Latest news with #TheIndependent
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Taiwan is rehearsing for war and what it wants China and Trump to know
Taiwan is carrying out its largest military and civil defence drills to date, in response to growing threats from China. The 10-day Han Kuang exercises, which began on 9 July 2025, involve over 22,000 troops and thousands of civilians, including volunteers and emergency workers. The drills aim to test how well Taiwan can defend itself against a possible Chinese invasion. Government officials say the exercises are also designed to build public awareness and resilience in case of conflict. In the capital, Taipei, air raid sirens brought the city to a standstill. Civilian evacuations were practised in shops, schools, subways, and busy areas. BBC News reported that residents had to shelter indoors or risk fines, and traffic came to a halt as part of the Urban Resilience exercise. At a supermarket, The Independent quoted a 19-year-old student, Wu Huan Chung, who described a drill where staff reassured a shopper concerned about food shortages. 'They explained the store was keeping food in the basement for emergencies,' she said. Staff had also been trained in evacuation procedures and ways to calm crowds. Troops took part in amphibious landing drills, helicopter re-arming exercises, and city-based combat simulations. New weapons systems such as US-supplied Himars missile launchers and Abrams tanks were used during the drills, The Independent reported. President Lai Ching Te, who observed several drills in military uniform, said the goal was to avoid war by being ready for it. 'We hope by preparing for war, we can avoid war, to achieve the goal of peace,' he said, as quoted by BBC News. NOW HAPPENING: Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Drill in Taipei All civilians are required to shelter indoors. Buses halted to a stop during the drills, while trains continued service. The annual air raid drill comes as Taiwan conducts its largest military exercises to date. — Gino Lopez | 盧培德 (@ginollopez) July 17, 2025 The president added that building unity and public strength is key, 'With preparation, we have strength.' China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has criticised the drills. At a press conference, Chinese defence spokesperson Colonel Jiang Bing called the exercises 'a bluff and a self-deceiving trick' and said Taiwan could not stop China's goal of reunification. But Taiwanese lawmakers and civil society groups say the drills are essential. 'We are facing China, so we want to be well prepared,' said Fan Yun, a member of Taiwan's legislature, as quoted by The Independent. 'We are showing our ability to defend ourselves.' Some residents told BBC news that they believe the chances of a Chinese invasion are low. 'If they really wanted to invade us, they would have done it long ago,' said a 29-year-old finance worker named Ben. 'But I do believe we need these drills… every country needs to practise defence.' Others are less confident. 'There is just too big a difference in the strengths of China and Taiwan's militaries,' said Mr Xue, an office worker. 'There is no use defending ourselves.' Still, the drills have made emergency preparation part of everyday conversation. People are now discussing what food and medical supplies to store at home, and making plans with family in case of attack. This year, for the first time, Taiwan combined its military drills with large-scale civil defence exercises. These included mock rescue operations, bomb simulations, and training volunteers in first aid. One NGO worker told The Independent that these activities help raise awareness, especially among younger people. But she said it's still hard to talk with older generations about the possibility of war. 'If something really happens, questions like 'where should we meet' are an uncomfortable eventuality to prepare for,' she said. Taiwan's defence ministry has urged the public not to panic and to ignore misinformation about the drills. Officials hope the exercises will show both the people of Taiwan—and China—that the island is serious about its self-defence. As lawmaker Fan Yun put it, 'In Taiwan we say, the colour of your political party's flag does not matter, because a missile has no eyes.'
Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
David Beckham left with bald patch after ‘terrible' hair accident
David Beckham has been left with a misshapen bald patch after he tried to cut his own hair at home. The 50-year-old, known for his trendsetting looks, attempted to hide the damage, which he said was caused by the clipper of his hair trimmer falling off while he was shaving. His wife Victoria playfully mocked him for the blunder as she shared the aftermath on her Instagram page on Sunday (20 July). 'You tried to cut your hair but what have you done?' she asked as David is seen covering the spot with his hands, before revealing a clearly triangular-shaped patch on his characteristic buzz cut. Victoria laughed at the reveal, to which David replied: 'It's not funny. The clipper head fell off.' 'The hours of content that the kids have got from this,' she continued. 'It does not look good. I'm going to always be honest with you – it looks terrible.' The former England footballer is known for his much-imitated hairstyles throughout the years, including his divisive blond mohawk, but his buzzcut is widely considered the most iconic and popular of his looks. He adopted the look in the early 2000s. 'I had a hairdresser at the time called Tyler. I said to him: 'I'm gonna cut my hair' and he was like: 'Are you sure? You really want to do that?'' he recalled in an episode of the family's Netflix series, Beckham, in 2023. He was confronted by his Manchester United Coach Sir Alex Ferguson about the decision to chop off his blond hair: 'And [Ferguson] said: 'David, take the cap off,' and I said no,'' he continued. Ferguson then called the athlete out for his 'stubbornness' at the time, before adding: 'And then I said: 'Oh well.'' However, according to Beckham, he didn't shave his head for the sake of publicity. 'I never did it to create attention. I'm not that person.' James Clarke, a Manchester paparazzi member, recalled some of the reactions to Beckham cutting his blond hair at the time. 'When David Beckham shaved his head, I honestly thought a member of my family had died. Because my phone went off,' he said. 'The panic in people's voices that this... We haven't got it documented yet.' The Independent
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
US says it's leaving UN cultural agency UNESCO again, only 2 years after rejoining
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Africa's spice island, Zanzibar partners with Indian billionaire to boost investment
Zanzibar is drawing renewed investor attention as Indian entrepreneur Prateek Suri, widely recognized for building one of Africa's most successful tech ventures, met with President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi to explore economic collaboration. Indian entrepreneur Prateek Suri met with Zanzibar's President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi to discuss economic collaboration. Suri's private investment fund targets key sectors such as shipping, mining, and artificial intelligence. The collaboration marks a broader trend of partnerships shaping economic transformation in Africa. The Independent Uganda reports that the meeting was focused on turning Zanzibar into a hub for infrastructure and innovation projects. It was described as both cordial and strategic, reflecting growing interest from private capital in East Africa's economic transformation. Suri, who previously led Maser Group to a $5 billion valuation and $1 billion in annual revenue before stepping away from daily operations, has since launched a private investment fund targeting key sectors such as shipping, mining, road construction, and artificial intelligence. His rise to prominence has been marked by both financial milestones and a growing presence in Africa's development space. As Africa's richest Indian entrepreneur, he transformed Maser Group into the continent's seventh unicorn before its acquisition, and has remained active in deploying capital toward large-scale ventures critical to Africa's economic future. The meeting with President Mwinyi reflects a wider trend in Africa, where partnerships between governments and high-net-worth entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the pace and scale of economic transformation. According to insiders familiar with the discussions, the President welcomed Suri's interest in investing in the region, as Zanzibar seeks to position itself as a center for modernization and development. Infrastructure and Innovation Take Center Stage in Zanzibar Talks Suri's latest engagement with President Mwinyi reflects a growing alignment between private investors and African governments aiming to unlock transformative growth. Their discussions reportedly focused on how Zanzibar could position itself as a strategic investment hub tapping into Maser Group's global expertise and channeling capital into key areas such as infrastructure, innovation, and regional trade integration. According to The Independent, both parties explored how public-private partnerships could drive long-term development across the island and beyond. ' Africa's future will be written through collaboration between governments willing to act and private leaders willing to invest with purpose,' Suri noted during the meeting. As Zanzibar charts a path toward modernization and increased investor confidence, this alliance with one of Africa's most successful business figures is expected to set the tone for future high-impact ventures..
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
EasyJet releases fresh batch of flight tickets for 2026 – with seats from £23
EasyJet has launched the sale of its summer schedule for 2026 – and flight fares start from just £22.99. Millions of seats across 161,000 flights are now available for forward-thinking travellers to secure next year's summer getaway. The released easyJet flights – for travel between 15 June and 13 September 2026 – depart for 134 destinations from 22 UK airports. Holiday hotspots including Faro, Palma, Paris, Alicante, and Nice are among the featured journeys as part of the budget airline's 'Big Seat Release'. Sophie Dekkers, easyJet's chief commercial officer, said: 'We're thrilled to release millions of seats for Summer 2026 today, enabling customers across the UK to book early and secure fantastic value fares to our most popular leisure destinations across Europe, North Africa, and beyond.' However, booking a flight early doesn't guarantee travellers have secured the best deal. Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, said: 'For some travellers, buying the moment flights go on sale can prove good value. People who have a property in Spain or Portugal, and who want to travel on specific dates at a reasonable fare, can be confident that they are locked into the best deal. 'Airlines are happy to see a surge in demand for travel a year ahead, and, of course, they collect the cash instantly – and know that you will not be considering rival airlines. 'But from the passenger's perspective, it's not necessarily an excellent deal. I checked Manchester to Malaga on 19 July 2026 on easyJet, and the basic fare is £230 one way – so not a compelling bargain. 'The same route is only £48 on 1 September next year. But who knows what Ryanair and Jet2 will be charging then? 'The corresponding easyJet price for a flight on the first Tuesday in September this year has easyJet at £75, but Ryanair only wants £28. I wouldn't be tempted to surrender the chance to shop around nearer departure.'
