Category: World

Thai police arrest woman in monastic extortion scandal

BANGKOK: Thai police have arrested a woman at the centre of a sex and extortion scandal involving several senior Buddhist monks, on charges including misappropriation of property and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiet Pankaew, said the investigation began following a case on June… Continue reading Thai police arrest woman in monastic extortion scandal

First Nations challenge Canada’s fast-track laws in constitutional fight

TORONTO: A group of Canada’s First Nations has launched a constitutional challenge to recently passed laws that would fast-track approval of infrastructure projects like mines and oil pipelines, arguing the measures violate the government’s obligations to Indigenous people. The two new laws — one in the province of Ontario and one at the federal level… Continue reading First Nations challenge Canada’s fast-track laws in constitutional fight

First Nations challenge Canada’s fast-track laws in constitutional fight

TORONTO: A group of Canada’s First Nations has launched a constitutional challenge to recently passed laws that would fast-track approval of infrastructure projects like mines and oil pipelines, arguing the measures violate the government’s obligations to Indigenous people. The two new laws — one in the province of Ontario and one at the federal level… Continue reading First Nations challenge Canada’s fast-track laws in constitutional fight
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Indigenous groups seek halt to Chile lithium deal review in court

SANTIAGO: Two Indigenous groups in northern Chile have asked a local court to suspend a state-led community review process that is required for a lithium partnership between copper giant Codelco and lithium miner SQM , according to legal documents reviewed by Reuters. The Indigenous community of Coyo and the Atacameno Association of Irrigators and Farmers… Continue reading Indigenous groups seek halt to Chile lithium deal review in court
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Indigenous groups seek halt to Chile lithium deal review in court

SANTIAGO: Two Indigenous groups in northern Chile have asked a local court to suspend a state-led community review process that is required for a lithium partnership between copper giant Codelco and lithium miner SQM , according to legal documents reviewed by Reuters. The Indigenous community of Coyo and the Atacameno Association of Irrigators and Farmers… Continue reading Indigenous groups seek halt to Chile lithium deal review in court

US Republicans question university leaders on antisemitism in latest hearing

THE leaders of three U.S. universities testified before a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday about what they have done to combat antisemitism on campus, saying they were committed to stamping out hatred while protecting academic freedom. At Tuesday’s three-hour hearing, Georgetown University interim President Robert Groves, City University of New York Chancellor Felix Matos… Continue reading US Republicans question university leaders on antisemitism in latest hearing
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US Republicans question university leaders on antisemitism in latest hearing

THE leaders of three U.S. universities testified before a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday about what they have done to combat antisemitism on campus, saying they were committed to stamping out hatred while protecting academic freedom. At Tuesday’s three-hour hearing, Georgetown University interim President Robert Groves, City University of New York Chancellor Felix Matos… Continue reading US Republicans question university leaders on antisemitism in latest hearing

US investigates Brazil’s trade practices and digital payment services

WASHINGTON: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday he had launched an investigation into Brazil’s “unfair” trading practices, a week after President Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff on imports from Latin America’s largest economy. Trump’s trade war, launched since starting his second term in January, sets tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners,… Continue reading US investigates Brazil’s trade practices and digital payment services
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US investigates Brazil’s trade practices and digital payment services

WASHINGTON: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday he had launched an investigation into Brazil’s “unfair” trading practices, a week after President Donald Trump threatened a 50% tariff on imports from Latin America’s largest economy. Trump’s trade war, launched since starting his second term in January, sets tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners,… Continue reading US investigates Brazil’s trade practices and digital payment services

Russian drones and missiles strike Ukrainian cities, officials confirm

RUSSIAN drones and missiles attacked widely separated areas of Ukraine, officials said early on Wednesday, with at least two people reported killed. National emergency services reported two deaths in drone strikes east of the northeastern city of Kharkiv near the town of Kupiansk, an area which has been under Russian attack for several months. In… Continue reading Russian drones and missiles strike Ukrainian cities, officials confirm

Trump says Vietnam trade deal nearly final with tariff details pending

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a trade agreement with Vietnam was nearly complete. Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington that he could release details of the Vietnam trade agreement, but did not think it was necessary. The U.S. president announced earlier this month that he had struck a… Continue reading Trump says Vietnam trade deal nearly final with tariff details pending

Trump announces tariff letters for smaller nations, rates likely above 10%

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said letters notifying smaller countries of their U.S. tariff rates would go out soon, adding that his administration would likely set a tariff of “a little over 10%” for those countries. Trump, speaking to reporters after his arrival from an event in Pittsburgh, said he was very happy… Continue reading Trump announces tariff letters for smaller nations, rates likely above 10%

Trump intervenes to resolve crypto legislation deadlock in US

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday stepped in to broker an agreement among Republican lawmakers after a snag cast doubt on the fate of long-awaited cryptocurrency legislation that would mark a major victory for the digital assets sector. A failed procedural vote in the House of Representatives earlier on Tuesday sent shares of crypto… Continue reading Trump intervenes to resolve crypto legislation deadlock in US

US military to withdraw 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles

WASHINGTON: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the removal of half of the 4,000 National Guard troops who had been sent to Los Angeles to protect federal property and personnel during a spate of protests last month, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the decision owed to the success of… Continue reading US military to withdraw 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles

Trump executive order to expand retirement plan access to private markets

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days designed to help make private-market investments more available to U.S. retirement plans, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Trump order would instruct the U.S. Labor Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission… Continue reading Trump executive order to expand retirement plan access to private markets

Israel strikes Syria to protect Druze amid ceasefire violations

SWEIDA: Israel carried out strikes against Syrian government forces in southwestern Syria for a second day on Tuesday, vowing to keep the area demilitarized and to protect the Druze minority as deadly clashes continued in the region at the Israeli frontier. A Reuters reporter said they heard drones and at least four strikes over the… Continue reading Israel strikes Syria to protect Druze amid ceasefire violations

Trump says US will engage China ‘in very friendly fashion’ on trade

PITTSBURGH: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded a new trade deal signed with Indonesia and said the United States would be fighting China “in a very friendly fashion.” Trump told an energy summit at Carnegie Mellon University that other trade deals could be reached, including potentially with India. Trump has launched a global trade… Continue reading Trump says US will engage China ‘in very friendly fashion’ on trade

US Senate votes on Trump foreign aid cuts, PEPFAR funding preserved

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Senate is due to begin voting on Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s request to slash billions in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting previously approved by Congress, the latest test of Trump’s control over his fellow Republicans. However, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told reporters it will no… Continue reading US Senate votes on Trump foreign aid cuts, PEPFAR funding preserved

Trump’s UN envoy pick Waltz vows to counter China’s influence

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations needs reform and the United States must have a strong voice to counter China, Mike Waltz, U.S. President Donald Trump’s pick to be his U.N. envoy, said on Tuesday, adding that he is “confident we can make the U.N. great again.” Waltz – a retired Army Green Beret and former… Continue reading Trump’s UN envoy pick Waltz vows to counter China’s influence

Brazilian beef exporters reassess US shipments after 50% tariff hike

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO: Brazilian meatpackers are weighing whether to make new shipments of beef products to the United States after President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazil last week, Roberto Perosa, president of Brazilian beef lobby ABIEC, said. The United States is Brazil’s second most important beef products market after China, according… Continue reading Brazilian beef exporters reassess US shipments after 50% tariff hike

Grand Canyon wildfire grows 50% after destroying historic lodge

A wildfire in tinder-dry forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon grew around 50% on Tuesday after it destroyed dozens of buildings, prompting public outrage that it was left to burn for a week before firefighters tried to fully extinguish it. The so-called Dragon Bravo Fire swelled to 8,570 acres (3,468 hectares) after… Continue reading Grand Canyon wildfire grows 50% after destroying historic lodge

Former Nigeria president Buhari laid to rest in Katsina with national honours

KATSINA (Nigeria): Nigeria’s former President Muhammad Buhari was buried on Tuesday in the backyard of his home in northern Katsina state, as residents climbed trees to bid farewell to the 82-year-old. Buhari ruled Africa’s most populous nation between 2015 and 2023 and died in a London hospital on Sunday after an undisclosed illness. He was… Continue reading Former Nigeria president Buhari laid to rest in Katsina with national honours

Trump imposes 19% tariff on Indonesia goods as EU prepares retaliation

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff on goods from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country and more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he views as better terms with trading partners and ways to shrink a huge… Continue reading Trump imposes 19% tariff on Indonesia goods as EU prepares retaliation

Pentagon aims to boost US rare earth supply with local firms

THE U.S. Department of Defense plans to continue investing in critical minerals projects to ensure a diverse American supply of the building blocks for weapons and many electronics, a defense official told Reuters on Tuesday. The Pentagon signed a multibillion-dollar deal last week to become the largest shareholder in rare earths producer MP Materials and… Continue reading Pentagon aims to boost US rare earth supply with local firms

Trump to meet Starmer in Scotland for trade talks during golf visit

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he expects to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Aberdeen, Scotland, later this month to refine a U.S.-British trade deal. A White House official said Trump plans to visit his golf properties in Scotland late this month, recreating a trip he made in 2016 during his… Continue reading Trump to meet Starmer in Scotland for trade talks during golf visit

Trump warns Zelenskiy against targeting Moscow amid Ukraine conflict

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy should not target Moscow and that Russian President Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in. His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on Tuesday that Trump… Continue reading Trump warns Zelenskiy against targeting Moscow amid Ukraine conflict

Church of England removes outdated sexuality document for clergy selection

LONDON: The Church of England’s governing body voted on Tuesday to do away with requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offensive. The document, titled “Issues in Human Sexuality,“ described “homosexual practice as especially dishonourable”… Continue reading Church of England removes outdated sexuality document for clergy selection

Peru miners suspend protests, unblock key copper route

LIMA: Miners in Peru who have been allowed to operate with temporary permits have paused protests that blocked a major copper transit route for more than two weeks, one of the protest leaders, Luis Huaman, told Reuters on Tuesday. He said they planned to suspend the protest at least through Friday, while continuing to press… Continue reading Peru miners suspend protests, unblock key copper route

France plans to cut two public holidays to tackle budget deficit

PARIS: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed scrapping two public holidays and freezing most public spending as part of a 43.8 billion euro ($50.88 billion) budget squeeze he outlined on Tuesday. Bayrou’s plan involves freezing welfare spending and tax brackets in 2026 at 2025 levels, not even adjusting for inflation, which was immediately criticised by… Continue reading France plans to cut two public holidays to tackle budget deficit