BEIJING: China called Friday for Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks as soon as possible while insisting that nuclear weapons must not be used in their conflict. China made the comments in a 12-point paper on the “political settlement” of the crisis, timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary […]
world
TOKYO: Japanese Emperor Naruhito today gave his first public birthday address since ascending the throne almost four years ago, after delays due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and urged support for people struggling with inflation and the pandemic. “Many people are having difficulties in their daily life amid the pandemic and […]
BERLIN: Dismissing mounting evidence that a Russian missile downed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, news anchors on Russian state-owned TV are shown voicing alternative theories in a new documentary: one claims a Ukrainian fighter jet shot down the plane; another suggests the aircraft was floored by aliens. Ukrainian director Roman Liubyi’s […]
MONTREAL: China has rejected allegations it interfered in Canada’s federal elections, describing Canadian media reports that cited intelligence documents as “false” and attempts at “smearing” Beijing. A statement Friday afternoon from the Chinese consulate general in the western city of Vancouver accused Canadian media of “smearing and discrediting China” and […]
KYIV: Ukraine’s top general and the top US Army commander in Europe discussed further military aid for Kyiv yesterday as allies began training Ukrainian troops on the Leopard 2 and other modern battle tanks that are to boost the country’s defence. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces […]
WASHINGTON: Former US vice president Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel investigating Donald Trump and his role in the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, US media reported Thursday. The Justice Department appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee federal probes into Trump’s role in […]
WASHINGTON: An optimistic President Joe Biden will seek to lift an often unenthusiastic nation Tuesday (Feb 7) with a State of the Union address showcasing his efforts to rebuild the US economy – and setting the stage for the 80-year-old’s bid for re-election in 2024. After two years of managing […]
LONDON: Half a million people stopped work over pay in Britain on Wednesday leaving transport networks paralysed and thousands of classrooms empty in the largest walkout in over a decade. As Europe battles a cost-of-living crisis, Britain’s umbrella labour organisation the Trades Union Congress (TUC) called it the “biggest […]
BRASILIA: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sacked the commander of Brazil’s army on Saturday (Jan 22), two weeks after an election-denying mob loyal to his far-right predecessor ransacked the halls of power in Brasilia. The veteran leftist’s dismissal of Julio Cesar de Arruda came a day before Lula was […]
WELLINGTON: Chris Hipkins, set to become New Zealand’s prime minister, built a reputation for competence in tackling COVID-19, although he acknowledges some mistakes in handling the pandemic and faces a tough battle to retain power in an October general election. Known as “Chippy”, the former COVID-19 minister is a close […]