Philippines evacuates thousands as monsoon rains flood Manila

Philippine authorities moved thousands of residents in the capital, Manila, out of low-lying communities yesterday as heavy monsoon rains, compounded by a tropical storm, flooded the city and nearby provinces.
24 July 2021

Biden picks Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador to Australia

President Joe Biden plans to nominate Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F Kennedy, as US ambassador to Australia, CNN reported on
24 July 2021

Drone attacks Iraq base hosting US troops

A drone attack has been carried out on a military base in Iraqi Kurdistan that hosts American troops, without causing any casualties, the US-led coalition said yesterday.
24 July 2021

Russia sends aid to Cuba

Russia dispatched nearly 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Cuba, the defence ministry said yesterday, following unprecedented street protests over the
24 July 2021

Blinken to visit India with vaccines and China in focus

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel next week to India, an important partner in US efforts to counter China and in vaccine diplomacy that is hobbled by its own Covid-19 crisis.
24 July 2021

Great Barrier Reef avoids Unesco ‘in danger’ listing

Australia yesterday avoided having the Great Barrier Reef listed as an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO, despite extensive climate change-fuelled damage to the ecosystem’s corals. 
23 July 2021

US sanctions Cuba for repressing protests

The United States imposed sanctions on Cuba’s defense minister and a special forces unit Thursday for repressing peaceful protests, a step President Joe Biden warned is “just the beginning” of punitive measures against Havana.
23 July 2021

Taliban claim of controlling 90pc of Afghan border is ‘lie’

The Taliban’s claim to hold 90 percent of Afghanistan’s borders is an “absolute lie”, the defence ministry said yesterday, insisting government forces were in control of the country’s frontiers.
23 July 2021

Russia disconnects from internet in tests: report

Russia managed to disconnect itself from the global internet during tests in June and July, the RBC daily reported on Thursday, citing documents from the working group tasked with improving Russia’s internet security.
23 July 2021

Ex-rights chief to lead UN Israel-Palestinian inquiry

Former UN rights chief Navi Pillay will lead the United Nations’ open-ended inquiry into “systematic” abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories, it was announced on Thursday.
23 July 2021

Quote of the day

We will probably have another variant arrive during the winter. … The big challenge for the next couple of years will be how are we going to co-exist, with two worlds: countries that are vaccinated and those that are not.
23 July 2021

‘This is treason’

Indian PM Narendra Modi’s main political rival Rahul Gandhi yesterday demanded an inquiry into the Pegasus spyware scandal, accusing the government of “treason”, according to an AFP report.
23 July 2021

Haiti's murdered president laid to rest with tensions high

Pallbearers in military attire carried late Haitian President Jovenel Moise's body in a closed wooden coffin as his funeral got underway on Friday, two weeks after he was shot dead at home in an assassination still shrouded in mystery.
23 July 2021

At least 100 US athletes unvaccinated as Olympics begin

About 100 of the 613 US athletes descending on Tokyo for the Olympics are unvaccinated, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s medical chief said hours before Friday night’s opening ceremony.
23 July 2021

Russia following through on fighter jet deals with Myanmar: report

Russia is going ahead with plans to supply Myanmar with Su-30 fighter jets and Yak-130 training aircraft, Interfax news agency quoted Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia's military cooperation agency, as saying on Friday.
23 July 2021

France's Macron changes phone, number in light of Pegasus case

French President Emmanuel Macron has changed his phone and phone number in light of the Pegasus spyware case, a presidency official said on Thursday, in one of the first concrete actions announced in relation to the scandal.
23 July 2021

For the first time, Saudi women stand guard in Mecca during haj

Inspired by her late father's career, Mona decided to join the military and the first group of Saudi women soldiers to work in Islam's holiest sites, where they are helping secure the haj annual pilgrimage.
21 July 2021

Tunisia PM blasts ‘mess’ after sacking health minister

Tunisia’s government stumbled deeper into crisis over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, after premier Hichem Mechichi fired the health minister amid skyrocketing cases in the North African country.
21 July 2021

Haiti installs new leader as country mourns slain president

Haiti’s government installed a new prime minister, while officials mourned assassinated President Jovenel Moïse and arrested at least three police officers implicated in his killing.
21 July 2021

Shootings during Milwaukee NBA Finals celebrations wound 3

Two shootings in downtown Milwaukee as crowds celebrated the Milwaukee Bucks first NBA championship in 50 years left three people wounded, police said.
21 July 2021