Russia steps up battle for eastern Ukraine

KRAMATORSK: Russia pressed its onslaught on eastern Ukraine Saturday, saying it had captured the strategic town of Lyman and had successfully tested hypersonic missiles in the Arctic. Ukrainian forces down the road battled to repel Russian forces from the outskirts of the key city of Severodonetsk, a Ukrainian official said, however denying claims it had […]

India sends 15,000 litres of kerosene for fisherfolk to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: India sent 15,000 litres of kerosene to Sri Lanka on Saturday to help 700 fisherfolk and power ferry services in the Tamil-dominated Jaffna city, days after it delivered around 40,000 metric tonnes of petrol to the debt-ridden island nation which is grappling with its worst economic crisis. India extended an additional USD 500 million […]

UN human rights chief asks China to rethink Uyghur policies

Beijing: The top UN human rights official said Saturday that she raised concerns with Chinese officials about the impact of the broad application of counterterrorism and deradicalisation measures on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in China’s Xinjiang region. Michelle Bachelet, who visited Xinjiang as part of a six-day trip to China, […]

Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in east

Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in east

Kyiv: Russian forces on Friday pounded the last Ukrainian strongholds in a separatist-controlled eastern province of Ukraine, including a city where authorities said 1,500 people have been killed and 60 per cent of residential buildings destroyed since the start of the war. Ukraine’s foreign minister warned that without a new injection of foreign weapons, Ukrainian […]

China criticizes US as tensions rise in South Pacific

China criticizes US as tensions rise in South Pacific

Beijing: China on Friday criticised a speech by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that focused on relations between the world’s top two economic powers, saying the US was seeking to smear Beijing’s reputation. In his Thursday address, Blinken said the administration of President Joe Biden wants to lead the international bloc opposed to Russia’s […]

No deal with Pakistan’s establishment; decided to end march to avoid bloodshed: ex-PM Imran Khan

Peshawar: Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday dismissed reports that he struck a deal with the Pakistan Army to end his massive Azadi rally demanding fresh general elections, asserting that he had decided to end his march to avoid bloodshed. A defiant Khan on Thursday warned that he would return to the Pakistani […]

Nearly 200 cases of monkeypox in more than 20 countries: WHO

London: The World Health Organisation says nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease, but described the epidemic as containable and proposed creating a stockpile to equitably share the limited vaccines and drugs available worldwide. During a public briefing on […]

Imran Khan gives 6-day ultimatum to Pakistan govt to announce fresh polls

Imran Khan gives 6-day ultimatum to Pakistan govt to announce fresh polls

Islamabad: Ousted prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on Thursday gave a six-day deadline to the Shehbaz Sharif government for dissolving provincial assemblies and announcing fresh general elections, warning that if the “imported government” failed to do so, he would return to the capital with the “entire nation”. Addressing a rally of thousands of protesters […]

China says ‘no intention’ to build Solomons military base

China says ‘no intention’ to build Solomons military base

HONIARA: China has “no intention at all” to build a military base in the Solomon Islands, foreign minister Wang Yi said Thursday, dismissing speculation about the purpose of its recent security pact with the island state. The Chinese minister, who was in Honiara at the start of an extensive tour of Pacific island states, said […]

Israeli defence minister to visit India next week

Jerusalem: Israel’s defence minister Benny Gantz will visit India next week during which he will sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) to mark 30 years of bilateral diplomatic and defence ties, his office said on Thursday. India and Israel elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra […]