Sunday, 19 Jan, 2025

International

Biden says Putin has decided to invade Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has said he is convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to launch an invasion of Ukraine, and that an assault could happen in the "coming days". Mr Biden said the assessment was based on US intelligence, which suggested the capital Kyiv

Brazil mudslides death toll reaches 94

At least 94 people have been killed in mudslides and floods that tore through a mountainous region of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state, local authorities said. The disaster in the city of Petropolis followed three hours of torrential rain on Tuesday, and Rio de Janeiro Governor

Russian claim of troop withdrawal false, says US

Russia's claim that it is moving troops away from the border with Ukraine is "false", according to a senior US official, who added that 7,000 extra troops have arrived in recent days. The official also said that Russia could launch a "false" pretext to invade

13 drown in well during India wedding 

At least 13 people have died after falling into a well during a wedding ceremony in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Police said the victims - all women and children - were sitting on a metal slab covering the well when it collapsed under their weight. Two more people

Russia announces end of Crimea military drills, troops leaving

Russian defence ministry Wednesday announced the end of Crimea military drills, reported news agency AFP. The Russian defence ministry shared a video of Russian military equipment and forces leaving Crimea.  The move comes after Moscow said Tuesday that some of its troops are

Australia asylum seekers held for record 689 days

Human Rights Watch has condemned Australia's immigration detention policy, pointing out that the country now holds asylum seekers for an average period of 689 days - a new record. The group has highlighted the fact one month on since Novak Djokovic was put in an Australian

Ukrainians wary of Russian claims of withdrawal

As Western leaders warned of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine, Yuri Vasylevych and his saxophone quartet played tango to a full house at the Kyiv Philharmonic. The musician is used to performing under pressure: when pro-EU protests erupted in violence in 2014, in this grand

Myanmar military committed war crimes in Karenni state: Report

The Myanmar military has murdered civilians, and used them as human shields, in a series of atrocities in eastern Karenni State that may amount to war crimes, prominent human rights group Fortify Rights said in a new report published on Tuesday. The group says it documented attacks on

Still hope for Ukraine agreement, say USA and UK 

The US and UK leaders have said not all hope is lost for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, but warn that the situation remains fragile. In a 40-minute call, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson agreed a deal was still possible despite a chorus of warnings of imminent Russian military

German chancellor arrives in Ukraine ahead of Russia visit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in Ukraine in the latest diplomatic push aimed at preventing a feared Russian invasion. Monday’s visit comes as Western countries withdraw staff from their embassies in Kyiv, with many of them also urging their citizens to leave

Ukraine wants talks with Russia within 48 hours

Ukraine said on Sunday (Feb 13) it wanted talks with Russia and members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) within 48 hours to discuss Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine and inside annexed Crimea. The OSCE, which has 57 participating states from

India logs 44,877 new cases, 684 deaths in 24 hours

Daily new COVID-19 cases in the country dipped below 50,000 after around 40 days, taking the country's virus tally to 4,26,31,421, while the active cases declined to 5,37,045, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. India logged 44,877 infections, while the

US warns of ‘crippling’ sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

US State Department official Derek Chollet has warned that the US will impose “crippling” sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine. Such warning on Sunday came after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden ended with no breakthrough

Police begin clearing Canada trucker blockade

Police have started to clear a blockade of the main crossing between Canada and the United States. After days of protests by truckers against Covid rules at the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario, officers urged them to heed an injunction against the demonstration. The vital trade route

Russia could invade Ukraine any day, US warns

Russia has the troops in place to invade Ukraine "at any time" and American citizens should leave within the next 48 hours, the US has warned. An invasion could start with aerial bombing that would make departures difficult and endanger civilians, the White House said on

Trudeau slams 'unacceptable' protests as police warn truckers

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hit out at protests by truckers around the country as "unacceptable". Speaking to parliament in Ottawa, he defended the Covid restrictions that have prompted truckers to converge on the nation's capital. Ottawa police

Ukraine tensions: Russia begins military drills with Belarus

Russia and Belarus have started 10 days of joint military drills amid ongoing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has a long border with Ukraine. The US has called the drills - believed to be Russia's biggest deployment to Belarus since

India revises guidelines for int'l arrivals, drops 7-day quarantine rule

India has revised guidelines for international arrivals recommending self-monitoring for 14 days for symptoms instead of the present seven-day home quarantine rule. The new guidelines announced on Thursday will take effect from February 14, the Federal Health Ministry said, Indian

It’s a Women’s Rights: Priyanka Gandhi on Hijab Controversy

Whether it is a bikini, a ‘ghoonghat’, a pair of jeans or a ‘hijab’, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Wednesday amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka. She asserted that this right is

New Zealand protesters inspired by Canada blockade

New Zealand has seen a second day of demonstrations against pandemic restrictions with protesters camping outside the nation's parliament. Inspired by large anti- vaccine rallies in Canada, hundreds of Kiwis arrived on Tuesday to stage new protests against vaccine mandates and