Author: AFP

Navalny buried in Moscow amid thousands of mourners

MOSCOW: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was laid to rest in Moscow on Friday, surrounded by crowds of mourners who chanted his name and blamed authorities for his death in prison. Outside the cemetery where he was buried, some supporters shouted in grief while others yelled out slogans against the

Smartphone makers bet on AI to revive sales

BARCELONA: Smartphone makers are packing their latest devices with flashy new artificial intelligence tools such as real-time voice translation and advanced photo editing in efforts to reignite consumer demand. The trend was on display at the telecom industry’s biggest annual show, the four-day Mobile World Congress (MWC) which got under

Calls for probe follow Israeli gunfire near aid convoy

GAZA STRIP: World leaders have called for an investigation and a ceasefire nearly five months into the Gaza war after dozens of desperate Palestinians were killed rushing an aid convoy. Vowing to “do more” to address the worsening humanitarian situation, President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States would

WTO talks end with no major win

ABU DHABI: A high-level WTO conference ended Saturday with a temporary extension of an e-commerce moratorium but no deals on agriculture and fisheries, throwing into doubt the effectiveness of the multilateral trade body. The outcomes of the World Trade Organisation’s 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi highlighted the sharp divisions

Scientists fret as Antarctic sea ice dwindles

ON BOARD THE ARC SIMON BOLIVAR (Antarctica): Sea ice levels in Antarctica have registered historic lows for three consecutive years, portending grave consequences for life on Earth as we know it. But looking out over the southernmost continent, scientist Miguel Angel de Pablo laments that humanity seems to be oblivious

Thousands protest Hungary child abuse pardon

BUDAPEST: Tens of thousands protested Friday in central Budapest against a presidential pardon in a child abuse case that is becoming the biggest political crisis Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has faced since his return to power in 2010. Meanwhile another prominent Hungarian figure resigned, following President Katalin Novak and

Humble ‘onigiri’ rice balls get image upgrade

WRAPPED in seaweed and stuffed with delicious fillings, “onigiri” rice balls are shaking off their reputation as a cheap and uninspiring snack in Japan — and enticing hungry converts abroad. Mouth-watering pictures on social media, rising demand for affordable lunches, and a surge in tourism to Japan are all drawing

West ups pressure on Russia after Navalny’s jail death

MOSCOW: Western nations Saturday mounted pressure on Russia, blaming its leader and the government for the death of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison in opaque circumstances. Navalny’s death was announced on Friday after three years in detention and a poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Japan successfully launches next-gen H3 rocket

TOKYO: Japan’s space agency toasted a successful blast-off for its new flagship rocket on Saturday, making it third time lucky after years of delays and two previous failed attempts. The next-generation H3 has been mooted as a rival to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, and could one day deliver cargo to bases

McDonald’s sales growth slows on Mideast hit

NEW YORK: McDonald’s reported higher quarterly profits Monday, although comparable sales growth slowed as it cited a blow from war in the Middle East. The big restaurant company, which has enjoyed robust revenues as inflation drove customers to the chain, still achieved sales increases, but not as big as inflation