Thursday, 23 Jan, 2025

International

US winter storm: Icy blast hits 200 million Americans

Some 200 million Americans are feeling the icy grip of a massive winter storm that has been linked to at least 12 deaths ahead of the holiday weekend. More than 1.5 million people lost power and thousands of flights were cancelled on Friday. The vast storm extends more than 2,000

North Korea fires ballistic missile towards sea off east coast

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast on Friday, the South Korean military and Japanese coast guard said. The launch was the latest in an unprecedented number of missile tests by the North this year. The isolated country fired two mid-range

North Korea sold arms to Russia's Wagner group, US says

The United States has accused North Korea of supplying battlefield missiles and rockets to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for use in Ukraine. The White House said the shipment violated UN Security Council resolutions and that it would announce further sanctions on Wagner. Both

Kremlin says Biden, Zelenskyy Are Ignoring 'Russia's Concerns' 

The Kremlin on Thursday accused Kyiv and Washington of turning a deaf ear to its concerns and charged the United States was using Ukraine as a battleground to weaken Russia. It came as President Vladimir Putin insisted Russia was aiming for a speedy end to the fighting. "Our

UN Security Council resolution demands end to Myanmar violence

The United Nations Security Council has adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, which demands an end to violence and calls on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners, including democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar’s

Israel's Netanyahu forms new government

Benjamin Netanyahu has officially informed Israeli President Isaac Herzog that he has successfully formed a government, his Likud party said Wednesday. In what was a last minute announcement, Netanyahu tweeted 10 minutes before the deadline expired, “I have managed.”

Nepal to release serial killer Charles ‘The Serpent’ Sobhraj

Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer known as “The Serpent”, who police say is responsible for a string of murders in the 1970s and 1980s, is to be released from prison in Nepal, the Himalayan country’s Supreme Court has ruled. The 78-year-old French national has served

Russian military announces plan to expand, create new units

Russia on Wednesday announced an ambitious plan to beef up its military from 1 million to 1.5 million and create multiple new units, an attempt to bolster the forces that have lost momentum and many soldiers in the war in Ukraine. Russia’s military chief cited NATO’s plans

Zelenskyy invokes World War II, says ‘no compromises’ with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered a defiant wartime message in Washington, DC, in which he thanked US leaders and “ordinary Americans” for supporting his country’s fight against Russia and reminded them that military assistance to Ukraine was not

Zelensky heads to US for first trip since war began

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is on his way to Washington, where he will meet US President Joe Biden on Wednesday. It is his first foreign trip since Russia invaded in February. The White House has also confirmed the trip and said it will supply Ukraine with a

Over 100 Rohingya Stranded At Sea Near Andamans, Many Feared Dead: Report

At least 100 ethnic Rohingya are stranded in a boat off Andaman Islands and as many as 16-20 may have have died of thirst, hunger or drowned, said two Myanmar Rohingya activist groups. Each year many Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority, risk their lives boarding rickety vessels to

Thai Navy Searching for 31 Missing Sailors After Ship Sank

Thai navy ships and helicopters searched Monday for more than 30 sailors still missing 24 hours after their warship sank in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand. Survivors described chaotic scenes as they struggled to survive while the ship went down, and the navy commander confirmed

Russia to give Iran advanced military components in exchange for drones, says UK

Russia intends to give Iran advanced military components in exchange for hundreds of drones, British defense minister Ben Wallace said on Tuesday. “Iran has become one of Russia’s top military backers,” Wallace told parliament as part of a statement on the

First pictures of King Charles banknotes revealed

The new look of banknotes featuring the image of King Charles has been unveiled by the Bank of England. The portrait will be the only change to existing designs of £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes and will start to enter circulation from mid-2024. New notes will

Suu Kyi trial enters final phase in Burma 

The trial of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was adjourned until Tuesday when her defence team will give their reply to final prosecution arguments, Suu Kyi's lawyer said. The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest

US January 6 committee recommends criminal charges against Trump

The congressional committee that investigated last year's attack on the US Capitol recommended that criminal charges be filed against former president Donald Trump. The House panel unanimously urged on Monday the Justice Department to pursue Trump for inciting an insurrection,

UN chief strongly hopes war in Ukraine will end in 2023

The United Nations chief expressed strong hopes Monday that the Ukraine war will end in 2023 and on other global hotspots condemned the Iranian government’s crackdown on demonstrators, urged all countries to fight terrorist threats from the extreme right and called on the

North Korea says sanctions won’t stop its missile development –KCNA

North Korea said on Tuesday additional sanctions won’t stop its missile program, days after launching what appeared to be two medium-ranged ballistic missiles in what it called an “important” test for the development of a spy satellite. Kim Yo Jong, North Korean

Russia announces joint naval drills with China in East China Sea

Moscow announced Monday that several of its warships were participating in naval exercises starting this week with Beijing's navy, as Russia and China deepen ties amid pressure from the West. The Russian defence ministry said the drills would take place between December 21 and 27

4 Iran security force members killed in attack

A ‘terrorist’ attack killed four members of Iran’s security forces in a southeastern region beset by anti-government protests as well as extremist and criminal unrest, official media reported on Monday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members were killed