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Russia launches major aerial attack on Kyiv
Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months hours before Britain and Germany chaired a meeting Monday to discuss US President Donald Trump’s plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. The drone and missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The deadly assault underscored the urgency of Ukraine’s need for further Western military aid, especially
July 22, 2025 -
Trump administration releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite his family's opposition
The Trump administration on Monday released records of the FBI's surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate's family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The digital document dump includes more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. In a lengthy statement released
July 22, 2025 -
'US not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline'
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Trump administration is more concerned with the quality of trade agreements than their timing, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals or face steep tariffs. "We’re not going to rush for the sake of doing deals," Bessent told CNBC. Asked whether the deadline could be extended for countries engaged in productive talks with Washington, Bessent said US President Donald Trump would decide. "We’ll s
July 22, 2025 -
Hanoi's street food culture gains ground with Michelin nods
HANOI, Vietnam (Viet Nam News/ANN) -- Several Hanoi street-side eateries have earned recognition from Michelin, but the question remains: is this enough to elevate the city's vibrant street food scene? Hoan Kiem bun cha, pho take the spotlight From its very first year in Vietnam, the Michelin Guide was quick to take note of bun cha (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs), a humble yet iconic dish from Hanoi. In 2023, two bun cha spots made it into Michelin's recommended list: Bun cha
July 22, 2025 -
With 'smoke, fire and steam,' China's night markets erupt into life
ZHENGDING, China (China Daily/ANN) — As dusk falls over the ancient county of Zhengding in Hebei province, a remarkable transformation begins — a vast parking lot near the train station empties, making way for hundreds of brightly lit food carts. Within hours, the Zhengding Small Commodities Night Market erupts into life — a symphony of sizzling pans, shouting vendors, and the chatter of thousands of eager visitors. This nightly scene pulses with yanhuoqi — literally "smoke, fire and steam" — pr
July 22, 2025 -
Bangladesh puppet theatre uses fun to teach kids real-life lessons
DHAKA, Bangladesh (Daily Star/ANN) — Growing up, most children develop a certain fondness towards fictional characters. Cartoons, puppets or comics — they serve the same purpose. To entertain, to teach, and to play a vital role in the psychological development of the children. Presently, puppets may not be as popular as they used to be. And puppet shows are a dying art to some extent. Standing against such challenging odds, Kaktarua Puppet Theater is doing some commendable work. What is Kaktarua
July 22, 2025 -
Pope marks 56th anniversary of moon landing
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV marked the 56th anniversary of man's arrival on the moon Sunday with a visit to the Vatican astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo and a call to astronaut Buzz Aldrin. After praying the Sunday Angelus at his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, Leo headed to the astronomical observatory located in the Pontifical Villas, where he took a close look at the telescopes that have supported celestial exploration from a faith-based perspective for decades. The pontiff was acc
July 21, 2025 -
Pakistan arrests suspect after couple's killing
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) -- Pakistan on Sunday arrested a suspect after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot and killed for marrying against the wishes of their families, in a so-called honor killing, authorities said. The couple, who were not identified, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council last month in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to provincial authorities, who investigated after the video went viral. One of the suspect
July 21, 2025 -
European powers plan fresh nuclear talks with Iran
BERLIN (AFP) -- European powers plan fresh talks with Iran on its nuclear program in the coming days, the first since the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago, a German diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse on Sunday. Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, "are in contact with Iran to schedule further talks for the coming week," the source said. The trio had recently warned that international sanctions against Iran could be reactivated if Tehran does not return to the
July 21, 2025 -
Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal if Washington Commanders don't switch back to Redskins
CLEVELAND (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to hold up a new stadium deal for Washington's NFL team if it does not restore its old name of the Redskins, which was considered offensive to Native Americans. Trump also said Sunday that he wants Cleveland's baseball team to revert to its former name, the Indians, saying there was a "big clamoring for this" as well. The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have had their current names since the 2022 seasons and both have said they
July 21, 2025 -
Trump says he will help Afghans stuck in UAE
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would help Afghans detained in the United Arab Emirates for years after fleeing their country when the US pulled out and the Taliban took power. Trump, a Republican who promised a far-reaching immigration crackdown, suspended refugee resettlement after he took office in January. In April, the Trump administration terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the US. "I will try to save them, starting r
July 21, 2025 -
Calm returns to south Syria after violence that killed over 1,100: monitor
Calm returned to southern Syria's Sweida province on Sunday, a monitor and Agence France-Presse correspondents reported, after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters and rival groups that killed more than 1,100 people. A ceasefire announced on Saturday appeared to be holding after earlier agreements failed to end fighting between longtime rivals the Druze and the Bedouin that spiralled to draw in the Islamist-led government, the Israeli military and armed tribes from other parts of
July 21, 2025 -
Gaza civil defense says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers
Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid in the war-torn Palestinian territory on Sunday, killing 93 people and wounding dozens more. Eighty were killed as truckloads of aid arrived in the north, while nine others were reported shot near an aid point close to Rafah in the south, where dozens of people lost their lives just 24 hours earlier. Four were killed near another aid site in Khan Younis, also in the south, age
July 21, 2025 -
Ishiba's coalition loses majority in Japan's upper house election
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed Monday to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, NHK public television said. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito needed to win 50 seats on top of the 75 seats they already have to retain their majority. With just one more seat to be decided, the coalition had 47 seats. The loss is another blow to Ishiba’s coalition, making it a minority
July 21, 2025 -
Trump, Xi may meet ahead of or during APEC summit
US President Donald Trump might visit China before going to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, or he could meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC event in South Korea, the South China Morning Post reported on Sunday citing multiple sources. The two countries have been trying to negotiate an end to an escalating tit-for-tat tariff war that has upended global trade and supply chains. The two sides have discussed a potential meeting between
July 21, 2025