Putin, Xi hold talks as Russia fires another Ukraine barrage
Kyiv: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed on Friday to deepen their bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of Moscow’s 10-month war in Ukraine, which weathered another night of drone and rocket attacks following a massive missile bombardment. Putin and Xi made no direct mention of Ukraine as they held bilateral talks […]
World leaders condole demise of PM Modi’s mother
Tokyo/Jerusalem: Several world leaders on Friday condoled the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben who passed away in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. Her mortal remains were consigned to flames by PM Modi and his brothers at a […]
US says Chinese intercept could have caused air collision
Beijing: The US military says a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to an Air Force plane over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to maneuver to avoid a collision. US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement on Thursday that the incident occurred December 21 when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy J-11 […]
EU assesses impact China’s rollback of COVID measures
Brussels: The European Union is assessing the increase in COVID-19 cases in China following Beijing’s rollback of its strict anti-infection controls in an attempt to streamline the testing of travellers from China in the 27 EU nations. The European Commission said on Thursday that the BF7 omicron variant prevalent in China was already active in […]
South Korea stages drills simulating downing of North drones
Seoul: South Korea staged large-scale military drills on Thursday to simulate shooting down drones as a step to bolster its readiness against North Korean provocations, three days after the North flew drones into its territory for the first time in five years. South Korean warplanes and helicopters failed to bring down any of the five […]
India unlikely to join Ukraine ‘grain corridor’: MEA
New Delhi: India is unlikely to join the Ukraine ‘grain corridor’, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday, adding bilateral mechanisms are in place for India to extend food grain assistance to several countries in the global south. “We have been extending assistance to countries from the south bilaterally. I don’t have any clarity if […]
UNSC voices concern over restrictions on women and girls imposed by Taliban in Afghanistan
United Nations: The UN Security Council, under the current presidency of India, has voiced concern over restrictions on women and girls’ education and work imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, calling for a swift reversal of these policies which increasingly eroded respect for human rights. The Taliban have banned women from attending university and working […]
France’s defence minister goes to Ukraine to boost support
Kyiv: France’s defence minister arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss further military support for Ukraine, insisting the French government’s backing is unflagging while efforts are made to reach an eventual negotiated end to Russia’s invasion. French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu traveled to Ukraine’s capital after a trip to Poland, where he […]
Vatican says health of retired pope Benedict XVI ‘worsening’
Vatican City: The health of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has worsened due to his age, and doctors are constantly monitoring the 95-year-old’s condition, the Vatican said on Wednesday. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis, who asked the faithful earlier on Wednesday to pray for Benedict, went to visit his predecessor in the monastery on […]
Amid Ukraine conflict, COVID-inflicted crises, India emerges as voice of Global South
United Nations: India emerged as a voice of the Global South during its two-year term in the powerful UN Security Council, which acrimoniously deliberated on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that led to unprecedented levels of global food and fuel insecurity as the world continued to grapple with inequalities amplified by the pandemic. Before relinquishing its […]
