EU-Mercosur trade accord to apply provisionally

[ BRUSSELS: The European Union’s free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur will apply on a provisional basis from May 1, the European Commission said on Monday. The key trade elements of the accord, which has proven contentious in Europe, will apply from that date between the 27-nation European Union and the countries in … Read more

US-blamed airstrike kills PMF commander, nine fighters in Iraq’s Anbar

Strike on Iran-aligned paramilitary headquarters raises fears of wider regional escalation amid Middle East war Screengrab. PHOTO: REUTERS Airstrikes targeting a site belonging to Iraq’s Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces in the western province of Anbar killed at least 10 fighters, including the PMF’s Anbar operations commander, and wounded 30 others, security and health sources told Reuters … Read more

Dollar scarcity hurts Venezuelan firms

[ CARACAS: In central Venezuela, the owner of a mid-size pharmaceutical factory scrambles to obtain dollars to import chemicals and other ingredients for his headache and fever remedies. But he, like many other Venezuelan business owners, is frequently unsuccessful. The hurdles include an official system for allocating US currency that disfavours small and medium companies … Read more

Pakistan ranked most polluted country in 2025, data shows

A view of smog in Punjab province. PHOTO FILE: AFP Pakistan was ranked the world’s smoggiest country in 2025, with concentrations of hazardous small particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the recommended World Health Organisation level, research showed on Tuesday. These particles, arising from combustion, industrial emissions, and wildfires, penetrate deep … Read more

Iran fires fresh missile waves at Israel, rejects Trump’s ‘negotiation’ claims as fake news

Tehran denies US talks as strikes rattle Israel and markets swing amid fragile Middle East tensions Iranian state TV said the strike in Dimona, home to a nuclear facility, was retaliation for an earlier attack on its Natanz nuclear site. PHOTO: AFP Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said, after … Read more

Global economy under ‘major threat’

. CANBERRA: The global economy is under “major threat” from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and “no country will be immune” to its effects, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday. Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, Birol compared the current energy crisis to those of the … Read more