Author: Web Desk

Beijing: China has voiced opposition after Czech President Petr Pavel met with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, during his visit to India on July 27. The Chinese government has urged the Czech Republic to honour its one-China political commitment and avoid actions that could damage bilateral ties. China’s embassy in Prague issued a strongly worded statement late on July 27, stating that China ‘resolutely opposes any form of contact’ between foreign officials and the Dalai Lama, whom it labels part of a separatist ‘clique.’ The embassy said that such meetings send the wrong signal to Tibetan independence…

Phnom Penh: Cambodia has urged an immediate ceasefire with Thailand following deadly clashes along their shared border. The confrontation has resulted in at least 32 fatalities, including civilians, and the displacement of almost 200,000 people in both countries. Cambodia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Chhea Keo, stated that the government is seeking a truce without conditions and hopes for a peaceful resolution. Thailand, however, has not commented directly on the request and continues to reject any third-party mediation efforts. Martial law has been declared in eight Thai districts bordering Cambodia. The border dispute intensified  when both nations accused each other…

Gaza: Severe malnutrition in Gaza has reached a critical stage, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting that cases among children under five at its Gaza City clinic have tripled in just two weeks. The international medical charity also confirmed that the number of people seeking malnutrition in Gaza care has quadrupled since May. Health authorities and aid organizations blame the worsening crisis on Israel’s continued restrictions on aid entering the besieged territory. MSF reported that last week, one in four children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at its clinics in Gaza showed signs of malnutrition. With over 1,000 staff…

Florida: Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, has died at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Police in Clearwater, Florida, responded to a cardiac arrest call at the wrestling star’s residence on July 24. Hospital staff pronounced Hogan dead shortly after arrival. With a towering build, trademark blond hair, moustache, and iconic catchphrases, Hogan became a pop culture icon. WrestleMania III in 1987 remains legendary for the body slam of the 7-foot-4 André the Giant before a sold-out Pontiac Silverdome crowd. Born in Georgia in 1953 and raised in Florida, the future superstar…

Surin: Thailand Cambodia border clashes have intensified as the 2 countries continue to exchange heavy artillery fire along disputed areas for the second day. The fighting has killed at least 16 people and forced 100,000 to evacuate villages near the frontier. The Thai military has reported that Cambodian forces have used heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems to shell multiple locations in Thailand’s Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. In response, Thailand’s armed forces have returned fire with what they described as appropriate support to defend their territory. Both nations blame each other for triggering the Thailand Cambodia border…

Hanoi: Vietnam storm flooding has caused widespread destruction across Nghe An province after tropical storm Wipha brought strong winds and heavy downpours to central Vietnam. At least 3 people have died and 1 remains missing due to landslides and flash floods linked to the severe weather. Local authorities confirmed that one victim was buried by a landslide while another was swept away by a strong river current. The People’s Committee of Nghe An reported that more than 3,700 houses have been submerged by floodwaters, with another 459 damaged by powerful winds. Photos published by state media show entire villages underwater,…

Geneva: Gaza mass starvation has become a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the World Health Organization, as the enclave’s people face growing hunger under a blockade that has limited aid deliveries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that, the situation is clearly man-made, with food and medical supplies left unused just outside Gaza’s borders. The Director spoke after more than 100 aid groups appealed for urgent action to prevent further deaths linked to Gaza mass starvation. The war between Israel and Hamas, which began in October 2023, has left Gaza’s population of 2.2 million struggling for basic needs. Israel cut…

Rome: Italy’s government has pledged to expand prison capacity by up to 15,000 places and help transfer inmates with addiction issues to treatment centres as part of efforts to resolve a long-standing overcrowding crisis. The situation in Italy’s prisons has drawn renewed concern after a record number of inmate suicides last year and ongoing complaints about extreme summer temperatures in overcrowded facilities that lack air conditioning, highlighting the urgent need to expand prison capacity. As of mid-July, official figures show Italy holds 62,986 inmates, despite an official capacity of only 47,289 places, leaving the country with an occupancy rate of…

Beijing: China comedy warning from provincial officials in Zhejiang has placed a spotlight on how comedians tackle gender topics on stage. The statement was published on WeChat after a performance by stand-up comedian Fan Chunli went viral for referencing her difficult marriage. China’s arts scene is tightly monitored by the Communist Party, and the past decade has seen greater restrictions on comedians, filmmakers, and writers. The Zhejiang publicity department criticised certain shows for turning comedy into what it called a ‘battlefield’, pushing an idea of men and women as opponents rather than equals. Officials said that performers should ensure any…

Queensland: Google and OpenAI have crossed a significant benchmark in artificial intelligence with AI wins at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), securing gold medals. This marks the first time AI systems have matched the highest scores traditionally earned by the world’s top high-school mathematicians. Google’s DeepMind team collaborated with the IMO to have its general-purpose Gemini Deep Think model graded by the committee, marking one of this year’s remarkable AI wins. This model tackled five out of six problems using natural language reasoning within the official 4.5-hour limit, unlike older methods that required formal languages and extended computation. OpenAI’s team…