-left President Lee Jae-myung took office. Lee takes the helm of a nation deeply divided after his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol’s disastrous attempt to declare martial law in December. “Look forward… Continue reading India seeks to grow South Korea ties under leader Lee

TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed Wednesday to preserve the memory of victims of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown on demonstrators 36 years ago, echoing rhetoric by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Chinese troops and tanks forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, after weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political freedoms.… Continue reading Taiwan’s Lai, Rubio vow to ‘never forget’ Tiananmen victims

SEOUL: South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung vowed to reach out to the nuclear-armed North and “heal wounds” as he took office Wednesday, after winning snap elections triggered by his predecessor’s disastrous martial law declaration. South Korea’s new centre-left leader also warned that “rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring” posed an existential threat to Asia’s… Continue reading South Korea’s new leader vows to ‘heal wounds’ with nuclear-armed North

MECCA: More than a million worshippers were set to join Islam’s most important rite under a beating sun as the hajj pilgrimage kicked off Wednesday, with authorities scrambling to avoid last year’s 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. In temperatures that are expected to climb to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), robed pilgrims… Continue reading Million-plus pilgrims to begin hajj under blazing sun

HANOI: Vietnam’s communist government has scrapped its long-standing policy of limiting families to two children, state media said Wednesday, as the country battles to reverse a declining birth rate. The country banned couples from having more than two children in 1988, but a family’s size is now a decision for each individual couple, Vietnam News… Continue reading Vietnam scraps two-child limit as birth rate declines

LIMA: Peru’s government on Tuesday defended its decision to nearly halve the size of the protected area where the fabled Nazca lines were discovered, arguing that it would help put a stop to illegal mining in the area. The series of massive etchings on the floor of the Nazca desert, which depict animals, plants, imaginary… Continue reading Peru government under fire for halving reserve around Nazca lines

JERUSALEM: Aid centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israel-backed agency, will temporarily close Wednesday for renovation, it said. “June 4, distribution centres will be closed for renovation, reorganisation and efficiency improvement work,“ GHF wrote on Facebook. Aid distribution will resume Thursday, it added. The Israeli army confirmed the temporary closure.… Continue reading US-backed Gaza aid centres to close Wednesday

KANO: Eleven children were buried alive while excavating sand in northern Nigeria when a pit collapsed on Tuesday, police said. The children, aged between four and nine, were excavating sand for making mud bricks when the pit outside Yardoka village in Kaduna state collapsed on them. “Eleven of the children died and seven others were… Continue reading Collapsed pit kills 11 children in northern Nigeria: police

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it was shelling targets in Syria on Tuesday in response to a pair of projectile launches, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying he held Syria’s leader “directly responsible”. A military statement said that “two projectiles were identified crossing from Syria into Israeli territory, and fell in open areas”, adding in… Continue reading Israel army says shelling Syria after projectiles launched

RAMALLAH: Israel’s military confirmed on Tuesday it had “neutralised” a Palestinian who threw rocks in the occupied West Bank, where authorities said the slain victim was 14 years old. In a statement on Monday, the Palestinian Authority announced “the martyrdom of 14-year-old boy Yousef Fouad Faqha, who was shot by Israeli forces in the town… Continue reading Israel army confirms shot Palestinian teen in West Bank

VIENNA: An Austrian newspaper came under fire Tuesday after Hollywood star Clint Eastwood said an alleged interview with him published by the paper to mark his 95th birthday was “entirely phony”. The row was sparked by a purported interview with the Oscar-winning actor and director carried by the German-language Kurier newspaper Friday. In the interview,… Continue reading Austrian daily under fire after Clint Eastwood slams ‘phony’ interview

WASHINGTON: The White House defended US President Donald Trump’s huge tax cuts and spending mega-bill Tuesday after billionaire former aide Elon Musk blasted it as a “disgusting abomination.” “The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, it doesn’t change his opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it,“… Continue reading White House says Musk criticism ‘doesn’t change’ Trump’s support for mega-bill

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose “large scale” fines against California after a transgender high school athlete’s victory at state track and field championships last weekend. AB Hernandez, 16, won two gold medals and a silver at the athletics meet in Clovis amid an outcry over her participation. Hernandez shared her place… Continue reading Trump threatens fines against California over trans athlete

WASHINGTON: US tech billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday hammered the sprawling tax cuts and spending mega-bill that President Donald Trump is trying to muscle through Congress as a “disgusting abomination.” “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,“ Musk posted on X, days after ending his tenure as one of the Republican’s closest advisors.… Continue reading Elon Musk blasts Trump spending mega-bill as ‘disgusting abomination’

GENEVA: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as “unacceptable” the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory “unthinkable.” “We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid,“… Continue reading UN chief condemns ‘unacceptable’ deaths of Gazans seeking aid: spokesman

GAZA: The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Gaza’s Rafah city recorded 27 deaths on Tuesday, matching a toll given by rescuers after Israeli forces opened fire near an aid centre. “Early this morning, the 60-bed Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 184 patients.… Continue reading Red Cross confirms 27 killed in Gaza after gunfire on aid seekers

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said it was investigating an incident on Tuesday in which it said its forces fired “warning shots” at Gazans near an aid centre, and which the Red Cross said killed 27 people. “Earlier today, (Israeli) forces fired warning shots about half a kilometre from the aid distribution area, toward suspects who were… Continue reading Israel army says investigating after firing at Gazans near aid site

GENEVA: The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected five countries — Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia and Liberia — to serve as non-permanent Security Council members for the 2026-2027 term. The Security Council, the international peace and security body of the United Nations, is comprised of 15 countries: permanent members Britain, China,… Continue reading DR Congo, Colombia, Latvia among new UN Security Council members

KUALA LUMPUR: Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has returned back to his home country and was in a “good condition”, Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim said late on Tuesday. Sultan Hassanal was admitted to hospital in Kuala Lumpur a week ago due to fatigue, though his office had insisted the world’s longest-serving monarch was in “good health”.… Continue reading Brunei sultan leaves Malaysia after hospital scare

WASHINGTON: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed aid group, on Tuesday named an evangelical Christian leader as its new chairman, after rescuers said Israel’s military killed 27 people near a GHF distribution center in the territory. The appointment of Reverend Johnnie Moore “underscores GHF’s determination to pair operational excellence with experienced, service-oriented leadership,“ the group’s… Continue reading US-backed Gaza aid group names right-wing Christian leader as new head

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat met with the new US ambassador to Beijing on Tuesday, calling for “healthy” bilateral ties while Washington’s envoy pressed Beijing on trade, drugs and immigration as the two powers wage a tariff war. The meeting came ahead of what the White House said was a likely call between US President Donald… Continue reading China FM urges ‘healthy’ ties in meeting with new US ambassador

GENEVA: More than 165,000 people have been displaced by violence in South Sudan in the last three months, with around 100,000 fleeing abroad, the United Nations said Tuesday. South Sudan has been beset by political instability and ethnic violence since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. “Over 165,000 people have fled increasing tensions and… Continue reading 165,000 displaced by S. Sudan violence in three months: UN