Saturday, 18 Jan, 2025

International

North Korea confirms first COVID-19 death

North Korea has confirmed its first death from Covid-19, with state media adding that tens of thousands more are experiencing fever symptoms. Six people died after suffering a fever with one testing positive for Omicron, state media reported on Friday. It said 187,000 people with a

Chopper crash kills two pilots in Raipur

A helicopter owned by the Chhattisgarh government crashed at Raipur’s Swami Vivekanand Airport on Thursday night, killing both the pilots. According to an official statement from the government, the incident occurred around 9.10 pm and technical malfunction appears to be the

Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as Sri Lanka’s new PM 

Sri Lanka's veteran political leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed the next Prime Minister of the crisis-hit island nation by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The 73-year-old has taken the oath of office according to the media office of the President, who in an address to the

Taj Mahal's 22 Doors Stay Locked, "Issue Should Be Left With Historians": Court

The Allahabad High Court today rejected the petition seeking an inquiry into the "history" of Taj Mahal. The court dismissed the petition which asked for opening of the doors of its 22 rooms to see "the truth, whatever it is." "The issues lie outside court and

Sri Lanka court bans former PM Rajapaksa, allies from leaving country

Mahinda Rajapaksa, his politician son Namal and 15 allies have been barred from leaving the island over violence against anti-government demonstrators. A Sri Lankan court has banned former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his politician son Namal and 15 allies from leaving the country

Passenger plane catches fire during takeoff in China

A Tibet Airlines plane caught fire after skidding off the runway in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Thursday morning. All 113 passengers and nine crew members were "evacuated safely," the airline said in a statement. More than 40 passengers with minor injuries

UN chief horrified by Al Jazeera reporter's killing

UN Secretary General António Guterres says he is "appalled" by Wednesday's killing of veteran Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla. The US also condemned the killing and called her a "reporting legend". Abu Aqla, 51, died while

Sri Lanka crisis: Ex-PM flees to naval base

Security forces are out in force across Sri Lanka with orders to shoot looters on sight amid continuing protests at the government's handling of a devastating economic crisis. Despite a nationwide curfew, there was a second night of arson attacks.Shops near Colombo were torched, as

Shanghai heading to impose the tightest lockdown yet

Shanghai officials will over the next few days further restrict access to food and hospitals in some parts of the city, the most severe phase of its extended lockdown yet. Commercial food deliveries are not allowed and access to hospitals for all but emergencies must first be approved.

India's SC puts controversial sedition law on hold

India's Supreme Court has put a controversial colonial-era sedition law on hold that critics say is used to stifle dissent. The judges asked the government to refrain from registering any new cases which invoke sedition until it finishes hearing petitions challenging it. The

India denies sending troops to Sri Lanka 

The Indian High Commission on Wednesday "categorically" denied media reports about New Delhi sending its troops to Colombo, stating that the country is fully supportive of Sri Lanka's democracy, stability and economic recovery. Sri Lanka is struggling with acute food and

US House approves $40bn more for Ukraine aid

The US House of Representatives has approved a fresh $40bn aid package for Ukraine, after President Joe Biden called for more funds to help Kyiv thwart Russia’s three-month-old invasion. Legislators passed the Ukraine bill by 368 to 57 votes on Tuesday, providing $7bn more than

Al Jazeera journalist shot dead by Israeli forces

Israeli forces shot Shireen Abu Akleh in the head while she was on assignment in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. She was hit by a

Sri Lanka gives emergency powers to army, police

Sri Lanka has granted its military and police emergency powers to arrest people without warrants after a day of violence that killed seven people and injured more than 200 and resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the older brother of sitting President Gotabaya

Philippines election: Bongbong Marcos wining presidency

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, son of a former Philippines' dictator, is headed for a landslide win in the country's presidential race, according to partial and preliminary results. The 64-year-old senator has so far won 56% of the vote, compared to 28% for rival

Sri Lanka: Angry mobs burned down several homes

Angry mobs in Sri Lanka have burned down several homes belonging to the ruling Rajapaksas and MPs, after they were attacked by government supporters. The violence capped a day of unrest that saw PM Mahinda Rajapaksa quit amid mass protests at his government's handling of the

New York Times wins 3 Pulitzer Prizes, Reuters wins for feature photography

The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes and was named as a finalist five more times on Monday, while its rival the Washington Post took the public service award and Reuters claimed the prize for feature photography. The journalists of Ukraine were also awarded a special citation

Russia must withdraw to pre-invasion position for a deal: Zelensky

Any peace deal with Russia would depend on Russian forces pulling back to their pre-invasion positions, Ukraine's president says. Speaking to a London think tank, Volodymyr Zelensky said that was the minimum that his country could accept. He said he was the leader of

Explosion at Hotel in Cuba Kills 22

Police and fire rescuers are combing through rubble for survivors after an explosion late Friday morning destroyed a hotel in Havana, Cuba, killing at least 22 people and injuring at least 64. A gas leak is thought to be the cause of the explosion at Hotel Saratoga, according to the

France, India call for immediate end to Ukraine hostilities

Expressing “serious concern” over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India and France have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to bring parties together to promote dialogue and diplomacy for finding an immediate end to the suffering of the people.  The two