Saturday, July 11, 2026


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Kuwait building fire claims 49 lives, injures dozens

MANGAF CITY, Kuwait. A devastating fire engulfed a six-storey building housing workers in Mangaf city on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of 49 lives and leaving dozens injured, local authorities confirmed.

The fire, which originated in a kitchen on the ground floor, quickly spread through the building, which housed approximately 160 workers from a single company. Witnesses reported seeing desperate individuals jumping from the fifth floor in an attempt to escape the flames, many of whom did not survive the fall.

The blaze was reported to authorities at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT). Major General Eid Rashed Hamad disclosed that the building was densely populated with workers, complicating rescue efforts. “The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire,” a senior police commander informed state TV.

Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah, who visited the site, criticized real estate owners for violations and greed, attributing these factors to the tragedy. He described the incident as a “real disaster.”

According to Onmanorama, the victims included 10 Indian nationals, five of whom were from Kerala. The building, owned by the NBTC group and Malayali businessman KG Abraham, housed workers from various regions, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The fire in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.”

India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also commented on the tragedy: “Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait city. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information.”

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait has issued a helpline number and confirmed that the fire involved several Indian workers, pledging all possible assistance. The Indian Ambassador in Kuwait reported that over 30 Indian workers injured in the fire have been admitted to local hospitals.

Major General Eid Al Oweihan, Director General of Criminal Evidence, initially confirmed 35 fatalities, with six more victims succumbing to their injuries in the hospital. The interior ministry later updated the death toll to 49.

A source from the General Fire Department revealed that the victims primarily succumbed to suffocation from the smoke, which rapidly filled the building after the fire broke out on the ground floor.

Elon Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI after email revelations

NEW YORK. Elon Musk has dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, concluding a months-long legal battle between the co-founders of the artificial intelligence startup. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, had sued the company in February, accusing it of deviating from its original nonprofit mission by reserving advanced AI technology for private customers.

The lawsuit sought a jury trial and demanded that OpenAI, Altman, and co-founder Greg Brockman return any profits earned from the business. However, OpenAI quickly countered Musk’s claims, labeling them “incoherent” and “frivolous,” and urged the court to dismiss the case. In a blog post, OpenAI published several of Musk’s emails from the company’s early days, which appeared to show Musk acknowledging the necessity for significant funding to support its AI ambitions. This contrasted sharply with his lawsuit’s allegations that OpenAI was improperly pursuing profit.

Musk’s legal team did not provide a reason for the dismissal request in their Tuesday filing. A hearing on OpenAI’s motion to dismiss had been scheduled for Wednesday.

The decision to drop the lawsuit followed a series of critical posts by Musk on his social media platform, X, where he criticized OpenAI’s handling of user data after Apple announced a partnership to integrate ChatGPT with its digital assistant, Siri. Musk declared, “If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS (operating system) level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation.” Apple assured that user queries sent to ChatGPT would not be stored by OpenAI.

The Musk-OpenAI legal dispute underscored the diverging visions for the future of the AI industry. Musk accused OpenAI of racing to develop powerful “artificial general intelligence” technology to “maximize profits.” In contrast, OpenAI accused Musk of being envious of the company’s success since his departure in 2018, following an unsuccessful bid to have Tesla acquire the startup.

While OpenAI dismissed Musk’s claims as “fiction,” the company has faced its own challenges. Last year, a leadership crisis led to Altman’s temporary ouster amid board members’ concerns about AI risks. Microsoft, a major investor, intervened, and Altman was reinstated, signaling a win for those advocating the commercialization of AI technology.

More recently, several high-profile safety leaders left OpenAI, publicly criticizing the company for prioritizing product rollouts over safety. In response, OpenAI established a new committee to provide safety and security recommendations to its board.

This legal saga highlights the complex and often contentious dynamics within the rapidly evolving AI industry, as stakeholders navigate the balance between innovation, safety, and profit.

Over 1.5 million pilgrims arrive in Mecca for annual Hajj pilgrimage

MECCA, Saudi Arabia. More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, according to Saudi officials. This influx marks the return of the pilgrimage to its monumental scale.

By Tuesday, most of the pilgrims had arrived by air from around the world. The number is expected to grow as hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of Saudi Arabia join them for the official start of Hajj on Friday. Saudi authorities predict this year’s pilgrimage will surpass the 1.8 million participants of 2023, approaching the pre-pandemic figure of 2.4 million in 2019. The kingdom regulates pilgrim numbers through quotas, allowing one pilgrim per thousand Muslim citizens from each country.

Among the early arrivals were 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. However, Palestinians from the Gaza Strip were unable to travel due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“We are praying for Palestine to be free and for Palestinians to liberate their land and live in peace,” said Ibrahim al-Hadhari, an Algerian pilgrim, as he awaited evening prayers in the Grand Mosque courtyard.

On Tuesday, the Grand Mosque was crowded with pilgrims performing Tawaf, the ritual of walking seven times around the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site. Many were seen sweating heavily in the intense heat, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday and 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. Some carried umbrellas for shade.

“I was relieved when I arrived at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and saw the Kaaba,” said Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan pilgrim who traveled with her husband and daughter. “I am very happy.”

Mohammad Abdel-Baset, an Iraqi pilgrim, expressed his joy at participating in Hajj. “We congratulate the great crowd and thank God for gathering us from all regions, globally and not just from the Arab world,” he said.

At night, the marble court around the Kaaba was packed with worshippers walking shoulder to shoulder, often navigating around security barricades directing the massive flow of people.

The Tawaf ritual is performed upon arrival in Mecca and continues into the first day of Hajj. On Friday, pilgrims will journey to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, followed by a move to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina.

Hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, is a pillar of Islam, obligatory for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it. Pilgrims view the journey as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, atone for past sins, and begin anew.

Van sumalpok sa 10-wheeler truck: 2 criminology students patay, 14 sugatan

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COTABATO CITY. Dalawang criminology student ang nasawi habang 14 pa nilang kasamahan ang malubhang nasugatan nang bumangga ang kanilang sinasakyang van sa isang nakaparadang 10-wheeler truck sa Malungon, Sarangani nitong Linggo.

Ayon sa mga ulat ng Malungon Municipal Police Station at ng Police Regional Office-12 nitong Lunes, pauwi na sa Kidapawan City mula sa Rover Scouting Event sa Glan, Sarangani ang mga biktima na sina Christian Mark Cordero at Allan Peniero, kasama ang 14 pang estudyante, nang sumalpok ang kanilang van sa isang nakaparadang 10-wheeler truck sa gilid ng highway sa Purok Agdao, Barangay Talus, Malungon, Sarangani.

Dinala na sa ospital ang mga sugatang kasamahan nina Cordero at Peniero, na kapwa mga criminology students sa Central Mindanao College sa Kidapawan City, Cotabato, at miyembro ng Alpha Phi Omega fraternity.

Ayon kay Brig. Gen. Percival Augustus Placer, director ng PRO-12, patuloy pang iniimbestigahan ng mga awtoridad ang sanhi ng aksidente.

US claims Hamas seeks ceasefire modifications; Hamas denies new proposals

DOHA, Qatar. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that Hamas has suggested numerous changes to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal with Israel in Gaza. However, Hamas has firmly denied introducing any new ideas.

During a press conference in Doha, Blinken stated that some of the proposed changes from Hamas were deemed unworkable, although mediators remain focused on bridging the differences. “Our aim is to bring this process to a conclusion. Our view is that the time for haggling is over,” emphasized White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan, speaking to pan-Arab Al-Araby TV, refuted Blinken’s claims, maintaining that it is Israel rejecting the proposals. He accused the U.S. administration of siding with its close ally, Israel. “We have not heard any Israeli official confirm this acceptance,” Hamdan asserted.

Despite these conflicting statements, two Egyptian security sources informed Reuters that Hamas seeks written guarantees from the U.S. on the ceasefire plan. In a statement released on Wednesday, Hamas expressed its “positivity” in the negotiations, urging the U.S. to pressure Israel into agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, full withdrawal from the enclave, reconstruction, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Sullivan mentioned that many of Hamas’ proposed changes were minor and expected, while others significantly diverged from the U.N. Security Council resolution passed on Monday. This resolution backed the ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31.

Biden’s proposal outlines a truce and a phased release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, aiming ultimately for a permanent end to the conflict.

At a joint press conference with Qatar’s Prime Minister in Doha, Blinken highlighted that some of Hamas’ counter-proposals sought to alter terms previously accepted in earlier negotiations. The ongoing discussions underscore the complexities and the urgent need for a resolution to the prolonged conflict.

This latest exchange of statements between the U.S. and Hamas underscores the challenging road ahead for achieving lasting peace in the region.

Blackpink’s Jennie stuns in runway debut at Jacquemus show in Capri

BAY OF NAples, Italy. Blackpink’s Jennie Kim made a dazzling entrance into the fashion world with her surprise runway debut at the Jacquemus show in Capri, Italy. Dressed in minimalist chic, she captivated the audience and added another accomplishment to her impressive portfolio as a singer, rapper, actor, and fashion icon.

Jennie, channeling Brigitte Bardot from Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 film “Le Mépris” (“Contempt”), was featured in a series of vignettes posted by Jacquemus on Instagram. The scenes showcased her lying on terracotta tiles in a towel, strolling bare-shouldered along the rugged Capri coastline, and gazing out at the sea from Casa Malaparte, where the iconic movie was filmed. Just as Bardot was to Godard, Jennie was the muse for designer Simon Porte Jacquemus on the runway.

In her runway debut, the 28-year-old closed the show in a stunning backless halter dress, accessorized with a turquoise shoulder bag and zebra-print heels. This appearance bolstered her status as a global fashion icon and Chanel brand ambassador, further cementing her influence in both the music and fashion industries.

K-pop stars have increasingly become the fashion world’s favorites, with their global popularity making them highly sought-after by luxury brands. Their presence draws significant crowds and adds glamour to fashion shows worldwide.

However, fans would have found it challenging to attend this exclusive runway event. Casa Malaparte, commissioned by Italian writer Curzio Malaparte, is perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Salerno and accessible only by foot or boat. The house, and Godard’s “Le Mépris,” inspired Jacquemus when he launched his label 15 years ago, making this show a “full-circle moment,” according to the brand.

Models paraded up and down the rooftop staircase of Casa Malaparte in architectural ensembles described by Jacquemus as emerging “with absolute lightness and sensuality,” featuring designs that cascade, peel back, curve low down the sides, or reveal through sheer mousseline like a layer of water.

“I decided to create my brand after watching ‘Le Mépris’ by Jean-Luc Godard, being inspired by the beauty and modernity of his vision,” Jacquemus shared on Instagram.

Jacquemus is renowned for his scenic runway shows. In June last year, he presented an eveningwear collection at Versailles, inspired by Princess Diana and Jacques Demy’s 1970 film “Peau d’Ane” (“Donkey Skin”). For his 10th-anniversary show, he ventured into the lavender fields of Provence, continuing his tradition of blending fashion with breathtaking landscapes.

Plane crash claims lives of Malawi Vice President Chilima and nine others

BLANTYRE, Malawi. Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, along with nine others including former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, died in a tragic plane crash, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.

The military aircraft, which carried Chilima, a potential candidate for the 2025 presidential election, went missing on Monday. “I’m deeply saddened, I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill. They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors,” Chakwera said in an address to the nation.

The plane departed from the capital, Lilongwe, at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT) on Monday, but failed to land at Mzuzu airport at the scheduled time of 10:02 a.m. due to poor visibility. It was then ordered to return to Lilongwe but lost contact with aviation authorities and went off the radar.

Chakwera confirmed that all passengers died on impact, and the military was in the process of bringing their remains back to the capital. “Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated,” he said.

Images shared online depicted security and rescue personnel at the crash site on a hillside, with debris scattered around the tail of the Dornier 228-202K military transport plane, its tail number MAF T03 still visible. Reuters has not authenticated these pictures.

Chilima, 51, had returned from South Korea on Sunday after participating in the Korea-Africa summit and was traveling with the other passengers on Monday morning to attend the funeral of Malawi’s former justice minister in the northern part of the country. “Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president,” Chakwera said.

Chilima, a former director of Airtel Malawi, was the leader of the United Transformation Movement party. He had partnered with Chakwera to form the ruling Tonse Alliance, securing victory in the 2020 election. However, relations between the two had become tense ahead of the 2025 presidential election, in which the vice president was expected to challenge the president.

In 2022, Chilima was arrested over graft allegations, though a court dropped the charges last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice to discontinue the case. Chilima had denied any wrongdoing.

Mga buntis at nagpapa-breastfeed na ina kasali na sa 4Ps

MAYNILA. Maaari nang maging benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o 4Ps ang mga buntis at nagpapa-breastfeed na mga ina.

Inanunsyo ito matapos ipag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang pagpapalawak ng coverage ng 4Ps upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga sanggol sa unang 1,000 araw ng kanilang buhay.

Noong Pebrero, iminungkahi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang panukalang reporma sa 4Ps, kung saan nais nilang itaas ang cash grants sa First 1,000 Days (F1KD) ng mga bata. Ang layunin nito ay upang mapataas ang purchasing power ng 4Ps beneficiaries at maiwasan ang malnutrisyon sa mga bata.

Kahapon, sa isang sectoral meeting, inaprubahan ni Pangulong Marcos ang panukala ng DSWD na maglaan ng ayuda sa mga buntis at nagpapasusong ina. Ito ay upang masiguro na mabibigyan sila ng serbisyong pangkalusugan at matugunan ang kalusugan ng mga bata sa unang 1,000 araw.

Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang programa, ang isang 4Ps beneficiary-family ay makakatanggap ng:

  • Daycare at elementary grant na P300 kada bata kada buwan, sa kondisyon na sila ay pumapasok sa eskwelahan.
  • P500 kada bata tuwing isang buwan sa loob ng 10 buwan para sa junior high school.
  • P700 kada bata tuwing isang buwan sa loob ng 12 buwan para sa senior high school.

Ang pagpapalawig ng programa ay inaasahang magbibigay ng karagdagang suporta sa mga pamilya at magpapatibay ng kalusugan ng mga ina at kanilang mga anak.

President Biden’s son found guilty of lying about drug use to purchase gun

WILMINGTON, Delaware. A jury convicted Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, of lying about his illegal drug use to buy a gun on Tuesday, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president’s child has been convicted of a crime.

In Wilmington, Delaware, a 12-member jury found Hunter Biden guilty on all three counts against him. The 54-year-old showed little reaction as the verdict was read, merely nodding his head and then patting his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, on the back before hugging another legal team member.

First lady Jill Biden and Hunter’s wife Melissa held his hands as they exited the courtroom. In a statement, Lowell mentioned that they would “vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available to Hunter.” He also faces a separate tax case in California.

Hunter Biden was later seen at a Wilmington food hall, where he referred Reuters reporters to his statement when asked for further comment, adding, “all is good.” He then gestured to a child on his lap and said, “How could it not be?”

The trial occurred in the backdrop of the upcoming Nov. 5 election, where Democrat Joe Biden will face his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, who himself was convicted at a landmark New York state trial last month.

Prosecutors during the trial presented an intimate look at Hunter Biden’s struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine abuse, which legally barred him from purchasing a firearm. The jury, after about three hours of deliberation, found that Hunter Biden falsely claimed to be free of illegal drugs when filling out a government screening document for a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018 and then illegally possessed the weapon.

In his statement, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the love and support he had received, more than his disappointment with the guilty verdict. He noted he was “blessed” to experience recovery “one day at a time.”

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has not set a sentencing date, though it is expected within 120 days, potentially placing it a month before the U.S. presidential election.

President Joe Biden accepted the outcome of the case in a statement and pledged to respect the judicial process as his son considers an appeal. Hours after the verdict, Hunter, his wife, and his son met the president’s helicopter at a Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, where the president embraced his son and hugged and kissed his daughter-in-law and grandchild.

Sentencing guidelines for the gun charges suggest 15 to 21 months, but legal experts indicate that defendants in similar cases often receive shorter sentences and may avoid incarceration if they comply with pretrial release terms. Juror No. 10 mentioned in an audio interview with CNN, “In deliberating, we were not thinking of the sentencing and I really don’t think that Hunter belongs in jail.” The juror also emphasized that politics did not influence their decision, stating, “No politics came into play and politics was not even spoken about. The first family was not even spoken about. It was all about Hunter.”

This trial follows the recent criminal conviction of Donald Trump on May 30, making him the first U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony. Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal, has claimed without evidence that Joe Biden orchestrated the multiple criminal prosecutions he faces to block his reelection.

Trump’s campaign continues to dismiss the trial’s significance. “This trial has been nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family,” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated.

Congressional Democrats have pointed to the Hunter Biden trial, along with ongoing federal prosecutions of two Democratic members of Congress, as proof that President Biden is not manipulating the legal system for partisan purposes. The president also stated last week that he would not pardon his son if convicted.

The Delaware trial included testimonies from Hunter Biden’s ex-wife, former girlfriend, and sister-in-law, who provided firsthand accounts of his addiction struggles around the time he purchased the gun. Prosecutors presented text messages, photos, and bank records indicating that Biden was heavily addicted when he bought the gun and knowingly lied on the government screening form about his drug use.

Hunter Biden’s defense argued that he was not using drugs at the time of purchase and did not intend to deceive because he did not consider himself a drug user when filling out the form. His daughter, Naomi Biden, testified that her father appeared well shortly before and after he bought the gun.

The case was brought by U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel David Weiss, a Trump appointee. In a press conference, Weiss emphasized that the case was not just about addiction but about the illegal choices Hunter Biden made during his addiction. “His choice to lie on a government form when he bought a gun, and the choice to then possess that gun. It was these choices, and the combination of guns and drugs, that made his conduct dangerous,” Weiss stated.

Weiss has also charged Hunter Biden with three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses in California, alleging he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on drugs, escorts, exotic cars, and other high-ticket items. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to those charges, with a trial scheduled for Sept. 5.

‘We’ve come to rescue you. Be calm’: Clip shows moment troops locate 3 hostages in Gaza home

Israeli forces rescued three hostages held in Gaza’s Nuseirat, police footage revealed Monday. Elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit officers and Shin Bet agents executed the daring mission, storming the home of Hamas militant Abdallah Aljamal on Saturday.

The dramatic video shows Yamam officers entering the building under intense gunfire and explosions. “Hebrew, Hebrew, where is everyone?” one officer shouts. “Here, they are here,” another responds, leading to the identification of Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv.

“Three [hostages] are in our hands,” confirms an officer. “Everything is okay. We have come to rescue you, be calm,” he reassures, fist-bumping Meir Jan.

The video cuts to scenes of the hostages being evacuated under fire. Tragically, Yamam officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora was killed during the mission, which has been named “Operation Arnon” in his honor.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also released footage of the hostages being airlifted from Gaza to Tel Hashomer Hospital in central Israel. A fourth hostage, Noa Argamani, was rescued from another building and transported separately.

The four hostages were abducted on October 7 from the Supernova music festival near Re’im during a Hamas-led attack that left 1,200 dead and 251 taken captive.

Simultaneous raids on two buildings in Nuseirat were conducted by Yamam and Shin Bet, targeting Hamas-affiliated guards. According to Hamas’s government media office, at least 274 people were killed during the operation, a figure yet to be verified. The IDF acknowledged civilian casualties but blamed Hamas for using a dense civilian area for combat. “We know about under 100 [Palestinian] casualties. I don’t know how many of them are terrorists,” said IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari.

The Israel Defense Forces Releases Body Camera Footage Showing Hostage Rescue in Gaza
Footage from Israel shows moments after the rescue of hostage Noa Argamani