International

Iranian foreign minister in Pakistan for ‘in-depth’ talks to mend frayed ties

Islamabad: Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdolahian will hold ‘in-depth’ talks with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad Monday, days after the two neighbours conducted tit-for-tat military strikes at alleged terrorist bases in both countries. Abdollahian was received at the Nur Khan air base...

Iraqi Shia militia claims attacks on three US bases in Syria, naval facility in Israel

3 years ago

Baghdad: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iraqi Shia militia, has claimed the responsibility for drone attacks on three US bases in Syria and a naval facility in Israel. The group said Sunday in an online statement that its fighters launched explosive-laden drones on three...

52 killed in clashes in disputed oil-rich African region of Abyei

3 years ago

Juba (South Sudan): Gunmen attacked villagers in the oil-rich region of Abyei claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, leaving at least 52 people dead, including a UN peacekeeper, and 64 wounded, a regional official said Sunday. The motive for the attack Saturday evening was...

Biden blames Iranian-backed groups for death of three US troops in Jordan

3 years ago

Washington: US President Joe Biden has accused Iran-backed militants of being behind the attack that killed three US troops in Jordan and wounded dozens more, the media reported. Biden said that three US service members were killed and ‘many’ wounded in a drone attack on...

One killed in armed attack on church in Istanbul, probe ordered

3 years ago

Istanbul: One person was killed in an armed attack on an Italian church in Turkey's largest city Istanbul, said Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Yerlikaya said on social media platform X that two masked people organised the attack at the Santa Maria Church in the...

Three US soldiers killed in drone strike in Jordan

3 years ago

Washington: Three US troops were killed and 25 injured in a drone attack on a US base in Jordan, the US announced. The deaths in the base, near the Syrian border, were the first of US service personnel in the region since the Hamas-Israel war...

Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus granted bail in labour law violation case

3 years ago

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Labour Appellate Tribunal has granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, chairman of Grameen Telecom, along with three other top officials of the company in labour law violation case. Earlier, Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) panel lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan had requested various stakeholders...

Xi calls for Ukraine peace talks to resume during talks with Macron Beijing: Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Thursday for peace talks over Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to him to “bring Russia to its senses,” but Xi gave no indication Beijing would use its leverage as Vladimir Putin's diplomatic partner to press for a settlement. Xi gave no sign China, which declared it had a “no limits friendship” with Moscow before last year's attack, had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February. But he added his personal authority by repeating the appeal at a joint event with Macron in front of reporters. “Peace talks should resume as soon as possible,” Xi said. Beijing, which sees Moscow as a partner in opposing US domination of global affairs, has tried to appear neutral in the conflict but has given Putin diplomatic support and repeated Russian justifications for the February 2022 attack. Xi received an effusive welcome from Putin when he visited Moscow last month, giving the isolated Russian president a political boost. The Chinese leader said “legitimate security concerns of all parties” should be considered, a reference to Moscow's argument that its invasion of Ukraine was justified because of the eastward expansion of NATO, the US-European military alliance. Governments should “avoid taking actions that will further make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control," Xi said. He called for cooperation to reduce disruption of food and energy supplies, especially for developing countries. During their talks earlier, Macron appealed to Xi to “bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.” Macron pointed to Chinese support for the United Nations Charter, which calls for respect of a country's territorial integrity. He said Putin's announcement that his government would deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus violated international agreements and commitments Moscow had made to Xi's government. “We need to find a lasting peace," the French president said. "I believe that this is also an important issue for China, as much as it is for France and for Europe.” China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, which helps prop up the Kremlin's revenue in the face of Western sanctions. That increases Chinese influence, but Xi appears reluctant to jeopardise that partnership by pressuring Putin. “China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning. “We have been an advocate of a political solution to the crisis and a promoter of peace talks.” Earlier, Macron said during a meeting with the ruling Communist Party's No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang, that France wants to “build a common path” in dealing with “all the major conflicts” in addition to Ukraine. Li said there was likely to be a “broad consensus” between Macron and Xi but gave no indication whether Beijing might be willing to lobby Moscow to make peace. The meeting will “send positive signals of concerted efforts by China, France and Europe to maintain world peace and stability,” Li said. Macron was accompanied to Beijing by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity. Last week, von der Leyen warned that the European Union must be prepared to develop measures to protect trade and investment that China might exploit for security and military purposes. Meanwhile, NATO's 31 member countries warned Wednesday of “severe consequences” should China start sending weapons and ammunition to Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said giving lethal aid would be a “historic mistake.” He warned there would be “severe consequences” but declined to give details. Mao, the Chinese spokesperson, rejected NATO criticism. “When it comes to responsibility in Ukraine, I think the United States and military blocs such as NATO should take responsibility,” Mao said. “NATO is in no position to accuse or pressure China.” AP China, Ukraine, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron

Xi says ready to ‘break new ground’ to solidify China-France ties after Macron inks big defence deals with India

3 years ago

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered to "break new ground" to give a fillip to the China-France ties, days after French President Emmanuel Macron's high-profile visit to India during which the two countries unveiled an ambitious defence roadmap besides intensifying cooperation in the strategic...

33 people have been killed in separate traffic crashes in eastern Afghanistan

3 years ago

Islamabad: Separate traffic crashes in eastern Afghanistan have left at least 33 people dead and 16 others injured, authorities said Sunday. Ten collisions occurred in the Sorabi district of Kabul province, on the main highway linking the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar province,...

Key trade route between Nepal-China reopens

Nepal & China to sign implementation plan of Beijing-backed BRI projects: Nepal’s Deputy PM

3 years ago

Kathmandu: Nepal and China will sign the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative “very soon”, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said Saturday, nearly seven years after the two neighbours inked an agreement to undertake ambitious Beijing-backed infrastructure projects in the Himalayan nation....