Author: Web Desk

Dubai: Gulf states have backed an Omani proposal that would allow Iran to collect voluntary fees from ships using the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Gulf source, in an effort to restore confidence in one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes after months of conflict. The proposal, discussed by regional governments on July 29, would allow Iran to collect voluntary contributions for navigation and maritime services while sharing responsibility for managing the strategic waterway with Oman. The plan aims to reduce tensions following months of disruption to oil and liquefied natural gas shipments through the strait. The…

Tokyo: A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck south-west Japan on July 29, injuring several people, disrupting transport and power supplies, and prompting authorities to order more than 150,000 residents to evacuate before a tsunami advisory was lifted. The earthquake struck inland on Japan’s Kyushu island at 4:27 pm local time with a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Officials warned residents to remain alert for strong aftershocks, saying shallow earthquakes can trigger further significant tremors. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the authorities were still assessing the full extent of the damage but confirmed that…

New Delhi: India has refused to soften its crackdown on high-caffeine beverages marketed as ‘energy drinks’, rejecting industry efforts to delay the regulatory move despite concerns that the decision could disrupt one of the country’s fastest-growing beverage markets. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed manufacturers to stop using the term ‘energy drink’ or similar descriptions on product labels, saying India has no approved food standard recognising such a category. The regulator also said marketing claims suggesting the beverages ‘vitalize body and mind’ or help overcome general weakness are misleading. The action affects several major beverage…

Islamabad: Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have killed at least 107 people and injured 344 others across Pakistan since the start of the rainy season in late June, authorities said on Sunday, as forecasters warned of another spell of heavy rainfall later this week. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the deaths were caused by rain-related incidents, including flash floods, roof collapses and house collapses, with more than half of the fatalities linked to buildings giving way during intense downpours. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province recorded the highest number of deaths at 55, followed by Punjab with 36. Hundreds of…

Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia will continue raising concerns with US President Donald Trump over newly imposed US tariffs, describing the measures as unjustified and reaffirming the government’s commitment to securing their removal through ongoing diplomatic engagement. The United States announced new tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, including Australia, alleging the countries had failed to take sufficient action to prevent goods produced through forced labour from entering global supply chains. The new measures came into effect after a temporary 10 per cent global tariff expired, introducing higher duties for dozens of countries. Anthony Albanese said…

New Delhi: India’s youth-led ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) called off its five-week protest after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation, prompting celebrations among thousands of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The CJP, an online satirical campaign that uses an AI-generated cockroach as its mascot, is not a registered political party but has emerged as a platform for young people expressing frustration over unemployment, education and government policies. The movement gained nationwide attention after a police crackdown on protesters marching towards Parliament left dozens injured. In a resignation statement posted on X, Dharmendra Pradhan said the decision…

San Francisco: Anthropic has launched Opus 5, the latest addition to its Claude family of artificial intelligence models, offering performance close to its flagship Fable 5 model at roughly half the cost. The San Francisco-based AI startup said Opus 5 is designed for everyday workplace tasks, including computer programming, document creation and other office applications. The company said the new model delivers greater efficiency than Opus 4.8, which was introduced in May, while making advanced AI capabilities more accessible to users. Anthropic Product Leader Dianne Penn said the release reflects the company’s rapid pace of development and its goal of…

Washington: Measles cases in the United States have reached the highest level in 35 years, with 2,318 confirmed infections recorded so far this year, according to new data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The total has already surpassed the 2,289 cases reported throughout 2025, when two unvaccinated children and one unvaccinated adult died during outbreaks linked to the highly contagious disease. Health officials said the sharp increase reflects a growing decline in vaccination coverage across several parts of the country. The CDC said measles cases have now been reported in 45 states, with recent…

Los Angeles: Tesla signaled a more cautious approach to expanding its robotaxi service as executives acknowledged a slower-than-expected rollout, a notable shift from earlier predictions that autonomous taxis would rapidly spread across the United States. During the company’s latest earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk and senior executives defended the measured pace of expansion, pointing to safety requirements, city-specific regulations and operational challenges. The comments contrasted with Musk’s earlier forecast that Tesla’s robotaxi network would grow at a “hyper-exponential” rate and reach half of the US population by the end of 2025. Since launching a pilot robotaxi service in…

Washington: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as the United States launched another round of strikes on Iranian military targets, escalating tensions across the Middle East and raising fresh concerns over global shipping and oil supplies. The Iran-backed Houthis said the group targeted the Encelia and Layla with drones and missiles, accusing the vessels of violating a maritime blockade recently announced against Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said naval operations would continue under what the group described as a ‘siege for a siege’ strategy. Independent confirmation of…