Saturday, 25 Jan, 2025

International

China warns US against underestimating Beijing's Taiwan resolve

US congressional visits to Taiwan are inflaming regional tensions, and the Biden administration shouldn't underestimate China's resolve on the issue, Beijing's envoy to Washington said on Tuesday (Aug 16). Ambassador Qin Gang rejected US officials' argument that

Israel admits to killing five children in latest Gaza assault

Israel has confirmed that its air force was responsible for the killing of five children on the last day of its attacks on Gaza earlier this month. Days after denying Israeli involvement in the deadly strike on Gaza that left five children dead, Israeli officials conducted an

Bus-oil tanker crash leaves 20 dead in Pakistan's Punjab province

At least 20 people were killed and six injured when a passenger bus collided with an oil tanker on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said. Multan Deputy Commissioner Tahir Wattoo confirmed the incident in a statement, saying that the passenger

Pfizer CEO Albert tests positive for Covid with mild symptoms

Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said he tested positive for Covid-19 and is receiving Paxlovid, the treatment made by his company, Bloomberg reported. Bourla said he’s feeling well although experiencing very mild symptoms, according to a statement Monday.

Trump warrant: Prosecutors oppose releasing search evidence

The US Department of Justice says releasing details about the warrant used to raid Donald Trump's Florida home last week could cause "irreparable damage" to its investigation. It wants to keep the affidavit, a court document showing the evidence needed to obtain the

Kenya election result delayed amid drama

Scuffles, allegations of vote rigging and division among members of the electoral commission have thrown the much-awaited announcement of the results of Kenya's presidential election into doubt. The result was to be announced earlier but was postponed without explanation. Deputy

Oil prices fall on Iran deal, stuttering Chinese economy

Oil prices slumped more than 5% today on the rising prospects of a return of Iranian oil to the market and data showing China’s economic recovery stuttering under Covid-19 restrictions and a slumping property sector. Stock markets drifted lower and the dollar traded mixed as

Kuwait names first envoy to Iran after 6 years

Kuwait has appointed an ambassador to Iran, both countries said on Sunday, more than six years after recalling its top envoy to Tehran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after it severed ties with the Islamic Republic in 2016. Ambassador Bader Abdu­llah Al-Munaikh handed his

A year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

When you arrive at Kabul International Airport, the first thing you notice is the women, clothed in brown scarves and black cloaks, stamping passports. An airfield, which one year ago was the scene of a panicked tide of people desperate to escape, is now much quieter and cleaner. Rows

Russia vows to expand relations with North Korea

Russia has vowed to "expand [its] comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations" with North Korea, said its President Vladimir Putin. In a letter sent to his counterpart Kim Jong un on Pyongyang's liberation day, Mr Putin said the move would be in both countries'

Egypt fire: Dozens dead in Giza Coptic church

Dozens of people have died after a fire broke out at a church in Egypt, many of them crushed during a desperate scramble to escape. Officials say the number of dead is at least 41, with dozens injured. Children are believed to be among the dead. An electrical fire broke out as 5,000

Salman Rushdie off ventilator and able to talk

Author Salman Rushdie has been taken off a ventilator and is able to talk again, a day after being stabbed. Mr Rushdie, 75, was attacked while speaking at an event in New York state and was in a critical condition. His agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed the news to US media, but had

Several Israelis wounded in attack on Jerusalem bus

A gunman has opened fire at a bus near Jerusalem’s Old City, wounding at least eight people, two of them critically, according to medics and the Israeli police. The attack took place in the early hours of Sunday, as the bus carrying Israelis waited in a parking lot near the

Taliban break up rare protest by Afghan women in Kabul

Taliban fighters have dispersed dozens of female protesters in Kabul, almost a year after the militant group seized power. About 40 women marched through the Afghan capital demanding rights, before the Taliban broke it up by firing into the air. The fighters seized their mobile

Xi, Biden could meet in November in South-east Asia: Report

Chinese and US officials have been discussing a possible face-to-face meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden, with a report suggesting that two regional summits in South-east Asia in November are potential venues for the talks. "I can confirm that

Sonia Gandhi tests positive for COVID-19 again

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday tested positive for COVID-19 again and will remain in isolation. Earlier this week, her daughter and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also tested positive. "Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has tested positive for

FBI took ‘top secret’ files from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home

The FBI seized top secret files in a search of former US President Donald Trump's estate in Florida this week, according to a search warrant. Agents removed 11 sets of documents, including some marked "TS/SCI", a designation for material that could cause

Montenegro: Gunman kills 11 after family dispute

At least 11 people have been killed in a shooting following a family dispute in the city of Cetinje in Montenegro. According to officials, a single gunman shot dead three members of the same family before shooting at passers-by. A mother and her two children all staying in the

Crimea blasts significantly hit Russian navy – UK

Blasts at a Russian-operated airfield in Crimea this week have "significantly degraded" its navy's Black Sea Fleet, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says. The Saky base in the west of Russian-ruled Crimea was rocked by a string of blasts on Tuesday, killing one person.

Armed man shot dead after trying to 'breach' Ohio FBI office

An armed man clad in body armour was killed after he tried to "breach" an FBI building in Ohio, officials say. The suspect fled the scene in Cincinnati and was shot by police after an hours-long standoff in a rural area. Law enforcement officials told US media they are