TAIPEI: Taiwan detected 50 Chinese military aircraft around the island, the defence ministry said Friday, days after a British naval vessel transitted through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China insists democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has ramped up the…
MORAVIA, COSTA RICA: A retired Nicaraguan soldier who has fiercely criticized President Daniel Ortega from exile was shot dead Thursday in neighboring Costa Rica, his family and officials said. Major Roberto Samcam, 66, was gunned down at his apartment building in San Jose, reportedly by men pretending to deliver a package. “It was something we…
WASHINGTON: A majority of Americans do not want the US to get involved in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, according to a poll released this week. The Economist/YouGov poll found that just 16 per cent of Americans believe the US military should intervene in the conflict, while a clear majority – 60 per…
PARIS: Parisians had such unexpected fun at their Olympics last summer, that they are holding a public anniversary celebration to recapture the party mood, but not everyone is quite as enthusiastic. The Olympic rings will be projected on the Eiffel Tower and there will be a giant Olympic karaoke in front of the town hall…
PARIS: A year on from athletes competing in the River Seine during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, French authorities guarantee the water will be safe for the public to swim in this summer. Parisians and tourists will be able to dive into the river from July 5, weather permitting, according to authorities. The public will…
OTTAWA: Canada will “adjust” its 25 percent counter tariffs on US steel and aluminum in response to a doubling of US levies if a bilateral trade deal is not reached within 30 days, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday. “Canada will adjust its existing counter tariffs on US steel and aluminum products on the 21st…
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel was “changing the face of the world” in its war with Iran, as he welcomed “all help” in destroying the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites. “I said that we’re changing the face of the Middle East, and now I say we’re changing the face of the…
BEERSHEBA, ISRAEL: The damage was hard to comprehend for many at Israel’s Soroka Hospital as staff took stock of the wreckage after a strike by an Iranian ballistic missile on Thursday left part of the facility in ruins. The strike in the southern city of Beersheba caused extensive damage to the hospital’s entrance hall and…
JERUSALEM: Israel on Thursday welcomed “all help” in striking Iran’s nuclear sites as President Donald Trump dangled the prospect of US involvement in the war, saying he will decide “within the next two weeks”. Israel, claiming Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, launched air strikes against its arch-enemy last week, triggering…
BEIRUT, LEBANON: The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Thursday against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel. Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, is on his first visit to Beirut, where he met top Lebanese officials including parliament speaker…
