China warns Australia against 'geopolitical games' after Vanuatu security deal
- 29-Jun-2026
BEIJING: China warned Australia against playing “geopolitical games” on Monday after Canberra signed a sweeping economic and security pact with Vanuatu that bars the establishment of a military base in the Pacific nation. “We hope that the relevant countries will carry out cooperation with Pacific island countries that is truly conducive to the development and […]
Iran says held first meeting with Oman on managing Hormuz
- 29-Jun-2026
TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday it had held the first meeting with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz since Tehran and Washington signed their preliminary deal to end the Middle East war. Both Iran and Oman say they hold sovereignty over the waterway, a vital route for Gulf energy exports that Tehran blockaded […]
From rubble to music: Gaza's Oud repairman
- 29-Jun-2026
Palestinian Territories: In a modest makeshift workshop tucked inside the crowded Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, the soft sound of an oud echoes through the ruins of war. Surrounded by wooden pallets, fragments of crates that held humanitarian aid, and the pieces of damaged instruments, Palestinian craftsman Suhail Abu Shawish bends carefully over a […]
Oil prices rise and stocks mixed
- 29-Jun-2026
Asian stocks were mixed and oil prices edged up as reports said the United States and Iran had agreed to stop attacking each other following a weekend of strikes that threw their fragile truce into question. Investor confidence remains shaky after last week’s rollercoaster ride that saw markets whipsaw on the Middle East crisis and […]
Trump bashes Washington's likely next mayor, touts golf course project
- 29-Jun-2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump lashed out Sunday at Washington’s presumptive next mayor, calling her a communist who would destroy the capital city, even as he touted grandiose building projects including the refurbishment of a golf course. Trump said in the Truth Social post that he would meet with Janeese Lewis George, who prevailed in […]
China's new ethnic unity law legalising cultural 'erasure', minorities warn at UN
- 29-Jun-2026
GENEVA, Switzerland: Tibetan and Uyghur representatives urged countries at a United Nations meeting to pressure China to repeal a new law they say is aimed at erasing minority communities. The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which comes into effect on July 1, aims to forge a “shared” national identity among ethnic groups and “strengthen […]
Ben Stokes takes wicket immediately after announcing retirement
- 29-Jun-2026
Nottingham, United Kingdom: What happens next? That is the awkward question facing English cricket after Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international duty in the middle of a Test match. Stokes explained on Sunday that he felt “burnt out” after four years as England’s Test captain following an extraordinary day of drama in the third […]
US and Iran agree to pause attacks, resume talks
- 29-Jun-2026
The United States (US) and Iran have agreed to stop attacking each other and plan to meet and resume talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, a US official said late Sunday. US and Iranian forces traded strikes in recent days despite a fragile June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU) that seeks a comprehensive […]
China adds 20 Japanese organisations to export blacklist: govt
- 29-Jun-2026
Beijing: China added 20 Japanese organisations including major companies to a blacklist on Monday over the export of items that can be used for both military and civilian purposes, escalating a months-long row between Beijing and Tokyo. The new additions “have participated in enhancing Japan’s military capabilities”, the ministry said in a statement. The export […]
Iran warns against new Hormuz route as US truce wobbles
- 28-Jun-2026
Iran’s top diplomat warned Sunday that any attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the United States would “increase tensions” in the Middle East, as the countries traded attacks and accusations of violating a fragile truce. The exchanges underscored the fragility of a Pakistan-brokered agreement aimed at ending a war launched by […]