Monday, 20 Jan, 2025

International

Iranian, Russian presidents discuss bilateral cooperation over phone

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday discussed over the phone the bilateral cooperation in various fields. Putin commended the "dynamic and expanding" Moscow-Tehran cooperation in the areas of energy, transit and trade, while

Maui Emergency Manager Resigns After Wildfire Warning Criticism

The head of Maui's emergency management agency -- who said this week he did not regret the decision to not sound powerful warning sirens as a deadly wildfire ripped through the Hawaiian town of Lahaina -- resigned Thursday. Herman Andaya had come under criticism for not activating

Singapore arrests 10 foreigners, seizes $1b assets 

In one of the biggest anti-money laundering operations here, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) rounded up a group of foreigners who had amassed about $1 billion worth of assets here. The assets, which included properties, luxury cars and goods, were either seized, frozen or issued with

Pakistan: Mob burns churches over blasphemy claims

Thousands of Muslims in a city in Pakistan have set fire to churches and vandalised homes belonging to Christians over claims that two men had desecrated the Quran, police say. The attacks took place in Jaranwala in the province of eastern Punjab. Police said at least four churches

British Museum worker sacked over missing items

The British Museum in London has sacked a member of staff and police are investigating after treasures were reported "missing, stolen or damaged". Items including gold, jewellery and gems of semi-precious stones were among those missing from the museum, one of the UK's

Over 60 feared dead as boat capsizes off Cape Verde

Several people have been found dead and 38 others rescued from a boat off Cape Verde, authorities said as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that dozens more people were missing and feared dead. More than 60 people are believed to have died when a migrant boat

Libya fighting leaves 55 dead, dozens injured

Tripoli’s worst armed clashes in a year have killed 55 people and wounded 146, Libyan media outlets have reported, as a truce took hold. Fighting erupted on Monday night and raged through Tuesday between the influential 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, two of the

Hawaii fire death toll hits 101: Governor

The death toll in the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told CNN Tuesday, a week after the flames started sweeping through parts of the island. The governor’s update on the death toll – up from 99 a day before – came on a day authorities said

Smash the imperialists: Kim, Putin exchange letters

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters pledging to develop ties into what Kim called a “long-standing strategic relationship”. The letters mark the 78th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-45

Poland holds huge military parade as war rages in Ukraine

NATO member Poland held its biggest military parade since the Cold War in an event that marked victory over Soviet forces in 1920 and showcased the country’s state-of-the-art weaponry as war rages in neighbouring Ukraine and defence takes centre-stage ahead of parliamentary

At least 26 dead in Ethiopia explosion amid intensifying conflict

At least 26 people have been killed in an explosion in the town of Finote Selam in northwestern Ethiopia, amid heavy fighting between government forces and a local militia group. A further 50 people were injured in Sunday’s blast, according to Manaye Tenaw, CEO of the Finote

India with the people of Manipur: Modi on Independence Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, badgered for months by the Opposition to speak on Manipur, today began his address to the nation after unfurling the national flag at Red Fort with a reference to the strife-torn northeastern state.  "In the last few weeks, Manipur witnessed a

Gunmen kill over two dozen soldiers in central Nigeria

At least 26 members of the Nigerian security forces were killed and eight wounded in an ambush by gunmen in central Nigeria, two military sources have said. An air force spokesperson said a helicopter rescuing the wounded crashed on Monday morning in the area where the army is fighting

China’s defence minister visits Russia and Belarus in show of support

Beijing says the visit underscores the drive by China and Russia to align foreign policies in a bid to undermine the Western-led liberal-democratic world order. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu is visiting Russia and Belarus in a show of support as the West attempts to isolate the

Hawaii fire death toll hits 99, may double, warns governor

Last week's inferno on the island of Maui is already the deadliest US wildfire in a century. But Governor Josh Green said more fatalities are certain, as emergency responders with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned-out vehicles. "The updated

25 killed in fire, explosion at petrol station in Dagestan, Russia

A fire and explosion at a petrol station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan has killed at least 25 people, including three children, and injured dozens, the Interfax news agency reported citing regional emergency medics. The fire started at an auto repair shop on the roadside

Trump and 18 others charged in Georgia election inquiry

Former US President Donald Trump has been charged with attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia. He and 18 others have been indicted on counts that include racketeering in a 41-charge document issued by a Fulton County grand jury. The indictment marks

N Korea’s Kim orders ‘drastic boost’ in production of missiles, shells

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected key munitions factories, including a tactical missile production plant, and ordered a “drastic” boost in the manufacturing of missiles, rocket-launcher shells and other weapons, according to state media. The inspections,

Iran’s Shiraz shrine comes under deadly attack again

A holy shrine in Iran’s southern city of Shiraz has come under a second deadly attack in less than a year with another gunman breaking into its grounds and opening fire. Yadollah Bouali, the provincial commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), told state media

Palestinian officials welcome first Saudi Arabia ambassador

Palestinian officials welcomed their first Saudi Arabian ambassador, even as the kingdom mulls over establishing formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khalidi received a copy of the credentials of Ambassador