‘Will contest together as far as possible’

The opposition’s INDIA alliance will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election “together as far as possible”, the bloc said yesterday, the final day of its meeting in Mumbai.
1 September 2023

Russia to block declaration if its views ignored: FM

Russia will block the final declaration of this month’s G20 summit unless it reflects Moscow’s position on Ukraine and other crises, leaving participants to issue a non-binding or partial communique, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday.
1 September 2023

US restricts visas over Sierra Leone polls concerns

The United States said on Thursday it would restrict visas to Sierra Leoneans accused of undermining democracy in recent elections, which observers said were marred by discrepancies.
1 September 2023

Syrians rally in south against President Assad

Hundreds gathered in southern Syria yesterday urging President Bashar al-Assad to step down, capping nearly two weeks of demonstrations that erupted over poor living conditions but have spiralled into renewed calls for political change.
1 September 2023

No ‘peace’ until regions freed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday said there cannot be “sustainable peace” in Ukraine unless the country regains control of Crimea, Donbas and other territories occupied by Russia.
1 September 2023

Thai king cuts ex-PM’s jail term to one year: govt

Thailand’s jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had his prison sentence cut from eight years to one by the king yesterday, just days after he returned from 15 years in exile.
1 September 2023

Thai king cuts ex-PM Thaksin's jail term to one year: govt

Thailand's jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had his prison sentence cut from eight years to one by the king on Friday, just days after he returned from 15 years in exile..The move came a day after the billionaire ex-prime minister, 74, applied for a royal pardon over graft and abus
1 September 2023

Proud Boys leader jailed for 17 years over US Capitol attack

A leader of the Proud Boys militia who called for a "war" to keep Donald Trump as president was sentenced to 17 years in prison Thursday, one of the longest sentences yet over the 2021 attack on the US Capitol
31 August 2023

74 killed as fire guts housing block in South Africa

A fire that tore through a five-storey building taken over for illegal housing killed more than 70 people including children in central Johannesburg overnight, the South African city’s emergency services said yesterday.
31 August 2023

Russia will deepen ties with North Korea

Russia said yesterday it intended to develop ties with North Korea, while not confirming a statement by the White House that Russian President Vladimir Putin had exchanged letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
31 August 2023

Gabon coup followed flawed polls

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell noted yesterday the military coup in Gabon could not be compared to the crisis in Niger, arguing officers intervened after ousted president Ali Bongo won an unfair election.
31 August 2023

4 countries reject China’s latest map

The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have rejected as baseless a map released by China that denotes its claims to sovereignty including in the South China Sea and which Beijing said yesterday should be viewed rationally and objectively.
31 August 2023

US approves first arms to Taiwan under aid program

President Joe Biden’s administration has for the first time approved direct US military aid to Taiwan under an assistance program aimed at foreign governments, officials said yesterday, as worries grow over China.
31 August 2023

Trump pleads not guilty to Georgia election subversion charges

Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a wide-ranging Georgia criminal indictment related to his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, according to a court filing
31 August 2023

African leaders work on response to Gabon military coup

African leaders were working on a response on Thursday to officers in Gabon who ousted President Ali Bongo and installed a general as head of state, the latest in a wave of coups in West and Central Africa that regional powers have failed to reverse
31 August 2023

Xi Jinping likely to skip G20 summit in India: officials

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in India next week
31 August 2023

India's Adani hits back at new 'stock manipulation' report

India's Adani Group hit back Thursday at a new report investigating alleged manipulation of the conglomerate's share prices, accusing its authors of conspiring to drive down its stocks for profit
31 August 2023

Death toll in South Africa building fire rises to 74

A fire that tore through a five-storey building taken over for illegal housing killed 74 people including 12 children in central Johannesburg overnight, South African authorities said Thursday
31 August 2023

Pakistan general election by mid-February, ECP says

General elections would be held by mid-February at any cost, perhaps by late January if the delimitation of constituencies is completed earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) assured the Awami National Party (ANP) on Wednesday, allaying fears that polls could be delayed indefinitely to extend the interim government's tenure
31 August 2023

Rising caffeine levels spark calls for ban on energy drink sales to children

Pediatricians and parents are calling for the US to treat new high-caffeine energy drinks like alcohol and cigarettes and ban their sale to minors as a single serving can contain as much caffeine as six Coca-Colas
31 August 2023