World

A 16-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing nine-year-old Aria Thorpe claimed the fatal injury occurred during what he described as “playfighting”, BBC reported. The teenager denies murder and manslaughter charges over Aria’s death at a house in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on December 15 last year.Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told Bristol Crown Court that the defendant…

Foreign investors eligible for new 15-year residency permit in Kuwait Foreign investors looking to build long-term businesses in Kuwait could soon have a much stronger reason to stay.In a major policy shift aimed at attracting global capital, Kuwait has unveiled a new residency programme that will allow eligible foreign investors, business owners and senior executives…

A cargo ship crossing the North Pacific encountered a powerful storm that swept several shipping containers into the ocean. One of those containers carried 28,800 plastic bath toys consisting of yellow ducks, blue turtles, red beavers, and green frogs. What appeared to be a routine shipping accident soon turned into one of the most unusual…

The French government will invest €655 million ($758.29 million) in artificial intelligence and introduce a single chatbot system across public services, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report.The initiative is aimed at expanding the use of AI in government operations, with Lecornu positioning the move as part of France’s effort…

A 38-year-old Indian expatriate who had lived in Dubai for nearly 15 years, died after collapsing during a routine cricket match.Mohammed Safwan Shanu hails from Bhatkal in Karnataka Safwan was batting during a weekly Sunday morning cricket game when he suddenly collapsed on the pitch at around 7.10am. Teammates rushed to help and called an…

A 21-year-old woman who plunged from a 130-foot bridge during an unlicensed bungee jump in Brazil was still alive when rescuers reached her, according to a nurse who rushed to help after the fall.Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas died on Saturday after she was launched from the abandoned Ponte do Esqueleto, or Skeleton Bridge, near…

In 1916, German chemists searching for a wartime substitute for soap stumbled upon something far more useful, a synthetic cleaning agent that worked even in hard water. World War I had cut off the animal fats and vegetable oils that soapmakers relied on, forcing scientists to experiment with petroleum-derived chemicals instead. The result was an…

A teacher has been convicted of murdering a 13-month-old boy he adopted with his male partner just months before the child’s death. Jamie Varley, 37, was found guilty at Preston Crown Court of murdering Preston Davey in July 2023. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was convicted of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death…

Red and orange hair have long been one of humanity’s most distinctive traits. Found in only a small percentage of the global population, the fiery shades are typically linked to genetics, fair skin and a higher sensitivity to sunlight. Yet scientists have now uncovered evidence suggesting that the story of red hair is far more…

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has announced that Tuesday, June 16, marks the first day of Muharram 1448 AH and the beginning of the Islamic New Year.The announcement came after the sighting of the Muharram crescent moon on Monday evening.The UAE has also confirmed Tuesday, as the first day of Muharram and the beginning of the…

In Finland, some of the most attentive listeners helping children improve their reading skills have four legs. Across libraries, schools and even farms, children are encouraged to read aloud to trained dogs and, in some local initiatives, cows. These animals provide a calm and patient audience that allows young readers to practise without worrying about…

Government throws fresh doubt on Thames water rescue deal / Image – file Britain’s biggest water supplier, Thames Water, has moved a significant step closer to government control after ministers formally raised concerns about a proposed £10 billion rescue package designed to keep the troubled utility afloat.The UK government’s intervention cast fresh doubt over the…