Saturday, 18 Jan, 2025

International

Ukraine war: Missiles hit targets across country as G7 rallies over Russia

Dozens of Russian missiles have struck targets across Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv enduring the heaviest barrage in months. A Kyiv apartment block was destroyed, killing at least one and wounding six others including a seven-year-old girl. Ukraine says 14 missiles were fired at

Sri Lanka lowers amount of foreign currency people can hold

Sri Lanka will lower the amount of foreign currency that individuals can hold to $10,000 from $15,000, and penalize anyone who holds foreign currency for more than three months by making it against the law, the island nation’s central bank chief announced Thursday amid the worst

17 Found Dead In South African Nightclub

At least 17 people have been found dead in a nightclub in South Africa's East London city, local media report. Bodies were found at the Enyobeni Tavern early on Sunday and several others are said to have been injured. "The circumstances surrounding the incident are under

Iran, EU say nuke talks to resume in days

Iran and the European Union on Saturday announced the resumption of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in the coming days to revive the Iranian nuclear pact. Making the remarks at a joint televised press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein

Russia to send Belarus nuclear-capable missiles 

Russia will supply Belarus with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads after the president complained about nuclear-armed NATO flights coming close to the Belarusian border. President Vladimir Putin made the announcement on Saturday as he received Belarusian leader Alexander

US president signs first major gun reform law in decades

US President Joe Biden has signed the first major federal gun reform in three decades, a bipartisan compromise that comes in light of a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. The law, deemed the first

Earthquake of magnitude 5.7 strikes southern Iran

An earthquake with a 5.6 magnitude struck in Iran’s southern Gulf waters early Saturday morning, state TV reported. There were no immediate reports of fatalities or damage. The quake occurred between the port of Charak and the island of Kish at a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6

Ukraine orders forces to leave key eastern city 

Ukrainian forces have been ordered to withdraw from Severodonetsk, according to the top regional official. The eastern city has endured weeks of bombardment, as Russian forces try to take complete control of the region. A Ukrainian retreat would be significant because it would leave

Saudi Arabia free youngest prisoner who faced execution

Human rights activists say Saudi Arabia has freed a prisoner who was arrested when aged 13 for suspected involvement in anti-government protests. Murtaja Qureiris had once been facing the death penalty, although he was finally sentenced to a prison term. He was held in 2014, partly

18 killed in mass break- in to Spanish enclave

Eighteen migrants have died and others were injured when a huge crowd tried to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, officials from neighbouring Morocco say. Reports say some of those who died had fallen from the top of a border fence. Several security personnel

Abortion clinics begin closing after landmark ruling

Clinics have begun closing in some US states after a Supreme Court ruling on Friday removed American women's constitutional right to abortion. About half of states are expected to introduce new restrictions or bans after the court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v Wade decision. Of

Death toll from Afghanistan’s earthquake rises to 1,150 people

An aftershock shook a hard-hit area of eastern Afghanistan on Friday, two days after a quake rattled the region, razing hundreds of mud-brick homes and killing 1,150 people, according to state media. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department reported a 4.2 magnitude quake in

Second earthquake hits Afghanistan, killed 5 

State media say at least five people were killed when another, smaller earthquake struck an area of eastern Afghanistan that experienced a devastating quake earlier this week. The state-run Bakhtar News Agency said the quake shook Paktika’s Gayan District on Friday morning. It

India sends aid, team to help with deadly Afghanistan earthquake

India is flying emergency relief assistance and a technical team to help the people of eastern Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake that state media reported killed 1,000 people. The 27 tons of relief assistance in two flights are comprised of essential items, including family ridge

EU grants Ukraine candidate status

The European Union agreed to put Ukraine on a path towards EU membership, acting with uncharacteristic speed and unity to pull the embattled country further away from Russia’s influence and bind it more closely to the West. Meeting at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, leaders of

US Senate passes first gun control bill in decades

The US Senate has passed a gun control bill - the most significant firearms legislation in nearly 30 years. Fifteen Republicans joined Democrats in the upper chamber of Congress to approve the measure by 65 votes to 33. It follows mass shootings last month at a supermarket in

EU leaders to grant Ukraine candidate status in blow to Putin

European leaders are poised to grant Ukraine candidate status, in a historic decision that opens the door to EU membership for the war-torn country and deals a blow to Vladimir Putin. EU leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to approve Ukraine’s candidate status later on

Suu Kyi trial 'moved to prison in Myanmar capital'

Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to appear in a prison court room for all future trial hearings, amid reports that she will be transferred from an unknown detention location to a jail in the capital. Myanmar’s ousted leader, who is 77, has been held by the military since 1 February

Earthquake: Taliban appeal for international aid

The Taliban in Afghanistan have appealed for international support, as the country deals with the aftermath of a devastating 6.1 magnitude earthquake. More than 1,000 people have been killed and at least 1,500 injured. Unknown numbers are buried in the rubble of ruined, often mud-built

India set to get Droupadi Murmu as first tribal woman President

Droupadi Murmu, former Jharkhand Governor, is set to be elected as the next President, the first tribal woman to occupy the highest post in the country. From the Santhal community in Odisha, 64-year-old Murmu was named the Presidential nominee of the BJP-led NDA Tuesday night, hours