Page 4 - International News

Trump says he's nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for permanent job

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent job, giving the Navy combat veteran the nod as concerns have emerged that some sailors have been stretched to the limit during the Iran war. Cao has been serving as acting Navy secretary since John Phelan departed the job unexpectedly and without explanation in late April. Unlike Phelan, who had not served in the military or had a civilian leadership role in the service, Cao spent 25 years in the Navy as a special operations officer and went on to serve with SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I am pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR," Trump wrote on social media, prodding the Senate "to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP." Cao on social media called it the "honour of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team." Cao's nomination comes as some, including Democrats in Congress, believe Trump has been overtaxing the Navy. The USS Abraham

Indonesia's 2027 palm oil output to drop 2.9% to 56.8 MT, GAPKI says

"Due to dry weather, many companies have stopped fertilising, because even if we apply fertiliser, it would be wasteful as it will vaporise," ​GAPKI secretary general Hadi Sugeng said

Two oil tankers disabled after hitting mines: Iran's Revolutionary Guards

The tankers had been forced ​to disembark their crews and were placed in the ‌hands ​of ‌U.S. operatives to pass through ‌what it called ​an "illegal route" in the strategic waterway

US launches new barrage of strikes on Iran around Strait of Hormuz

"Today at 12 p.m. ET (1600 ​GMT), US forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran," US Central Command posted on X.

Ukraine Parliament fails to pass tax law, risking $30 billion in aid

The government needed 226 votes for it to pass but got only 194. It was not immediately ​clear how many lawmakers voted against the bill, or were absent from the session.

Obituary: Author, farmer and environmentalist, Wendell Berry dies at 92

Berry was a prolific writer who published more than 40 books, including the novels Nathan Coulter and A Place on Earth, and the short story collection Stand By Me.

Iran says it has enough foreign currency reserves despite US sanctions

"I am telling the President ​of the United States: Iran has (foreign) currency and it has enough," Central Bank ​Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said

Two tankers reportedly struck as oil shipments through Hormuz face risks

Renewed attacks threaten the fragile recovery in oil shipments through the vital chokepoint, which had reached roughly half of pre-war levels thanks to clandestine shuttle runs from major Middle East

US Army Secy Dan Driscoll stepping down after 18 months on job: White House

No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, who is a friend of Vice President J D Vance, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported

Punjabi Association seeks fair system after 94.1% asylum cases denied in US

The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Tuesday expressed concern over US immigration court data showing that 94.1 per cent of asylum cases were denied in June 2026, while only 5.5 per cent were granted. NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said the high denial rate raised concerns about the fairness of the US asylum system. "We support the enforcement of US immigration laws and strongly oppose fraudulent asylum claims. However, genuine asylum seekers must get a fair chance to present their cases and evidence," Chahal said. The figures were reported by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). He said a denial rate of more than 94 per cent was very high and needed an independent examination. According to the TRAC, 279 immigration judges were either fired or resigned during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Hundreds of new and temporary judges have also joined the immigration court system. Chahal said reducing the backlog of immigration cases is important, b

Singapore diplomat, Myanmar activist, B'deshi teacher win Magsaysay awards

The winners of the award, first given in 1958, will be recognised at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila on November 15 with a medallion, inscribed certificate and an undisclosed cash prize.

Pakistan says more Muslim nations keen to join Mecca Defense Pact

Bangladesh is the latest country to express interest in joining the pact, signed on Aug. 7, which stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three nations will be considered an attack on them

Saudis explore about $8 billion in loans as war strains finances

State-backed oil major Saudi Aramco is holding similar discussions with banks, some of the people said. Both potential transactions are at an early stage and may ultimately not materialize

Nepal's private, public sectors pledge millions to disaster relief fund

Nepal's public sector, private companies and individuals have pledged millions of rupees to the disaster relief fund as the Himalayan nation continues its fight against one of its worst natural disasters that has killed over 600 people. Nepal is struggling to find its footing after a massive flash flood swept through towns and villages on Wednesday, washing away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, besides damaging hydropower projects. The death toll crossed 600 on Saturday, while more than 2,400 people remained missing. Nearly 2,500 people, including 163 foreigners, were evacuated as rescue teams raced against time amid intermittent rainfall in flood-affected regions. Nepal's private companies, banks, insurers and individual donors have decided to contribute to the disaster relief fund to help victims, The Kathmandu Post reported. The contributions to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund will help authorities treat the injured and provide food and shelter to families displaced

Donald Trump signs order to create US Space Academy amid space race push

Trump said the academy would help train the service members, engineers and civilian operators needed as ​the US Space Force and commercial space industry ​grow and Washington expands its ambitions

Six months of war: Iran stands, US goals remain unmet as conflict drags

The Iranian leadership, increasingly dominated by military men, sees its own survival as the nation's, and it considers the sacrifices of ordinary Iranians as a necessary act of patriotism

US judge won't immediately block Trump's new birthright citizenship order

US District Judge rejected immigrant rights advocates' request to temporarily halt Trump's latest order limiting eligibility for birthright citizenship.

Chinese chipmaker CXMT's sales soar almost 10-fold amid memory crunch

The Hefei-based company's revenue expanded to 150.3 billion yuan ($22.4 billion) in the first six months, more than double the sales it raked in across all of 2025

Obituary: Norway's reform-minded head of state, King Harald V, dies at 89

Harald, who was Europe's oldest living monarch, was taken to hospital on August 17. The palace said he was being treated for a bacterial infection in his blood.

Kevin Warsh says inflation isn't slowing, vows to hit Fed's 2% target

Warsh added that financial conditions are not currently restrictive and that interest rates are the Fed's "predominant tool" for achieving its mandate.