Fire in southwestern Spain active as 470 moved to safety
BARCELONA: A wildfire that broke out in the Andalusian province of Huelva, in southwestern Spain, remained active on Sunday (Aug 9), prompting the evacuation of 470 locals as a precaution.Authorities expressed optimism that they are managing to control a blaze which has so far affected some 8,000ha, not all o
2026-08-09 15:31:18

CCTV+: การประชุมวิทยาศาสตร์พื้นฐานนานาชาติ เปิดฉากแล้ว ณ กรุงปักกิ่ง
ปักกิ่ง, 9 ส.ค. 2569 /PRNewswire/ -- การประชุมวิทยาศาสตร์พื้นฐานนานาชาติ (International Congress of Basic Science หรือ ICBS) ประจําปี 2569 ได้เปิดฉากขึ้นแล้ว ณ กรุงปักกิ่ง โดยมีนักวิทยาศาสตร์ นักวิจัย และนักวิชาการรุ่นใหม่ ทั้งจากจีนและต่างประเทศ ร่วมงานนี้กว่า 1,000 คน...
2026-08-09 15:30:00

Air India pilot undergoes 'confirmatory' drug test after flight plunge

Mumbai, India: India's aviation ministry said Sunday that an Air India pilot whose flight plunged dramatically in turbulence injuring 17 passengers and crew is undergoing a "confirmatory" psychoactive drug test.

The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, before stabilising and landing safely, the civil aviation ministry said.

Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hospitals after landing in the Indian capital, whose conditions were described as "stable", after which both pilots were given a standard "psychoactive substance screening test", the statement read.

"The screening test in respect of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing," it said.

"Samples have accordingly been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited."

The ministry said the flight has been classified as a "Serious Incident", and that India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched an investigation.

Both pilots have been removed from the flying roster pending outcomes of investigation.

"Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results," it added.

Videos of the incident's aftermath showed cabin baggage strewn across the aisle. Some of those injured were taken to hospital on stretchers.

Air India, in a statement earlier on Sunday, confirmed that a "post-flight screening test" had been conducted on the flight's pilots, but it said the results had not been shared with the company.

The incident is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Indian carrier, which appointed a new executive on Wednesday.

Since taking over Air India in 2022, India's Tata Group has embarked on an ambitious overhaul, ordering hundreds of aircraft and upgrading its ageing fleet.

While the airline has managed to modernise operations and integrate the group's aviation businesses, it has faced persistent headwinds including aircraft delivery delays and airspace closures.

But the biggest blow to the airline's image came in June 2025, when Air India Flight 171 -- a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner -- crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.

The carrier has now turned to former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam, widely seen as an industry veteran capable of righting the ship, as its new CEO as it seeks to execute a turnaround.

2026-08-09 14:46:53

Philippine police mobilizes rescue units amid floods

Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized frontline forces for rescue and evacuation operations amid widespread flooding, with additional personnel and assets on standby for rapid deployment to the hardest-hit areas, according to local media reports on Sunday.

"We have made available as many personnel and resources as possible for evacuation and disaster response," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Sunday. He advised the public to monitor official channels and refrain from sharing unverified information.

Flooding and gridlock from the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones have crippled major thoroughfares across Luzon, forcing emergency evacuations. In Central Luzon, police have been assisting affected communities through search and rescue, evacuation and relief distribution.

Official data showed 618 families, or 2,039 residents, were sheltering in 46 evacuation centers. Severe flooding hit at least 132 villages across six provinces, with roads and a bridge in Bulacan and Pampanga still impassable, according to the reports.

2026-08-09 14:38:03

Air India pilot undergoes 'confirmatory' drug test after flight plunge
MUMBAI: India's aviation ministry said on Sunday (Aug 9) that an Air India pilot whose flight plunged dramatically in turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew, is undergoing a "confirmatory" psychoactive drug test.The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 91m on Aug 4 while flyin
2026-08-09 14:28:38

California may win chip race while losing productivity one
Silicon Valley built its reputation by making transistors smaller and smaller. For decades, each shrink delivered a predictable payoff: faster computers, cheaper computing power, new products and new industries. Moore’s Law became a self-reinforcing cycle. Lower costs expanded demand, rising demand funded the next generation of innovation and the result was an economy where a [...] The post California may win chip race while losing productivity one appeared first on Asia Times .
2026-08-08 13:19:33

'Mum, don't call me': Inside Thailand's deadly school shooting
Nine people are dead and another 23 wounded in Thailand's worst mass shooting since 2022.
2026-08-08 13:14:00

Thailand school shooting toll rises to nine after death of 12-year-old girl
Fourteen people remain hospitalised, of whom seven remain in critical condition on Saturday, according to Thailand’s Health Ministry.
2026-08-08 13:11:00

Iran says deal on Strait of Hormuz is close but will not open the waterway by itself
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were "very close" to agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but that reopening the strait depended on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran.
2026-08-08 12:51:00

His Majesty The King reviews progress of key GMC projects
His Majesty also visited the Gelephu International Airport site and the construction site for the 108 Chortens to be built on November 1 this year.
2026-08-08 11:58:55

Airborne survey uncovers copper, tungsten, and rare earth mineral deposits
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) has completed the nationwide airborne geophysical survey, uncovering promising signs of copper, tungsten, rare earth elements, and geothermal resources.
2026-08-08 11:09:48

Government holds off on immediate EV subsidies despite affordability concerns
Private electric vehicle (EV) buyers will have to wait longer for new incentives, as the government has decided not to immediately reinstate tax exemptions or provide subsidies for EV buyers.
2026-08-08 11:09:17

Jail for training officer who pushed woman with intellectual disability, causing knee injuries
The offender was angered that the victim had not followed instructions.
2026-08-07 11:39:09

What China’s new PLA leaders reveal about Xi’s unfinished military rebuild
While newly promoted full generals have taken charge of key commands, many other senior roles appear to be filled by acting or unconfirmed officers amid a sweeping anti-graft drive, observers note.
2026-08-07 11:35:02

Health ministry to expand lactation management units nationwide by year-end
Exclusive breastfeeding is not just about how much breast milk a mother can produce. It is more about understanding the techniques of proper breastfeeding. To help mothers in their breastfeeding journey and ensure adequate nutrition for their newborns, the health ministry plans to expand lactation management units in all districts by the year-end. The health [...] The post Health ministry to expand lactation management units nationwide by year-end appeared first on BBSCL .
2026-08-07 11:17:20

Guotai Junan International receives take-private offer at over $3.6 billion valuation
Aug 7 : Hong Kong-listed brokerage Guotai Junan International said on Friday it received a conditional take-private proposal from Guotai Haitong Financial Holdings, valuing it at HK$28.59 billion ($3.64 billion).Under the proposal, shareholders will receive HK$3 in cash for every cancelled share, and the comp
2026-08-07 11:12:59

New Belgium coach Van Bommel had no hesitation accepting job
BRUSSELS, Aug 7 : Belgium's new coach Mark van Bommel did not hesitate to accept the job offer even if there might have been a chance to take over the national team of his native Netherlands, who are still looking for a coach after the World Cup.Van Bommel, in his first press conference since his appointment
2026-08-07 11:11:11

Malaysia Airlines to test all pilots after Indonesia drug arrest

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines' parent firm announced on Friday mandatory drug screenings for its pilots, after one of them tested positive for a cocktail of narcotics and was arrested in Indonesia for smuggling.

Authorities at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport arrested the 39-year-old pilot last month, shortly after arriving from Kuala Lumpur, for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase.

Malaysia Aviation Group said in a statement on Friday that it would carry out tests "for all active pilots, beyond industry practice".

The group, which also owns budget airline Firefly, said the process would begin with 1,260 pilots from the national carrier, with tests to be completed by August 15.

Pilots who are not tested will "not operate flights" until they have been cleared, the company said.

The process would complement the aviation group's "existing random testing programme", it added.

"Operational safety and crew fitness for duty are non-negotiable," said the group's president and chief executive, Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar.

"We take any breach of our safety standards seriously and have acted swiftly to enhance mandatory drug screening across our active pilots."

The detained pilot faces the death penalty on conviction in Indonesia.

Results of his urine test came back positive for meth, MDMA and cocaine, according to Indonesian customs officials.

Malaysia Aviation Group has said he was not the one who flew the plane from Kuala Lumpur that day, but a cockpit "observer" who had been "off duty for two days preceding the incident".

It added that the aircraft "was operated safely at all times by two qualified operating pilots".

2026-08-07 11:09:07

委內瑞拉朝野重啟談判 美國斡旋下尋求政治過渡
委內瑞拉朝野對話星期四在首都加拉加斯正式展開。根據媒體報道,這是多年來委內瑞拉政府與反對派再次展開正式談判,也是首次在美國積極推動和參與下舉行的政治對話。外界普遍關注,這一輪談判能否最終推動委內瑞拉政治過渡,並為重新舉行選舉鋪路。
2026-08-07 11:00:11

委内瑞拉朝野重启谈判 美国斡旋下寻求政治过渡
委内瑞拉朝野对话星期四在首都加拉加斯正式展开。根据媒体报道,这是多年来委内瑞拉政府与反对派再次展开正式谈判,也是首次在美国积极推动和参与下举行的政治对话。外界普遍关注,这一轮谈判能否最终推动委内瑞拉政治过渡,并为重新举行选举铺路。
2026-08-07 11:00:09

Levi Strauss reveals cybersecurity breach amid wider wave of attacks
Aug 7 : Levi Strauss on Friday disclosed a recent cybersecurity incident in which an unauthorized third party gained access to the company's systems through a social engineering attack targeting three employees.The apparel maker joins a growing list of major firms worldwide that are facing a rise in cyberatt
2026-08-07 10:58:06

Curling-Olympic champion Muirhead returns from retirement with eye on 2030 Games
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2026-08-06 09:39:39

Markram returns home from The Hundred for personal reasons
Aug 6 : South Africa’s Twenty20 captain Aiden Markram has returned home from the Manchester Super Giants due to personal reasons, the English franchise who compete in The Hundred competition have announced.Markram had captained the Lancashire side in their first five matches of this season’s competition,
2026-08-06 09:22:17

‘Overkill’: Chinese travellers push back against ‘tacky’ aesthetics taking over scenic spots in China
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Castaway SpaceX rocket stage crashed into moon: Scientists
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2026-08-06 09:16:00

Bhutan’s industries struggle to grow beyond small scale: Annual Industry Report 2026
More than 95 per cent of Bhutan’s industries are still operating as cottage and small businesses, with very few growing into medium or large enterprises. According to the latest Annual Industry Report 2026, this slow transition is limiting industrial growth and raises questions about what is preventing businesses from expanding. According to the Annual Industry [...] The post Bhutan’s industries struggle to grow beyond small scale: Annual Industry Report 2026 appeared first on BBSCL .
2026-08-06 09:11:33

Bhutan maps what lies beneath; finds copper, tungsten and promise of heat
Bhutan now has a detailed picture of what lies beneath most of its mountains. The Department of Geology and Mines (DGM), under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), has completed the interpretation of the country’s first nationwide airborne geophysical survey, an aerial study that identified areas favourable for minerals across terrains never mapped [...] The post Bhutan maps what lies beneath; finds copper, tungsten and promise of heat appeared first on BBSCL .
2026-08-06 09:10:22

NDP 2026: Public advised to arrive early for security checks, monitor crowd levels
Members of the public should check the Crowd@NationalStadium map for real-time crowd levels and closed-off areas.
2026-08-06 09:08:48

Dialogue highlights Hongshan culture protection
Culture: Deal signed for joint protection BEIJING, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: Cultural heritage is a living dialogue connecting the past, the present and a shared future, participants at a cultural event said on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of...
2026-08-06 09:08:00

Ugandan soccer star dies after assault in capital
KAMPALA, Aug 6 : Uganda international David Owori, captain of one of the country's biggest soccer clubs, has died after an assault in the capital Kampala, police said. Owori, 28, captain of SC Villa, was critically injured by unidentified assailants in a suburb of Kampala on Tuesday, police spokesperson Rache
2026-08-06 09:04:11

Cox to replace injured Bethell for Pakistan tests as Root begins new England captaincy stint
Aug 6 : England handed Jordan Cox the number three spot in place of the injured Jacob Bethell for the first two tests of the three-match series against Pakistan later this month, while Joe Root will captain the side on a permanent basis for the first time since 2022.Root, who returns to lead the side after be
2026-08-06 09:02:09