BEIRUT: A decision by Lebanon’s leading Sunni Muslim politician to step back from politics and boycott a parliamentary election in May must not be used as an excuse to call for a delay, the Maronite Christian patriarch said today. Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai said he was surprised by three times-former […]
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Moscow: Russia said on Sunday (Jan 30) it wants “mutually respectful” relations with the United States and denied posing a threat to Ukraine, as the UK said it was preparing fresh sanctions against Moscow. Tensions have soared between Moscow and Washington after Western governments accused Russia of amassing tens of […]
MANILA: The Philippines’ justice ministry has ordered law enforcers to investigate a post on the social media platform TikTok threatening to assassinate presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., acting on a tip received by its cybercrime unit. “If a bomb joke is actionable, so is a threat of assassination, whether true […]
ROME: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has asked Sergio Mattarella to carry on as president for a second term after political leaders failed to find an alternative, compromise candidate, a political source said today. The source said Draghi had told Mattarella he needed to remain in office “for the good […]
FILE – Protesters gather for a rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. On Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, the Biden administration said it has officially withdrawn a rule that would have required workers at big companies to get vaccinated or […]
LONDON: Britain will not hesitate to toughen sanctions on Moscow and will look to contribute to any Nato deployment if Russia invaded Ukraine, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today. Nato said yesterday it was putting forces on standby and reinforcing eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets, in what […]
LONDON: British police said today they had opened an investigation into possible Covid lockdown breaches at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Downing Street residence after receiving evidence from an internal government probe into a series of gatherings. Johnson is fighting for his political life after a series of claims that he […]
WASHINGTON: The United States today warned Russia of damaging sanctions, including high-tech export curbs, and said attempts by Moscow to “weaponise” its enormous oil and gas industry would backfire. “We are prepared to implement sanctions with massive consequences” that go far beyond previous measures implemented in 2014 after Russia invaded […]
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan appointed its first female Supreme Court judge on Monday, after a nomination process that proved unusually contentious. Justice Ayesha Malik, 55, had been selected by a commission that decides on the promotion of judges. As is typical for Supreme Court judges, she was sworn in on live TV, […]
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis said today he was following “with concern” rising tensions in Ukraine, and called for a day of prayer for peace next week. “I am following with concern the rising tensions that threaten to inflict a new blow to peace in Ukraine, and call into question the […]