Russia struck over 90 military targets in Ukraine overnight, killing at least 500 Ukrainian soldiers and destroying dozens of armoured vehicles, artillery and other military equipment, the defence ministry said. Russia also said it struck two ammunitio…
Kim vows to boost North Korea’s nuclear arsenal
North Korea will rapidly accelerate development of its nuclear arsenal, leader Kim Jong Un said while overseeing a vast military parade showcasing his most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported Tuesday. Despite biting sanct…
Beijing expands mass testing as lockdown fears grow
Beijing on Tuesday launched mass coronavirus testing for nearly all its 21 million residents, as fears grew that the Chinese capital may be placed under a strict lockdown like Shanghai. Under its zero-Covid policy, China has used lockdowns, mass testin…
Turkish court jails Erdogan critic Kavala for life
A Turkish court on Monday sentenced leading activist Osman Kavala to life in prison on controversial charges of trying to topple the government that had already seen him jailed without a conviction for more than four years. The panel of three judges al…
Airbus, Qatar Airways back in court as plane row heats up
A British judge will on Tuesday rule whether Airbus must keep building A321neo jetliners for estranged Qatar Airways in a decision with implications for future multi-billion-dollar jet deals, as their public bust-up returns to London’s High Court. Airb…
Elon Musk reaches deal to buy Twitter for $44 bn
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, struck a deal Monday to buy Twitter for $44 billion, capping a saga complete with hostile takeover threats before delivering him personal control of one of the most influential social media platforms on the planet. T…
West Darfur violence reaches capital El-Geneina – residents
Armed fighting broke out on Monday in El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur and Sudan’s westernmost city, residents said, as violence that killed scores of people in a nearby town over the weekend spread. Unrest across Darfur, where a war between rebels a…
Pakistan seeks boost to size, duration of $6b IMF programme
Pakistan has sought an increase in the size and duration of its $6 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Islamabad’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Monday. Ismail made the comment in a video statement issued by his ministry follo…
Rights group calls for Lebanon boat tragedy inquiry
Lebanese authorities must open an immediate and independent investigation into the capsizing of a boat carrying migrants off the coast of Tripoli that killed at least seven people, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said Sunday. A dinghy carrying Lebane…
UK’s Priti Patel backs down on refugee pushback policy
The UK government officially withdrew Priti Patel’s “refugee pushback” policy days before it was due to be examined in the High Court. The government’s legal department said on Sunday that the plan to force migrants in dinghies back to France had been …