International

19-02-2023 AMSTERDAM: The Dutch government has said that “a number” of Russian diplomats will have to leave the Netherlands, accusing Moscow of trying to smuggle spies into the country that is home to institutions including the International Criminal Court and the global chemical weapons watchdog. The announcement on Saturday is …

19-02-2023 RAFHA: A desert bloom triggered by heavier than usual winter rains has carpeted the sands of northern Saudi Arabia with purple flowers, drawing sightseers from across the Arabian Peninsula. Muhammad al-Mutairi drove nearly six hours from his hometown in the centre of the kingdom to see the rare burst …

19-02-2023 PYONGYANG: North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast after warning of a strong response to upcoming military drills by South Korea and the United States. Japanese authorities said the missile plunged into waters on Saturday inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), more …

19-02-2023 WASHINGTON: The United States has determined that Russia has committed “crimes against humanity” during its nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine, US Vice President Kamala Harris has said. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, days before the anniversary of Moscow launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Harris said Russian forces …

19-02-2023 DAMASCUS/ ISTANBUL: More than 46,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria and the toll is expected to soar, with some 264,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing as rescuers listen for signs of life under the rubble. As Turkey tries to …

19-02-2023 WASHINGTON: A gunman killed six people in the southern US state of Mississippi on Friday, prompting President Joe Biden to call again for tightened gun restrictions only days after he pleaded for action following a deadly university shooting. Police in Mississippi said a man shot and killed a person …

18-02-2023 TEHRAN: Iran has seen its most widespread anti-government protests in weeks, after small crowds marched overnight in Tehran and a number of other cities. Videos showed people chanting “Woman, life, freedom” and “Death to Khamenei” – a reference to the Supreme Leader. It followed calls to mark the 40th …

18-02-2023 WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s prime minister says he expects there to be more deaths from a violent storm which killed eight people and cut off hundreds of communities. More than 4,500 people have yet to be contacted after Cyclone Gabrielle hit on Monday, causing significant flooding and landslides across the …

18-02-2023 BEIJING: China has declared a “decisive victory” over the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming the world’s lowest death rate, although experts have questioned Beijing’s data as the coronavirus surged across the country after largely being kept at bay for three years. The world’s most populated nation abruptly ended its zero-COVID policy …

18-02-2023 BEIJING/ MANILA: China has had an unusually busy and bizarre week. On Monday, as the saga over the alleged spy balloon dragged into its 11th day, a fresh spat erupted between Beijing and Manila. This one was over lasers. The Philippines accused China of using a “military grade” laser …