WASHINGTON: The campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris were at odds on Monday over the format for next month’s U.S. presidential debate, with Harris’s team pushing for open microphones throughout the event while Trump threatened to withdraw, citing perceived bias from the ABC network. Trump, who is running for president for the third time, criticized ABC in a social media post late Sunday, questioning why he should debate Harris on a network he claims is biased. “Stay tuned!!!” Trump wrote, suggesting he might pull out of the debate. Harris’s spokesperson, Brian Fallon, argued that the vice president’s campaign preferred…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
BEIJING: Oil prices retreated in Asian trading on Tuesday following a surge of over 7% in the past three sessions, driven by supply concerns related to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the shutdown of Libyan oil fields. Brent crude futures dropped by 32 cents, or 0.39%, to $81.11 a barrel at 0154 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.46%, to $77.06 a barrel. The pullback comes after significant gains fueled by expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts that could boost fuel demand, weekend military clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, and the closure of…
KYIV: Russia launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks overnight, targeting Kyiv and other areas, according to Ukraine’s military. This follows Moscow’s largest assault of the war on Monday. In Kryvyi Rih, a civilian object was “wiped out” in the attack, resulting in at least one death, regional officials reported. Kyiv’s air defense systems were activated several times to intercept incoming missiles and drones, with witnesses reporting at least three rounds of explosions in the capital. On Monday, Russia fired over 200 missiles and drones, killing at least seven people and damaging critical energy infrastructure. U.S. President Joe Biden…
GAZA: Israel issued new evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza late Sunday, further displacing families as it announced plans to act against Hamas and other groups in the area. This latest directive is part of a broader series of evacuation notices issued across Gaza, marking the highest number since the start of the 10-month conflict. The Deir Al-Balah municipality reports that these orders have displaced approximately 250,000 people. The Israeli military has advised residents in designated zones to move westward, describing their current locations as “dangerous combat zones.” On Monday, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at…
WASHINGTON: Negotiations in Cairo aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and reaching a hostage agreement are progressing, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Kirby emphasized that discussions are moving forward and that working groups will soon tackle specific issues. In a virtual briefing, Kirby dismissed concerns that the talks had stalled, describing them as “constructive.” He noted that the discussions had advanced to a stage where detailed working-group meetings are necessary to finalize the specifics. Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden’s top Middle East aide, will soon leave Cairo after extending his stay to initiate these…
ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT: The immediate risk of a larger conflict in the Middle East has diminished slightly following recent exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. However, Iran remains a significant threat as it contemplates a possible strike on Israel, according to Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Speaking to Reuters after a three-day Middle East trip, General Brown reported that Hezbollah’s recent rocket and drone attacks on Israel, and Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Lebanon, have not escalated further. Despite one of the most intense clashes in over ten months of…
TOKYO: Japan’s space agency announced on Monday that it has concluded its Moon lander operation after losing contact with the uncrewed spacecraft last week. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), known as the “Moon Sniper” for its precision landing capabilities, touched down eight months ago, making Japan the fifth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported on X (formerly Twitter) that efforts to re-establish communication with SLIM were unsuccessful after three lunar nights, or six cold weeks. “We determined that there was no chance of restoring communication with SLIM, and at around…
TAROUBA: South Africa squandered a strong position to lose by 30 runs to the West Indies in their T20 International on Sunday, with the Caribbean side clinching an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Sent in to bat first, West Indies posted a total of 179 for six. South Africa looked set for victory as they reached 129 for 3 with over six overs remaining, but they collapsed dramatically, losing their last seven wickets for just 20 runs in 35 balls to be bowled out for 149. Reeza Hendricks made a quick 44 off 18 balls to ignite the…
BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi will be sidelined for Argentina’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia due to an injury. Coach Lionel Scaloni has called up Roma forward Paulo Dybala as Messi’s replacement. Messi has been unavailable for Inter Miami since suffering an ankle injury during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America final. Dybala, who has not played for the national team since March 2023, might get a chance to add to his 38 international caps in Messi’s absence. Additionally, Argentina will be missing veteran winger Angel Di Maria, who has retired from international football.…
STOCKHOLM: Sven-Goran Eriksson, the trailblazing Swedish football manager who made history as the first foreigner to lead the England national team, has passed away at the age of 76. Eriksson, known for his charismatic coaching and significant achievements with Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian clubs in the 1980s and 1990s, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer earlier this year. He succumbed to the illness on Monday, surrounded by his family, according to his long-time agent, Bo Gustavsson. Gustavsson described the final weeks as swift and difficult, reflecting on Eriksson’s positive demeanor and selflessness until the end. “He was always so positive…
