BBC defends Modi documentary as ‘rigorously researched’
London: The BBC on Friday defended its controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “rigorously researched” documentary that sought to highlight important issues, a day after the Indian government condemned the programme as a “propaganda piece” lacking objectivity. “The documentary was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial standards,” a BBC spokesperson said […]
UK PM Rishi Sunak defends PM Modi over controversial BBC series
London: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come out in defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a controversial BBC documentary claimed that the British government was aware about the Indian leader having an alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, an Opposition Labour […]
Blinken to travel to China early next month: US State Department
Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China early next month and the details of his visit are being worked out, an official spokesperson said. The challenge that North Korea poses to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond will be on the agenda when the secretary of state visits Beijing, State Department spokesperson […]
EU border chief pledges transparency, no illegal pushbacks
Brussels: The new executive director of European Union border agency Frontex pledged on Thursday to ensure that illegal pushbacks of migrants trying to reach Europe wouldn’t take place under his watch. Hans Leijtens was appointed as a replacement for Fabrice Leggeri, who resigned last year following media allegations that the agency was involved in that […]
At Davos, UN chief warns the world is in a “sorry state”
Davos: The world is in a “sorry state” because of myriad “interlinked” challenges including climate change and Russia’s war in Ukraine that are “piling up like cars in a chain reaction crash,” the UN chief said at the World Economic Forum’s meeting Wednesday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his gloomy message on the second day […]
EU lawmakers replace disgraced VP as suspect cuts plea deal
Strasbourg (France): European Union lawmakers voted on Wednesday to replace a disgraced former parliament vice president after a key suspect in a the cash-for-influence scandal rocking the EU assembly made a plea bargain with prosecutors, raising the prospect of more people getting named. Former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili was removed from her post […]
India a ‘great example’ of countries who are choosing security assistance from US: Pentagon
Washington: India is a “great example” of countries who are choosing security assistance from the US, the Pentagon has said, underlining that it was ready for any response to wean them away from Russia. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder also said the US understands that some countries that bought Russian or Soviet-era weapons want to maintain […]
China’s population declines for first time since 1961; India poised to emerge as most populous country
Beijing: China’s demographic crisis deepened in 2022 as its population declined for the first time since 1961 due to a plunging birth rate, the country’s statistics office said on Tuesday, amid a forecast that India is poised to overtake the Communist giant as the world’s most populous country. China’s population in 2022 — 1.4118 billion […]
WEF launches initiative to unlock USD 3 trillion a year for climate and nature
Davos: The World Economic Forum on Tuesday launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) to help unlock the USD 3 trillion of financing needed each year to reach net-zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050. The global initiative to fund and grow new and existing public, private and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) is […]
China opposes Dalai Lama’s planned visit to Sri Lanka
Colombo: China on Tuesday opposed a suggested visit by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Sri Lanka, saying the bankrupt island nation must safeguard the bilateral relationship. A top Chinese embassy official here met the powerful Buddhist prelates in the central town of Kandy to express opposition to the visit for which no dates […]