Author: Web Desk

Madrid: Heavy rainfall and strong winds linked to Storm Leonardo have caused widespread disruption across the Iberian peninsula and parts of northern Africa. Emergency services have responded to flooding, evacuations and transport interruptions as the slow-moving system has continued to bring intense weather conditions. In southern Spain, extreme rainfall totals have been recorded, with more than 700mm falling in Grazalema within days. The amount has been roughly equivalent to the country’s average annual rainfall. Across Andalucía, around 3,500 residents have been evacuated, while schools and roads have closed and public transport has faced disruption. Search operations have been ongoing in…

Washington: A controversy involving Donald Trump has unfolded after a video shared on social media included a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The clip appeared at the end of a longer video that contained claims about voter fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election. Donald Trump has said that only the beginning of the video had been viewed before it was posted by a staff member and that the controversial portion had not been seen in advance. The post remained online for a period before criticism intensified from across the political spectrum, including from…

Riyadh: Tensions involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr have drawn a response from the Saudi Pro League after concerns over transfer spending during the January window. The league has stressed that each club operates independently under the same financial framework, with recruitment and strategy decisions resting with individual teams rather than any single player. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has turned 41, has been reported to be dissatisfied with Al-Nassr’s limited activity in the winter transfer period. Reports have suggested that the forward could miss a league fixture amid the disagreement, having already not featured in a recent match earlier in the week.…

Tokyo: Japan’s political landscape has shifted as Sanae Takaichi has led a resurgence in support for the long-ruling Liberal Democratic party ahead of the lower house election. The prime minister has become the driving force behind the party’s improved polling, with projections suggesting the ruling coalition could secure a commanding parliamentary majority. The Liberal Democratic party had faced a difficult period just months earlier, losing a parliamentary majority and confronting a funding scandal that affected several lawmakers. Former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba had also faced internal party pressure. The leadership contest that followed saw many observers expecting Shinjiro Koizumi to…

Washington: Critical minerals have become a major focus of United States trade and industrial policy as Washington has worked with allies to secure supply chains and encourage investment. The United States has hosted the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event, bringing together representatives from the United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Delegates have discussed availability and access to minerals essential for manufacturing technologies such as computer chips, electric vehicle batteries and defence equipment. The mining and processing of many of these resources, including rare earth elements, has remained heavily concentrated in China,…

New Delhi: Social media access for children has become a growing policy issue in India, with several states and lawmakers considering age-based restrictions similar to measures introduced overseas. The discussion has intensified after ministers in southern states have begun studying whether limits on Social media use for those under 16 could be effective in protecting children online. The annual Economic Survey prepared by a team led by India’s chief economic adviser has recommended that the federal government consider age-based limits for Social media use. While the survey’s recommendations are not binding, they have often influenced policy direction and public debate.…

New Delhi: The Trade deal developments between India and the United States have reshaped expectations for bilateral commerce, even as clarity has remained limited. The trade deal has followed a decision by United States President Donald Trump to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent, a move that has been welcomed across Indian industry and financial markets. India had faced the highest tariffs globally after import duties were raised from 25 percent to 50 percent in August last year. The increase had been justified by Washington on the grounds that India’s purchase of discounted Russian…

Beijing: China has moved to strengthen electric vehicle safety standards by banning the use of fully hidden car door handles, citing growing concerns over passenger safety during emergencies. China has taken this step after investigations have linked power failures in electric vehicles to situations where doors could not be opened, raising serious risks for occupants trapped inside damaged cars. Under the new rules issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, vehicles will only be approved for sale if they include a mechanical door release on both the inside and outside of every passenger door, excluding the boot. China…

Manila: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has faced renewed impeachment complaints filed by civil society groups and activists, accusing the Philippine vice president of serious misconduct including corruption, misuse of public funds and abuse of authority. The vice president, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, survived a similar impeachment bid last year after the Supreme Court ruled that the complaints violated constitutional safeguards. Despite that setback, rights groups and left-leaning organisations have returned with two new filings that echo earlier accusations while adding renewed pressure on the administration. The complainants have alleged that Duterte misused public funds, engaged in bribery…

Islamabad: The Twenty20 World Cup preparations have taken a controversial turn after Pakistan decided not to take the field against India in the group-stage fixture on February 15. While the Pakistan Cricket Team has received government approval to travel to Sri Lanka and compete in the tournament starting on February 7, the boycott decision has raised uncertainty over one of the most anticipated matches in global cricket. The Pakistani government said that permission had been granted for participation in the Twenty20 World Cup, but the team would not play the scheduled match against India. The decision has not yet been…