Category: World

BRUSSELS: French pharmaceutical group Sanofi confirmed European Commission representatives visited its premises in France and Germany on Monday. The visits were part of an investigation into the company’s conduct within the seasonal flu vaccine sector. Sanofi stated it is confident about its compliance with all relevant rules and regulations. The company pledged full cooperation with… Continue reading Sanofi under European Commission investigation over flu vaccines

CHENNAI: Nine workers were killed in an accident at a thermal power plant under construction in the southern Indian city of Chennai. The incident occurred when a steel arch collapsed at a construction site at the Ennore SEZ Supercritical Thermal Power Project. J. Radhakrishnan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and chairman of the… Continue reading Nine workers killed in Chennai power plant construction accident

WASHINGTON: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development website displayed an unusual message blaming Democrats for an impending government shutdown. Visitors to HUD.gov on Tuesday encountered a pop-up accusing the Radical Left of threatening to shut down government unless receiving their 1.5 trillion dollar demands. The Trump administration statement claimed it wanted to… Continue reading US housing agency blames radical left for government shutdown threat

WASHINGTON: The US Federal Communications Commission voted on Tuesday to consider lifting the long-standing prohibition on mergers between the largest four broadcast networks. The commission will seek public comments before deciding whether to reverse the rule that bars mergers among the Big Four networks. These networks include NBC owned by Comcast, Walt Disney Company’s ABC,… Continue reading US FCC considers ending ban on big four broadcast network mergers

LOS ANGELES: The United States government has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department for allegedly violating constitutional rights through excessive delays in processing concealed weapon licenses. Federal authorities accused the sheriff’s department of systematically denying Second Amendment rights through what they described as a deliberate pattern of unconscionable delay. Sheriff Robert… Continue reading US sues Los Angeles sheriff over slow concealed gun license process

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Pfizer will cut the price of all prescription drugs in the Medicaid program for low-income Americans and sell new prescription drugs at a “most favored nation” price in exchange for tariff relief. Trump also said he expects other drugmakers to follow suit. U.S. patients currently pay by far… Continue reading Trump announces Pfizer price cuts for Medicaid and new drugs

BUENOS AIRES: U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei in two weeks, Argentina said on Tuesday, as Milei seeks to clinch a credit swap line from the U.S. that has rankled some Republicans as the South American nation offloaded billions of dollars in soy to China. The two will meet… Continue reading Trump to meet Argentina’s Milei at White House in October

LIVERPOOL: Britain’s finance minister Rachel Reeves plans to scrap a two-child limit on welfare payments to parents in her November 26 budget, the Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday. The budget is set to be a crucial moment in what has been a difficult start to Labour’s time in government following the party’s landslide election victory… Continue reading UK finance minister to scrap two-child benefit cap in November budget

KINSHASA: Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia on Tuesday by a military court that convicted him of war crimes, treason, and crimes against humanity. The case stems from his alleged role in backing the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in Congo’s volatile east. Kabila, who led Congo… Continue reading Congo military court sentences ex-president Kabila to death in absentia

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration announced the removal of five senior leaders over the cancelled Transportation Security Administration’s Quiet Skies aviation security watch list program. These officials were allegedly involved in targeting political opponents through the program. The United States Homeland Security Department stated it was ending the program in June. The program had designated certain… Continue reading US removes senior leaders over airline passenger watch list program

WASHINGTON: France and the United States are planning a second joint mission of coordinated satellite maneuvers in orbit, part of a growing push to sharpen allied spying capabilities as China expands its own military footprint in space, a senior U.S. general told Reuters. The operation would be the Pentagon’s third known mission conducted in space… Continue reading US and France plan second joint spy satellite mission to counter China

WARSAW: A Ukrainian diver sought by Germany for his alleged role in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions has been detained in Poland. German prosecutors and the suspect’s lawyer confirmed the arrest on Tuesday following a European arrest warrant. Germany’s top prosecutors’ office stated that Polish police acted upon their warrant for Volodymyr Z. The… Continue reading Ukrainian diver wanted in Poland over Nord Stream pipeline explosions

WASHINGTON: Rock samples from the moon’s far side reveal its interior is significantly cooler than the side facing Earth. China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft successfully retrieved these unique samples last year. The collected material formed deep within the lunar mantle billions of years ago. Scientists analysed minerals from the Chang’e-6 landing site in the South Pole-Aitken Basin.… Continue reading Moon’s farside interior cooler than nearside, Chang’e-6 samples show

KUALA LUMPUR: Inisiatif subsidi bersasar BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) mencatat hampir tiga juta pengguna dengan jualan melebihi RM91 juta dalam tempoh empat hari. Menteri Kewangan II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan berkata setakat 6 petang tadi, lebih kurang dua juta pengguna telah memanfaatkan pembelian petrol RON95 pada harga subsidi RM1.99 seliter. Beliau menyatakan pergerakan yang… Continue reading BUDI95 catat tiga juta pengguna, jualan lebih RM91 juta dalam empat hari

PARIS: South Africa’s ambassador to France was found dead on Tuesday outside a Paris hotel after the window of his room in the high rise building was forced open, prosecutors said. Nkosinathi Emmanuel Nathi Mthethwa, 58, usually known as Nathi Mthethwa, had reserved a room on the 22nd floor whose secured window had been forced… Continue reading South African ambassador found dead outside Paris hotel

DOHA: Qatar will hold talks with Hamas negotiators and Turkey on Tuesday to discuss US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Hamas would study the proposal “responsibly” during the upcoming meeting. The announcement follows Trump’s unveiling of a comprehensive plan calling for an immediate ceasefire and hostage release within 72… Continue reading Qatar to hold Gaza plan talks with Hamas and Turkey on Tuesday

GENEVA: The United Nations is seeking a waiver from the Taliban’s shutdown of internet and mobile phone services in Afghanistan, warning the blackout is hurting a country already suffering from multiple crises. UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Indrika Ratwatte said the shutdown that started Monday was affecting day-to-day business and critical aid provision. This is… Continue reading UN seeks Taliban waiver as Afghanistan telecoms blackout deepens crisis

WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to lay off more than 500 Voice of America employees. The ruling on Monday suspended termination notices that were scheduled to take effect on September 30, marking the latest development in an ongoing legal battle over government-funded media. Judge Royce Lamberth’s order specifically… Continue reading US judge halts mass layoff of Voice of America employees in temporary ruling

HANOI: A Vietnamese court has sentenced 16 former officials from the country’s only state-sanctioned gold bar producer to lengthy prison terms in a major corruption case. The Ho Chi Minh City court delivered verdicts after a five-day trial involving former Saigon Jewelry Company executives accused of multimillion-dollar fraud. Former SJC CEO Le Thuy Hang received… Continue reading Vietnam jails former SJC officials over gold bar graft involving millions

MADRID: Spain’s leftist government announced it will investigate companies that advertise products or services originating from Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. The measure follows last week’s approval of a decree banning promotion of such goods and services in Spain. The consumer ministry stated this aims to prevent firms from benefiting from the occupation. Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo… Continue reading Spain investigates companies linked to occupied Palestinian territories

TEHRAN: Iran said Tuesday that 120 nationals being deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown will fly home this week. Foreign ministry consular affairs official Hossein Noushabadi told the Tasnim news agency that “120 people should be deported and flown home over the next couple of days”. He added that “the… Continue reading 120 Iranians deported from US to arrive home this week under immigration crackdown

DRESDEN: A former aide to German far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah in the European parliament was jailed for four years and nine months on Tuesday on charges of spying for China. The court in Dresden found that Jian Guo was guilty of acting as an agent for a Chinese intelligence service while working for Krah, a… Continue reading Former German far-right MP aide jailed for spying for China

MADRID: Spain’s national weather agency lowered its rain alert level for the eastern region of Valencia on Tuesday. AEMET reduced the alert from red to yellow a day after downpours sparked fears of a repeat of last year’s deadly floods. Parts of the Balearic Islands also remained on yellow alert, which represents no risk to… Continue reading Spain lowers rain alert level in Valencia region after flood fears

HANOI: Long-lasting Typhoon Bualoi left swaths of Vietnam flooded on Tuesday, with the storm killing 19 people and wreaking havoc on homes, infrastructure and farmland. Bualoi made landfall in central Vietnam late Sunday, packing winds of 130 kilometres per hour and remaining over land for almost 12 hours. The duration was “very rare” as compared… Continue reading Typhoon Bualoi kills 19 in Vietnam with widespread flooding and destruction

SIDOARJO: Searchers raced to rescue at least 38 people still believed trapped after the collapse of an Islamic school building in Indonesia that has already left three dead. The building gave way on Indonesia’s main island Java where students were gathered for afternoon prayers, according to local reports citing a witness. Families desperate for news… Continue reading Dozens missing, three dead in Indonesia Islamic school collapse in Sidoarjo

KUALA LUMPUR: Afghanistan faced a second day without internet and mobile phone service on Tuesday after Taliban authorities cut the fibre optic network. The government began shutting down high speed internet connections to some provinces earlier in the month to prevent vice on the orders of shadowy supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. On Monday night, mobile… Continue reading Taliban internet cut sparks Afghanistan telecoms blackout, crippling business

BRUSSELS: Fossil fuel developers should be excluded from financial investments labelled sustainable, NGOs and associations urged on Tuesday. More than 120 signatories including organisations such as Reclaim Finance, financial institutions and legal experts made the call in an open letter to Brussels. They urged the European Commission to offer “sufficient safeguards to prevent greenwashing” in… Continue reading NGOs urge EU to exclude fossil fuels from sustainable investment labels

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation establishing a 10% tariff on imported lumber and a 25% tariff on vanities, kitchen cabinets, and upholstered wooden products. These new tariffs will officially take effect on October 14 this year. The proclamation further states that tariff rates will increase significantly starting January 1. Upholstered wooden products… Continue reading Trump imposes 10% lumber tariff, higher rates on wooden products

BOSTON: The Trump administration escalated its campaign against Harvard University on Monday by initiating a process that could render the institution ineligible for federal funding. The Department of Health and Human Services announced it had referred Harvard to the office responsible for administrative suspension and debarment proceedings. This action opens the possibility of the Ivy… Continue reading Trump administration moves to make Harvard ineligible for federal funding

NEW YORK: U.S. federal prosecutors urged a judge on Tuesday to sentence Sean “Diddy” Combs to more than 11 years in prison this week following the hip-hop mogul’s conviction on prostitution-related charges. The prosecutors sought “at least 135 months’ imprisonment” and asked the court to fine Combs $500,000, according the court filing. U.S. District Judge… Continue reading Prosecutors seek more than 11 years for Diddy on sex crime charges

CHICAGO: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated on Monday that the Trump administration requested the Pentagon to deploy 100 troops to the state amid escalating tensions involving federal immigration agents. The Illinois National Guard received a memo from the Department of Homeland Security outlining the troop request earlier that day. Pritzker characterised the Trump administration’s intensified… Continue reading Illinois governor says Trump administration requested troop deployment to Chicago

MOSCOW: Russian forces have taken control of two more frontline settlements in key areas of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region according to the Russian Defence Ministry. Ukrainian officials did not address the Russian announcement concerning the two villages but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv’s counter-offensive operation near the town of Dobropillia made progress. Reuters could not… Continue reading Russia claims control of two Donetsk villages as Ukraine reports gains

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Justice Department said on Monday it has sued Minnesota and state officials over its immigration sanctuary policies, the latest move in a legal campaign by Republican President Donald Trump’s administration against jurisdictions run by Democrats. The department said the state was carrying out policies that are illegal under federal law. It alleged… Continue reading US Justice Department sues Minnesota over sanctuary policies

CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom signed into state law on Monday a requirement that ChatGPT developer OpenAI and other big players disclose how they plan to mitigate potential catastrophic risks from their cutting-edge AI models. California is the home to top AI companies including OpenAI, Alphabet’s Google, Meta Platforms, Nvidia and Anthropic, and with this law… Continue reading California enforces AI safety disclosure law for major tech companies

WASHINGTON: The top Republican and Democrat on the US Senate Judiciary Committee have reintroduced legislation to tighten rules for the H-1B and L-1 worker visa programmes. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, and Democratic ranking member Dick Durbin of Illinois stated the bill targets what they called loopholes and abuse by major employers.… Continue reading US senators reintroduce bill to reform H-1B and L-1 visa rules

SEOUL: North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has declared her country’s unwavering position to further strengthen ties with China. State media KCNA reported her statement on Tuesday following meetings with Chinese officials. During her visit to China, she met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday. Li told Choe that China highly valued relations… Continue reading North Korea vows to strengthen ties with China, foreign minister says

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Gaza with a new plan. Starmer called on all sides to come together and work with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. He stated that Hamas should now agree to the… Continue reading UK’s Starmer welcomes Trump Gaza plan and urges Hamas to accept

LIVERPOOL: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will call for unity within his Labour Party during its annual conference in Liverpool. Starmer described the current political situation as a “fight for the soul of our country” that will be long and difficult. The prime minister needs to re-establish his authority over a party that has become… Continue reading Starmer urges Labour unity in fight for Britain’s soul at conference

WASHINGTON: Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by former US President Donald Trump regarding his account suspension. The settlement resolves legal action Trump initiated following YouTube’s decision to suspend his account after the January 2021 US Capitol riots. A court filing revealed the settlement terms on Monday, concluding… Continue reading YouTube pays $24.5 million to settle Trump account suspension lawsuit