International

London: The election for the Mayor of London is scheduled for May 2 and the battleground of candidates challenging the incumbent, Sadiq Khan, is gradually expanding with two Indian-origin entrepreneurs in the race as independent candidates. While businessman Tarun Ghulati, 63, had launched his mayoral...

Beijing: Myanmar's military has reached a cease-fire agreement with an alliance of ethnic minority guerrilla groups it has been battling in the country's northeast, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday. Myanmar's militray government confirmed the development. The agreement was brokered at talks mediated by China...

Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that its Executive Board has completed the first review of Pakistan's economic reform program supported by the global lender's Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), allowing for an immediate disbursement of about $700 million. In an official statement, the IMF said...

Hong Kong: China's exports grew slightly for a second consecutive month in December even as deflationary pressures continue, according to official data released Friday, underscoring an uneven recovery in 2023. Customs data showed that exports in December rose by 2.3% compared to the same period...

Jerusalem: The Israeli government's expenses for the conflict with Hamas amounted to 24.7 billion shekels ($6.59 billion) in 2023, the Finance Ministry said. The expenses were incurred between October 7, the day when Hamas attacked Israel, and December 31, with 17 billion shekels of the...

New York: The United States has welcomed the "increased cooperation" with India in defending freedom of navigation in the Red Sea as the two countries discussed "shared concerns" over the reckless Houthi attacks in the region. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of...

Washington: The US and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, US officials said. The military targets included air defence and coastal...

Gaza: Amid the unabated fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the death toll in the besieged enclave increased to 23,469 Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. According to the Ministry, at least 112 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours, contributing...

Tehran: The Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced the arrest of 35 people from six provinces in the country in connection with the January 3 twin bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman that resulted in the death of more than 90 persons. In an official statement...

Dhaka: Sheikh Hasina was Thursday sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh for the fifth term, days after her Awami League party won an overwhelming majority in the general elections boycotted by the main opposition BNP and its allies. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the...