Diamonds hidden in shoes: Vietnam probe highlights India smuggling link

Investigators have detained 31 people in connection with the suspected smuggling ring.

Thailand considers suspending nearly 6,000 officials over exam scandal

Police found irregularities in the results of 5,814 civil servants who had taken the exams.

China says Papua New Guinea has closed Taiwan's office in the country

BEIJING, July 16 - China's government said on Thursday that Papua New Guinea has decided to close Taiwan's office in the country, a move Beijing said it highly appreciated.

What inflation? South Koreans continue to queue for ginseng chicken soup in peak summer

The price of samgyetang has risen by nearly 30 per cent in five years, but many still swear by the traditional dish to beat the summer heat.

EU Court of Justice clears way for Puigdemont amnesty as it backs Spain

The ECJ backs Spain’s amnesty law, saying it breaches neither EU nor anti-terror rules, although Puigdemont's arrest warrant stands until the Constitutional Court decides on his appeal.

Protests in Ukraine's cities against Zelensky's removal of defence minister

Ukraine's president has not explained Mykhailo Fedorov's dismissal, which is causing great upset among civil society and the military.

Fire at Algeria orphanage kills 11, injures 19 near capital

Eleven people were killed and 19 injured in a fire at an orphanage on the outskirts of the Algerian capital early on Thursday, state media reported.The fire broke out at an orphanage in the Mohammadia district in the eastern suburbs of Algiers.For all the latest headlines,

EFF and ARTICLE 19 Submission to the European Commission on the DSA Trusted Flagger Guidelines

EFF and ARTICLE 19 have submitted joint comments to the European Commission on draft guidelines for the Digital Services Act’s trusted flagger mechanism. Having long advocated for a DSA that protects freedom of expression while preserving intermediary liability protections and

East Africa: Foreign Ministry Undersecretary - Stability in Sudan Is Key to Security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea

[SNA] As part of his official visit to Brazil and while leading Sudan's delegation to the Political Consultations Committee meetings in Brasília, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Muawia Othman Khalid, delivered a

Thailand mulls suspending nearly 6,000 officials over exam scandal

The scandal began in June, when investigators said they had concluded that officials accepted bribes of up to 800,000 baht (US$23,847) to electronically alter candidates' results to allow them to pass mandatory exams for government appointments or promotions.

Cricket Rules India’s Streaming Viewership in New Ormax StreamView Report

Cricket properties dominated Ormax Media’s new Ormax StreamView report, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 drawing an estimated 246 million viewers on JioHotstar between January and June 2026, more than any other title tracked in the measurement framework. The Indian Premier

Japan notifies local governments they may ‘ban’ private lodgings amid problems

The move marks a turnaround in the government’s stance.

Czech citizen detained in China faces espionage investigation

BEIJING/PRAGUE, July 16 - A Czech citizen detained in China since the end of June is being investigated on suspicion of offences endangering national security, China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, as mutual espionage claims threaten to upend a recent diplomatic thaw

US, Iran exchange blows in rekindled Mideast war

The United States struck Iran and Tehran hit back at Gulf states on Thursday, as the foes battled over the vital Strait of Hormuz in the renewed Middle East war.The key oil and gas artery, which Iran insists it controls, is central to the rekindled fighting that has entered its

Against a backdrop of advancing Chinese production, TSMC announces another $100 billion worth of chipmaking will be invested in the US

This, after a strong quarter.

Japan PM’s government approval rating below 50% for first time

Top reasons for the disapproval included “cannot hope for much” and “poor policies”.

Germany's Delivery Hero backs €13 billion takeover by Uber

German food delivery giant Delivery Hero said it supports Uber's €13 billion takeover offer, which would significantly expand the US ride-hailing company's global food delivery network.

Two kinds of word salad

The right words in the right sequence create information. Ideas that change our world. The first kind of word salad allows the writer to hide. Fancy words, carefully juxtaposed, saying nothing. This can serve a valuable function for politicians, academics and bosses–but there’s

Canada: train crew escapes flames near Armstrong, Ontario

A train crew was surrounded by wildfire flames near Armstrong, Ontario, Canada, on 13 July 2026. The Canadian National Railway crew escaped safely as more than 160 fires burned across the region.

The Origins of the Monsters in Homer’s Odyssey: The Cyclops, Sirens, Scylla & More

Despite having been composed about two and a half millennia before the invention of cinema, Homer’s Odyssey has offered tempting material to generation after generation of filmmakers. Part of the appeal is, of course, the work’s age, which obviates the need for potentially

Europe's booming solar fleet has saved €20 billion in gas imports since Iran war, finds new analysis

New data shows that solar installations across Europe are cushioning the continent from volatile fossil fuel price shocks.

FIFA and pop superstars should discount tickets for fans to keep climate costs of 'mega-events' down, say researchers

The vast majority of carbon emissions caused by "mega-events" such as World Cups and global concert tours come from audience travel, according to University of Cambridge researchers. In a new study, researchers estimate that expanding to 48 teams for this year's World Cup

Frog protein could become first antidote to deadly red tide toxin

The "red tide" algal blooms that are becoming more frequent along the Pacific coast produce one of the most potent neurotoxins known: saxitoxin, or STX. The toxin accumulates in shellfish and causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) when consumed.

Phuket begins jet-ski crackdown to boost tourist safety; 23 offenders fined

Inspections will continue and be expanded to other key tourism areas.

Sam Neill’s Cause of Death Revealed

“Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill died of pneumonia, his agent confirmed on Thursday. The BBC reported that Philip Grenz, Neill’s longtime agent, decided to reveal the cause after speaking to the actor’s family in order to correct “inaccurate and outright falsehoods” in the media.

8 Undervalued Stocks That Fit Warren Buffett’s Value Investing Playbook

US gamble on Libyan elite risks locking in chaos for oil

Envoy Massad Boulos is pushing a high-stakes power-sharing pact to stabilise the country, but analysts warn that bypassing democratic elections to secure energy assets is a dangerous game.

President Félix Tshisekedi could lead DRC until 2035, says Adolphe Muzito

The former opposition leader turned budget minister argues that economic growth has restored the country’s financial independence and could justify extending the president’s time in office.

Eleven people die in fire at Algerian foster care home

Along with the fatalities, 19 people suffered injuries, the authorities say.

Climate change makes extreme West Africa rainfall five times likelier, study finds

Climate change has made extreme rainfall in West Africa five times more likely than in the late 19th century, scientists said Thursday, after regional floods killed nearly 100 people last month.

Iran warns Strait of Hormuz is a 'red line' and will resist until the end

By Jana Choukeir and Nayera Abdallah DUBAI, July 16 (Reuters) - Iran said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was an inviolable "red line", warning that if U.S. President Donald Trump carried out his threat to attack Iran's infrastructure, it would strike all infrastructure

Bali police arrest Singaporean for allegedly strangling girlfriend: Media reports

The man had allegedly buried her girlfriend's body in the room of a boarding house.

As Venezuela recovers from twin earthquakes, its return to democracy is delayed

After twin earthquakes killed thousands, Venezuela's recovery effort has pushed another crisis into the background: the fight for a return to democracy.

Syria foils attempt to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah from Iraq, state news agency says

Syrian authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle in a shipment of advanced weapons and missiles over the border from Iraq, the state news agency SANA reported on Thursday, citing an Interior Ministry source, who said preliminary investigations showed the shipment was intended

Toronto air ranked among world's worst as wildfire smoke billows south

Toronto had the worst air quality of any major city in the world Wednesday, the Swiss firm IQAir said, as Canadian authorities urged people to stay indoors.

OnePlus officially gives up on the US and Europe

OnePlus has confirmed what industry observers have long expected: it's quitting the US and European markets, and will no longer launch new products in either region. Parent company Oppo promises that it will honor existing support and warranty agreements, with devices

Arundhati Roy on Beatles, AI and Indie Filmmaking at London Indian Film Festival

Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy discussed the unauthorized use of Beatles songs in “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,” the growing presence of artificial intelligence in cinema, and the handmade aesthetic of independent filmmaking during a Q&A at BFI Southbank on

"It's freedom": Border residents react to end of Gibraltar-Spain checks

Routine border checks between Spain and Gibraltar have ended, allowing thousands of daily commuters to cross more easily. While many welcome shorter journeys and greater freedom, others remain cautious about the long-term impact.

Ukrainians hold rare wartime protest over defence minister’s dismissal

For the first time since last summer’s protests in support of their country's anti‑corruption watchdogs, Ukrainians have mobilised online over the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. A wave of social media posts quickly turned into calls to gather across Ukrainian

Heavy smoke from wildfires blankets the US Midwest and Northeast, prompting evacuations

Thousands of visitors were told to evacuate a remote Minnesota wilderness area accessible only by boat as wildfires send dangerously heavy smoke over the U.S. Midwest and Northeast this week.

TikTok faces Ofcom investigation over child age checks

It follows a review by the regulator in May that criticised the platform for not being "safe enough" for children.

Bank of Korea picks a fight with US Fed’s AI inflation call

TOKYO — Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song ended a three-and-a-half-year rate freeze on Thursday, lifting the policy rate 25 basis points to 2.75% — the BOK’s first tightening move since January 2023. The timing makes this more than a routine adjustment. Shin appears to be

Katz, Hegseth discuss Iran as Israel vows to keep troops in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overnight, his office said, Israeli media reported on Thursday.Katz’s office says that Hegseth updated him “on the American military’s activities in Iran, and the two agreed to

Hear Hours of Lectures by Michel Foucault: Recorded in English & French Between 1961 and 1983

Tucked in the afterward of the second, 1982 edition of Hubert Dreyfus and Paul Rabinow’s Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics, we find an important, but little-known essay by Foucault himself titled “The Subject and Power.” Here, the French theorist offers

After KFC, cyberattack hits Japanese ice cream giant Glico

Major supermarket chains pastry firms and dining halls at eldercare centres were also impacted.

Fewer vessels travel through Hormuz as US, Iran continue strikes

Fewer vessels traveled through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day after the US reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports with both countries escalating strikes across the Gulf, shipping data showed.Seven vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, mostly on the

Eric Stonestreet Says Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Created the ‘Normalcy They Deserve’ at Wedding

"It just happened to be at Madison Square Garden with security making sure everybody was safe and good and they could just have a night for themselves"

Toronto choked by wildfire smoke, records world's worst air quality

A thick orange haze hung over Toronto on Wednesday 15 July as smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario engulfed Canada's largest city, giving it the worst air quality of any major city in the world that morning, according to monitoring service IQAir.