Mamdani in touching distance of becoming NY mayor
New York, United States -- An unknown local lawmaker just a few months ago, leftist Zohran Mamdani has burst onto...Geostrategy
China vows massive high-tech sector development in next decade
Beijing, China -- China will develop its high-tech sector on a massive scale in the next decade, top officials vowed...Economy Geostrategy
Electric ‘air taxis’ could debut in Japan from 2027
Tokyo, Japan -- Airline ANA said Thursday that, together with a US start-up, it hopes to have electric "air taxis"...ANA and California-based Joby Aviation said they will establish a joint venture with a view to deploying more than 100 of the five-seater aircraft.
The project primarily envisages trips between Narita and Haneda airports and Tokyo, although the routes can diversify in the future.
Tourists drawn to Oman’s giant sinkholes
The sinkholes are marketed as a tourist attraction in Dhofar, whose temperate climate draws many visitors from the Gulf during...One of the sinkholes is one of the world's biggest: the yawning Kahf Teiq, 211 meters (692 feet) deep and 150 meters wide.
At the Tawi Atair sinkhole, tourists potter around on concrete paths and stairways.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah rejects cabinet decision to disarm it, terms it a grave sin
Hezbollah said Wednesday that it would treat a Lebanese government decision to disarm the militant group "as if it did...The government said its decision came as part of implementing a November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah
Israel has kept up its strikes on Hezbollah and other targets despite the November truce, and has threatened to keep doing so until the group has been disarmed
Only 1.5% of Gaza farmland usable, reveals latest satellite survey published by FAO
The survey, which dates from July 28, found that 8.6 percent of Gaza's farmland was accessible, but only 1.5 percent,...In its previous survey, published at the end of May, the FAO had indicated that less than five percent of Gaza farmland was both accessible and undamaged
The Israeli offensive has killed at least 61,158 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry, which are considered reliable by the UN
Israel bars Jerusalem’s top Muslim cleric from Al-Aqsa: lawyer
Israeli authorities have banned Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for six months over a recent...Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, the grand mufti of Jerusalem, will be prevented from entering the holy site in the Israeli-annexed Old City until January 2026, according to lawyer Khaldoun
Hussein's lawyer said that the ban was due to a Friday sermon the mufti gave at Al-Aqsa -- Islam's third-holiest site -- in late July, "which contained nothing inappropriate."
Full occupation of Gaza looms as Israel orders army to execute any decision
The Israeli press, citing officials, has predicted an escalation of operations, including in densely populated areas where hostages are believed...Media reports in Israel have said Netanyahu and his cabinet may order a full military occupation of Gaza, allegedly sparking dissension from armed forces chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a three-hour meeting with security chiefs including Zamir to discuss options for the continuation of the war, the premier's office said in a statement.
Netanyahu says Israel must complete defeat of Hamas to free hostages, secure Israel
Israeli media said the premier was considering ordering the total occupation of the Palestinian territory, with public broadcaster Kan reporting..."It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said
Netanyahu's office said he held a three-hour "security discussion" on Tuesday with army chief Eyal Zamir, but did not disclose any new war plans
UN experts call for Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to be dismantled
"The GHF ... is an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical...On July 22, the UN rights office said Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the GHF started operations.
The joint statement was signed by Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Meta says working to thwart WhatsApp scammers
San Francisco, United States -- Meta on Tuesday said it shut nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts linked to scammers in...Meta on Tuesday said it shut nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts linked to scammers in the first half of this year.
Meta on Tuesday began prompting WhatsApp users to be wary when added to unfamiliar chat groups by people they don't know.
UN starts new bid to forge plastics treaty amid ‘global crisis’
Geneva, Switzerland -- Nations must resolve the global plastics crisis, the head of UN talks told negotiators from 180 countries...Three years of negotiations hit the wall in Busan, South Korea in December when oil-producing states blocked a consensus.
Key figures steering the negotiations at this new attempt said they were not expecting an easy ride this time, but insisted a deal remained within reach.
