World

The World Bank on Thursday cut its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5% due to the war in the Middle East, and said growth could ​slow to just 1.3% if energy supply disruptions prove more severe and come with substantial stress in financial markets. Global growth reached 2.9% in 2025, the bank said ‌in its semi-annual…

Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the eldest child of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, ​has died at 47, the royal palace said on Friday, after multiple ‌health problems and nearly four years in a coma. The princess was hospitalised in December 2022 after a sudden loss of consciousness caused by a heart condition while visiting the northeastern province…

President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Jay Clayton, the top U.S. attorney for Manhattan, to ​be the next U.S. spy chief, amid a political firestorm over a fierce loyalist Trump had picked to fill the role temporarily. The decision, however, appeared unlikely to end a refusal by ‌Democrats to provide the votes needed to renew a key…

Mexico got the World Cup party started as the co-hosts swept away South Africa 2-0 on Thursday in a tempestuous clash with three red cards as the ​pyrotechnic smoke of the opening ceremony gave way to a cloud of red mist at a rocking Azteca stadium. The match fired the starting gun for the ‌quadrennial extravaganza, yet…

SpaceX (SPCX.O), on Thursday priced the biggest-ever U.S. initial public offering at $135 per share, making Elon Musk’s rocket and spacecraft manufacturer one of the world’s most valuable companies. The IPO raised a record $75 billion on ​the sale of 555.56 million shares, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion, a record for an…

President Donald Trump on Thursday said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that ​would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement. The deal, if confirmed, would be ‌the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to…

At least 15 people – 11 civilians and four security officers – have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, local authorities say. The Joint Awami Action ⁠Committee (JAAC) – a collective of activist groups – called on people to march to the regional capital Muzaffarabad to protest against the reservation of…

A cleaning team was combing Mount Everest’s perilous upper slopes for rubbish last Thursday, after a busy climbing season, when they spotted a man in a bright blue summit suit crawling at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall, widely regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the world’s highest peak. It was Hillary Dawa Sherpa,…

The US secretary of defense visited troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay near the southern tip of Cuba. He warned Cuba against acquiring weapons that could potentially threaten American soil. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning to Cuba during a visit to the US military base at Guantanamo Bay on Wednesday. “It would be unwise of…

Pakistan has hit three Afghan provinces with airstrikes, according to the Taliban. The Afghan government reports that 13 civilians were killed in the fresh strikes, while Pakistan says it killed 26 militants. Pakistan launched new airstrikes on Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people, Taliban authorities said on Wednesday. The countries have been engaged in a conflict that…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the way soccer’s governing body had handled visa issues ahead of the World Cup, saying on Wednesday (Jun 10) that it was working to find solutions but could not override government decisions. Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns surrounding Somali referee…

TAIWAN has fired dozens of US-made rockets in China’s direction for the first time in an unprecedented show of force. The “shoot and scoot” mobile launchers were used as part of a two-day drill, in which the military targeted the narrow Taiwan strait separating the self-governing island from China. US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) have…

Scientists have unearthed communities of marine life — including jellyfish, tubeworms and brittle stars — thriving on a millions-year-old whale graveyard. These graveyards form when whale carcasses fall to the sea floor, becoming a sustaining snack for nearby critters. This one, located up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers) below the surface of the southeastern Indian Ocean, spans…

Police blasted water cannons Wednesday at protesters in Northern Ireland who set small fires and hurled bricks, rocks and bottles at them during a second night of violence over a brutal stabbing on a Belfast street. Demonstrators wearing masks tore bricks from the walls outside homes and smashed sidewalks with sledgehammers to toss at riot police. In…

The event is part of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and is scheduled for the weekend with the main attraction — seven mixed martial arts matches — on Sunday. President Donald Trump’s planned UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn has required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies, hundreds of staff working…

Bill Gates told members of Congress on Wednesday that he “did not fully understand ​the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes when he associated with the late convicted sex offender to raise money for ‌his philanthropic foundation. Gates also testified that he never witnessed any criminal conduct from Epstein. He accused Epstein of blackmailing him over his extramarital…

The Canadian government introduced a digital safety bill on Wednesday that would ban social media for children under 16 ‌with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards, months after Australia enacted the world’s first social media ban for young people. The bill also aims to make AI chatbots safer by setting up a digital regulator to…

After her mother ​died in late May, baby Buswaza was brought to a church-run orphanage in eastern Congo where the nuns quickly discovered the newborn was running ‌a fever. Within days, she died from what they later found out was Ebola. Carers and medics said that after her death six other babies were identified as suspected Ebola…

President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to embrace data showing inflation has risen more than ‌4%, telling reporters that he “loved” inflation and reiterating his belief that prices will fall as soon as the Iran war ends. Asked about U.S. government data showing consumer inflation increased at its fastest pace in three years in May, and whether…

When Nick Bilton, the new head of “60 Minutes,” showed up at his first staff ​meeting last week, the CBS newsmagazine was already in turmoil. His predecessor was fired days before and several correspondents had either left or were pushed out. In the room with ‌Bilton was Kelly Funke, a TV production consultant he hired to help…

The New York Knicks’ owner ​blasted the mayor and the city on Wednesday for security measures restricting access around Madison ‌Square Garden and canceled a fan party outside the arena for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, arguing too few people would get through the barriers. Knicks owner James Dolan on Tuesday said Mayor Zohran Mamdani and…

The president’s top advisers gathered in a series of Situation Room meetings as they struggled to contain a scandal engulfing Donald Trump himself. On July 17, 2025, at around 6 o’clock in the evening, President Trump’s top officials filed into the White House Situation Room — the secure bunker where classified and high-stakes national security matters are…

Maine oyster farmer and Marine veteran Graham ​Platner was projected to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday under scrutiny over online posts, a Nazi-linked tattoo and allegations he sent ‌explicit texts, in a race that could determine whether his party wins control of the chamber in November. Platner, a newcomer to politics who…

Staff at the office of the top U.S. spy have been told by managers to ​expect extensive cuts in the coming months following comments by President Donald Trump that he wants the new interim director to shrink the agency’s ranks, ‌three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Trump announced last week that he would appoint federal…

Saudi Arabia is on course to deliver more jet fuel to Europe this month than it did ​when the Strait of Hormuz was open, data from ‌shipping trackers Kpler and Vortexa shows, underscoring the importance of Saudi’s bolstered exports via the Red Sea. EU and UK jet fuel imports from Saudi Arabia’s ​Red Sea port of Yanbu…

The United States launched strikes against Iran on Tuesday after President Donald ​Trump said Tehran had shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, deepening doubts over a potential peace deal and further straining a fragile ceasefire. The U.S. military said on ‌X it had targeted Iranian air defense, ground control stations and surveillance…

This came after Pakistan launched a brutal crackdown on protesters in PoK, leading to the death of over 100 demonstrators and leaving at least 400 injured. Hundreds more have been arrested. The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir administration has announced a reward of 1 crore Pakistani rupees for information leading to the arrest of four leaders of the Joint Awami…

According to the Justice Department, Neeraj Sharma submitted 11 fake H-1B visa applications that falsely claimed foreign workers would be placed at a major global financial institution. An Indian-origin businessman is among 17 naturalised US citizens facing possible loss of citizenship as the Trump administration begins what officials describe as a major denaturalisation drive. The US Department…

It has long been rumored that the Lincoln Memorial will play some part in the UFC White House event, adding another high-profile location to the schedule, and that now appears to be the case The Lincoln Memorial is set to become the latest high-profile location to feature on the UFC White House schedule. Images released on Tuesday…

VLADIMIR Putin has shut down parts of his specialist CCTV protection network – over fears it could be used against him in an assassination attempt, reports say. The paranoid Russian tyrant is said to be shaking in his boots after the US and Israel used AI camera hacking to hunt down and kill Iran‘s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.…

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu believed that victory over Iran would reshape the Middle East. The region is being reshaped. But not in the way they expected. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not been defeated. The risk now is of a long, attritional permacrisis that will lurch in and out of outright conflict. The Iranian regime…

The world’s largest chipmaker has told the BBC that inflation is pushing up the cost of doing business, and did not rule out price rises. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) makes the most advanced chips designed by companies such as Nvidia, AMD and Apple, so any increase in pricing could ripple through to the cost of AI…

Several people were injured in the city of Herat after Taliban security personnel reportedly opened fire to disperse a small protest organized in support of Afghan women arrested for dress code violations. Taliban authorities in Afghanistan cracked down on a protest over women’s dress code violations on Tuesday, with multiple witnesses reporting shots being fired. Between 100…

Rescuers are still searching ruined buildings in the Philippines for anyone possibly trapped inside after Monday’s quake. The tremor claimed at least 37 lives and forced roughly 20,000 people to leave their homes. Rescuers continued their search of damaged and collapsed buildings in General Santos city and the surrounding area on Tuesday, a day after the strongest…

India thanks Oman for rescuing Indian sailors India has expressed its gratitude to Omani authorities for their support in the timely rescue of 24 Indian sailors after US ‌forces disabled an unladen oil tanker near Oman. “We thank the Oman government for their support in rescuing the crew and ensuring their safety. Our Mission continues to be…

The bear was on the loose for four days, prompting mass school closures and a dramatic search involving helicopters and dozens of hunters and police. A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year. Authorities in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, on Tuesday captured a wild black bear that had been roaming…

Beijing said on Tuesday (Jun 9) it “firmly opposed” the US blacklisting of Chinese companies after Washington added tech giants Alibaba and Baidu to a list of firms it says are aiding the Chinese military. The Pentagon update on Monday came months after it released, and then quickly withdrew, an earlier version of the list without explanation.…

Four of the five candidates to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who completes his second five-year term at the end of this year, laid out their visions for the role at a time when the UN faces a severe financial crisis triggered by cuts from major humanitarian donors. Several candidates running to be the next head of the…

More like Tay Story. Taylor Swift was the guest of honor at the “Toy Story 5” world premiere at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Tuesday, looking all dolled up in an off-the-shoulder, crystal-embellished Erdem dress. Hailing from designer Erdem Moralioglu’s fall 2026 collection, the songwriter’s patchwork mini features a corseted bodice, a pannier skirt and romantic ties…

The leaders of Britain, Germany and France said on ‌Sunday they supported a proposal for talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to secure a ceasefire, and Europe would play a role. In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron commended…

MSCI’s global equities gauge pared earlier gains on ​Tuesday as it saw little support from Wall Street where investors waited anxiously for inflation data while the ‌dollar dipped with oil prices on hopes for easing Middle East tensions after Iran and Israel halted attacks on each other. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that ship…

The death toll in a powerful 7.8‑magnitude earthquake off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday ​has risen to at least 32, with dozens of people injured, disaster officials said, as Manila stepped up search and rescue operations. The quake, which triggered tsunami warnings across several ‌countries, hit early in the morning about 20 km (12.4…

OpenAI confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering recently, the ChatGPT maker said on Monday, joining rival Anthropic in a push toward a ​stock market listing as it looks to tap into insatiable investor demand for AI shares. OpenAI did not disclose the size or terms of the offering, and said a timeline has not yet…

A federal judge on Monday struck down a $100,000 fee U.S. President Donald Trump imposed on new H-1B visas for highly skilled ‌foreign workers, concluding that it constituted an unlawful tax Congress never authorized. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston issued the ruling, in a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenging a fee…

In launching ​renewed strikes on Iran on Monday in apparent open defiance of Donald Trump, Israel has tried to make its case to have a say at ‌the peace negotiating table, where it has so far been kept at arm’s length by the U.S. president. Despite Trump publicly calling for Israel to hold fire, it struck targets…

The head of the IAEA Rafael Grossi says “basically the channel of communication is broken” with Iran. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi called on Iran on Monday (Jun 8) to “re-engage” with him so inspections can resume at sites the US and Israel bombed a year ago, as the US led a push for a resolution…

A RING of steel is being thrown around Madison Square Garden tonight as Donald Trump heads to the NBA Finals just one day after a bloody stabbing rampage at Penn Station. Fans going to Game 3 are being warned to arrive early as the Secret Service and NYPD lock down streets, screen crowds, and shut down the…

Tesla boss Elon Musk’s post on India’s falling fertility rate has revived the debate over why fewer children are being born in India. Experts say the decline in the total fertility rate (TFR) is reflective of rising living costs, financial development, urban lifestyles and changing family aspirations and dynamics. An uncomfortable but important topic has found its…

Omar Artan, Africa’s top referee in 2025, was set to become the first Somali national to officiate at a FIFA World Cup before being denied entry by US authorities A Somali referee set to become his country’s first to officiate a World Cup match has been denied entry into the US, ending his involvement in the football…

Ukraine’s sustained campaign of drone attacks on Russian-occupied territories is disrupting Moscow’s supply lines and intensifying a fuel crisis already triggered by long-range strikes on Russia’s oil refineries. Crimea – which Russia illegally annexed in 2014 – in particular has been experiencing serious logistical difficulties and shortages. Many of the issues stem from recent Ukrainian strikes on…

The US has added several major firms from China, including e-commerce giant Alibaba and electric car maker BYD, to a list of companies said to have ties with the Chinese military. The Department of Defense’s list aims to alert American organisations to the risks of doing business with the Chinese firms, but their inclusion does not mean…

Israel’s tit-for-tat strikes with Iran over the weekend, despite US President Donald Trump’s call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold fire, threatened to thrust the Middle East back into another round of direct confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Israel bombed sites in Iran for the first time since a ceasefire in April, after Iran fired missiles…

The leaders of Britain, Germany and France said on ‌Sunday they supported a proposal for talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to secure a ceasefire, and Europe would play a role. In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron commended…

(This June 7 has been refiled to remove ‘gun control advocate’ to describe Hayley Lawrence’s position, in paragraph 8) Disputes involving President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs, immigration and firing regulatory officials have drawn a lot of attention during the Supreme Court’s current term, but the justices also are poised to decide major cases concerning U.S. “culture…

Alexander Zverev finally shattered the barrier between himself and Grand Slam glory by grinding down a stubborn Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final on Sunday to lift his maiden major trophy at ​Roland Garros. After falling in three major finals, including in Paris two years ago, Zverev capped his stellar run by outlasting Cobolli 6-1 4-6…

Iran’s national soccer team arrived in Tijuana early on Sunday ahead of three World Cup matches in the United States, amid tensions that have turned the world’s biggest sporting event into a soft-power contest between the warring countries. The squad touched down shortly after 5 am (1200 GMT) ​in the Mexican city, across the border from San…

Iran and Israel said on Monday they had halted attacks on each other after an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump that ​they immediately “stop ‘shooting'”, though Tehran said it would resume strikes if Israel continued to hit Hezbollah in Lebanon. The wave of attacks over 24 hours were the most direct confrontation between Iran ‌and Israel…

Oil prices pared gains that had lifted them more than 5% on Monday after Iran and Israel said ‌they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump. Tehran however said it would resume strikes if Israel continued to hit Hezbollah in Lebanon. Brent crude futures were up $1.71, or 1.8%, at…

Taiwan’s coast guard said on Sunday that its ships had “expelled” ‌four Chinese government ships that entered restricted waters off the island’s south after the two sides broadcast testy warnings to each other, in an escalation of tensions. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ​been angered by Japan and the Philippines saying…

President Donald Trump lasted through probing questions about his Iran war strategy and repeated weather disruptions during an interview with US broadcaster NBC — but angrily stormed out when confronted over his unfounded claims of election fraud. “You’re a one-sided, crooked network. Sorry. Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good…

Police responded early Saturday to reports of gunfire on Troost Avenue, discovering a large crowd dispersing. England’s national team, currently training in Florida, is set to arrive in Kansas City on June 13 for the tournament Nine people have been injured in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, near the area that will serve as England’s base…

Unlike cash sitting in a bank account, most of Musk’s wealth exists on paper through ownership stakes in companies, and its value depends on market performance. Elon Musk could soon achieve a financial milestone never before reached by any individual. The world’s richest person may add another record to his name by becoming the first trillionaire. If…

The British, German and French leaders backed a call by Ukraine’s Zelenskyy for direct talks with Russian President Putin. The European leaders met Zelenskyy in London. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues in its fifth year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European partners for talks on support for Kyiv. German…

A landmark report last month found Britain is grappling with a youth engagement crisis – with nearly one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (Neet). Alan Milburn, the former health secretary who authored the report, warned one in six young people could become Neet within five years unless urgent action is taken.…

When Iraq’s football team qualified for the World Cup at the end of March, Abdulla Adnan bought tickets for his country’s matches against Norway and France, which will be played in the US cities of Boston and Philadelphia this month. “To go to a match, a stadium, a crowd, cheering, and see my team – that is…

Iraq’s World Cup striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and questioned for nearly seven ​hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving with the squad ‌early on Saturday, an Iraqi sporting official said. Hussein was finally allowed in, but the team’s photographer was barred from entering the United States, said the ​official who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee,…

Israel struck the outskirts of Beirut on Sunday for the first time since the U.S. ‌announced a truce plan for Lebanon last week, and an Iranian lawmaker threatened to retaliate, putting talks to end the wider war into new jeopardy. Iran has long said any peace deal with the United States would depend on a ceasefire also…

Donald Trump is facing widening opposition within his own party as Republican lawmakers ​in Congress, long reluctant to defy him, are showing a greater willingness to break ranks with the U.S. president. Just over the past week, multiple factions of Republicans in ‌the Senate and House of Representatives have stepped forward to rebuke his war against Iran,…

Mirra Andreeva announced herself as the latest member of women’s tennis’s elite on Saturday when she beat surprise finalist Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2 to become the youngest French ​Open champion in more than three decades. The 19-year-old Russian, long regarded as one of the sport’s brightest prospects, delivered on her promise on the biggest stage of all,…

This comes as the US is trying to reach a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to end the war and begin in-depth nuclear negotiations. Amid stalled talks with Iran and mounting domestic pressure to end the war in West Asia, US President Donald Trump reportedly sent his envoys to consult nuclear experts for negotiations with Tehran.…

Congratulations are in order for Dua Lipa and her husband, Callum Turner, once again! The couple said “I do” in front of their close family and friends in a much bigger Italian wedding ceremony over the weekend. According to the Sun, the bride, 30, carried a bridal bouquet of peonies, lily-of-the-valley and hyacinths from a local florist.…

Shopkeeper Yusuf Ali still battles with memories of his time as a child soldier fighting on the streets of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The 34-year-old became embroiled in the Islamist insurgency, which erupted nearly 20 years ago, and while city’s urban landscape is healing, few resources are devoted to those still suffering with the psychological scars of the…

Golden Tempo showed exactly why he is a great closer, and his stretch run at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday delivered more history for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz from 12 lengths off the lead, Golden Tempo surged from the back of the pack to win the 158th rendition of the race. The victory…

After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut nine Navy officers, including all the women, from a promotion list, several female officers say they see the unusual intervention as a sign that their careers now have a ceiling and worry for the future generation of female military leaders. The Navy had selected 31 sailors to promote from the rank…

“These videos attack our multiracial society and they try to divide people based on race,” says Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, adding that every community in Singapore is valued. Three social media platforms have been ordered to block access to 14 posts which “target the Indian community and undermine Singapore’s model of multiculturalism”, the Ministry…

The Minister for Digital Development and Information was commenting on the problematic narratives found in several social media posts and urged people not to share them. Singapore’s social cohesion has taken a long time to build; hence, people should not allow anyone to cast doubt about its multicultural identity, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine…

Argentina on Friday said it was expanding its investigation into the origins of the hantavirus outbreak that struck an Atlantic cruise ship last month, sending scientists to trap and test rats in the western province of Mendoza while lab results are pending from the southernmost city of Ushuaia. Argentine authorities said biologists from the U.S. Centers for…

A man was charged with murder Friday in the stabbing of “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick” actor James Handy, who was in a relationship with the suspect’s mother. Michael Gledhill, 44, was charged after police say officers found the 81-year-old Handy stabbed in the chest and lying unconscious outside a home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Handy…

Anthony Head, the suave, smooth-voiced British actor known for roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ted Lasso,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 72. Head’s daughters, actors Emily and Daisy Head, told the Press Association news agency that the actor passed away due to complications from pneumonia. The stage and TV performer became well…

KYLE Busch’s heartbroken wife has asked for fans’ prayers following his death. The 40-year-old widow has released an emotional statement following the death of the NASCAR icon. Samantha Busch has taken to social media to update fans two weeks after her husband’s death at the age of 41. NASCAR star Kyle died shortly after being hospitalized with…

SECURITY fears surrounding Iran’s presence at the World Cup should be centered on the threat of cyber attacks from Russia and North Korea, a leading expert has claimed. With the summer showpiece tournament starting on June 11, the Iranians will create history by becoming the first ever team to be at war with the hosts. Andrew Giuliani,…

MADONNA left her fans screaming in horror as she took to the stage and performed a dangerous stunt in New York’s Times Square. The 67-year-old pop star set pulses racing through sheer terror as she was suspended above the crowd, partially onstage and partially dangling over the barricade. Fresh off her surprise Coachella performance, Madonna was played…

U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of ‌Hormuz, the U.S. military said, in the latest escalation complicating efforts to end the war between the two countries. The U.S. military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic, a U.S. official told Reuters.…