Paul Bettany addresses controversial Johnny Depp texts: ‘I haven’t spoken to him since’

The Independent - Oct 16, 2026

‘VisionQuest’ actor has distanced himself from former co-star after private message furore

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Japan says hosting record number of foreigners
Oct 17, 2026
Japan says hosting record number of foreigners

TOKYO — Japan has registered a record number of foreigners living in the country this year despite growing anti-immigration sentiment, as the country grapples with problems caused by an aging and shrinking population. Data showed 4.28 million foreigners staying in Japan as of the end of June, excluding short-term visitors, the Immigration Services Agency said on Friday. That marks an increase of 156,000 people from the end of last year, and accounts for roughly 3.5 percent of Japan's total population, according to calculations based on government estimates. Immigration expert Toshihiro Menju told AFP that Japan is facing a labor shortage on all levels, from highly skilled professionals to service workers. "With Japan's population shrinking by more than 900,000 a year ... we have no choice but to rely on foreign workers," said Menju, a visiting professor at the Kansai University of International Studies. Government measures such as "the use of AI and robotics, and greater (workforce) participation by women and older people cannot fully make up for the shortfall," he added. Japanese busine

Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest
Oct 17, 2026
Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Trump personally signed the legislation just last month and his move came just two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation. It drew shift condemnation from congressional Democrats. Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the legislation had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling the war against Ukraine. Trump's unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published Oct. 1 found that Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices. Trump's approval ratings have sunk to near-historic lows and pressure is mounting as Republicans try

US envoy highlights role of Korean investment in creating American jobs
Oct 17, 2026
US envoy highlights role of Korean investment in creating American jobs

WASHINGTON — U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel has highlighted the role of Korean investment in strengthening the U.S. economy and creating American jobs, expressing hope for expanded economic cooperation between the two countries. Steel made the remarks in a post on X after attending a plenary meeting of the U.S.-Korea and Korea-U.S. Business Council, hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries on Thursday. "Korean investment continues to strengthen the U.S. economy, support American jobs and deepen commercial ties between our two countries," she wrote. "We look forward to building on this momentum and creating even more opportunities for investment and shared growth between our two nations," she added. Her remarks underscored Washington's emphasis on attracting Korean investment following the announcement by the two sides of details of Seoul's planned $200 billion investment in the U.S., part of a broader $350 billion commitment in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods.

New White House press secretary 'let go' from role, official says
Oct 17, 2026
New White House press secretary 'let go' from role, official says

WASHINGTON — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was "let go" from the role, a White House official said on Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had told her to reconsider the job following public scrutiny. "I told her: 'I think you're better off being happy, and I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff.' There's nothing easy about this stuff," Trump told reporters while departing the White House. He added: "I said to her honestly, 'If I were you, I'd reconsider ... think about it. But I would reconsider.'" Fox News, citing a White House official, later reported that Zacharia was "transitioning" out of the role of press secretary. Zacharia started the job on Monday and held her debut White House briefing on Tuesday. She had said she received a call about the role of press secretary last Wednesday and got offered the job to succeed Karoline Leavitt last Friday. Trump later announced her appointment. In his announcement, he described her an attorney. Over the last week, the issue of whether Zacharia, a graduate of California's Pepperdine University law school, ha

Korean envoy condemns Houthi attacks, urges tougher UN sanctions
Oct 17, 2026
Korean envoy condemns Houthi attacks, urges tougher UN sanctions

WASHINGTON — Korea has condemned recent deadly attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea, calling on the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions to cut off weapons supplies to the group. Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon made the remarks during a Security Council debate on the Middle East held Thursday, warning that the attacks pose serious threats to global peace, maritime security and energy supplies. "We condemn such attacks and urge an immediate halt to all attacks against civilians," Cha said during the debate. "We call on this council to strengthen sanctions, to effectively cut off the supply of weapons to the Houthis." Cha said the Houthis' recent attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and threats to commercial navigation in the Red Sea were posing "severe risks to global peace as well as maritime and energy security." The attacks included two consecutive strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh last week, further escalating tensions in the Middle East. The first,

US Coast Guard rescues at least 16, searching for more in Mexico's Baja Coast
Oct 17, 2026
US Coast Guard rescues at least 16, searching for more in Mexico's Baja Coast

LOS ANGELES — At least 16 people seen floating in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico’s Baja California coast were rescued in the predawn hours Friday and authorities were searching for several others, a U.S. Coast Guard official said. Petty Officer Chris Sappey said that at about 1 a.m., several people were spotted floating in the water about 140 miles west of Ensenada. Sappey said it was unclear why people were in the water and no vessel has been found. He said one person who was rescued said as many as 27 people were on board a boat. Sappey had no further details about what the people were doing. “There was no sight of a vessel in the water, just straight people in the water,” Sappey said. Those being rescued were being taken to hospitals in San Diego, Sappey said. The Coast Guard was assisting Mexican authorities in the search efforts with a helicopter, fixed-airwing plane and a cutter, Sappey said. Migrants are increasingly turning to the risky alternative offered by smugglers to travel by sea to avoid heavily guarded land borders, including off California’s coast. Pangas leave Me

Zelenskyy drums up European backing as Trump ties slump
Oct 17, 2026
Zelenskyy drums up European backing as Trump ties slump

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU leaders Friday to keep financing Kyiv's fight with nearly $80 billion more next year, as he insisted he was standing up for his country amid a fresh row with U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv's ties with Trump have nosedived after the U.S. leader eased sanctions on Russia as part of a deal to supply diesel. Trump branded Kyiv's actions a "disgrace" and said it was easier to deal with Russia's President Vladimir Putin than Zelenskyy after the Ukrainian leader ordered his forces to resume strike on Russian refineries. "I defend the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people exclusively," Zelenskyy told journalists after talks with EU leaders in Brussels. Asked if he was being made a scapegoat for Trump's domestic woes ahead of the U.S. midterms, Zelenskyy just smiled. "This is my answer," he said, after an extended pregnant pause. The latest breakdown between Trump and Zelenskyy has fueled fear that the U.S. leader is siding with Moscow. Those concerns have been heightened by disruptions to a critical U.S.-provided sate

Haze triggers highest alert level in southern ASEAN zone: monitor
Oct 17, 2026
Haze triggers highest alert level in southern ASEAN zone: monitor

SINGAPORE — Ongoing fires in Indonesia that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia with toxic haze have triggered the highest-level alert by the regional bloc's climate and fire monitor. "Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Southern ASEAN region," the Singapore ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) said on its website, seen on Saturday. Based near Singapore's Changi Airport, the ASMC uses a four-tiered alert level system, from zero to three, with the highest triggered if there is a "high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region." This included significant and persistent hot spot activities with widespread moderate to dense smoke haze, observed over two or more consecutive days, dry weather persisting and wind continuing to blow haze toward neighbouring ASEAN countries. The ASMC alert was issued Friday, but similar alerts have already been handed out twice this year — on Aug. 26 and March 27. The monthslong spell of haze has been disrupting life in large parts of Southeast Asia, closing schools and spiking respiratory complaints. Singapore said on Friday it would issue w

Pope Leo brings American-style governance to Vatican, even in health crisis
Oct 17, 2026
Pope Leo brings American-style governance to Vatican, even in health crisis

VATICAN CITY — There’s a telling anecdote from St. John Paul II's pontificate that illustrates how Pope Leo and his American style of governing have changed the Vatican and the way it handles papal health crises. The Polish pope, 84 at the time, was back at Gemelli hospital battling an acute respiratory infection, breathing problems and the worsening effects on his larynx of Parkinson’s disease, which had made speaking nearly impossible and breathing difficult. Doctors performed a tracheotomy under anesthesia, an incision in John Paul’s windpipe, to help him breathe. And yet the next morning, his spokesman gave reporters a remarkably rosy, seemingly implausible update: John Paul had eaten his regular breakfast of coffee with milk, 10 biscuits and a yogurt. “Something that would suffocate anyone,” church historian Alberto Melloni recalled Friday. “But it was normal then that they told lies about the pope. Those were the rules of the game.” Two papacies and twenty years later, Leo has changed the rules of the game. Not only did history’s first American pope announce himsel

Protesters across France rally over rising living costs, joining students' grievances
Oct 17, 2026
Protesters across France rally over rising living costs, joining students' grievances

PARIS — Protesters across France called for street demonstrations Saturday against rising living costs, joining high school students' grievances over education conditions after more than three weeks of school blockades. Saturday’s mobilization follows calls on social media to revive the yellow vest movement , which emerged in 2018 against social injustice. Student groups protesting since mid-September have urged supporters to join. The CGT, one of France’s major labor unions, also backs the protests, calling for “higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of public services that meet people’s needs.” President Emmanuel Macron appealed Friday for calm and respect for people and property as officials warned of possible violence. “There is a constitutional right to protest and to express oneself, and I have always been vigilant and attentive that that right is fully respected,” Macron said Friday in Brussels. “But this right comes with the need to respect. Respect for people, respect for property, and therefore a commitment not to insult or destroy.” Macro

Naile strengthens stellar postseason resume in Tigers' victory
Oct 17, 2026
Naile strengthens stellar postseason resume in Tigers' victory

GWANGJU — Two years after helping the Kia Tigers win the Korean Series title with two strong outings, right-hander James Naile marked his return to the South Korean baseball postseason with a stellar performance Saturday. Naile held the LG Twins to a run on four hits over seven innings, as the Tigers emerged with a 5-1 victory in the opening game of the best-of-five first round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. Before a sellout crowd of 18,900 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Naile struck out six batters — five of them using his bread-and-butter pitch, the sweeper. Nailed started the game with two strikeouts in the first inning. He got two quick outs in the second but then surrendered a solo home run to Song Chan-eui after leaving a sweeper over the heart of the plate. The Tigers backed up Naile with a couple of long balls of their own — Harold Castro's game-tying solo shot in the bottom second and Kim Do-yeong's go-ahead solo homer in the bottom fourth. And that proved enough run support for Naile. Naile caught a break in the th

FSSAI proposes ban on added sugar in baby food for infants aged up to six months
Oct 17, 2026
FSSAI proposes ban on added sugar in baby food for infants aged up to six months

FSSAI’s draft amendment seeks to prohibit sucrose and fructose in infant nutrition products intended for babies aged up to six months, tightening standards amid concerns over early sugar exposure and childhood obesity.

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