International

Brazil has pushed back against accusations from the UN’s top climate official over a security lapse at the COP30 summit in Belem, insisting that responsibility for managing the venue’s internal security lies with the United Nations itself. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, had criticized Brazilian security forces for “failing to act” when dozens ...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a government funding bill, officially ending a record 43-day federal shutdown that had left thousands of employees unpaid, disrupted air travel, and strained food banks across the country. The House approved the measure earlier in the day by a 222–209 vote, following Senate passage on Monday. The bill secures funding for three annual ...

Top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) are meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, as relations between the U.S. and its traditional allies face strain over defense spending, trade, and international conflicts. Key highlights from the summit: Attendance: G7 foreign ministers from the U.S., Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan are meeting. Canada has also invited ministers from Australia, Brazil, ...

US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion, accusing the broadcaster of defamation over an edited speech that appeared to show him calling for “violent action” ahead of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In a letter seen by AFP, Trump’s legal team gave the BBC until Friday to retract the documentary, issue a full ...

South Korean prosecutors on Monday filed new charges against former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of aiding the enemy by ordering drone flights over North Korea to justify declaring martial law. Prosecutors allege that Yoon, who was ousted earlier this year, conspired with senior military officials to provoke Pyongyang into retaliation, creating the conditions necessary for him to impose ...

At least 27 inmates were found dead from asphyxiation on Sunday afternoon at the Machala prison in Ecuador’s El Oro province, following an earlier armed riot that left four others dead and dozens injured, authorities reported. In a statement, Ecuador’s national prison authority (SNAI) said the 27 individuals had “committed asphyxiation among themselves, causing immediate death by suspension.” Forensic teams ...

The vivid blue and orange campaign signs for Zohran Mamdani’s historic run for New York City mayor were impossible to miss this summer. Plastered on storefronts and telephone poles from Queens to the Bronx, the eye-catching posters stood apart from the traditional red, white, and blue political palette — and helped Mamdani make history as the city’s first Muslim and ...

The European Union on Saturday condemned Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and urged Israel to respect the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. Israel carried out fresh attacks on Thursday, claiming to target the Iran-backed militant group and accusing it of rearming. The strikes prompted the Israeli army to warn residents in four villages to evacuate, citing plans to target Hezbollah’s military ...

The Saudi Arabian government is accelerating one of its most ambitious public health initiatives helping one million citizens quit smoking in record time. Backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s landmark smoking cessation company, Badael, has emerged as the centerpiece of this national mission. Established in 2023, Badael is leading the effort through its flagship innovation, DZRT, a ...

President Donald Trump said Thursday he expects a US-coordinated international stabilization force to be on the ground in Gaza “very soon,” following two years of war in the territory between Israel and Hamas, reports AFP. The multinational force — likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates — is part of Trump’s post-war governance plan ...