Israel spy chief to discuss Gaza truce with Qatar PM: source
Doha – Israel’s intelligence chief, Qatar’s premier and Egyptian officials are expected to hold talks in Doha Monday on a potential Gaza truce and hostage exchange deal, a source with knowledge…
Cubans stage rare protests demanding electricity,food
Havana – Cubans staged rare street protests Sunday over food and electricity shortages as the country suffered long outages that left parts of the island without power for up to…
US House easily passes TikTok ban bill as eyes turn to Senate
Washington – The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that would force TikTok to sever ties with its Chinese parent company or be banned in the…
‘Squid Game’ star found guilty of sexual misconduct
Seoul – South Korea’s “Squid Game” actor O Yeong-su has been found guilty of sexual misconduct, a local court said Friday, after he was charged with assaulting a woman in 2017. The 79-year-old…
Israel denies Hamas claim troops killed 20 Gazans seeking aid
Palestinian – Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said on Friday that Israeli fire killed 20 people and wounded 155 waiting to receive desperately needed aid in the besieged territory, but Israel said…
Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities
Chiang Mai – Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai was blanketed by hazy smog Friday, as residents and visitors to the usually picturesque northern city were left wheezing in the toxic…
Russia arrests four for allegedly preparing attacks
Moscow – Russia said on Thursday that it had arrested four alleged members of a pro-Ukraine paramilitary group preparing attacks on Russian territory, including poisoning Russian soldiers. The four were arrested…
Thai ex-PM Thaksin makes first public appearance since release
Bangkok – Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited a Bangkok temple Thursday, an AFP reporter saw, in his first public appearance since being freed early from a jail sentence…
Honduran ex-first lady seeks presidency after husband’s conviction
Tegucigalpa – A former Honduran first lady said she will contest the 2025 presidential elections, an announcement that follows days after her husband’s conviction for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine…
11 Indonesians survive days in sea after boat capsizes, 22 missing
Jakarta – Eleven Indonesian fishermen survived after three days at sea clinging to their capsized boat, rescuers said Wednesday as they searched for at least 22 crew still missing after…