Saturday, 15 Mar, 2025

International

Myanmar military committed war crimes in Karenni state: Report

The Myanmar military has murdered civilians, and used them as human shields, in a series of atrocities in eastern Karenni State that may amount to war crimes, prominent human rights group Fortify Rights said in a new report published on Tuesday. The group says it documented attacks on

Still hope for Ukraine agreement, say USA and UK 

The US and UK leaders have said not all hope is lost for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, but warn that the situation remains fragile. In a 40-minute call, Joe Biden and Boris Johnson agreed a deal was still possible despite a chorus of warnings of imminent Russian military

German chancellor arrives in Ukraine ahead of Russia visit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in Ukraine in the latest diplomatic push aimed at preventing a feared Russian invasion. Monday’s visit comes as Western countries withdraw staff from their embassies in Kyiv, with many of them also urging their citizens to leave

Ukraine wants talks with Russia within 48 hours

Ukraine said on Sunday (Feb 13) it wanted talks with Russia and members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) within 48 hours to discuss Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine and inside annexed Crimea. The OSCE, which has 57 participating states from

India logs 44,877 new cases, 684 deaths in 24 hours

Daily new COVID-19 cases in the country dipped below 50,000 after around 40 days, taking the country's virus tally to 4,26,31,421, while the active cases declined to 5,37,045, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. India logged 44,877 infections, while the

US warns of ‘crippling’ sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

US State Department official Derek Chollet has warned that the US will impose “crippling” sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine. Such warning on Sunday came after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden ended with no breakthrough

Police begin clearing Canada trucker blockade

Police have started to clear a blockade of the main crossing between Canada and the United States. After days of protests by truckers against Covid rules at the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario, officers urged them to heed an injunction against the demonstration. The vital trade route

Russia could invade Ukraine any day, US warns

Russia has the troops in place to invade Ukraine "at any time" and American citizens should leave within the next 48 hours, the US has warned. An invasion could start with aerial bombing that would make departures difficult and endanger civilians, the White House said on

Trudeau slams 'unacceptable' protests as police warn truckers

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hit out at protests by truckers around the country as "unacceptable". Speaking to parliament in Ottawa, he defended the Covid restrictions that have prompted truckers to converge on the nation's capital. Ottawa police

Ukraine tensions: Russia begins military drills with Belarus

Russia and Belarus have started 10 days of joint military drills amid ongoing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has a long border with Ukraine. The US has called the drills - believed to be Russia's biggest deployment to Belarus since

India revises guidelines for int'l arrivals, drops 7-day quarantine rule

India has revised guidelines for international arrivals recommending self-monitoring for 14 days for symptoms instead of the present seven-day home quarantine rule. The new guidelines announced on Thursday will take effect from February 14, the Federal Health Ministry said, Indian

It’s a Women’s Rights: Priyanka Gandhi on Hijab Controversy

Whether it is a bikini, a ‘ghoonghat’, a pair of jeans or a ‘hijab’, it is a woman’s right to decide what she wants to wear, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Wednesday amid the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka. She asserted that this right is

New Zealand protesters inspired by Canada blockade

New Zealand has seen a second day of demonstrations against pandemic restrictions with protesters camping outside the nation's parliament. Inspired by large anti- vaccine rallies in Canada, hundreds of Kiwis arrived on Tuesday to stage new protests against vaccine mandates and

Russia won’t escalate Ukraine crisis, Putin assures Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him in their marathon talks a day earlier that Moscow would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis. Macron’s remarks on a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday came as the Kremlin denied that he and Putin

Biden: US and Germany working in ‘lockstep’ on Ukraine crisis

The United States and Germany are working in “lockstep” to deter Russian “aggression” in Europe, US President Joe Biden has said, as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Monday. Amid growing tensions in eastern Europe, Scholz held

Crucial days ahead after Putin summit, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the coming days will be crucial to de-escalating the Ukraine standoff, after a meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin hinted that progress had been made during his first Moscow summit with a Western leader since Russian troops

Ottawa declares emergency as truckers protest Covid restrictions

The mayor of Canada's capital Ottawa has declared a state of emergency in response to more than a week of truckers' protests against Covid restrictions. Jim Watson said the city was "completely out of control", with demonstrators outnumbering police. He said the

Don’t believe ‘apocalyptic predictions’ over Russia: Ukraine

Ukraine downplayed a possible incursion by Russia on Sunday saying do not to believe “apocalyptic predictions” after US officials said Moscow had assembled 70 percent of the military force needed for a full-scale invasion. Unnamed American officials were quoted as saying on

US says Russia preparing full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Russia has assembled about 70% of the military capability needed for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the coming weeks, US officials say. The ground is expected to freeze and harden from mid-February, enabling Moscow to bring in more heavy equipment, the unnamed officials said.

Rayan: Moroccan boy trapped in well for four days dies

A five-year-old Moroccan boy who was trapped in a well for four days has died, despite painstaking efforts to rescue him. A royal statement announced his death soon after his removal from the well. The bid to free the boy, named as Rayan, had gripped the country, with hundreds of