N. Korean leader discusses military ties with visiting Russian minister
Seoul, July 19 - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has discussed the "importance and necessity" of military cooperation with Russia's Vice Defence Minister, state media reported Friday, amid Pyongyang's deepening military alignment with Moscow.
Challenges for aid deliveries in northern Gaza increase: UN
United Nations, July 19 - Workers delivering relief to northern Gaza, in addition to everyday Gaza challenges, must now coordinate with Israeli authorities before passing through a military checkpoint, UN humanitarians have said.
Netanyahu vows to maintain Israel’s control of Rafah crossing
Jerusalem, July 19 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a surprise visit to Gaza's Rafah, pledging to uphold Israeli control over the Rafah crossing and the entire Gaza-Egypt border, even if a ceasefire-hostage agreement is reached.
Jordan condemns Israeli parliament’s proposal opposing establishment of Palestinian state
Amman, July 19 - Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Israeli Knesset's approval of a proposal that opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
S. Korea, Canada agree to enhance regional security, economic cooperation
Seoul, July 19 - Top diplomats of South Korea and Canada have held talks to discuss ways to expand cooperation in regional security, the economy, technology and other areas, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said.
Former Malaysian PM Mahathir hospitalised
Kuala Lumpur, July 18 - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been hospitalised, according to his office on Thursday.
Red Sea crisis: Suez Canal reports 23.4 per cent drop in annual revenue
Cairo, July 18 - The Egyptian Suez Canal's annual revenue dropped by about 23.4 per cent in the fiscal year 2023/2024 due to the Red Sea crisis, Osama Rabie, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), said in a statement on Thursday.
Vietnam’s gold prices surge by 118 USD
Hanoi, July 18 - Vietnam's Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) gold bar price increased by over 3 million Vietnamese dong (118 US dollars) to 80 million dong (3,160 dollars) per tael on Thursday morning after staying flat for more than one month, local media
Rwanda’s Kagame wins 99.18 per cent of votes in presidential poll: provisional results
Kigali, July 18 - Rwanda's incumbent President Paul Kagame of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) has been reelected with 99.18 per cent of the votes cast in the presidential elections held Monday, according to provisional results announced Thursday by National Electoral Commission
European parliament approves von der Leyen’s second term as EU Commission head
Strasbourg, July 18 - The European Parliament on Thursday approved Germany's Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission.
Ukraine approves law on debt restructuring
Kyiv, July 18 - Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved a law on restructuring the country's debts, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.
Sri Lanka introduces financial facilities for revitalising MSMEs
Colombo, July 18 - Sri Lanka on Thursday introduced a comprehensive package of financial facilities under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe for revitalising micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the South Asian country, according to the President's Media Division (PMD).
Israeli researchers identify 3800-year-old textile dyed red with scale insects
Jerusalem, July 18 - A new Israeli study that investigated dozens of ancient textiles identified a rare scarlet red-colored one, which was dyed with oak scale insects, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement on Thursday.
Lithuania to quit convention banning cluster munitions
Vilnius, July 18 - Lithuania's parliament voted on Thursday that the country will withdraw from an international treaty banning cluster munitions, local media reported.
Vehicle hits cafe terrace in Tunis, killing two
Tunis, July 18 - Two people were killed and 10 others injured when a heavy goods vehicle hit a cafe terrace in the southwest of the capital Tunis, Tunisian national radio station reported on Thursday.
Additional team dispatched to flood-hit Shaanxi in China
Beijing, July 18 - China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Office on Thursday sent an additional working team to the northwestern Shaanxi Province to aid local flood relief efforts.
Kremlin calls increased NATO presence in Black Sea ‘threat’
Moscow, July 18 - Moscow views the increased presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces in the Black Sea as a threat and will take all necessary measures to ensure security, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
Turkey detains six suspects over links to 2016 coup attempt
Istanbul, July 18 - Turkish police detained six individuals on Thursday in coordinated operations across three provinces, suspecting their involvement in a network accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.
Massive data breach compromises health information of 12.9 million Australians
Sydney, July 18 - Electronic prescription provider MediSecure has revealed that the personal data of approximately 12.9 million Australians were leaked during a cyber security incident earlier this year.
16 bodies found after mercury soars in Pakistan’s Karachi
Islamabad, July 18 - At least 16 bodies were found from different areas of Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi during the last two days after soaring temperatures hit the city, rescue officials said Thursday.