Category: World

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of new Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, calling him “highly conflicted” due to his ties to Chinese firms and raising doubts about plans to turn around the struggling American chip icon. Reuters reported exclusively in April that Tan invested at least $200 million in hundreds of… Continue reading Trump demands Intel CEO resign over China ties amid corporate turmoil

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up pressure on large banks and their regulators on Thursday, signing an executive order requiring the banking industry to ensure it is not refusing financial services to anyone based on political or religious beliefs, a practice frequently described as “debanking.” The order directed regulators to review all banks they… Continue reading Trump order bars banks from belief-based ‘debanking’

SAINT-LAURENT-DE-LA-CABRERISSE (France): A massive wildfire that has scorched through 16,000 hectares (39,537 acres) of forest and villages in southern France since Tuesday has now been contained, local authorities said on Thursday. Firefighters will remain deployed in the area in the coming days to secure the site and prevent flare-ups, they added in a statement. Residents… Continue reading France’s largest wildfire since 1949 contained after burning 16,000 hectares

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration is aiming to construct the largest federal migrant detention facility in the United States on a military base in Texas, the Pentagon said on Thursday, the latest move to use military resources to make good on his immigration agenda. Trump has stepped up arrests of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, cracked… Continue reading Trump to build largest US migrant center on Texas base

SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI launched on Thursday its GPT-5 artificial intelligence model, the highly anticipated latest installment of a technology that has helped transform global business and culture. OpenAI’s GPT models are the AI technology that powers the popular ChatGPT chatbot, and GPT-5 will be available to all 700 million ChatGPT users, OpenAI said. The big… Continue reading OpenAI launches GPT-5 with enterprise focus amid AI investment boom

WASHINGTON: The FBI is firing another round of employees, including former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, in its latest moves against officials who worked on issues that drew President Donald Trump’s ire, four people briefed on the matter said on Thursday. Driscoll, who temporarily served as the bureau’s director early this year before FBI Director Kash… Continue reading FBI fires ex-acting director Driscoll, other senior agents

WASHINGTON: The federal judiciary’s information technology systems have been targeted by “recent escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature,“ the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said in a statement on Thursday. The statement follows a Politico report late on Wednesday that the judiciary’s electronic case filing system had been compromised in a sweeping… Continue reading US federal courts targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily halted new construction at an immigration detention facility in Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” while a lawsuit over its environmental impact plays out. At a hearing in Miami, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams blocked new construction at the site in the Florida Everglades through August 12 but did not suspend… Continue reading Judge halts ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ amid environmental suit

SAN SALVADOR: El Salvador’s Congress on Thursday passed a swath of tax breaks offered to firms in exchange for investments of more than $2 billion in the country, meant to boost the small Central American nation’s economy. Firms will be offered exemptions on taxes on investment income, real estate transfers, municipal taxes and tariffs and… Continue reading El Salvador approves major tax breaks to attract billion-dollar investments

AMMAN: A Jordanian official told Reuters on Thursday that Arabs “will only support what Palestinians agree and decide on” after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wanted to hand over Gaza to Arab forces that would govern it. “Security in Gaza must be done through legitimate Palestinian institutions,“ the source said. Netanyahu did not… Continue reading Jordan: Arabs back only what Palestinians decide on Gaza

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haitian businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr took over his country’s leadership on Thursday, the last phase of its transition before it is mandated to hand power to a democratically elected successor, but a top gang leader threatened to topple the precarious government. Saint-Cyr was inaugurated at a ceremony at the capital’s Villa d’Acceuil, the temporary seat… Continue reading Haiti businessman takes presidency amid gang threats

PARIS: France’s constitutional court on Thursday blocked the re-introduction of a pesticide accused of harming bees, in the latest twist in a fierce political battle in the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer. The court said the re-authorisation of acetamiprid, part of the neonicotinoid group of pesticides banned in France, as proposed under a farming bill… Continue reading French court blocks return of bee-harming pesticide in farming law

JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza, despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave. “We intend to,“ Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bill Hemmer when asked if Israel… Continue reading Netanyahu seeks full Israeli military control over Gaza amid war

GLOBAL miners BHP Group and Vale have offered around $1.4 billion to settle a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom tied to one of Brazil’s worst-ever environmental disasters, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The lawsuit stems from the collapse in 2015 of the Mariana dam in southeastern Brazil, owned and operated by the… Continue reading BHP and Vale offer $1.4b settlement for Brazil dam disaster lawsuit

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday reaffirmed France’s full support for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the launch of talks aimed at reaching a lasting and solid peace, following a “long discussion” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other European leaders. “I reiterated to the Ukrainian President France’s full support for establishing a ceasefire… Continue reading Macron backs Ukraine ceasefire after talks with Zelenskiy and EU leaders

BENGALURU/BRASILIA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke by phone on Thursday, their offices said, discussing a broad range of topics that included tariffs imposed by the United States on goods from both countries. Lula confirmed a state visit to India in early 2026 during the call, which… Continue reading Modi and Lula discuss US tariffs amid Trump trade blitz

THE U.S. Air Force is denying early retirement to all transgender service members with between 15 and 18 years of military service, opting instead to force them out with no retirement benefits, according to a memo seen by Reuters. These longer-serving transgender service members will have the same choice as more junior ones: quit or… Continue reading US Air Force denies early retirement for transgender service members

BEIRUT: The United States has presented Lebanon with a proposal for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year, along with ending Israel’s military operations in the country and the withdrawal of its troops from five positions in south Lebanon, according to a copy of a Lebanese cabinet agenda reviewed by Reuters. The plan, submitted… Continue reading US proposes Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal by year-end

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that aims to allow private equity, real estate, cryptocurrency, and other alternative assets in 401(k) retirement accounts. The order smoothes the way for private equity and other fund managers to tap into trillions of dollars of Americans’ retirement savings. It could open up a… Continue reading Trump order allows alternative assets in 401(k) retirement plans

WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed a new financial assistance programme for the war-torn country with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in a phone call on Thursday. “We discussed a new programme of financial assistance that will strengthen Ukrainians now and in the post-war period,“ Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging… Continue reading Zelenskiy discusses new IMF aid programme for Ukraine amid budget crisis

U.S. President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries kicked in on Thursday, raising the average U.S. import duty to its highest in a century and leaving major trade partners such as Switzerland, Brazil and India hurriedly searching for a better deal. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency began collecting the… Continue reading Trump’s higher tariffs spark defiance from US trading partners

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has directed officials to develop a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants. The move comes as Republican-led states aim to reshape voter maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Trump demanded a “new and highly accurate” census based on data from the 2024 election. He stated that undocumented individuals “WILL… Continue reading Trump seeks new US census excluding undocumented immigrants

LONDON: The UK government has unveiled plans to tighten regulations on high-risk cosmetic procedures following a rise in unsafe practices. New measures aim to stop unqualified individuals from performing invasive treatments in unsuitable locations. Only registered health professionals will be allowed to conduct procedures like buttock enhancements or genital fillers under the proposed rules. Clinics… Continue reading UK cracks down on risky cosmetic procedures after safety concerns

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has dismissed Sudan’s claim that its forces destroyed an Emirati plane allegedly transporting Colombian mercenaries. Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023, with its military accusing the UAE of backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan’s state TV reported on Wednesday that the air force struck an… Continue reading UAE denies Sudan’s claim of destroying Emirati plane with mercenaries

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump demanded the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan over alleged conflicts of interest tied to Chinese firms. “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem,“ Trump posted on Truth Social. The call came after Senator Tom Cotton raised concerns… Continue reading Trump demands Intel CEO resign over China ties

NEW DELHI: A deadly flood that devastated an Indian Himalayan town this week was likely caused by a collapsing glacier, worsened by climate change, experts said. Scores remain missing after a torrent of water and debris tore through Dharali in Uttarakhand state on Tuesday. Videos show people fleeing before being engulfed by waves that uprooted… Continue reading Deadly Indian Himalayan flood linked to glacier collapse, climate change

THE HAGUE: A Dutch anti-discrimination hotline has received over 2,500 complaints regarding a campaign post by far-right leader Geert Wilders. The post, shared by the Freedom Party (PVV) leader, depicted a young blonde woman labelled “PVV” beside an older woman in a headscarf marked “PvdA,“ referencing the Dutch Labour Party. “The choice is yours on… Continue reading Dutch hotline overwhelmed by complaints over Wilders’ campaign post

BERLIN: German police confirmed three additional arrests in an alleged far-right coup plot connected to Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss. Prosecutors revealed the 2022 plot aimed to overthrow the government by attacking the German parliament. The plan allegedly sought to install Prince Reuss, an aristocrat and businessman, as the new head of state. Authorities linked the… Continue reading German prince-linked coup plot sees three more arrests

LONDON: British police confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales linked to the outlawed activist group Palestine Action. Two women and one man were arrested during a central London protest on July 5 and charged under the Terrorism Act 2000. Scotland has already seen seven similar charges due to its separate legal system.… Continue reading UK police charge three under Palestine Action terror ban

BERLIN: Germany will continue temporary border controls beyond the September deadline as part of its efforts to reduce irregular immigration, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed on Thursday. Berlin also intends to increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers with criminal backgrounds to Afghanistan and Syria, Dobrindt stated in a podcast with Table.Today. Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz… Continue reading Germany extends border controls to curb irregular migration

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire after recent deadly clashes along their shared border. The truce follows five days of hostilities last month that left at least 43 people dead. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mediated the ceasefire as ASEAN chair, with backing from US President Donald Trump and… Continue reading Thailand and Cambodia extend ceasefire pact after border clashes

JERUSALEM: Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir vowed to continue expressing the military’s position “without fear” ahead of a key security cabinet meeting. The meeting is expected to discuss war plans for Gaza amid reported disagreements between the cabinet and Zamir. “We will continue to express our position without fear, in a pragmatic, independent,… Continue reading Israel army chief vows to express military stance without fear

PARIS: Red paint and slogans were found at the entrance of Israeli airline El Al’s offices in Paris. Israel has called on French authorities to take action against what it describes as a “barbaric act”. Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian messages, including “Free Palestine” and “El Al Genocide Airline”, were scrawled on the building. The vandalism occurred… Continue reading Israeli airline El Al Paris offices vandalised with red paint

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s cabinet will reconvene on Thursday to address the contentious issue of disarming Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group has already dismissed the government’s decision to strip it of weapons. US envoy Tom Barrack has visited Beirut multiple times recently, presenting a disarmament proposal with a set timeline. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated the army has… Continue reading Lebanon cabinet to discuss Hezbollah disarmament amid US pressure

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire following recent deadly border clashes. The conflict, which erupted last month over disputed temple territories, left at least 43 dead before a truce was brokered. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN chair, facilitated the ceasefire with backing from US and Chinese mediators.… Continue reading Thailand and Cambodia extend ceasefire amid border tensions

TOKYO: Airline ANA announced plans to introduce electric air taxis in Japan as early as 2027. The initiative is a collaboration with US-based Joby Aviation. The joint venture aims to deploy over 100 five-seater aircraft for urban mobility. ANA President Koji Shibata called the project a revolution in air travel. Each aircraft will carry a… Continue reading Electric air taxis in Japan by 2027 with ANA and Joby Aviation

TAIPEI: Taiwanese investigators have raided 16 Chinese-funded companies suspected of illegally poaching high-tech talent to steal secrets from the island’s semiconductor industry. Taiwan dominates global chip manufacturing, producing over half of the world’s chips and nearly all high-end semiconductors. China is aggressively developing advanced chips for AI systems while facing US export restrictions. Hundreds of… Continue reading Taiwan raids Chinese firms over chip industry secrets theft

SRINAGAR: Indian authorities in Kashmir have banned 25 books, including a work by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, for allegedly promoting secessionism. The government order claims the books spread “false narratives” and mislead Kashmiri youth while glorifying terrorism. This follows earlier actions in February when Islamic literature was seized from homes and bookshops. Kashmir remains… Continue reading India bans 25 books in Kashmir over secessionism claims

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India would not yield on agricultural protections following new US tariffs. The US announced 50% levies on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases as a factor. Trade tensions centre on Washington’s push for access to India’s agricultural and dairy markets. Modi emphasised safeguarding farmers and dairy… Continue reading Modi stands firm on India agriculture amid US tariff dispute

KHAPLU: The body of a man who went missing 28 years ago has been discovered on a melting glacier in northern Pakistan, bringing long-awaited relief to his grieving family. The remains of 31-year-old Nasiruddin were found near the edge of the Lady Meadows glacier in the Kohistan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Locals spotted the… Continue reading Body found on melting Pakistan glacier after 28 years

OMAN: Shrouded in fog in the lush mountains of southern Oman, a giant chasm plunges into the landscape, echoing with mysterious sounds that have spawned myths and legends among nearby tribes. This enormous sinkhole is one of four that dot Dhofar governorate, including one of the world’s biggest: the yawning Kahf Teiq, up to 211… Continue reading Oman’s giant sinkholes attract tourists with mystery and myths

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged a direct meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to resolve the ongoing war. The call comes after Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held discussions with Putin in Moscow. Trump described the talks as “highly productive,“ though US officials reaffirmed plans to sanction Moscow’s trading partners. Zelensky later… Continue reading Zelensky seeks Putin meeting to end Ukraine war amid US talks

NEW DELHI: India’s Assam state will issue gun licences to “indigenous” residents near the Bangladesh border, its Hindu nationalist leader announced. The move has raised concerns among Assam’s Muslim population, who make up roughly 35 percent of the state’s 31 million people. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed Assamese-speaking communities face threats from Bangladesh… Continue reading India to issue gun licences in Bangladesh border areas amid tensions

BANGKOK: Thai prosecutors have indicted 23 individuals and companies in connection with the deadly collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during an earthquake. The 30-storey building crumbled moments after a 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar on March 28, killing thousands in the neighbouring country. The tower, intended for Thailand’s state audit office, was the only structure in… Continue reading Thai prosecutors charge 23 in deadly Bangkok skyscraper collapse

SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, following her questioning over allegations including bribery and stock manipulation. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol remains detained after his controversial declaration of martial law. Special prosecutor Oh Jung-hee confirmed the warrant request at a press briefing. Kim faces charges… Continue reading Arrest warrant sought for South Korea’s ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee

KUALA LUMPUR: A man believed to be a foreigner was arrested for trespassing onto the Light Rail Transit tracks at Masjid Jamek station. The incident occurred yesterday along the Ampang line. Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman confirmed the arrest. The suspect, in his 20s, was spotted crossing from Platform 2 to… Continue reading Man arrested for trespassing on Masjid Jamek LRT tracks in KL

LONDON: People who eat three portions of French fries a week have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. Those who consume similar amounts of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes do not have an increased risk, researchers found. An international team, including experts from the University of Cambridge, investigated links… Continue reading Eating fries over boiled potatoes raises type 2 diabetes risk, study finds

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump’s proposal to distribute financial dividends to Americans from tariff revenues has sparked both interest and skepticism. The former president suggested middle and lower-income citizens could benefit from this unconventional economic plan. Trump framed the idea as a potential rebate during a recent public statement. “We have so much money coming in, we… Continue reading Trump’s tariff dividend plan raises funding and economic questions