EU’s Russia sanctions effort slows over oil dependency
Brussels: The European Union’s efforts to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine appeared to be bogged down on Monday, as a small group of countries opposed a ban on imports of Russian oil. Since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, the bloc has implemented five rounds of sanctions on […]
Sweden ends neutrality, joins Finland in seeking NATO berth
Stockholm: Sweden’s prime minister announced Monday that Sweden will join Finland in seeking NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a historic shift that comes after more than 200 years of military nonalignment in the Nordic country. The move, which is likely to upset the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, came […]
Uyghur county in China has highest prison rate in the world
Beijing: Nearly one in 25 people in a county in the Uyghur heartland of China has been sentenced to prison on terrorism-related charges, in what is the highest known imprisonment rate in the world, an Associated Press review of leaked data shows. A list obtained and partially verified by the AP cites the names of […]
2 Sikh businessmen killed in broad daylight in Pak; PM Sharif says ‘act of terrorism’
Peshawar: Two Sikh businessmen were shot dead on Sunday by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the latest targeted terrorist attack against the minority community in the restive province bordering Afghanistan. Saljeet Singh, 42, and Ranjeet Singh, 38, died on the spot after being attacked by two bike-borne assailants in the morning, according […]
Eurovision win in hand, Ukraine band releases new war video
Turin (Italy): Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, fresh off its Eurovision victory, released a new music video on Sunday of its winning hit “Stefania” that features scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and women in combat gear, as the annual song contest took on ever more political tones. The video was released hours after Kalush Orchestra brought Ukraine […]
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes UAE’s president
Dubai: Rulers in the United Arab Emirates announced Saturday that they unanimously appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the president of this hereditarily ruled nation on the Arabian Peninsula. The state-run WAM news agency said the rulers of the country’s seven sheikhdoms made the decision at a meeting held in Al Mushrif Palace […]
Peshawar mosque blast mastermind killed: Police
Peshawar: The mastermind of the Peshawar blast along with one of his companions was on Saturday killed in a targeted operation in the suburb of the district, which lies at the heart of Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. According to the police, the terrorist named Hassan Shah, a resident of district Khyber, was […]
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed dies
Dubai: UAE’s long-ailing President and ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away on Friday, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said. He was 73. The ministry announced a 40-day period of mourning and suspension of work in all ministries and the private sector for three days beginning Friday, including flags to […]
China reacts guardedly to Ranil Wickramasinghe’s appointment as Lanka PM
Beijing: China, one of the largest creditors of Sri Lanka, on Friday reacted warily to the appointment of Ranil Wickramasinghe as the country’s Prime Minister succeeding pro-Beijing Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying it supports the government’s efforts to sustain stability in the face of chaos. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here that […]
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister
Colombo: Opposition leader and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th prime minister on Thursday, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation. The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at […]
