Monday, July 31, 2023

Trump holds commanding lead over DeSantis despite legal woes: Poll July 31, 2023 at 10:16AM

Nawaz Sharif to be Pak premier if PML-N returns to power: PM Shehbaz July 31, 2023 at 09:43AM

Trump holds decisive lead among Republican primary voters July 31, 2023 at 04:19AM

A Siena College/New York Times poll found that former President Donald Trump continues to hold a strong lead among likely Republican primary voters, with 54% backing him, compared to 17% for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump showed healthy margins among every demographic group, including male and female, every age group, income bracket, region, and political ideology within the Republican party.

Death toll in Pak suicide bombing rises to 54 as kin hold funerals, police say July 30, 2023 at 11:52PM

The death toll from a massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric rose to 54 Monday, as Pakistan held funerals and the government vowed to hunt down those behind the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing, which also wounded nearly 200 people. Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group's regional affiliate could be responsible.

China's oil and uranium business in Niger July 30, 2023 at 11:09PM

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Zelenskyy says 'war' coming to Russia after Moscow drone attack July 30, 2023 at 04:56AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Sunday that "war" was coming to Russia after three Ukrainian drones were downed over Moscow.

Indian-origin Hirsh Vardhan Singh announces 2024 US presidential bid July 29, 2023 at 05:05PM

Hirsh Vardhan Singh, an Indian-American engineer, has announced his bid for the White House, becoming the third person of Indian descent after Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy to join the crowded Republican field of candidates vying to become US President in 2024.

UK doctor claiming to be trained in Indian specialist massage jailed for sexual assault July 30, 2023 at 12:14AM

A doctor who claimed to have been trained in specialist massage in India for two years has been handed an 18-month prison sentence by a UK court which also placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years after being found guilty of the sexual assault of a female patient.

Tens of thousands evacuated as China hit by torrential rain July 30, 2023 at 12:15AM

Typhoon Doksuri has prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals from flood-prone areas in the Chinese capital of Beijing after battering the Philippines and parts of China since Friday. More than 27,000 people in high-risk areas of the capital have been evacuated and another 20,000 were relocated from parts of Hebei’s capital, Shijiazhuang.

Pak approves projects worth billions of dollars to Gulf countries July 29, 2023 at 11:32PM

Eight dead, 10 hospitalised after 'hurricane' in Russia July 29, 2023 at 11:26PM

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Europe's night trains make bumpy comeback July 29, 2023 at 05:39PM

Judge throws out Trump defamation lawsuit against CNN July 29, 2023 at 06:00AM

A federal judge has dismissed a $475 million defamation lawsuit that Donald Trump filed against CNN for describing his claim that the 2020 election was stolen as the "Big Lie."Trump, in the suit filed in a US District Court in Florida in October, had alleged that the use of the phrase by the cable television news network associated the former US president with tactics used by Adolf Hitler.

US VP Harris embraces new attack role, draws fresh Republican fire July 29, 2023 at 12:16AM

Vice President Kamala Harris has shown a punchy side during a tour of nearly a dozen US states in recent weeks, attacking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for backing "revisionist history" about slavery, telling Iowa healthcare workers to rebel against the state's new restrictive abortion laws and rallying Latinos in Chicago to fight "extremist" Republicans.

Shooting in Seattle parking lot injures 5 people July 28, 2023 at 10:28PM

A shooting in a Seattle parking lot Friday night wounded five people, including two who were in critical condition, the city's police chief said. The Seattle Police Department responded to a reported shooting around 9 p.m. in the 9200 block of Rainier Avenue South.

Friday, July 28, 2023

The UFO congressional hearing was 'insulting' to US employees, a top Pentagon official says July 28, 2023 at 06:16PM

A top Pentagon official has attacked this week's widely watched congressional hearing on UFOs, calling the claims “insulting” to employees who are investigating sightings and accusing a key witness of not cooperating with the official US government investigation. Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick's letter, published on his personal LinkedIn page and circulated Friday across social media, criticises much of the testimony from a retired Air Force intelligence officer that energised believers in extraterrestrial life and produced headlines around the world.

Joe Biden openly acknowledges 7th grandchild, the daughter of son Hunter and an Arkansas woman July 28, 2023 at 04:27PM

Joe Biden has acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time. Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, fathered the child with Lunden Roberts in 2018. As part of a statement, Biden said that Hunter and Roberts are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter. Hunter Biden's paternity was established through DNA testing after Roberts sued for child support.

Key US inflation gauge cools further as rate hikes bite July 28, 2023 at 03:58AM

A key indicator of US inflation cooled in June to the lowest annual rate in over two years, although this remains above the central bank's target, according to government data released Friday. The Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 3.0 per cent last month from June 2022, down from a 3.8 per cent jump in May, said the Commerce Department.

Nearly 200 million people in US are under heat or flood advisories July 28, 2023 at 02:59AM

Dangerous heat is forecast to “engulf” much of the eastern half of the United States as extreme temperatures spread from the Midwest into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic where some residents will see their hottest temperatures of the year, according to the National Weather Service. Althouth much of the country does not cool much on normal summer nights, night temperatures are forecast to stay hotter than usual leading to excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Trump accused of asking staffer to delete footage in classified documents case July 27, 2023 at 01:08PM

Donald Trump asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into his possession of classified documents, according to an updated indictment unsealed Thursday that adds new charges against the former president and names an additional defendant.

US intelligence report says China likely supplying tech for Russian military July 27, 2023 at 07:11AM

Putin claims fighting intensifies in southeastern Ukraine, with Russia inflicting heavy losses July 27, 2023 at 06:21AM

Fierce fighting raged Thursday in southeastern Ukraine, where a Western official said Kyiv has launched a major push and Russian President Vladimir Putin said “hostilities have intensified significantly.” Battles in recent weeks have taken place on multiple points along the over 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line as Ukraine wages a counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons and Western-trained troops against Russian forces who invaded 17 months ago.

Kuwait executes 5 prisoners July 27, 2023 at 03:00AM

Kuwait said on Thursday it executed five prisoners, including an inmate convicted over the bombing of a Shiite mosque in 2015 that killed 27 people and was claimed by the Islamic State group. The inmates were hanged at the Central Prison, Kuwait's Public Prosecution said in a statement.

Weekly US applications for jobless benefits slide to lowest level in 5 months July 27, 2023 at 02:50AM

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits slid last week to its lowest level in five months, further evidence that the US labor market continues to defy the Federal Reserve's attempts to cool it off. US applications for unemployment benefits fell by 7,000 to 221,000 for the week ending July 22, from 228,000 the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That's the fewest since February.

China braces for Typhoon Doksuri's landfall, shutting schools and businesses July 27, 2023 at 12:10AM

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

‘Lawyers coaching Indian migrants to pretend to be Khalistani for UK asylum’ July 26, 2023 at 04:07PM

Pakistan SC rejects Imran Khan plea to halt trial in Toshakhana case July 26, 2023 at 04:11PM

Fed raises interest rates, leaves door open to another hike July 26, 2023 at 08:07AM

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, citing still elevated inflation as a rationale for what is now the highest US central bank policy rate in 16 years.The rate hike, the Fed's 11th in its last 12 meetings, set the benchmark overnight interest rate in the 5.25%-5.50% range, and the accompanying policy statement left the door open to another increase.

US President Biden's son Hunter's plea deal over tax charges falls apart July 26, 2023 at 06:04AM

A deal US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden had with prosecutors to plead guilty to failing to pay income taxes fell apart on Wednesday, news outlets reported. The agreement fell apart when the judge expressed concerns about a provision in the deal that allowed Biden to not be prosecuted for a gun-related charge in a separate case, a Bloomberg reporter posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

US President Biden's son Hunter set to plead guilty to tax charges July 26, 2023 at 12:12AM

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden is set to plead guilty on Wednesday to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes, part of a deal that allows him to avert conviction on a gun-related charge. The younger Biden did not pay taxes on more than $1.5 million in income in 2017 and 2018 despite owing more than $100,000, prosecutors allege.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

'Missing' Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang removed from office July 25, 2023 at 01:20AM

China's foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from office on Tuesday, state media reported. Qin had not been seen in public for a month, sparking rumors of scandal and political frictions. China's Global Times news portal said the country's top legislature convened a session where it was decided that Qin would be removed from his position as foreign minister. Wang Yi has been appointed as the new foreign minister.

The X factor: Meta, MS, hundreds more own trademarks to new Twitter name July 25, 2023 at 04:13PM

Extreme weather in July ‘virtually impossible’ without climate change: Study July 25, 2023 at 04:16PM

Putin 'intends' to visit China in October July 25, 2023 at 06:45AM

President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit China in October, the Kremlin said Tuesday, as Russia aims to shore up ties with one of its closest allies. "It is known that we have received an invitation and that we intend to go to China when the Belt and Road Forum is held in October," Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the president on international affairs, said in comments carried by Russian news agencies.

Heat wave returns as Greece grapples with more wildfire evacuations July 25, 2023 at 06:23AM

A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 C (104 F) across parts of the country on Tuesday following more nighttime evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days. The latest evacuations orders were issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia, while a blaze on the island of Rhodes continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including part of a nature reserve.

Pakistan's Imran Khan will face fresh charges of contempt in August, his lawyer says July 25, 2023 at 05:18AM

Pakistan's election oversight body said on Tuesday it would indict the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan next week on charges of publicly insulting its officials last year. Khan appeared before a special tribunal of the Election Commission of Pakistan along with his lawyers amid tight security in the capital, Islamabad.

Three Palestinians killed by Israel troops: Palestinian ministry July 24, 2023 at 11:06PM

Israeli troops killed three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry said, the latest deaths in a surge of violence in the territory since early last year.

Monday, July 24, 2023

11 killed as roof collapses at a school in China July 24, 2023 at 04:18PM

Israeli House passes law to limit judicial power amid protests July 24, 2023 at 03:52PM

Russia says 2 Ukrainian drones 'suppressed and crashed' in Moscow July 23, 2023 at 04:31PM

Russia said on Monday it had "suppressed" two Ukrainian drones in Moscow, accusing Kyiv of launching a "terrorist act" on the Russian capital. "A Kyiv regime attempt to carry out a terrorist act using two drones on objects on the territory of the city of Moscow was stopped," Russia's defence ministry said. "Two Ukrainian drones were suppressed and crashed. There are no casualties."

North Korea fires ballistic missile after US submarine arrives in South Korea July 24, 2023 at 06:02AM

North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile into its eastern sea, South Korea's military said Tuesday, adding to a recent streak in weapons testing that is apparently in protest of the US sending major naval assets to South Korea in a show of force.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately say where the weapon was launched from and how far it flew.

New tensions in France after policeman jailed over violence July 24, 2023 at 04:33AM

The remanding in custody of a French policeman in the city of Marseille sparked new controversy Monday weeks after violent riots, with a call from police chiefs for the officer to be freed prompting fury on the left and concern within the judiciary.France was rocked by over a week of riots that began last month over the killing of 17-year-old Nahel M. by a policeman during a traffic check outside Paris. The officer has been charged and jailed ahead of trial.

Greta Thunberg convicted of disobeying Sweden police, handed fine July 24, 2023 at 12:49AM

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Pak finance minister reacts to reports about running for caretaker PM post July 23, 2023 at 03:43PM

Spain at risk of political gridlock after conservative win falls short of toppling PM July 23, 2023 at 01:01PM

Spain appears headed for political gridlock after Sunday's inconclusive national elections left parties on both the right and left without a clear path toward forging a new government. The conservative Popular Party won the elections, but it fell short of its hopes of scoring a much bigger victory and forcing the removal of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Instead, the party led by candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo performed below expectations of most of the campaign polls.

Heavy rains in Afghanistan, Pakistan unleash flash floods that killed dozens July 23, 2023 at 11:33AM

Heavy flooding from seasonal rains in Afghanistan killed at least 31 people and left dozens missing over the past three days, while in neighboring Pakistan 13 people died due to heavy rains and landslides. Shafiullah Rahimi, the ruling Taliban’s appointed spokesman for Afghanistan's State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management, said Sunday that at least 31 people were killed, 74 were injured and 41 others were missing.

Russia’s Ukraine stand change raises G20 document hopes July 23, 2023 at 10:11AM

The government is seeing some gains following Russia recalibrating its stance on the mention of the Ukraine conflict in the chair’s summary at two G20 ministerial meetings, but is keeping a wary eye on the outcome of subsequent talks in the lead up to the leader’s summit in about 50 days.

Toll in Afghanistan flash floods jumps to 26 killed, 40 missing July 22, 2023 at 09:45PM

The death toll from overnight flash floods caused by torrential rain in central Afghanistan has risen to 26, with more than 40 people missing, officials said Sunday.

At least 13 mourners killed, 9 children, in east Congo shooting July 23, 2023 at 12:30AM

At least 13 people including nine children were killed when a soldier in east Democratic Republic of Congo opened fire on people gathered to mourn his deceased child on Saturday night, the army and a local official said on Sunday.

Voting begins in Spain in an election that could see another EU country swing to the right July 23, 2023 at 12:24AM

Polling began on Sunday in Spain in a general election that could make the country the latest European Union member to swing to the political right.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the early election after his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and its far-left partner, Unidas Podemos, took a beating in local and regional elections in May. Sánchez has been premier since 2018.