26 New Books to Read in October: Barbara Kingsolver, Bonnie Garmus, Stephen Graham Jones and More

Swiss voters reject tighter neutrality rules that would have curbed NATO cooperation

ZURICH — Swiss voters on Sunday firmly rejected a proposal to adopt a more restrictive form of neutrality that would have blocked their country from imposing economic sanctions or cooperating with NATO. All cantons and about 70 percent of voters rejected the proposal for a strictly defined version of neutrality to be written into the Swiss constitution, final results from the Federal Statistical Office showed. "This result is not a vote against neutrality. Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it is neutral today, and it will remain neutral in the future," Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at a press conference following the outcome. While Swiss neutrality has been internationally recognised since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, how the government implements it is not spelled out. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) has said that Switzerland's traditional position has been eroded after Bern imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The campaign had funded posters across the country urging people to vote "No war, yes to neutrality," featuring white peac

Trump expects new Iran talks despite rejecting deal offer

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite his rejection of a truce proposal put forward by Tehran. Iranian officials brought with them to the U.N. General Assembly in New York a plan for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Trump dismissed the plan and has mused on resuming full-scale air strikes on Iranian targets, but he told the news platform Axios that he expects negotiations to resume. "They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make," Trump told Axios. "It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago." "They overplayed their hand," Trump said, in the interview published Sunday. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Axios reported that indirect talks between Washington and Tehran could take place as early as Monday. On Sunday, Iran was still standing by its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the Gulf front of the Middle East war locked in a stalemate, while fighting rages in Yemen. 'We will not back down' Horm

Trump asked China's president if he wants to buy US arms, ambassador says

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has justified the pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world — even asking Xi if he’d be in the market for U.S. arms, Trump’s ambassador to China said on Sunday. David Perdue said Trump raised the prospect of the arms sales from the U.S. to its ascendant geopolitical rival, an unlikely offer that if consummated would upend generations of U.S. policy toward China and Taiwan and potentially expose U.S. technology to a potential foe. Perdue, speaking to Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday” days after Trump hosted Xi for a state visit in Washington, didn't specify when the offer was made. Bream had cited concerns from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over delayed aid packages and weapons orders to Taiwan , the self-ruled democracy, to defend itself from China’s threat to invade the island. Bream asked if the U.S. is denying Taiwan to appease the Chinese president, who visited Trump last week. Perdue pushed back on the suggestion, stating that

Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Lisa win at MTV's Video Music Awards

LOS ANGELES — Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter claimed best collaboration and K-pop superstar Lisa won best pop video as MTV kicked off its annual Video Music Awards on Sunday. "Bring Your Love" from Madonna and Carpenter earned the VMA collaboration award at the show in downtown Los Angeles. The pair had opened the ceremony with a high-energy performance of the song to the cheering crowd. Madonna, the night's top nominee, said she enjoyed working with Carpenter because their work styles complemented each other. "When I show up late, she shows up early," Madonna said, adding that both share the old-school habit of writing lyrics on pieces of paper. "It's been wonderful working with you, and I love this song," she added. Lisa, a member of the group Blackpink, won the VMA for best pop video for her solo effort "Dream." Sporting a black outfit with large white fringe sleeves, she spoke through tears as she thanked her fans, known as Lillies. "I wouldn't be here without you guys," she said as she held the VMA Moon Person trophy. "Thank you so much for your love and support." Taylor Swift was in

China says to cut tariffs on US farm goods, but soybeans excluded

BEIJING — China is set to cut tariffs on a broad range of US agricultural goods, from corn and wheat to meat and dairy, but top import item soybeans were excluded from a tariff-reduction list its commerce ministry issued on Monday. Markets have been waiting for news on Chinese tariff cuts on U.S. farm goods following last week's Washington summit of leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The list covers sorghum, vegetable oils and meals, including soyoil and soymeal, along with meat, dairy products and other items, the commerce ministry said. US soybeans, however, still face an additional tariff of 10%, which traders have warned is too high for private crushers to absorb, even as Chinese state buyers have stepped up purchases. Both sides have agreed to form a trade council, whose first task will be to discuss a reciprocal tariff cut on $30 billion worth of products, in a bid to ensure stable economic and trade ties. Chinese state-run agricultural companies Sinograin and COFCO have bought more than 12 million metric tons of US soybeans, nearly half the 25 million the White House has said B

Iran has no plans to negotiate with US: state media

TEHRAN — State media in Iran on Monday reported that no new talks were planned with the United States, after US President Donald Trump told media he expected more negotiations. "Iran's delegation in New York (for the UN General Assembly) has no plans for negotiations with the United States," said the official IRNA news agency, citing an unnamed source close to the group. Trump told Axios on Sunday that he expected talks to resume soon, a day after he rejected a proposal by Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.

Oil prices spike after Trump rejects Iran truce offer

HONG KONG — Oil prices spiked with bond yields Monday as Donald Trump's rejection of an Iranian offer of a seven-day truce stoked inflation concerns, while stocks were mixed as traders look ahead to the release of key US data. Tehran last week set out a plan at the UN General Assembly for a halt in hostilities that would see the Strait of Hormuz reopened, which would ease a crippling supply crisis that has jacked up costs around the world. The waterway is key to the world's energy supply and is now central to the conflict between the US and Iran, particularly with Houthis seizing Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping lane. However, the US president told reporters outside the White House "I reject their proposal". Still, he told Axios that he expects negotiations to resume. "They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make," he told the news platform. "It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago." "They overplayed their hand," Trump added, in the interview published Sunday. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Axi

Lightdox Acquires Rights To ‘My Home Of Wind And Sand’ Before Zurich Film Festival World Premiere

EXCLUSIVE: Lightdox has acquired world sales rights to the documentary My Home of Wind and Sand ahead of its world premiere Tuesday at the Zurich Film Festival. Filmmaker Patrick Wally spent over a decade on his film, a portrait of women’s rights, human rights and climate activist Najla Mohamed Lamin, who was born in a […]

Nepal Himlung avalanche toll rises to four, 12 still missing

Nepal Himlung avalanche toll rises to four, 12 still missing

Angela Scanlon takes over Sara Cox's drivetime slot on Radio 2

The station also announces a new presenter for its country show after Bob Harris's departure.

'Gang-raped For Hours, Free P**** Message Sent': Cornell Ex-Student Says Varsity Let Off 5 After They Wrote ‘Essays’

‘Free p**** message was sent’: Cornell University says it investigated allegations in accordance with policies; criminal investigation reopened after 101-page civil lawsuit

Wynne Evans no longer friendly with Katya Jones over Strictly row