Children among eight injured in knife attack in southeast France
PARIS (Agencies): Children were among eight people injured Thursday in a knife attack in Annecy, in southeast France, local officials said.A male suspect was detained in connection with the attack.French…
Baby forgotten in parked car dies in Belgium
BRUSSELS (AA/APP): A baby died after being forgotten in a car in a hospital parking lot in southern Belgium, local media reported on Thursday.The 6-month-old passed away on Wednesday after…
Pakistan Army Chief vows to defeat hostile forces, abettors with nation’s full support
RAWALPINDI (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday said the hostile forces and their abettors had been trying hard to create societal division and confusion…
Air quality in New York, Washington reaches hazardous levels due to wildfires in Canada
NEW YORK (APP): Smoke blowing in from wildfires in neighbouring Canada made New York and Washington some the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday, overtaking New Delhi, which is notorious…
Tear gas, water cannon fired on protesting Sri Lankan students
COLOMBO (Agencies): Authorities in Sri Lanka have fired tear gas and water cannons on hundreds of students protesting in the capital to demand the release of people arrested during last…
Saudi Arabia to establish an institute for Global Cybersecurity Forum
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has issued on Wednesday a royal decree to establish a new institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported.The…
Gunman shoots two dead, wounds five others at Virginia high school graduation
Virginia (Reuters) – A man armed with four handguns killed two people and wounded five others when he fired into a crowd outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond,…
CNN fires CEO for being soft on Trump
NEW YORK (Agencies): CNN has parted ways with CEO Chris Licht a year after he promised to revive the floundering news network as a force for serious journalism, David Zaslav,…
US seeks to freeze assets of world’s biggest crypto exchange
NEW YORK (Agencies):The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order to freeze the US assets of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, Reuters…
Abda Sharif named as UK’s new ambassador to Yemen
LONDON (Agencies): British authorities have appointed lawyer and diplomat Abda Sharif as the UK’s new ambassador to Yemen.She will take up her post in September and succeeds Richard Oppenheim, who…
German, Indian companies sign accord on possible India submarine project
NEW DELHI (Agencies): German and Indian companies signed an agreement Wednesday that envisions the possible building of six military submarines for India.The memorandum of understanding was signed in the presence…
Ukraine Blows Up Togliatti-Odessa Ammonia Pipeline in Kharkov Region
MOSCOW (Agencies): A Ukrainian sabotage group has blown up the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in Kharkov region. There are casualties among the civilian population, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.The…
French left in last-ditch bid to derail pensions overhaul
Paris (AFP/APP): France’s left-wing forces and labour unions will stage another day of strikes on Tuesday to try to derail President Emmanuel Macron’s pensions overhaul, insisting that the fight to…
US engages with Pakistan on all issues, desires to see it prosper: State Dept.
WASHINGTON (APP): The United States gets in touch with Pakistan directly on the issues that are of importance to Washington and also to broader regional security and stability, State Department…
First flowers on Earth most likely pollinated by insects: study
SYDNEY (Xinhua/APP): A new study conducted by Australian experts has shown that insects were most likely the pollinators when the first flowers bloomed on Earth more than 140 million years…
Japan sends seawater into tunnel built for Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge
TOKYO (Xinhua/APP): Japan has started sending seawater into an underwater tunnel built to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, local media reported…
Pope in hospital for check-up: Italian media
Rome (AFP/APP): Pope Francis was in a Rome hospital for a medical check-up Tuesday, according to Italian media, just over two months after he was hospitalised with bronchitis.The 86-year-old pope…
Racing shock: Singapore to end 180 years of horse racing
Singapore (AFP/APP): Singapore’s horse racing community spoke of its anger and heartbreak Tuesday with the city-state’s only racecourse set to close, signalling the end of the sport there after more…
Ukraine says Russian forces blew up Nova Kakhovka dam in Kherson
KYIV (Agencies): Ukraine’s military said Russian forces have blown up a large dam in southern Ukraine, while the Moscow-installed official in the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Russian-controlled portion…
Apple unveils Vision Pro, its $3,500 headset
Cupertino, United States (AFP/APP): Apple on Monday unveiled its first-ever mixed reality headset, challenging Facebook-owner Meta in a market that has yet to tempt users beyond videogamers and tech geeks.The…
Money: £9bn in old UK banknotes and coins not cashed in
LONDON (BBC): Almost £9bn in old banknotes have not been cashed in across the UK, even though paper £20 and £50 stopped being legal tender in October. Paper banknotes have…
Huge sandstorm hits Egypt, killing 4
CAIRO (Agencies) : A huge sandstorm hit Egypt last week, killing four people and injuring five others when a billboard fell onto the 6th October Bridge. During the spring, Egypt…
Qatar, Saudi discuss strengthening military ties
Singapore (Agencies): Qatari Defence Minister, Khalid Al-Attiyah, yesterday discussed strengthening military relations with Saudi Arabia with the kingdom’s Assistant Defence Minister, Talal Al-Otaibi. The discussion came during a meeting that brought both…
Algeria: ex-security chief sent to prison for attempted election fraud
Algiers (Agencies): A court in Algeria has confirmed the sentence of a former director of Internal Security to 16 years in prison, Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported. Wassini Bouazza was charged with attempting…
‘Large-scale’ Ukrainian offensive repelled – Russian MOD
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russian forces have successfully repelled a “large-scale offensive” by Ukrainian troops along five sections of the front line in Donbass, the Russian Defense Ministry said in the early…
South Korea approves mass production of fourth batch of K2 MBTs
SEOUL (Agencies): South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has approved the mass production of a fourth batch of the Hyundai Rotem K2 main battle tank (MBT) for the Republic…
Saudi Arabia readies 7,000km of roads in preparation for Hajj
RIYADH (Agencies): In preparation for the upcoming Hajj, Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority has completed safety and maintenance measures to ensure the readiness of the kingdom’s extensive road network. The…
Shenzhou-15 ‘dream crew’ safely returns to Earth
BEIJING (Agencies): Having spent six months living and working in the China Space Station, setting a new record for China’s manned space program with four spacewalks by a single crew,…
Iraq announces plans for $17 billion transportation project linking Asia to Europe
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Agencies): Iraq’s prime minister on Saturday announced plans for a $17 billion regional transportation project intended to facilitate the flow of goods from Asia to Europe. The announcement…
3 Israeli soldiers, Egyptian guard killed in border gunbattle
RAMALLAH (Agencies): A gunbattle along Israel’s southern border with Egypt left three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian officer dead on Saturday, officials said. An Egyptian border guard crossed into Israel…
Pope Francis to make historic visit to Mongolia in September
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis will go to Mongolia in early September in the first visit by a pontiff to the Buddhist-majority Asian nation, the Vatican announced Saturday.The 86-year-old pontiff will…
Tunisian FM hails Italy’s support over IMF loan
ROME: Tunisia’s foreign minister has hailed “Italy’s clear understanding of the … need to support the … economic recovery underway” in his country. Nabil Ammar was speaking on Friday night…
Qatar elected as President of WHO Executive Board
GENEVA (Agencies): The Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (WHO) elected the State of Qatar as President of the Board at its 153rd session for a period of one…
Israel considering wide-scale West Bank military offensive
TEL AVIV (Agencies): Israeli military institutions are preparing for a potential wide-scale military offensive to “purge” the occupied West Bank of armed Palestinian resistance, Hebrew newspaper Maariv revealed on Friday.Maariv’s…
BRICS foreign ministers pledge to build up New Development Bank
MOSCOW (Agencies): The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – BRICS – said that building up the New Development Bank is one of their priorities, Anadolu…
AI drone ‘killed’ its operator during virtual test – USAF official
LONDON (Agencies): The US Air Force has reportedly been carrying out simulated tests using artificial-intelligence drones tasked with destroying various targets. However, according to a blog post by the Royal…
One dead, three missing in Japan after heavy rain
Tokyo (AFP/APP): Heavy rain across parts of Japan has killed one person, left three missing and injured dozens more, authorities said Saturday, with thousands of residents issued evacuation warnings.The inundation…
UN experts warn of ‘toxic tidal wave’ as plastic pollutes environment
UNITED NATIONS (APP): The world must beat the “toxic tidal wave” of plastic pollution that threatens human rights, UN experts said Friday, and called for putting rights at the centre…
Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia: State Department
WASHINGTON (Agencies): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia next week, the State Department announced Friday.Blinken’s trip comes as the Kingdom and US seek to broker…
CIA chief secretly visited China – FT
WASHINGTON (Agencies): US President Joe Biden dispatched CIA Director William Burns to Beijing last month to meet with Chinese intelligence officials, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing anonymous American…
More than 200 dead in Indian train accident
NEW DELHI (Agencies): In a devastating incident in Odisha’s eastern region, the death toll has risen to 233, with 900 others injured, following a multiple train collision. The collision occurred…
Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif at royal wedding
AMMAN (Agencies): It was an affair to remember as Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II wed Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif, who by royal decree will now be known as…
Xi tells China’s security chiefs to prepare for ‘dangerous storms’
BEIJING (Agencies): China faces increasingly difficult and complex national security challenges and must prepare for “worst-case” scenarios by increasing its capacity to deal with internal and external threats, President Xi…
CIA hacked iPhones of diplomats in Russia – FSB
MOSCOW (Agencies): The CIA installed malware on thousands of Apple phones used by Russian citizens and foreign diplomats working in the country, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed. The…
Clashes in Senegal after opposition leader sentenced to two years
Dakar (AFP/APP): Violence erupted in Senegal’s capital Dakar on Thursday after a court sentenced firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years’ jail for “corrupting youth,” a move that dims…
Mexico police find 45 bags with human body parts in ravine
Mexico City (AFP/APP): At least 45 bags with human remains were found in a ravine in the western Mexican state of Jalisco during a search for eight people reported missing…
US averts first-ever default with 11th-hour debt deal
Washington (AFP/APP): US senators voted to suspend the federal debt limit Thursday, capping weeks of fraught negotiations to eliminate the threat of a disastrous credit default just four days ahead…
Taiwan tribe despairs as drought shrinks bamboo crop
Taipei (AFP/APP): Hacking at a bamboo plant with a machete, Avayi Vayayana peels back the shoot’s stiff bark as he scans southern Taiwan’s mountains, anxious for more of the money-making…
Israel brings in 10,000 Indian labourers to replace Palestinians
TEL AVIV (Agencies): Instead of relying on Palestinian workers, Israel has decided to import 10,000 workers from India. The Indian Government has signed an agreement with Israel to bring 10,000…
Over 200 dead as Russia sinks Ukraine’s last warship
MOSCOW (Agencies): The Russian military has destroyed Ukraine’s “last warship,” the Yury Olefirenko, in a high-precision airstrike, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday. “On May 29, as a…
IAEA resolves nuclear issues with Iran – Iranian media
DUBAI (Agencies): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has resolved nuclear issues with Iran relating to one of three sites being investigated over the presence of uranium particles, Iranian media…
Afghanistan calls for ‘diplomatic’ resolution with Iran after border skirmishes
KABUL (Agencies): The Taliban government has called on Iran to resolve bilateral issues “through diplomatic channels,” an Afghan official told Arab News on Monday, as tension at their border eased…
Italy: Agents die when boat capsizes on Lake Maggiore
ROME (BBC): Two Italian intelligence agents and a retired Israeli security forces member were among four victims of Sunday’s boating disaster on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, local officials say.…
China declined high-profile meeting – Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Agencies): China has rejected Washington’s proposal that their defense chiefs meet this week, the Pentagon said on Monday. The news comes amid a renewed diplomatic spat between the two…
Nine injured in Florida beach shooting – police
HOLLYWOOD (Agencies): Nine people were wounded after gunfire erupted along a crowded beach boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida late Monday night, police have said. There were more people in the area…
31 billionaires are worth more than the US Treasury
WASHINGTON (Agencies): Thirty-one billionaires are currently wealthier than the US Treasury, which had just $38.8 billion in cash on hand at the close of business on Friday. Treasury Secretary Janet…
Moscow attacked by drones – mayor
MOSCOW (Agencies): Drones attacked the Russian capital on Tuesday morning, damaging several buildings, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has said. Sobyanin ordered the evacuation of residents from the two apartment blocks…
Pope Francis holds talks with head of Muslim World League in the Vatican
LONDON (Agencies): The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Issa, on Saturday held talks with Pope Francis at his office in Saint Martha House in the Vatican, the…
Taliban clash with Iranian forces – reports
TEHRAN (Agencies): Taliban forces opened fire on Iranian border guards on Saturday, killing at least two, Iranian state media reported. While the situation is now reportedly under control, unverified video…
Indian official drains entire reservoir to find lost phone
NEW DELHI (Agencies): An Indian government official has been suspended for ordering the drainage of a reservoir so he could retrieve his phone, which he dropped while taking a selfie.…
Israel mulls imposing restrictions on foreign funding for NGOs
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The Israeli government is considering a bill aimed at imposing restrictions on foreign funding for NGOs, local media reported yesterday.According to media reports, the bill states that…
Iran, Belgium conduct prisoner swap freeing aid worker, diplomat
TEHRAN (Agencies): Iran and Belgium have freed an aid worker and a diplomat imprisoned in each other’s countries, respectively, in a deal facilitated by Oman.Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said…
Chinese aircraft carrier passes through Taiwan Strait: Taipei
TAIPEI (Agencies): Three Chinese ships, including the Shandong aircraft carrier, passed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the island’s Ministry of National Defense said. China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as…
Share of dollar in global reserves lowest in 28 years – IMF
NEW YORK (Agencies): The process of diversifying away from the greenback by countries around the world is gathering pace, according to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund. The…
US lawmakers unveil Taiwan war to-do list
WASHINGTON (Agencies): American lawmakers have published a list of recommendations on how Washington should “arm Taiwan to the teeth” against any potential attacks from Beijing, urging for more US weapon…
Oreo manufacturer branded enemy of Ukraine
NEW YORK (Agencies): One of the world’s biggest snack companies, Mondelez International, has been labeled an enemy of Ukraine due to its reluctance to exit Russia, Ukrainian media reported on…
Anti-China bloc tests AI-powered drone swarms
LONDON (Agencies): The US, UK and Australia have shown off new AI-powered drone swarms, marking the first-ever collaboration on autonomous UAV technology between the members of the AUKUS security pact,…
Pakistan to host WBC World Youth title fight next month
ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistani boxer and Asian boy Usman Wazir would be defending his WBC World Youth title in the fight to be held in Gilgit Baltistan on June 24. Usman…
Three killed, including two police, in Japan gun and knife attack: media
Tokyo (AFP/APP): Three people, including two police officers, were killed on Thursday in a shooting and stabbing attack in the central region of Nagano, Japanese media said.A male suspect was…
And now the weather: cloudy with scattered showers of plastic
Paris (AFP/APP): Diplomats from 175 countries gathering in Paris for plastics treaty talks on Monday may want to pack an umbrella, but not just because there’s a chance of rain.France’s…
Lebanon Central Bank chief faces travel ban after Interpol Red Notice
BEIRUT (Agencies): Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, attended a judicial hearing in Beirut on Wednesday where his Lebanese and French passports were confiscated following an Interpol Red Notice against…
Norway to help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets
OSLO: Norway will support training programs for Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjoern Arild Gram said on Wednesday.US President Joe Biden on Friday endorsed training…
Saudi Arabia restores diplomatic relations with Canada
RIYADH (Agencies): Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it is restoring diplomatic relations with Canada. The decision comes after a discussion between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman…
Los Angeles approves robot police dogs
LOS ANGELES (Agencies): The Los Angeles city council has authorized the use of a robotic “dog” device by the local police department, despite protests from residents and some dissenting council…
Ukraine’s top general gravely wounded in Russian strike – RIA
MOSCOW (Agencies): The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, was seriously wounded in a Russian missile strike near the city of Kherson earlier this month, a security…
‘Queen of rock ‘n’ roll’ Tina Turner dies at 83
NEW YORK (Reuters): Tina Turner, the American-born singer who left a hardscrabble farming community and abusive relationship to become one of the top recording artists of all time, died on…
Bank of Israel hikes interest rates for 10th time, to 4.75%
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The Bank of Israel on Monday raised its benchmark interest rate for a 10th consecutive time, lifting borrowing costs by 25 basis points to 4.75% as it…
Iraqi President receives new commander of NATO Mission in Iraq
Baghdad (Agencies) – The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, received on Sunday the new commander of the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI), Lieutenant General Jose Antonio Aguero Martinez.Martinez will lead…
Libya loses US$ 5 bn annually due to illegal Tuna fishing within its territorial waters
TRIPOLI (Agencies): The Tuna fishing season in Libya is a neglected economic resource that is costing Libya around US$ 5 billion annually in potential lost revenues due to illegal fishing…
Putin congratulates troops on battlefield success
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Wagner private military company and regular soldiers for liberating the Donbass city of Artyomovsk, known in Ukraine as Bakhmut, from the Ukrainian…
Macron makes first French presidential visit to Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar (AFP/APP): Emmanuel Macron on Sunday made a brief but symbolic visit to Mongolia, the first by a French president to the country nestled between China and Russia that is…
Germany, S. Korea agree to boost economic, security ties
Seoul (AFP/APP): South Korea and Germany agreed to boost economic and security cooperation in the face of persisting global uncertainties after their leaders met in Seoul on Sunday.Olaf Scholz, the…
Bakhmut captured – Wagner chief
BAKHMUT (Agencies): The key Donbass city of Artyomovsk, known as Bakhmut in Ukraine, has been fully liberated by the Russian forces, Evgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military…
Cholera making a comeback worldwide after years of decline : UN experts
UNITED NATIONS (APP): UN health experts have warned that cholera, a 19th-century disease, may be making a ‘devastating’ comeback after years of decline. In a new alert, the World Health…
Pentagon leaks suspect to remain jailed pending trial
Worcester, United States (AFP/APP): The US airman accused of leaking top-secret documents will remain in jail pending trial, a federal judge ruled Friday, after prosecutors argued that he posed an…
After SpaceX, NASA taps Bezos’s Blue Origin to build Moon lander
Washington (AFP/APP): Two years after awarding Elon Musk’s SpaceX a contract to ferry astronauts to the surface of the Moon, NASA on Friday announced it had chosen Blue Origin, a…
US Republicans put brakes on debt crisis talks
Washington (AFP/APP): The threat of a US default was raised a notch on Friday after a “pause” in debt ceiling talks between the White House and the Republican opposition as…
7.1-magnitude quake strikes east of New Caledonia: USGS
Sydney (AFP/APP): A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Saturday in the Pacific Ocean to the east of New Caledonia, the US Geological Survey said, a day after a major quake hit the…
Eight Pakistanis dead, six injured in Makkah hotel fire: FO
ISLAMABAD (APP): The Foreign Office on Friday said eight Pakistanis were dead and six others injured in an unfortunate fire incident in a hotel in Makkah. In response to media…
‘Radioactive cloud’ moving toward Europe – Russian security chief
MOSCOW (Agencies): The hazard was produced by depleted uranium munitions destroyed in Ukraine, Nikolay Patrushev has claimed The destruction of depleted uranium shells in Ukraine has produced a radioactive cloud…
Indian Navy Uses US-Origin P-8 Poseidon To Help Chinese PLA Navy Trace Sunken Vessel
NEW DELHI (Agencies): There are few occasions when the navies of India and China cooperate on the high seas. On 17 May, Indian Navy’s US-origin reconnaissance aircraft P8I Poseidon helped…
Lebanon secures deals to get more Iraq oil
BEIRUT (Agencies): Lebanon has secured deals for more fuel supplies from Iraq, the two countries said on Tuesday, as Beirut battles to produce more power to help it emerge from years…
Lt-Gen Syed Aamer Reza made Corps Commander Lahore
ISLAMABAD (Agencies): Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza, HI (M) has been posted as new Corps Commander Lahore, defence sources said. The unprecedented incident at the residency of a top military…
Iran, Pakistan inaugurate joint border market, power transmission line
ISLAMABAD (Agencies): Iran and Pakistan, on Thursday, inaugurated a joint border market as well as an electricity transmission line in the presence of top government officials, Anadolu News Agency reports.The…
Netherlands signs $305m deal for arms from Israel’s Elbit Systems
TEL AVIV (Agencies): Israel and the Netherlands signed a five-year arms’ deal worth $305 million, Israel’s Defence Ministry announced yesterday. Israel’s Elbit Systems, a company which sells weapons to the…
China adds Russian port as transit hub
BEIJING (Agencies): China has added Russia’s Far Eastern port of Vladivostok as a transit hub for domestic trade shipments, the country’s customs agency announced on Monday.The move is intended to…
Russia fields new artillery system
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russia’s first-ever wheeled self-propelled howitzer, the 2S43 Malva, has successfully completed trials and will enter service, Director of Uralvagonzavod Aleksandr Potapov said on Wednesday.The weapon has been described…
US issues warning to North Korea
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The US State Department has said a potential North Korean satellite launch would violate international restrictions placed on the DPRK. The statement came after North Korean media revealed…
China and Central Asian countries to develop ‘Air Silk Road’
BEIJING (Agencies): China will increase flights to and from the five countries of Central Asia in a bid to strengthen regional connectivity and economic exchanges, according to the Civil Aviation…
Ukraine receives jet fighter support pledge from UK, Netherlands
LONDON (Agencies): The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, Rishi Sunak and Mark Rutte, have agreed to build an “international coalition” to provide fighter jet support for…
US charges Apple ex-employee for trying to steal technology, fleeing to China
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States on Tuesday announced charges in five cases involving alleged efforts to steal technology to benefit China, Russia and Iran including a former Apple Inc. engineer…
Patriot missile base in Kiev destroyed by hypersonic strike – Moscow
MOSCOW (Agencies): A precision strike by a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile has destroyed a Patriot air defense system in Kiev, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Tuesday. The Ukrainian…
CPEC hydropower project achieves dam capping in Pakistan
BEIJING (APP): The Suki Kinari Hydropower project in the northwestern part of Pakistan achieved the dam capping on Monday, marking it entering a new construction stage. The successful capping of…
On 75th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba, number of Palestinians worldwide doubled about 10 times
RAMALLAH (WAFA) – Ola Awad, President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), said today that 75 years since the Palestinian Nakba, the number of Palestinians worldwide has doubled…
Sajid Sadpara makes history as he climbs Everest solo without oxygen
ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan’s ace climber, Sajid Ali Sadpara, made history when on Sunday he climbed the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest (8848m) solo without using supplemental oxygen and taking personal…
British next-gen warship ‘sabotaged’
LONDON (Agencies): British defense contractor BAE Systems is assessing the scope of repairs needed following an alleged act of sabotage on the Royal Navy’s newest frigate, which is still under…
Category 5 Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar, Bangladesh
Kyauktaw, Myanmar (Agencies): Cyclone Mocha crashed ashore in Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh on Sunday, uprooting trees, scattering flimsy homes in Rohingya displacement camps and bringing a storm surge into low-lying…
Pakistan to play three Tests in Australia in December-January
LAHORE (Agencies): Pakistan will make a trip Down Under later in the year to take on Australia for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. The three Tests – part of the third World…
Frist int’l seminar on China-Pakistan science, technology cooperation held in Beijing
BEIJING (APP): The first international seminar on “China-Pakistan Science and Technology Enterprises Cooperation” was held in the recently established China-Pakistan Science and Technology Cooperation Center, Beijing. The seminar, participated by…
Visa, Blue Pay, and Wayl to accelerate digital payments in Iraq
Baghdad (Agencies): A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been established by Visa, a global leader in payments technology, Blue Pay, an Iraqi financial technology business, and Wayl, an e-commerce platform…
Italian embassy in China denies rumor of suspending visa applications
BEIJING (Agencies): Rumors about visa suspension for Chinese tour groups are “groundless,” the Italian embassy in Beijing said in a statement Saturday afternoon. The embassy has so far been receiving…
Leading American company to invest $200 million in Pink Salt industry in Pakistan
WASHINGTON (Agencies): A leading American company in import, manufacture and supply of sea salt plans to invest nearly $200 million in curating, processing, distributing and importing Pink Himalayan Salt, which…
Germany unveils 2.7 bn euro weapons package for Ukraine
Berlin (AFP/APP): Germany is preparing a new weapons package for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros, reportedly Berlin’s largest since its conflict started with Russia last year, the defence ministry said…
Over 36,000 missing women ‘untraced’ so far in Madhya Pradesh
ISLAMABAD (APP): The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, which made the controversial and anti-Muslim film ‘The Kerala Story’ tax-free, has the record of second highest cases of missing women in…
Turkiye Airlines to order nearly 600 planes
ANKARA (Agencies): The national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, will order nearly 600 aircraft in the next decade, according to the Airline’s Board and Executive Committee Chairman, Anadolu News Agency reports.Speaking…
Israel, South Korea sign security agreement to foster business cooperation
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The Israeli High-Tech Association, this week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Korean cyber-security industry group during a visit to Israel by a Korean delegation, according…
Concern as Beirut Civil Defense chief detained by Syrian intelligence
BEIRUT (Agencies): Syrian intelligence on Friday detained Beirut’s Civil Defense chief for four hours after he crossed overland into the country en route to Egypt.Walid Hashash, 57, director-general of the…
Astronomers discover largest ever cosmic explosion
LONDON (Agencies): A team of astronomers have identified what they believe to be the largest cosmic explosion ever witnessed. Located billions of light years away in outer space, the blast…
Russian military helicopter crashes in Crimea – Moscow
MOSCOW (Agencies): A Russian two-seat Mi-28 attack helicopter has crashed in northern Crimea, the country’s Defense Ministry stated on Friday. Both pilots died in the incident, it added. The aircraft came down…
2,000 clean carpets supplied weekly to Makkah’s Grand Mosque
MAKKAH: No one likes laundry day – but spare a thought for those responsible for the carpets in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.One of Islam’s holiest sites, the mosque has…
US and China hold unannounced high-level talks
WASHINGTON (Agencies): White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had unannounced meetings with Wang Yi, the head of the Chinese Communist Party’s Foreign Affair Committee, in Vienna on Wednesday and…
UK extradites ex-Autonomy boss to face US fraud trial
London (AFP/APP): British businessman Mike Lynch has been extradited to the United States to stand trial over an alleged multi-billion-dollar fraud linked to the 2011 sale of software firm Autonomy…
Brazil inaugurates F-39E Gripen fighter assembly line
BRASILIA (Agencies): Brazil’s Embraer inaugurated its Saab F-39E Gripen final assembly line on 9 May in Gavião Peixoto, State of São Paulo, where it will assemble 15 of the multimission…
Israel arms company purchases Greece defence company
TEL AVIV (Agencies): A major state-run Israeli defence company has purchased a Greek defence company, expanding Israel’s arms sector reach further into Europe. According to Greece’s AMNA news agency, the Greek company,…
Turkiye hosts international sniffer dog competition
ANKARA (Agencies): A three-day international competition featuring sniffer dogs from several countries is underway in Turkiye’s capital, Ankara, Anadolu News Agency reports. The event, which began on Tuesday, has 10 dogs from…
First ‘three-parent’ baby born in the UK
LONDON (Agencies): A baby has been born with the DNA of three people for the first time in the UK, following the use of a pioneering form of in vitro…
Human pangenome ushers in ‘new age of genetic diagnosis’
Paris (AFP/APP): Scientists on Wednesday unveiled the first draft of a human “pangenome”, a more diverse and accurate DNA blueprint for our species that they hope will help shed light…
Biden to host India’s Modi for state visit in June
Washington (AFP/APP): US President Joe Biden will host India’s Narendra Modi for a state visit in June, it was announced Wednesday, as Washington courts New Delhi as a bulwark against…
Thousands of Venezuelans face desperate gamble at US border
El Paso (AFP/APP): Before turning himself in to US border officials in El Paso on Wednesday, Juan Fernandez sent a farewell text message to his wife in Venezuela.He then wiped…
Sudan battles rage as more civilians risk dangerous escape
Khartoum (AFP/APP): Fighting raged in the Sudanese capital and a city to the south Wednesday, residents said, pushing more people to undertake dangerous journeys to safety across the country’s borders.Those…
Israel, Palestinian militants trade deadly fire over Gaza
Gaza City (AFP/APP): Israel’s army and Gaza militants traded heavy cross-border fire Wednesday, with 22 Palestinians killed over two days amid the worst escalation of violence to hit the coastal…
Google answers ChatGPT challenge with Bard expansion
Mountain View (AFP/APP): Google on Wednesday said it is opening Bard, a rival to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, to 180 countries as it expands its use of artificial intelligence across its platform.Executives…
Premature births claim a million lives yearly worldwide; UN report
UNITED NATIONS (APP): A “silent emergency” that is claiming one million tiny lives born premature each year requires concerted action to swiftly improve children’s health and survival, according to a…
China, New Zealand hold military dialogue
ISTANBUL (AA/APP): China and New Zealand on Wednesday held a military dialogue, Beijing said.It was the 11th strategic dialogue between the two militaries, held in Xi’an city, capital of Shaanxi…
Australia told to shoot kangaroos before they starve
Sydney (AFP/APP): Australia’s kangaroos could die in “catastrophic” numbers if a population boom is left unchecked, ecologists have warned, while backing the industrial-scale culling of the marsupials.To outsiders, the kangaroo…
Zimbabwe lifts all COVID-19 restrictive measures
HARARE (Xinhua/APP): The Zimbabwean government on Tuesday lifted all measures that it had put in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic after the World Health Organization (WHO)…
Kyrgyzstan puts new banknotes into circulation
BISHKEK (Xinhua/APP): The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday put into circulation banknotes of 200, 500 and 1,000 som denominations of the new fifth series of the national currency.The National…
Schoolboy’s body found after New Zealand cave tragedy
Wellington (AFP/APP): New Zealand police said on Wednesday they had recovered the body of a teen killed during a “tragic” school caving trip that is now the subject of a…
Meet the parent: De Niro a dad again at 79
Los Angeles (AFP/APP): Robert De Niro has become a father again at the age of 79, the “Raging Bull” actor said in a recent interview.Double-Oscar winner De Niro corrected an…
Airstrikes kill well-known Syrian drug kingpin
BEIRUT: Airstrikes over southern Syria early Monday killed one of the country’s most well-known drug dealers, an opposition war monitor and a pro-government radio station reported.The rare attack came days…
Anonymous Sudan claims responsibility for failure of Israel’s Iron Dome
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The Anonymous Sudan hacker group has said it hacked Israel’s missile defence systems, including for the Iron Dome, during daylong exchange of fire between Israel and resistance…
Canada to join anti-China bloc – media
OTTAWA (Agencies): Canada is hoping to join the US-led AUKUS military alliance alongside Australia and the UK, the Globe and Mail has reported, noting the government would like to participate…
Russia marks Victory Day under shadow of Ukraine setbacks
Moscow (AFP/APP): President Vladimir Putin is set to preside Tuesday over Victory Day celebrations overshadowed by Russia’s battlefield failures in Ukraine, confrontation with the West and fear of new attacks…
China Canada expel diplomats as tension mounts
Shanghai (AFP/APP): China said Tuesday it was expelling Canada’s consul in Shanghai in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa said it was sending home a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to…
Two dead after MiG jet crashes in India: police
New Delhi (AFP/APP): Two people on the ground died after a Russian-made MiG-21 military aircraft crashed into a house in India on Monday, police said.“Pilot has been rescued safely. The…
Iraqi forces receive Super Mushshak aircrafts from Pakistan
Baghdad (Agencies): The spokesperson of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Yahya Rasoul, announced on Sunday that the Iraqi forces received the first batch of the Pakistani aircraft, Super…
Israeli firm reveals unmanned submarine BlueWhale
TEL AVIV (Agencies): — Israel Aerospace Industries has developed a new unmanned submarine, the BlueWhale, designed for covert intelligence-gathering operations, the company said.The underwater vehicle is almost 11 meters long…
Iraq increasing airborne ISR capacity
BAGHDAD (Agencies): The Iraqi military has significantly increased the number of hours its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft are flying, according to the latest quarterly report from the US…
Israeli company training Equatorial Guinea’s special forces
Mongomo (Janes/Agencies): Israeli company Sparta Security Solutions is training special forces personnel in Equatorial Guinea. This was revealed when Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue – President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo’s…
Russia considering suspending oil exports to India
NEW DELHI (Eur Asian Times/Agencies): India, which has been lapping up cheap Russian oil for domestic consumption as well as export as refined commodities, hasn’t been compensating Russia for its…
Canada’s Alberta announces state of emergency over wildfires
ALBERTA (Agencies): Alberta has announced a state of emergency as wildfires flare across the Canadian province, forcing 25,000 people to flee their homes in what a top official said was…
Arab League brings Syria back into its fold after 12 years
CAIRO (Agencies): Foreign ministers from Arab League member states have agreed to reinstate Syria’s membership after its suspension more than 10 years ago, according to Iraqi state media.The ministers voted…
Gigi Hadid celebrates US designer Jeremy Scott
DUBAI (Agencies): US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid took to Instagram to celebrate US fashion designer Jeremy Scott, who stepped down from his role as the creative director of Italian…
Wagner chief says Moscow promised more ammo after Bakhmut pull-out threat
Moscow (AFP/APP): Russian paramilitary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said Sunday he had received “a promise” of more ammunition from the Russian army, after he threatened to pull his frontline Wagner troops…
Slovakia’s interim government resigns
Bratislava (AFP/APP): Slovakia’s Prime Minister Eduard Heger said Sunday he has tendered the resignation of his caretaker government amid a rumbling political crisis.MPs in the EU and NATO member country…
UK marks coronation with street parties and a concert
London (AFP/APP): Tens of thousands of street parties were planned on Sunday as Britain celebrated the coronation of King Charles III ahead of a concert for 20,000 people at Windsor…
ADB advises Pakistan to provide targeted subsidies, enhance tax-to-GDP ratio
INCHEON, South Korea (APP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has suggested Pakistan to provide targeted subsidies to mitigate inflationary pressure on people; bring about necessary structural reforms and enhance tax…
Vietnam reports record-high temperature
Hanoi (AFP/APP): Vietnam has reported a record-high temperature, with climate experts warning such extreme weather events would continue.The country’s scientists have warned that global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with…
Mass shooting in Texas mall claims eight lives
ALLEN – TEXAS (Agencies): A man opened fire at a shopping mall in Allen, Texas on Saturday afternoon, killing eight people and wounding seven, officials have reported. The shooter was…
China approves trial of 5G air-to-ground communication, enabling in-flight internet access
BEIJING (Agencies): China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has approved China Mobile’s trial of 5G air-to-ground (5G-ATG) technology, which enables users to access the internet on planes, the…
Pakistan switching to yuan to buy Russian oil – media
ISLAMABAD (Agencies): Pakistan is likely to pay for shipments of crude oil from Russia in Chinese yuan, local media reported on Saturday, citing government sources. The first cargo of 750,000…
54 dead after ethnic clashes in India’s remote northeast
Imphal, India, (AFP/APP): The death toll after ethnic clashes in India’s remote northeast rose to 54 on Saturday, with fresh violence overnight despite authorities rushing in troops to restore order.Thousands…
Wagner chief asks Moscow to hand Bakhmut positions to Chechen forces
Moscow (AFP/APP): The chief of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner on Saturday asked Moscow to let him hand over his positions in the flashpoint Ukraine city of Bakhmut to Chechen…
King Charles III crowned in UK’s first coronation since 1953
London (AFP/APP): Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms on Saturday at Britain’s first coronation for 70 years, during a ceremony steeped in a…
Mona Lisa puzzle solved as historian finally identifies bridge in da Vinci’s masterpiece
ROME (Agencies): An Italian expert claims the mystery behind the Mona Lisa has finally been solved, as the bridge that Leonardo da Vinci painted in the background of the picture…
GCC plans to implement unified ‘Schengen-style’ visa for tourists, expats
DUBAI (Agencies): The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its member states are set to implement a unified visa for tourists and businesspeople from dozens of countries, in an initiative comparable…
Israel Defence Forces probe high rate of Iron Dome missile interception failures
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The failure rate of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system is causing concern among the Israeli military commanders. Resistance groups in Gaza fired a barrage of 22…
Italian FM cancels trip to France after ‘insults’ from Paris
PARIS (Agencies): Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called off a planned trip to France on Thursday, accusing French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin of “insulting” his country by criticizing Prime Minister…
Moscow says US behind Kremlin drone attack, air raid sirens sound in Kyiv
KYIV (Reuters) – Russia said on Thursday that the United States was behind an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin aiming to kill President Vladimir Putin, and air raid sirens…
Pakistan-led Committee on Information’s 45th session ends, pledging to promote accurate information
UNITED NATIONS (APP): The 45th session of the United Nations Committee on Information ended Thursday, with Pakistani envoy Aamir Khan, who presided over it, making a unity call to promote…
Putin survives Ukraine drone attack
MOSCOW (Agencies): Ukraine launched two drone attacks overnight intended to strike the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his office has reported.The aircraft were downed using measures designed to…
US Air Force prepares to retire U-2 spy planes in 2026
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The US Air Force is forging ahead with its plan to retire the storied U-2 Dragon Lady spy aircraft in fiscal 2026, as part of a years long…
Kevin Costner and wife Christine Baumgartner are getting a divorce
NEW YORK (CNN/Agencies): In a statement shared with CNN on Tuesday, Costner’s representative Arnold Robinson said that “circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having…
Nine killed in Belgrade school shooting – police
BELGRADE (Agencies): A seventh-grade student opened fire inside Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Wednesday morning, killing eight children and a security guard, the country’s Interior Ministry…
PLA’s 80th Group Army receives armoured vehicles
BEIJING (Agencies): Northern Theatre Command (NTC) of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has inducted several ground force components including ZBL-09 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), ZSL-10 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and…
Singapore selects Colt’s IAR as new section automatic weapon
Singapore (Janes/Agencies): The Singapore Army has selected American firearms manufacturer Colt’s Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940 (IAR6940) as the new section automatic weapon (SAW) to replace in-service ST Engineering’s 5.56 mm…
BP pays $1 Billion in UK windfall taxes
LONDON (Agencies): BP has paid around $1 billion in taxes on its UK North Sea profits since the so-called windfall tax was introduced in May 2022, according to estimates from…
Loneliness as Deadly as Smoking – US Surgeon General
WASHINGTON (Agencies) — Widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily, costing the health industry billions of dollars annually, the U.S.…
Death toll increases to 95 after Rwanda flash floods
KIGALI (Agencies): At least 95 people have been killed in western Rwanda in flooding triggered by heavy rains.“Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains last night in Western Province has…
Part-Arab models Imaan Hammam, Gigi Hadid shut down Met Gala carpet
NEW YORK (Agencies): Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model Imaan Hammam shut down the Met Gala carpet this week wearing a white dress by Irish designer Michael Stewart’s label Standing Ground. The…
Taliban in ‘no hurry’ to agree $10bn lithium deal with China
KABUL: The Taliban said on Monday they were not in a hurry to give China access to Afghanistan’s lithium reserves, despite an offer to pay for access to the rich…
Coca-Cola Investors Reject Proposal for Abortion Risk Report
NEW YORK (Agencies): Coca-Cola Co. investors voted Tuesday against a proposal seeking a report on how abortion restrictions impact the beverage company’s business.The proposal, filed by As You Sow, asked…
Dollar being ‘gradually abandoned’ – IMF boss
NEW YORK (Agencies): The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the US dollar is gradually losing its status as the world’s main reserve currency.Speaking on Monday,…
Russia launches large-scale attack on Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities
MOSCOW (Agencies): The Russian military has launched a large-scale missile attack against Ukraine’s military industry, disrupting production of weaponry and munitions, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.“Tonight, the Russian Armed…
Indian propaganda against Pakistan regarding grave with iron grille exposed
ISLAMABAD (APP): Indian media propaganda against Pakistan with respect to a viral photo of a grave with iron grille was exposed when it was revealed that the photo was from…
Maurizio Cattelan: Banana artwork eaten by Seoul museum visitor
SEOUL (BBC/Agencies): A South Korean art student ate a banana that was part of an installation by artist Maurizio Cattelan, saying he was “hungry” after skipping breakfast.The artwork called “Comedian”,…
First Republic: JP Morgan to take over major US bank
NEW YORK (BBC/Agencies): The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) confirmed in a statement that First Republic Bank had collapsed on Monday.Investment banking giant JP Morgan will take on all of…
New WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt on the line in Jeddah
RIYADH: The chief content officer for WWE, Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name Triple H, has revealed that a new World Heavyweight Championship will be added to the…
Soaring suicide cases among Israel forces warns army chief
TEL AVIV (Agencies): Suicide rates among the Israeli military are on the rise, presenting a “dangerous and daunting” challenge, warned Lieutenant- General Herzi Halevi according to a report published by…
Islamic State ‘caliph’ killed in Syria – Erdogan
ANKARA (Agencies): The leader of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, has allegedly been killed in an operation by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in Syria, becoming the…
Russian couturier ‘Slava’ Zaitsev dead at 85
Moscow (AFP/APP): Russian couturier Viacheslav “Slava” Zaitsev, known by his admirers as the “Red Dior”, has died at the age of 85, a spokeswoman for his fashion house in Moscow…
Canada’s largest public sector strike leaves thousands in immigration limbo
TORONTO (Agencies): As Canada’s largest strike by federal workers approaches its third week, thousands of people are in immigration limbo amid canceled hearings and stalled applications, which could make it…
Europe’s Largest Gas Producer Is Set To Nationalize Its Gas Pipelines
OSLO (Agencies): The nationalization plan would provide Norway with greater control over its critical infrastructure. Standing in the way of an immediate nationalization are existing concessions, which aren’t due to…
China will firmly oppose new US policy to restrict investment in China if reports are true: MOFCOM
BEIJING (Global Times/Agencies): China will firmly oppose new US policy to restrict investment in China if related reports are true, Shu Jueting, spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) told…
Russia’s Wagner mercenary force boss threatens Bakhmut withdrawal
BAKHMUT (Agencies): The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force threatens to withdraw his troops from the key battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine as casualty rates mount while Ukraine’s military…
Turkiye’s Baykar plans production of new air combat drone next year
ANKARA (Agencies): Turkish defence firm Baykar aims to begin production of its new unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) next year which is already attracting international interest, its chairman Selcuk Bayraktar…
India needs ‘space-based’ weapons – top generals
NEW DELHI (Agencies): India must boost its defensive and offensive capabilities in the space domain, as the “future lies in having space-based platforms,” Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari told…
China resumes construction of military base in UAE, defying US objections
WASHINGTON (Agencies): China has resumed construction work on a military base in the United Arab Emirates in defiance of displeasure by the United States, leaked intelligence documents have revealed.According to…
Exuberant, bedazzled Pakistani truck Art reaching hearts in China
BEIJING (APP): To celebrate the National Day of Pakistan and the Year of Tourism Exchanges between Pakistan and China, a Pakistani Truck Art Debut Exhibition themed Phool Patti: Jingle Journey…
Iran President to visit Syria next week
TEHRAN (Agencies): Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, will visit Damascus next week, a senior regional source close to the Syrian government told Reuters on Friday. The visit will be the first…
WHO to assist Pakistan on Monkeypox
ISLAMABAD (APP): The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working and investigating with the Government of Pakistan on Monkeypox, as the situation is still evolving. In a statement on Monkeypox,…
UAE’s first gaming resort to cost $3.9 bn: operator
Dubai (AFP/APP): The United Arab Emirates’ first gaming resort will open in four years and cost $3.9 billion to build, US casino operator Wynn has said, unveiling new details of…
Russia sacks deputy defence ministersanctioned by West over Mariupol – report
MOSCOW (Reuters): Russian Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, who was sanctioned by the West and dubbed the “Butcher of Mariupol” for his role in the Ukraine war, has been removed as…
US braces for nuclear strike in Ukraine – NYT
NEW YORK (Agencies): President Joe Biden’s administration is preparing for a possible nuclear attack in Ukraine by wiring the country with a network of sensors that can identify the origin…
Sudan turmoil: Where is Omar al-Bashir?
KHARTOUM (MME?Agencies): The whereabouts of Sudan’s former president Omar al-Bashir are in doubt after thousands of inmates escaped from Kober prison, the high security facility he has been detained in…
‘Spectacular’ Roman camps discovered in Arabian desert could change history
LONDON (Agencies): Archaeologists using Google Earth have made a ‘spectacular’ find of three Roman military camps in the Arabian desert that could change understanding of the region’s history.The discovery, by…
8 ex-India navy officers accused of spying on Qatar for Israel
DOHA (Agencies): Eight former Indian naval personnel are currently facing trial in Qatar on charges of espionage. They are accused of gathering intelligence on Qatar’s secret project to acquire high-tech…
Russia digs in as Ukraine prepares to attack
LONDON (Reuters) – The anti-tank ditches near Ukraine’s occupied southeastern town of Polohy stretch for 30 km (19 miles). Behind are rows of concrete “dragon’s teeth” barricades. Further back are…
Airbus establishes aircraft lifecycle service center in southwest China
CHENGDU (Xinhua/APP): Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, on Wednesday set up an aircraft lifecycle service center in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu.As Airbus’ first aircraft lifecycle service center outside…
Disney sues Florida governor DeSantis over ‘retaliation’
Miami (AFP/APP): Disney on Wednesday sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging his administration’s takeover of its theme park district is part of “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” for its…
Republicans pass bill to avert US debt crisis
Washington (AFP/APP): US Republicans voted Wednesday to raise the national borrowing limit, but only in conjunction with drastic cuts, as they sought a showdown with President Joe Biden over “excessive”…
Brazil court suspends Telegram app in neo-Nazi probe
Rio de Janeiro (AFP/APP): A Brazilian court on Wednesday ordered the countrywide suspension of messaging app Telegram after its parent company failed to provide data sought by authorities on neo-Nazis…
Out of gas in orbit? This US space company is here to help
Colorado Springs (AFP/APP): The US company Orbit Fab is aiming to produce the go-to “gas stations” in space, its CEO tells AFP, hoping its refuelling technology will make the surging…
Global warming made Horn of Africa drought possible: report
Paris (AFP/APP): A devastating drought that has struck the Horn of Africa could not have occurred without global warming, according to a new report released on Thursday from an international…
4 dead, 31 infected after bacterial outbreak hits Seattle hospital
Seattle (Agencies): Four patients at a downtown Seattle hospital are dead in connection to an outbreak of a bacteria often found in health care settings that has developed resistance to…
Iran Says ‘Hacked’ 2 Spy Aircraft Near Its Border Using Electronic Warfare
TEHRAN (Agencies): The CEO of the Iranian Defense Ministry’s Electronics Industries, Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari, claimed hacking two spy aircraft by EW (electronic warfare) systems near the country’s borders.“Some time…
Romania awards $321 million contract for Turkish TB2 combat drones
MILAN — The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has awarded the Turkish defense firm Baykar a $321 million contract for the purchase of TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, according to recently…
Thailand receives Chinese-made amphibious ship
BANGKOK (Agencies): A Chinese-built amphibious assault ship ordered by Thailand arrived at its homeport in the country’s south a week after it was officially handed over to its new owner…
Australia to overhaul immigration system, with smooth entry for skilled workers
SYDNEY (Agencies): Australia proposed on Thursday overhauling its immigration system to speed up getting highly skilled workers into the country and smoothening the path to permanent residency.The federal Labor government…
Americans stuck in Sudan to make ‘life or death decisions’ express anger at US government
KHARTOUM (CNN): As the crisis in Sudan continues to unfold, there is mounting anger among Americans who feel abandoned by the US government and left to navigate the complicated and…
Nepal issues record number of permits to climb Mount Everest
KATHMANDU (Agencies): Nepal has issued permits for a record 463 climbers so far for this spring season’s expeditions to Mount Everest even as experts worry about dangerous overcrowding at the…
Major Nigerian gas pipeline nears completion
ABUJA (Agencies): The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) announced this week that its flagship Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline project is almost complete. The $2.8 billion project, which aims to greatly enhance…
China marks its 8th Space Day with impressive accomplishments
BEIJING (Agencies): China marked its eighth Space Day on Monday, with a grand opening ceremony held in Hefei, capital of East China’s Anhui Province. At the event which also kick-started…
India Eyes Logistical ‘Hub’ in Panama to Expand Influence in Latin America
NEW DELHI (Agencies): Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar is on an official visit to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic to boost economic ties with the Latin American and…
Pakistan Army Chief Undertakes Maiden Visit to China to Boost Ties
BEIJING (Agencies): Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, kickstarting his four-day official visit to China in a bid to boost the defense partnership between the…
British American Tobacco to pay over $600 mn for violating NKorea sanctions
Washington (AFP/APP): British American Tobacco has agreed to pay more than $600 million to settle allegations that it violated US sanctions on North Korea, the US Justice Department announced on…
Biden, 80, announces 2024 re-election bid
Washington (AFP/APP): US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday he will seek re-election in 2024 and “finish the job,” plunging at the record age of 80 into a ferocious campaign…
‘Huge biological risk’ after Sudan fighters occupy lab: WHO
Geneva (AFP/APP): Fighters have occupied a national public laboratory in Sudan holding samples of diseases including polio and measles, creating an “extremely, extremely dangerous” situation, the World Health Organization warned…
Harry Belafonte, pioneering performer and activist, dies at 96
New York (AFP/APP): Harry Belafonte, the superstar entertainer who introduced a Caribbean flair to mainstream US music and became well known for his deep personal investment in civil rights, died…
UN Human Rights Office urges Singapore to halt execution
Singapore (AFP/APP): The United Nations Human Rights Office pressed Singapore on Tuesday to “urgently reconsider” its scheduled execution of a man over one kilogram of cannabis.Singaporean Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, is…
Japan’s Ispace Moon Lander Assumed Lost After Attempted Landing
TOKYO (Agencies): Tokyo-based Ispace Inc. said it could not confirm if its spacecraft successfully landed on the moon. The company’s chief executive said it assumed the landing failed.It was poised…
SIM registration: Philippines President approves 90-days extension
MANILA (Agencies): President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday approved the 90-day extension of the mandatory SIM registration beyond the April 26 deadline.According to the video posted by Radio Television…
iOS 17 to Include Mood Tracker and Health App for iPad
NEW YORK (Agencies): The iOS 17 update that Apple plans to show off in June will include several new health-related features, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. There will be a…
China, India holds Corps Commander level meeting
BEIJING (APP): China and India held the 18th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting, a move Chinese experts said on Monday showed that the border issue is shifting from a…
France refuses to halt Indian Ocean migrant expulsions
Mamoudzou, France (AFP/APP): France on Monday refused to halt a controversial planned operation to expel migrants from its Indian Ocean island territory of Mayotte, despite opposition from neighbouring Comoros and…
Blinken says Sudan rivals agree to 72-hour ceasefire
Washington (AFP/APP): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Sudan’s warring generals had agreed to a three-day ceasefire starting Tuesday (2200 GMT Monday) after previous bids to pause the…
Chapman powers New Zealand to six-wicket win against Pakistan
RAWALPINDI (APP): Mark Chapman hit a blazing unbeaten ton to propell New Zealand to a six-wicket win against Pakistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday night. The win also…
Indonesia ready to bypass Visa and Mastercard
JAKARTA (Agencies): The Bank of Indonesia will launch its domestic card payment system in May as part of a strategy to reduce dependency on foreign systems and protect transactions from…
US Can Handle China, Ukraine Missions Simultaneously, Top Pacific Admiral Says
WASHINGTON (Agencies): U.S. forces need a lot of things to make sure China can’t conquer Taiwan, but they don’t need anything that’s going to Ukraine, the commander of Indo-Pacific Command…
Canadian MPs Parade in Pink High Heels in Effort to Raise Awareness for Violence Against Women
OTTAWA (Agencies): Male Canadian lawmakers of the Trudeau government in Canada have decided to stand up for women… albeit in a slightly idiosyncratic way and with a few additional inches…
‘Traumatized’ UK spy murdered own child
LONDON (Agencies): The British security services sent a UK national to infiltrate a jihadist camp on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border despite concerns about his mental wellbeing, The Times reported on Saturday,…
India and Bangladesh ditching dollar in trade – media
NEW DELHI (Agencies): India and Bangladesh are moving away from using the US dollar in bilateral trade, the Bangladesh-based news website The Business Standard reported this week.According to the report,…
Jordanian MP arrested by Israeli authorities for alleged weapon smuggling
AMMAN (Agencies): Israel has arrested Jordanian MP Imad Odwan for allegedly trying to smuggle weapons and gold into the occupied West Bank.Reports circulated on social media said that Israeli authorities…
Over $68bn withdrawn from Credit Suisse ahead of UBS takeover
ZURICH (Agencies): More than $68 billion was withdrawn from Credit Suisse in the first three months of 2023, the bank said Monday in what are likely its final quarterly results…
Australia unveils biggest defence overhaul since World War II
CANBERRA (Agencies): Australia has said the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, long-range strike capabilities and its northern bases will be among the country’s six priority areas after a major review of…
Foreigners evacuated as factions battle in Sudan’s Khartoum
KHARTOUM (Agencies)” Foreign nations are rushing to get their citizens out of Sudan as rival military factions battle in the capital Khartoum where millions of residents are trapped inside their…
China to build gigawatt-level space power station: leading expert
BEIJING (Global Times/Agencies): China is eyeing completing a gigawatt-level space-based power station, the Global Times learned from the Chinese Society of Astronautics space solar power commission on Sunday. “Scale-wise, China’s…
Russia To Deploy ‘Heavy Attack’ Drones With FAB-100 Bombs
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russia’s former Roscosmos chief, Dimitri Rogozin, who now leads the “Tsar’s Wolves” (A team of military experts who provide “technical assistance” to troops in Donbas), stated in a…
Japan approves first abortion pill, decades after other countries
TOKYO (Agencies): A panel in Japan’s health ministry has approved the country’s first abortion pill, in a major step for reproductive rights decades after other countries made abortion medication widely…
Kenyan cult death toll rises to 47 after followers ‘refuse to eat’
NAIROBI (Agencies): Kenyan police have uncovered the bodies of another 26 people believed to be members of a cult, bringing to 47 the number of corpses linked to the movement…
Iraqi defense minister sacks military officials over corruption
BAGHDAD (Agencies): Iraq’s defense minister sacked the commander and the director of intelligence of Taji military camp over negligence and corruption, Iraqi state media reported early Sunday.The decision came after…
Wagner boss says forces wont take any more prisoners in ukraine
BAKHMUT (Agencies): The chief of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his men fighting in the flashpoint eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut would kill rival soldiers and take no…
Montevideo Maru: Australia finds wreck of Japanese WW2 disaster ship
CANBERRA (Agencies): Deep-sea explorers have found the wreck of a Japanese transport ship which sank off the Philippines, killing nearly 1,000 Australian troops and civilians in World War Two.It was…
Amritpal Singh: Sikh separatist arrested after weeks on the run
NEW DELHI (Agencies): Self-styled preacher Amritpal Singh, whose calls for Sikh independence riled India’s authorities, has been arrested in Punjab state, police say.The 30-year-old had been on the run for…
Iraq to establish a national data center for land management
Baghdad (Agencies): Bangen Rekani, Iraq’s Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works, has confirmed a scheme to construct a national data center for land management. This statement came as…
Thousands rally outside UK Parliament in Earth Day protest
LONDON (Agencies): Thousands of protesters descended on Britain’s Parliament on Saturday as part of a four-day action, billed “The Big One”, designed to “highlight the environmental failures” of government.Environmental group…
First Mi-24 helicopter overhauled in Uganda
KAMPALA (Agencies): Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni attended a ceremony on 18 April to mark the completion of the first helicopter overhaul at a new facility in the country.Ugandan television showed…
Biden confirms US embassy staff, families evacuated from Sudan
WASHINGTON (Agencies): United States embassy staff and their families have been evacuated by US forces from Sudan’s war-torn capital Khartoum, President Joe Biden said, as fighting between the Sudanese army…
Russia completely abandon dollar, euro in energy trade – deputy PM
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russia is switching to national currencies in energy trade with foreign partners, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday in an interview with the Russia-1 TV channel.According…
Alec Baldwin’s Rust resumes filming after on-set tragedy
NEW YORK (Agencies): Filming on Alec Baldwin’s Western movie Rust is resuming on Thursday, 18 months after the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin, who has pleaded not…
British deputy PM resigns over bullying scandal
LONDON (Agencies): British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has resigned amid a scandal over alleged bullying in the Ministry of Justice, which he headed as secretary, and in other departments…
Two men sentenced for planning to attack US electric substations
OHIO (Agencies): Two men were sentenced on Friday for conspiring to attack US electric substations in a plot motivated by white supremacy and intended to sow civil unrest and economic…
Russia replaces baltic pacific fleet commanders
MOSCOW (Agencies): Russia has appointed new commanders of both its Baltic and Pacific fleets, the state-run Interfax news agency reported Friday, citing sources.Admiral Viktor Liina, the former commander of Russia’s…
US denies Iran claim of forcing submarine to surface in Gulf
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Agencies): Iran on Thursday said its navy forced a United States submarine approaching the Strait of Hormuz to surface and not re-submerge as it crossed the Persian…
Two US cities make Eid Al Fitr a public holiday
Michigan (Agencies): Two cities in the US state of Michigan have made Eid Al Fitr a paid holiday for city employees, as Muslims across America vie for more visibility.Hamtramck and…
Jack Ma accepts university teaching post in Hong Kong
Hong Kong (Agencies): Jack Ma, founder of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, has been made an honorary professor of business at a top Hong Kong university, the school announced Friday.The appointment…
The $19m mosquito factory set to breed billions of insects a year to tackle the disease
BRASILIA (Agencies): A large mosquito factory, where about five billion insects will be biologically modified to help tackle the disease, is to be built in South America.After years of research,…
Woman arrested in Iran for sending photos of poisoned students to ‘hostile media’
TEHRAN (Agencies): A woman has been arrested in central Iran’s Qazvin city for allegedly taking photos and videos of poisoned schoolgirls and sending them to foreign “hostile media”, Anadolu News…
India court acquits 69 Hindus of murder of 11 Muslims during 2002 riots
NEW DELHI (Agencies): An Indian court on Thursday acquitted 69 Hindus, including a former minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of the murder of 11 Muslims during communal…
Pakistan places first order for Russian oil – official
ISLAMABAD (Agencies): Pakistan has placed its first-ever order for Russian crude as it seeks cheaper energy options in the face of macroeconomic challenges, the country’s petroleum minister, Musadik Malik, announced.Under…
Huawei kicks off 2023 Global Analyst Summit: Thriving together for a digital future
ISLAMABAD (Agencies):- Huawei kicked off its 20th annual Global Analyst Summit (HAS) today in Shenzhen. The summit was attended by more than 1,000 industry analysts, financial analysts, key opinion leaders,…
CENTCOM Hires AI Guru from Google
WASHINGTON (Agencies): U.S. Central Command is hiring an AI advisor from Google to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across U.S. military services in the Middle East, Defense One has…
Beijing hospital fire claims 29 lives, caused by electric sparks
BEIJING (Agencies): The death toll has risen to 29 after a fire on Tuesday at Beijing’s Changfeng hospital. A preliminary investigation found the cause to be electric sparks caused by…
Indian court denies Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to stay defamation conviction
AHMEDABAD (Agencies): A court in India’s western state of Gujarat on Thursday rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s petition seeking a stay of conviction in a defamation case, fueling uncertainty over…
Pentagon announces latest Ukraine arms package
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The US Department of Defense announced on Tuesday that it will give Ukraine another $325 million worth of arms and ammunition. Compared to earlier packages, the latest shipment…
Dozens crushed to death at charity event
SANAA (Agencies): At least 78 people have been killed in a stampede at a charity event in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Wednesday. The country has been ravaged by 14…
Israel army battalion lays down arms, refuses training
TEL AVIV: (Agencies): An entire Israeli army battalion from the Golani Brigade laid down their arms and walked out of training on Tuesday in protest against leadership reshuffle, Israeli media…
Muslims angered as Hindu militant priest urges followers to seize Kaaba
ISLAMABAD (APP): In another Islamophobic diatribe, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, a Hindu militant priest, notorious for hate-mongering and misogynist speeches, has once again spit venom against Muslims, now urging his followers…
New COVID-19 Strain ‘Arcturus’: What to Know
A new COVID-19 sub-variant has been catching the attention of the World Health Organization. This omicron variant, XBB.1.16, otherwise known as “Arcturus”Trusted Source causes patients to exhibit many of the…
Intense fighting continues for third day in Sudan as death toll nears 100
Khartoum (CNN/AGencies): Residents in the Sudanese capital Khartoum woke up Monday to the sounds of artillery and bombardment by warplanes, as intense fighting continued for a third day and the…
Russian Fighter Jets ‘Set To Rule’ Ukrainian Skies As Kyiv’s Defense Systems Running Out Of Missiles
KYIV (Agencies/Eura Asian Times): Ukraine’s air defense system is facing a critical challenge, as leaked Pentagon documents suggest that it may be unable to counter the threat posed by Russian…
NATO-built shelter site opens for quake survivors in Türkiye
Antakya (agencies): Following February’s devastating earthquake in Türkiye, the first people began moving into tented accommodation provided by NATO on Monday (10 April 2023). Located in Antakya, the temporary relief…
PLA deploys air-defence systems along Taiwan Strait
BEIJING (JANES / Agencies) The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed weapons and equipment – including multiple launch rocket systems (MLRSs), air-defense missiles, command vehicles, and ammunition supply vehicles –…
Iran shuts 150 businesses for non-compliance with hijab law
TEHRAN (Agencies): Iranian authorities have shut down more than 150 commercial establishments over a 24-hour period for failing to enforce hijab laws, police said yesterday. The closures came a day…
Putin meets with Chinese defense minister
MOSCOW (Agencies): President Vladimir Putin personally greeted China’s State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu in the Kremlin on Sunday, alongside his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu. The defense chief, who…
Suspected militants kill 42 in Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou (AFP/APP): At least 32 defence volunteers and 10 soldiers have died in suspected militants attacks in insurgency-hit northern Burkina Faso, officials said on Sunday.A detachment of soldiers and the…
Thousands take part in marathon in Uganda to promote HIV/AIDS awareness
KAMPALA (Xinhua/APP): Thousands of people took part in a Sunday marathon in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS awareness as the country expects to end the scourge…
1,400 battling forest fire in China’s Yunnan
KUNMING, April 16 (Xinhua/APP) –: More than 1,400 people, including firefighters and militia personnel, are racing against time to douse a forest fire raging in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.The fire…
Noted Kashmiri bodies urge G-20 leaders not to attend group’s meetings in Kashmir
WASHINGTON (APP): The Kashmir Diaspora Coalition (KDC) and its six international affiliate advocacy organizations Sunday called on the leaders of Group of 20, an economic cooperation bloc comprising 19 industrialized…
Japan hosts G7 foreign ministers’ meeting amid protests
KARUIZAWA, Japan (Xinhua): The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers gathered Sunday in the central Japanese resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, as people took part in demonstrations to protest…
UK to face another nurses strike over pay dispute
LONDON (AA/APP): Rejecting a pay offer from the government, nurses in England on Friday announced they will go on a 48-hour strike from April 30 to May 2.“What has been…
China says conducted mid-course missile interception test
BEIJING (Agencies): China says it carried out a successful ground-based mid-course missile interception test in an apparent sign of progress in its ability to bring down weapons incoming from space.The…
Turkiye strongly condemns another attack on Muslim Holy Book, Turkish flag in Denmark
ANHARA (Agencies): Turkiye strongly condemned the recurrence of a “vile attack” on the Muslim Holy Book, the Quran, and a Turkish flag in Denmark, Anadolu News Agency reports.“It is unacceptable…
Cyberattacks strike Israel Post, irrigation systems
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The past week has seen a wave of significant cyber attacks against both the Israel Post as well as irrigation systems in the North of Israel.The Israel…
Japanese PM targeted in ‘smoke bomb’ attack
TOKYO (Agencies): A loud blast was heard during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the port city of Wakayama on Saturday, creating chaos as the crowd attempted to flee.…
Ford launches hands-free driving on UK motorways
LONDON (Agencies): Drivers will be able to legally let go of their steering wheels for the first time on British roads after Ford introduced a hands-free system to its electric…
India’s first underwater metro route completes maiden run
KOLKATA (Agencies): The Kolkata metro’s newest line, set to open to the public in November, passes underneath the Hooghly River in the city’s northeast, with the tunnel 32 meters (105…
Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Indonesia: USGS
Jakarta (AFP/APP): A strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the sea north of the main Indonesian island of Java, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said on Friday, with no immediate…
Ukraine forces flee Bakhmut as Russia goes in BEAST MODE assault
LONDON (Agencies): According to an intelligence update from Britain on Friday, Ukrainian troops have been compelled to retreat from certain territory in the city of Bakhmut, as Russia has launched…
Cyclone Ilsa hits Australia’s northwest coast
SYDNEY (Reuters): A tropical cyclone smashed into Australia’s northwest coast as a category 5 storm, setting new wind speed records, but has largely spared populated regions including the world’s largest…
Japan approves $13.5 bln Osaka resort, country’s first casino
TOKYO (Reuters): Japan on Friday approved a plan to build the country’s first casino in the western city of Osaka, paving the way for a 1.8 trillion yen ($13.5 billion)…
FBI arrests suspect Jack Teixeira in Pentagon documents leak
WASHINGTON (Agencies): A 21-year-old member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, named Jack Teixeira, has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of being linked to…
18,000 cows killed in Texas dairy farm explosion
Castro County (Agencies): Local authorities have reported that approximately 18,000 cows were killed in an explosion at the South Fork Dairy farm near the town of Dimmitt, Texas earlier this…
Iran’s embassy in Riyadh opens its gates for first time in 7 years
RIYADH (News Agencies): Iran’s embassy in Saudi Arabia opened its gates on Wednesday for the first time in seven years as the restoration of full diplomatic ties between the two…
‘Brazil is back!’ Lula says during state visit to China
Shanghai (AFP/APP): President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised Thursday that “Brazil is back!” during a state visit to China aimed at strengthening trade ties and winning support for his…
S. Korea’s top court finalizes 760 mln USD fine on Qualcomm
SEOUL (Xinhua/APP): South Korea’s top court on Thursday finalized a 1.03 trillion won (about 760 million U.S. dollars) fine imposed by the country’s antitrust regulator on U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm for…
Britain braces for ‘unparalleled’ disruption from doctors’ strike
LONDON (Reuters) – Junior doctors in Britain began a four-day strike over pay on Tuesday that is likely to cause unprecedented disruption to the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), prompting…
Kuwait News unveils artificial intelligence news anchor
KUWAIT CITY (Agencies): Kuwait News has unveiled its new computerised news anchor, in a step which is amongst the world’s first manifestations of artificial intelligence news casting.In a video posted…
Egypt planned to provide 40,000 rockets to Russia, leaked US intel document reveals
WASHINGTON (Agencies): Egypt is revealed to have been planning to provide Russia with tens of thousands of rockets, in a move which would have seen it aid Moscow in its…
FM Qin Gang to attend meeting of neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand
BEIJING (APP): Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will be attending the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting of neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from April 12 to…
IMF issues growth warning as it lowers 2023 forecast
Washington (AFP/APP): The International Monetary Fund slightly lowered its outlook for the global economy on Tuesday, while predicting that most countries will avoid a recession this year despite economic worries…
US charity says two staff killed in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa (AFP/APP): Humanitarian charity Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said two of its staff were shot dead at the weekend in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, which has witnessed…
UN ask Afghan staff to stay home after Taliban ban women from working with organization
UNITED NATIONS (APP): The United Nations has launched an operational review in Afghanistan, and told national staff to remain at home, following the decision by the Taliban de facto authorities…
Air strikes kill dozens in central Myanmar, UN slams attack
Bangkok (AFP/APP): Dozens of people in Myanmar’s central region were killed in air strikes Tuesday, according to local media reports and a witness contacted by AFP, as the United Nations…
US Sending Experimental Anti-Drone Weapons to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The U.S. is sending anti-drone missiles as part of an experimental platform to help Ukraine down the Iranian-built drones that have devastated its energy infrastructure, according to representatives…
Blue alert for sandstorms issued across northern China in April
BEIJING (Agencies): The National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a blue alert for sandstorms on Monday, warning residents that billowing dust is expected to hit more than a dozen of provinces…
Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister visits India
NEW DELHI (Agencies): Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister, has arrived in India for a four-day visit, the first by a Ukrainian government minister since Russia’s full-scale invasion of…
Israel signs $400m deal to sell Greece anti-tank missiles
– The Spike is a guided anti-tank missile used by many EU and NATO countries. TEL AVIV (Agencies): Israel signed a $400 million (1.44 billion shekels) deal to sell Spike…
India and China to drive half of world’s economic growth – IMF
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The global economic slowdown will continue this year, but Asia will remain “a bright spot,” says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).India and China will account for half of…
‘Tunisia is not for sale,’ rejects IMF loan provisions
TUNIS (Agencies): Tunisia’s President Kais Saied stressed on Thursday that his country “is not for sale” and that national decisions must be “based on the will of the people.” He…
Saudi Arabia to end Yemen war – media
RIYADH (Agencies): A delegation representing Saudi Arabia and Oman is due to meet with the Houthi leadership in Sanaa next week to sign a permanent ceasefire ending the eight-year war…
Airbus agrees to sell 50 helicopters to Chinese firm
Paris (AFP/APP): France-based Airbus said Friday that it had agreed to sell 50 helicopters to the Chinese leasing firm GDAT, a deal announced on the final day of President Emmanuel…
Chinese-French art exhibition a ‘bon moment’ of exchanges between two cultures
BEIJING (Agencies): In Book of Fan Shengzhi, the oldest agriculture book written around first century BC, Fan Shengzhi, the author and agronomist, said that “the essence of cultivation is to…
Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection
SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines (AP): Eight Filipinos were nailed to crosses to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a gory Good Friday tradition that draws thousands of devotees and tourists to…
UN officials urge world not to abandon Afghan people at this precarious moment
UNITED NATIONS (APP): The United Nations’ top humanitarian official in Afghanistan on Thursday warned that Taliban’s decision to ban women from working for the UN will have devastating consequences for…
Mexico asks China for help on fentanyl, slams US critics
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s president said on Tuesday he had written to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, urging him to help control shipments of fentanyl as he fended off…
Japan Military’s ‘Black Hawk’ Helicopter crashes with 10 onboard
Tokyo (AFP/APP): A Japanese military helicopter with 10 people on board disappeared from radar on Thursday near an island in the southern region of Okinawa, army officials said.The aircraft had…
IMF chief calls on central banks to continue inflation fight
Washington (AFP/APP): Central banks around the world should keep battling inflation by hiking interest rates despite ongoing concerns about financial stability, the head of the International Monetary Fund told AFP…
Macron seeks China’s help on Ukraine
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Xi Jinping expressed willingness to speak to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the head of the EU said on Thursday, after French President Emmanuel Macron urged Beijing…
US IRS to hire 30,000 staff over two years as it deploys $80 bln in new funding
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Internal Revenue Service plans to hire nearly 30,000 new employees and deploy new technology over the next two years as it ramps up an $80…
Pakistan parliament rejects top court order to conduct provincial snap polls – speaker
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s parliament on Thursday rejected a Supreme Court order to conduct provincial snap polls, in the latest move in a power struggle between the government and the…
Biden report on Afghanistan blames Trump for degraded US operations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday released a summary of after-action reports on the U.S.’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that laid blame on his predecessor Donald Trump,…
Devastating ice storm leaves over a million Canadians without power
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Two people died and more than a million were without power on Thursday after an ice storm hit Canada’s two most-populated provinces ahead of a holiday weekend,…
China and US agree to help Zambia resolve debt burden
LUSAKA (Agencies): China and the US have reached an agreement to assist Zambia in resolving its debt burden of over $14 billion. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Du Xiaohui and his…
A Russian military vessel docks in Saudi Arabia for the first time
JEDDAH (Agencies): The Admiral Gorshkov has become the first Russian warship to dock in Saudi Arabia. The vessel was on its way back to Russia when it stopped off at…
Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon, Gaza
TEL AVIV (Agencies): The Israeli military launched airstrikes in Lebanon hours after it struck the Gaza Strip early Friday, Anadolu reports.In a statement, it said it struck targets belonging to…
Gunmen kill at least 50 in attacks on village in Nigeria
ABUJA (Agencies): In a gruesome attack on a village in north-central Nigeria, at least 50 people were killed by gunmen in two separate incidents. The attack happened in Umogidi village…
Airbus signs 160 aircraft deal with China
BEIJING (Agencies): Airbus announced on Thursday it signed a 160 commercial aircraft purchase agreement with a Chinese partner, and it will open a second assembly line in Tianjin, further expanding…
Iraqi Attorney Alina Habba: One of Donald Trump’s Most Tenacious Defenders in Legal Battles
NEW YORK (Agencies): Alina Habba, an Iraqi attorney and managing partner at New York law firm Habba Madaio and Associates, has been one of Donald Trump’s most vocal defenders in…
Saudi Arabia and Iran sign agreement allowing travel visas for citizens
RIYADH (Agencies): Saudi Arabia and Iran formally restored diplomatic ties, agreed to resume flights between the two countries as well as facilitate the granting of visas to citizens, a joint…
Cash App founder Bob Lee stabbed to death in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Block Inc (SQ.N)-owned Cash App’s founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post shared by his father.…
Trump pleads not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, conspiracy
NEW YORK (APP): Former US President Donald Trump reportedly entered a plea of not guilty in Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and…
Africa must ‘save the world’ from homosexuality – Ugandan president
KAMPALA (News Agencies): The African continent should lead the way in “sav[ing] the world” from homosexuality, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has declared, as he prepares to sign into law an…
Red Cross to cut 1,500 jobs over funding crunch
Geneva (AFP/APP): The Red Cross announced Tuesday that it would cut 1,500 jobs over the next 12 months in a drive to slash costs due to to a funding crunch.The…
Pakistan dismisses reports of trade ties with Israel
ISLAMABAD (News Agencies): Pakistan has today denied reports of trade relations with Israel and has vowed to investigate any goods allegedly “exported” to the occupation state, with which Islamabad has…
Wagner claims ‘legal’ control of Ukraine’s Bakhmut
BAKHMUT (News Agencies): The leader of the Russian private military company Wagner, Evgeny Prigozhin, has claimed victory in the battle for the city of Artyomovsk (also known as Bakhmut in…
7.0-magnitude quake hits western Papua New Guinea: USGS
Sydney (AFP/APP): A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook a remote region of northwestern Papua New Guinea before dawn Monday, toppling a few homes but with no immediate reports of casualties.The quake…
UK govt ‘in negotiations’ after three British men held in Afghanistan
LONDON (News Agencies): Britain’s interior minister Suella Braverman on Sunday said the UK government was “in negotiations” after three British men were detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan.Media reports have…
Pakistan’s Prime Minister hails reopening of Khunjerab Pass; hopes to boost Pak-China trade
ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed his pleasure over the reopening of Khunjerab Pass and said that it would help increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and…
Damascus and Cairo close to restoring ties – WSJ
Damascus (News Agencies): Syria and Egypt are in advanced talks to restore diplomatic relations that were severed after the outbreak of the conflict in Syria back in 2011, informed sources…
Deadly storms and tornadoes sweep through US
Washington (AFP/APP): The death toll from a major storm system that has lashed the south-central and eastern United States with devastating winds and powerful tornadoes rose to at least 24…
Belarus ready to host Russian strategic nuclear weapons – president
MINSK (News Agencies): Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mulled the possibility of his nation hosting Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons during an annual address to parliament on Friday. His words came as…
INDIA: Dozens killed in Hindu temple disaster
NEW DELHI (News Agencies): The death toll from a fatal floor collapse at a Hindu temple in the central Indian city of Indore has reached 36, officials said on Friday.The…
Iran officer dies in new Israel strike in Syria
JEDDAH (News Agencies): An officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in an Israeli missile strike early on Friday on Iran-linked targets on the outskirts of Damascus in…
China develops new ‘Starlink Killer’ anti-satellite microwave weapon
BEIJING (News Agencies): This device can produce up to 10 gigawatts of power, with a frequency of 10 pulses per second. The Chinese media report said that the high-intensity energy…
US Air Force drops Lockheed hypersonic missile after failed tests
WASHINGTON (News Agencies): The U.S. Air Force isn’t going to buy the hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon after the prototyping phase ends, following problems during testing, the service’s acquisition…
‘QAnon Shaman’ freed early from federal prison
WASHINGTON (News Agencies): Jacob Chansley, 35, was sentenced to 41 months in prison in November 2021. He was originally projected to be released this July.He has been moved to a…
Russia becomes UN Security Council president
NEW YORK (News Agencies): Each of the council’s 15 members takes up the presidency for a month, on a rotating pattern.The last time Russia had the presidency, February 2022, it…
China rolls over $2 bln loan to Pakistan as it struggles with external liquidity
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday China had rolled over a $2 billion loan that matured last week, providing relief during the South Asian nation’s…
UAE leader names his son as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI (News Agencies/CNN): The leader of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday named his eldest son as crown prince of Abu Dhabi and his likely successor as president of…
Lockdown at US Joint Base Andrews as ‘Active Shooter’ Reported
Washington (News Agencies): An active shooter incident has been reported at Joint Base Andrews (JBA) near the US capital, with an armed individual spotted near housing units of the installation.…
Lebanon has ‘no other way out’ than IMF deal, US official says
BEIRUT (News Agencies): Lebanon has no alternative for economic recovery but to make progress on a deal with the International Monetary Fund, a senior US official said on Thursday, Reuters…
Pakistani court strikes down sedition law in win for free speech
LAHORE (News Agencies / Al Jazeera): A court in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore has struck down a colonial-era sedition law, calling it “inconsistent” with the constitution, in a verdict…
Saudi Arabia and China Team Up for ‘Belt and Road’ Refinery Project
RIYADH (News Agencies): Saudi Arabia and China have launched a joint venture of integrated refinery and petrochemical complex for fine chemicals and raw materials under the multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road…
Khalilzad doesn’t speak for U.S. government: State Department
WASHINGTON (APP): The former United States envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, does not represent U.S. policy, a State Department spokesperson has said, asserting that the Afghan-born diplomat speaks in his…
US VP Harris brings aid package to Ghana on Africa tour
Accra (AFP/APP): US Vice President Kamala Harris met with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday, bringing an aid package to shore up security, economic and development cooperation as part of…
Several killed in fire at Mexico-US border migrant centre: local media
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (AFP/APP): Several people at an immigration detention centre in a Mexican city on the US border died in a fire that broke out at the facility overnight,…
Seven dead, more than 60 missing in Ecuador landslide
Alausi , Ecuador (AFP/APP): Rescuers searched on Monday for more than 60 people reported missing after a landslide triggered by months of heavy rain killed at least seven people in…
Assailant kills six at Nashville school in latest US mass shooting
Nashville (AFP/APP): A heavily armed former student killed three young children and three staff in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack at a private elementary school in Nashville…
Indian Navy to acquire 26 Rafale-M jets from France
NEW DELHI (News Agencies): India is close to approving the purchase of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets that will operate from the flight deck of India’s newest aircraft carrier,…
From brain waves, this AI can sketch what you’re picturing
Singapore (News Agencies): Zijiao Chen can read your mind, with a little help from powerful artificial intelligence and an fMRI machine. Chen, a doctoral student at the National University of…
Daylight savings dispute leaves Lebanon with two time zones
BEIRUT (News Agencies): The Lebanese government’s last-minute decision to delay the start of daylight savings time by a month until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan resulted…
Honduras severs ‘diplomatic ties’ with Taiwan island
Tegucigalpa (News Agencies): The government of Honduras in Central America announced the breakdown of “diplomatic relations” with the Taiwan region on Saturday, saying it will have no more official relations…
Ethiopia declares 90% completion of Renaissance Dam amidst growing tensions with Egypt
Addis Ababa (News Agencies): Ethiopian Vice-Chair of the Renaissance Dam Coordinating Council Faqrati Tamru announced on Friday that 90 per cent of the construction of the Renaissance Dam had been…
Iraq halts northern crude exports after winning arbitration case against Turkey
BAGHDAD (News Agencies): Iraq halted crude exports from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and northern Kirkuk fields on Saturday, an oil official told Reuters, after the country won a longstanding arbitration…
Oil tanker off Yemeni coast will ‘sink or explode at any moment’: UN
LONDON: The FSO Safer supertanker — moored off the Yemeni coast and containing over a million barrels of oil — will “sink or explode at any moment,” wreaking devastation, the…
Massive wave of protests sweeps across Israel
TEL AVIV (News Agencies): Hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets across the country on Saturday to protest against the government’s controversial push to overhaul the judicial system.…
Two dead among more than dozen migrants found trapped in Texas train
Waco, United States (AFP/APP): An anonymous emergency telephone call on Friday led authorities to halt a train that contained a group of “suffocating” migrants, two of whom were dead, police…
Oil prices fall amid renewed banking fears
NEW YORK (Xinhua/APP): Oil prices decreased on Friday, but managed to notch a gain for the week.The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery dropped 70 cents, or 1 percent,…
Ukraine War Could Impact S-400 Delivery To India
NEW DELHI (News Agencies): Despite several assurances provided by Russia over the months, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has now said in a statement that Moscow cannot fulfill its commitment…
ISRAEL: 200 more pilots to skip weekly training flight over PM’s refusal to halt overhaul
TEL AVIV (News Agencies): Roughly 200 Israeli Air Force reserve pilots reportedly notified their units that they would not be reporting for their weekly flying session next week following the…
Pakistan Awaits IMF Deal as Global Lender Wants Clarity on Fuel Subsidy
ISLAMABAD (News Agencies): Islamabad and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been engaged in protracted talks for the release of a fresh tranche of $1.1 billion since February.Pakistan’s wait to…
Two Dead, Seven Missing After Massive Explosion Erupts at Pennsylvania Chocolate Factory
WASHINGTON (News Agencies/Sputnik) – At least two people died and several others were injured as a result of an explosion and a subsequent fire at a chocolate factory in the…
United Airlines to Launch First Air Taxi Service in Chicago in 2025
CHICAGO (News Agencies): The US’ United Airlines plans to launch the first electric air taxi service in 2025, from O’Hare International Airpot to Vertiport Chicago, the biggest vertical aircraft take-off…
GECOL announces the arrival of operational materials for maintenance of power plants
Tripoli (News Agencies): The General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) has announced the arrival of operational materials supplied by the German company Siemens, completing major overhaul works for North Benghazi…
King Charles state visit to France postponed amid violent pension protests
LONDON (News Agencies): King Charles’s state visit to France has been postponed amid planned protests over the French government’s controversial pension reforms. Both France’s Élysée Palace and Buckingham Palace confirmed…
Alzheimer’s first signs may appear in your eyes, study finds
Tallahassee (News Agencies/CNN): “The eye is the window into the brain,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Christine Greer, director of medical education at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Boca Raton, Florida.…
Gordon Moore, Intel co-founder and creator of Moore’s Law, dies aged 94
Honolulu (News Agencies): Mr Moore started working on semiconductors in the 1950s and co-founded the Intel Corporation. He famously predicted that computer processing powers would double every year – later…
Georgina Rodriguez named ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses
DUBAI (News Agencies): Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez on Thursday was announced as the ambassador for Arab brand Amara Lenses, available in the Gulf region.“I’m so happy to be the face…
US and Canada strike border deal
Ottawa (News Agencies): The US and Canada have announced an immigration plan that will change the way they take in asylum seekers. While Ottawa vowed to accept 15,000 additional migrants,…
Using Starlink Paints a Target on Ukrainian Troops
Kyiv (News Agencies): Operating behind enemy lines, one soldier fighting for Ukraine knows the Russians will hunt for him the second he sets up his portable Starlink internet dish. He…
Nordic countries combine combat air power
Brussels (News Agencies/Janes): The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have agreed on “seamless cooperation” between their respective air forces, with a letter of intent (LOI) announced on…
North Korea Conducts Test of Nuclear-Capable ‘Radioactive Tsunami’ Drone in the Sea
SEOUL (News Agencies): North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic “radioactive tsunami” that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts…
Beijing reports heavy pollution as largest sandstorms of 2023 blanket northern China
BEIJING (News Agencies): As yellow sand fills the sky with an earthy smell, Beijing reported heavily reduced air quality on Wednesday amid the arrival of the largest sandstorms of 2023…
US judge orders $1.68bn compensation for 1983 Beirut barracks bomb
NEW YORK (News Agencies): A federal judge in New York has ordered Iran’s Central Bank and a European intermediary to pay $1.68 billion in compensation to the family members of…
Chad says it has nationalised all assets owned by Exxon Mobil
N’Djamena (News Agencies): Chad has nationalised all the assets and rights, including hydrocarbon permits and exploration and production authorisations, that belonged to a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, the West African…
India’s Rahul Gandhi disqualified from parliament
NEW DELHI (News Agencies): India’s main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of parliament, a day after being convicted in a defamation case and sentenced to…
Algeria to send imams to Italy for Taraweeh prayers
ROME (News Agencies): Twenty-nine imams from Algeria will be sent by their government to Italy to help local imams perform Taraweeh prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. The imams…
Situation in Lebanon is ‘very dangerous,’ International Monetary Fund warns
BEIRUT (News Agencies): “Lebanon is in a very dangerous situation,” the International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday, a year after authorities in the country committed to a program of reforms…
Saudi Arabia and Syria in talks to restart Consular Services
RIYADH (News Agencies): Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks to resume consular services between the two countries, Al-Ekhbariya TV said on Thursday. “Within the framework of the Kingdom’s keenness…
Moscow and Beijing sign long-term nuclear deal
MOSCOW: Russia and China are deepening their partnership in nuclear energy and will draw up a road map for cooperation in developing so-called fast-neutron reactors for decades to come, Russia’s…
Powerful earthquake felt in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India
A powerful earthquake has been felt in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to witnesses. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s quake. Initial reports said the…