World

A new study suggests that babies born to mothers with anaemia may have smaller brains, especially in areas involved in movement, learning and emotional control. Scientists said the differences were visible by the time infants reached one year old and may contribute to difficulties with thinking and learning once children begin school. Anaemia affects more than one in three pregnant women around the world. It is often caused by iron deficiency, which reduces the number of healthy red blood cells

An Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to a prominent television host and 11 co-defendants over accusations of producing and trafficking narcotics in a major drug case, state media reported on Saturday. The presenter, 39-year-old Sarah Khalifa, became widely known through her programme Mission Impossible, which focused on security matters and criminal cases. State-affiliated newspaper Al-Ahram reported that a Cairo court sentenced “Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging”

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday as part of an effort to restart peace talks with Ukraine after nearly eight months of deep stagnation. The visit was the eighth trip to Russia by representatives of US President Donald Trump. Their previous visit took place in January, and negotiations had largely remained frozen since then as the US administration shifted much of its attention to the war with Iran. Putin opened the Kremlin

Russia will close German cultural institutions across the country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Thursday. The decision follows Berlin’s accusation that Moscow was behind an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, as well as Germany’s decision to shut the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in Berlin. Western governments have repeatedly accused Moscow of carrying out sabotage and disruption operations intended to weaken support for Ukraine and create

A new study has concluded that nearly one in two farmers worldwide experiences pesticide poisoning each year. Drawing on publicly available evidence collected between 2006 and 2023, the research, commissioned by Pesticide Action Network, estimated that 402 million to 433 million farmers and agricultural workers suffer unintentional acute pesticide poisoning annually. With the global farming population estimated at 934 million people, the findings suggest that around 46% are affected each year.

More than 18 months after the last official look at Grand Theft Auto 6, developer Rockstar has given fans a 26-minute preview of its highly anticipated blockbuster game. The “extended look” premiered on Netflix six hours before arriving on YouTube, offering players their first opportunity to watch substantial footage of the title in action. Presented without commentary or explanatory text, the montage highlighted upgraded visuals, richly detailed locations, and several car chases and gunfights

CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russian officials in Moscow against escalating tensions with US allies in NATO, particularly Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, amid Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine. The US intelligence chief also used his rare, unofficial trip to the Russian capital to press Moscow to reduce its military and economic support for Iran, according to media reports citing informed sources. News of Ratcliffe’s visit, which the administration did not formally acknowledge until

Iran says it is confident it can withstand an expansion of US sanctions after Washington unveiled what it called an “economic D-Day” intended to cut the country off from the global economy. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran was “fully prepared” for the restrictions, which he predicted would result in “another defeat” for the United States. Introducing a broad package of measures, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that countries maintaining financial partnerships with

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s currency sank to an unprecedented low Monday as Washington prepared to unveil new sanctions described as an “economic D-Day,” intensifying pressure on an economy already damaged by earlier restrictions and a U.S. naval blockade. The rial fell to 2.02 million against the U.S. dollar when trading began on unofficial currency markets. Iran’s Central Bank maintained an official rate of roughly 1.5 million rials per dollar, although most Iranians rely on the

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the nation’s history, with government figures reporting at least 2,325 deaths, exceeding the number recorded during the 2018-20 outbreak. The DRC’s national public health institute said the number of confirmed infections had climbed to 4,945, including 101 cases identified within the previous 24 hours. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic could overtake west Africa’s 2014-16 Ebola crisis

An American missionary abducted in Niger in October has been freed, according to the organisation he served with. Serving in Mission International said Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials” and is expected to be reunited with his extended family soon. Donald Trump, who said he had assisted in securing Rideout’s freedom, announced on Friday that the missionary was “back in United States Custody”. The 50-year-old missionary pilot was seized by three armed people in Niger’s

Officials say at least 13 people have died following a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s republic of Tatarstan. Among those killed was a child, and authorities reported that a further 75 people were wounded, making it one of the deadliest individual attacks on Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has not yet issued a statement regarding the assault on Nizhnekamsk, a city located more than 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from Ukraine’s border. Ukraine’s

Four days ago, Youssef El Abbas believed he had found a way to recover the life he had lost seven years earlier. Reports were spreading that roughly 400 people had swum from Morocco to the nearby Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the North African coast, about 12 miles (19km) across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain. For the 44-year-old Moroccan father of four, it seemed like an unexpected opportunity to return to Spain, the country he had been forced to leave in 2019 after losing his job

At first, Ukraine suggested purchasing Poland’s outdated MiG-29 fighter jets rather than exchanging them. Later, however, Kyiv proposed a different approach — swapping the aircraft for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This was stated by Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Paulina Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, according to PAP. She explained that Ukraine has already submitted a detailed proposal outlining which UAVs it is prepared to supply to Warsaw in return for the jets. The Polish side is currently

Fast bowler Jayden Seales collected his fourth five-wicket haul as the West Indies secured a commanding 90-run win over Pakistan in the first Test at Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago. Holding a slim 29-run advantage after the first innings, the West Indies were dismissed for 181 in their second effort, setting Pakistan a target of 211 on Tuesday, the fourth day of the match. Match Summary Seales (5-20), supported by his fellow quicks, delivered an outstanding pace performance at the Brian Lara

Iran had been weighing the possibility of launching a missile strike on a Ukrainian seaport in response to a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. However, intensive diplomatic efforts have so far helped to ease tensions and prevent further escalation. This was reported by The New York Times, citing statements from European and Iranian officials. "Some sources said they expected Iran to fire a ballistic missile with a small warhead at Ukraine as a symbolic move that

Sixty Palestinian detainees released by Israel arrived in Gaza in a visibly weakened state, reaching a hospital in Khan Younis exhausted, wounded and, in some instances, unable to stand on their own. On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transported the men to Nasser Medical Complex for medical checks, where families and healthcare workers gathered to welcome them back. Recommended Stories • list 1 of 3‘Back from the dead’: The continuing anguish over Gaza’s 9,500

Rampur, India – In the sweltering heat of July, more than 100 people sit cross-legged on woven mats, chanting slogans and waving the Indian flag in a small town in northern India. About 200km (132 miles) from New Delhi — where student-led protests over education reforms recently compelled a federal minister to resign — students, alumni and local residents have launched an indefinite sit-in. They are protesting a proposed plan to demolish 38 of the 40 buildings that make up Mohammad Ali Jauhar