Friday, 17 Jan, 2025

International

Russia doing better than expected despite sanctions: IMF

Despite damaging Western sanctions imposed on Moscow in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy appears to be weathering the storm better than expected as it benefits from high energy prices, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday (July 26). The

UK PM debate scrapped after TV host faints

The latest Tory leadership debate between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss has been cancelled after the presenter fainted on air. The Sun and TalkTV debate, hosted by journalist Kate McCann, abruptly halted around halfway through after a loud crash was heard. TalkTV said McCann was

Climate change: UK cities warned of wildfire risk

Last week's wildfires across London show that lessons learned tackling rural blazes must urgently be applied to built-up areas, fire chiefs say. The record-breaking heatwave, with 40C peaks, came during a prolonged spell of dry weather - and that dried out gardens, verges and green

Rahul Gandhi Detained During Protest

Rahul Gandhi was detained today after he led a protest and sat on a road in the heart of the capital while his mother Sonia Gandhi was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. The Congress leader, surrounded by scores of policemen, sat on Rajpath - the high security avenue near

Russian gas cut to Europe hits economic hopes after Ukraine grain deal

Russia will further cut gas supplies to Europe in a blow to countries that have supported Kyiv just as there was hope on Monday that Ukraine's blocked grain exports would resume this week. Despite a weekend air strike, the first ships from Ukraine's Black Sea ports may set sail

Gunman dead after killing 2 in Canada shooting spree

A gunman killed two people and wounded two others in a series of shootings near Vancouver yesterday, before being shot dead by police, authorities said. Earlier reports had suggested the assailant may have targeted homeless people, but this was not immediately confirmed by authorities

California wildfire grows amid heatwave 

A fast-moving wildfire in California continues to grow in size, firefighters say, as they struggle through sweltering temperatures. The Oak Fire has now burned 15,603 acres of land and is still "zero per cent uncontained", California's fire department said on Sunday

Droupadi Murmu sworn in as India's first tribal president

Droupadi Murmu, a tribal politician, was sworn in as India's new president on Monday. The 64-year-old former teacher comes from Odisha (Orissa) state and has had a stint as a state governor. Ms Murmu is the country's first tribal leader in the top post. "My elevation

Myanmar military executes four democracy activists

Four democracy activists have been executed by Myanmar's military in what is believed to be the first use of capital punishment in decades. Former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw, writer and activist Ko Jimmy, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw were accused of committing "terror

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seeks Arab world's support

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to address the Arab League on a visit to Egypt, where it has its headquarters in the capital Cairo. He wants to rally support for Moscow as it counters international anger over the war in Ukraine. Mr Lavrov held talks in Cairo with his

State of emergency, evacuations after ‘explosive’ California fire

More than 6,000 people living outside the Yosemite National Park in California have been ordered to evacuate amid a fast-moving wildfire as drought and high temperatures continue to fuel dangerous blazes in the western United States. Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday declared a state

Iran says it foiled Israel-linked attacks on ‘sensitive’ sites

Iran’s intelligence ministry has announced the arrest of a network of agents linked to Israel’s Mossad who entered Iran to carry out attacks against “sensitive” sites, state media reported. The suspects entered Iran from northern Iraq, but were arrested before

Russia hits Ukraine’s Black Sea port despite grain deal

Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa just hours after Moscow and Kyiv signed deals to allow grain exports to resume from there. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denounced Saturday’s airstrikes as “spit in the face” of Turkey and the United

Saudi police arrest man who helped Israeli sneak into Mecca

A Saudi man who allegedly helped a Jewish Israeli journalist enter the holy city of Mecca has been arrested, police in the kingdom have said, after a backlash on social media. The journalist, Gil Tamary of Israel’s Channel 13, posted on Twitter a video of himself on Monday

Ukraine and Russia sign 'beacon of hope' grain deal

Ukraine and Russia have signed "mirror" deals which will allow Kyiv to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea. The agreement will allow millions of tonnes of grain, currently trapped in Ukraine by the war, to be exported. The world shortage of Ukrainian grain since

Sri Lanka swears Dinesh Gunawardena in as new prime minister

Dinesh Gunawardena has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, just hours after soldiers and police cleared an anti-government protest site in Colombo. Gunawardena, a veteran member of the ruling Sri Lanka People’s Front and an ally of the Rajapaksa political

ICJ to rule on Myanmar objections to Rohingya genocide case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to rule on Myanmar’s preliminary objections to a genocide case brought over the military’s brutal 2017 crackdown on the mostly Muslim Rohingya. The court heard arguments on the objections in February, and ICJ President Judge

Military raids Sri Lanka protest camps, leaders arrested

The military in Sri Lanka has taken control of the presidential secretariat in the capital after “brutally assaulting” the protesters. Soldiers also destroyed tents at the adjacent GotaGoGama protest site, arrested several protest leaders and cordoned off the area together

Droupadi Murmu Is India's New President

India has got its first tribal President as Droupadi Murmu, the NDA's choice, scooped up over 50 per cent of the total vote value after three rounds of counting.  Opposition's Yashwant Sinha is far behind. Droupadi Murmu has crossed the halfway mark after three rounds

Italian PM Mario Draghi resigns 

A year-and-a-half after he was appointed as Italy's unelected head of a unity government, Mario Draghi resigned as prime minister. He told President Sergio Mattarella he was standing down after three parties in his government refused to back him in a confidence vote the night