World food prices ease further in Nov: FAO

The United Nations food agency’s world price index fell marginally in November, marking an eighth straight monthly fall since a record high in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
2 December 2022

Wave of letter bombs target Spanish PM, US embassy

Spanish police were investigating yesterday a series of letter bombs sent to targets including the PM and the US embassy, similar to the one which went off at the Ukrainian embassy.
1 December 2022

Disasters cost $268b in 2022: Swiss Re

Natural and man-made catastrophes have caused $268 billion of economic losses so far in 2022, chiefly driven by Hurricane Ian and other extreme weather disasters, reinsurance giant Swiss Re estimated Thursday. Of the estimated $268 billion total
1 December 2022

UN launches record $51.5b emergency funding appeal

The UN appealed for record funds for aid next year, as the Ukraine war and other conflicts, climate emergencies and the still-simmering pandemic push more people into crisis, and some towards famine.
1 December 2022

Europe too reliant on US: Finland PM

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that Europe is too reliant on the United States for its own security, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said yesterday.
1 December 2022

Belgium starts trial over 2016 suicide bombings

Belgium launched its biggest-ever criminal trial yesterday, the landmark prosecution of alleged jihadists accused of directing or aiding 2016 suicide bombings in Brussels’ metro and airport that killed 32 people.
30 November 2022

Three-quarters of people over 10 own a mobile phone: UN

Nearly three quarters of people over the age of 10 now own a mobile phone, potentially opening the way to broader internet use, the United
30 November 2022

Half of world’s democracies are in decline: report

Half the world’s democratic countries are experiencing an erosion of democracy, intensified by war in Ukraine and economic crisis, an international think tank said in a report yesterday.
30 November 2022

Russia, China carry out joint air force drills

Russian and Chinese air forces took part in joint military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian defence ministry said yesterday.
30 November 2022

Christians now a minority in England and Wales

Fewer than half of people in England and Wales identify as Christian, according to census data released today, underlining a landmark shift towards secularism in multicultural Britain.
29 November 2022

Russia-US nuclear talks postponed

Russia announced yesterday that it was postponing highly-anticipated arms control talks with the United States, scheduled to take place in Egypt despite tensions over the Ukraine conflict.
28 November 2022

Drop hunt for Julian Assange

Five of the Western world’s leading newspapers yesterday issued a joint call for the United States to drop its prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
28 November 2022

Canada launches new Indo-Pacific strategy

Canada launched a new Indo-Pacific strategy yesterday, vowing more resources to deal with a “disruptive” China while working with the world’s second-biggest economy on climate change and trade issues.
27 November 2022

Landslide kills 8 on Italian island

At least eight people died yesterday after heavy rains caused a landslide on the Italian island of Ischia, media reports said. A wave of mud swept
26 November 2022

Weapons industry booming

Eastern Europe’s arms industry is churning out guns, artillery shells and other military supplies at a pace not seen since the Cold War as governments in the region lead efforts to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
25 November 2022

Amazon workers call worldwide Black Friday strike

Workers at Amazon AMZN.O sites across the globe, including in the United States, Germany and France, were expected to go on strike on Black Friday, targeting the online retailer on one of the busiest shopping days of the year with calls for better pay.
25 November 2022

Germany moves to ease citizenship rules

The German government today said it was working on plans to "simplify" the path to citizenship, by speeding up the naturalisation of immigrants and allowing dual nationality.
25 November 2022

Halt violence on protesters

The UN rights chief yesterday urged Iran to immediately halt violence against protesters, as countries debated whether to launch an investigation into Tehran’s deadly crackdown.
24 November 2022

S African president ready to face crunch probe finding

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed domestic corruption claims that have prompted questions over his future during a visit to the UK yesterday, but rejected suggestions they could cut short his presidency.
24 November 2022

Russian resignation unblocks key Unesco committee

The resignation of Russia’s ambassador to Unesco will end the deadlock in a key group he chaired that is charged with preserving cultural sites around the world, a diplomatic source told AFP.
24 November 2022