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Typhoon Wipha topples trees and causes major flight disruptions in Hong Kong and southern China
Typhoon Wipha toppled trees and caused major flight disruptions Sunday in Hong Kong and at some nearby airports in China as it moved west off the southern coast of the country . Airports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and the casino hub of Macao canceled or postponed flights for most of the day, according to their websites. Hong Kong grounded at least 400 flights, affecting around 80,000 passengers, broadcaster RTHK said. Some high-speed train services were also suspended. The typhoon stayed jus
July 20, 2025 -
Pope Leo XIV renews his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
Pope Leo XIV renewed his call on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza , asking the international community to respect international laws and the obligation to protect civilians. “I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” the pontiff said at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer from his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo also expressed his “deep sorrow” for the Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the
July 20, 2025 -
Sudan PM vows to rebuild Khartoum
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) -- Sudan's Prime Minister Kamil Idris on Saturday pledged to rebuild Khartoum, ravaged by more than two years of war, as he made his first visit to the capital since assuming office in May. Touring Khartoum's destroyed infrastructure earlier, the new premier outlined mass repair projects in anticipation of the return of at least some of the over 3.5 million people who fled the violence. "Khartoum will return as a proud national capital," Idris said, according to Sudan's sta
July 20, 2025 -
Trump's historic power grab worries experts
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Donald Trump has spent six months testing the limits of his authority like no other modern US president, say analysts -- browbeating Congress and the courts in a power grab that may come to define his second term. Since January, the Republican leader has repeatedly pushed to secure more power for himself, calling for judges to be axed, firing independent watchdogs and sidestepping the legislative process. Barbara Perry, a University of Virginia professor and an expert on the
July 20, 2025 -
32 killed in Gaza while seeking aid
Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a US- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which launched operations in May. The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denie
July 20, 2025 -
Tech CEO quits after concert incident
The IT company CEO captured in a widely circulated video showing him embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert has resigned. Andy Byron resigned from his job as CEO of Cincinnati-based Astronomer, according to a statement posted on LinkedIn by the company Saturday. “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the company said i
July 20, 2025 -
Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles to end conflict in eastern Congo
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels on Saturday signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end decadeslong fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents. Congo and the M23 rebels committed to “building trust” through various measures, including an exchange of prisoners and detainees as well as restoring state authority in all parts of the country, including reb
July 20, 2025 -
Trump sues WSJ over Epstein report
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners including Rupert Murdoch on Friday, seeking at least $10 billion in damages over the newspaper's report that Trump in 2003 sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday greeting that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared. Trump filed the lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of Florida against Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal
July 20, 2025 -
US threatens Mexican flights over cargo, competition issues
The Trump administration said on Saturday it will take action against Mexico after the Mexican government cut flight slots and forced cargo carriers to relocate operations in Mexico City, affecting US airlines. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement the department could disapprove flight requests from Mexico if the government fails to address US concerns over decisions made in 2022 and 2023. The Department of Transportation is also proposing to withdraw antitrust immunity fro
July 20, 2025 -
Paris unveils mural of Josephine Baker to honor her legacy
PARIS (AP) — Paris is reviving the spirit of US-French entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker with a new mural. Fifty years after her death, Baker now gazes out over a diverse neighborhood of northeast Paris, thanks to urban artist FKDL and a street art festival aimed at promoting community spirit. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker became a megastar in the 1930s, especially in France, where she moved in 1925 as she sought to flee racism and segregation in the United States. In ad
July 20, 2025 -
Trump signs crypto law, creating stablecoin regulatory framework
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a law to create a regulatory regime for dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies known as stablecoins, a milestone that could pave the way for the digital assets to become an everyday way to make payments and move money. The bill, dubbed the GENIUS Act, passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 308 to 122, with support from nearly half the Democratic members and most Republicans. It had earlier been approved by the Senate. The law
July 20, 2025 -
Clashes rage in Druze region amid Syria’s ceasefire struggle
DAMASCUS (Reuters) -- Sectarian clashes escalated in Syria’s predominantly Druze region of Sweida on Saturday, with machinegun fire and mortar shelling ringing out after days of bloodshed as the Islamist-led government struggled to implement a ceasefire. Reuters reporters heard gunfire from inside the city of Sweida and saw shells land in nearby villages. There were no immediate, confirmed reports of casualties. The government had said security forces were deploying in the southern region to try
July 20, 2025 -
Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks with Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) -- Kyiv has proposed to Moscow a new round of peace talks this week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday, hours after Russian strikes across Ukraine claimed more lives. Two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Moscow and Kyiv have failed to result in any progress toward a ceasefire, instead yielding large-scale prisoner exchanges and deals to return the bodies of killed soldiers. "Security Council Secretary Umerov ... reported that he had proposed the next me
July 20, 2025 -
Shohei Ohtani co-writes children's book starring his dog Decoy
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is adding author to his list of accomplishments. The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar has co-written a children's book starring his beloved dog; Decoy. Ohtani posted a photo of Decoy, a Dutch Kooikerhondje, sitting next to the book on his Instagram account on Thursday. The cover of "Decoy Saves Opening Day" features a drawing of the pup with a ball in his mouth and Ohtani in his baseball jersey. It tells the story of how Decoy is supposed to throw the first
July 20, 2025 -
Japan, US can reach good trade deal, Bessent tells Ishiba
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told him that the two nations will be able to reach a good trade deal. Ishiba urged Bessent to continue talks vigorously with Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement. The two sides didn’t discuss specifics on trade as a Aug. 1 deadline for higher levies approaches, Ishiba told reporters after meeting Bessent in Tokyo on Friday. “There are many areas in which Japan and t
July 18, 2025