Friday, 11 Jul, 2025

International

Russia first country to recognise Afghan Taliban

Russia on Thursday became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Moscow’s special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told the state news agency Ria Novosti that the government had “recognised” the Taliban. In a

No progress at all, Trump says after phone call with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a phone call earlier in the day with Vladimir Putin resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, while a Kremlin aide said the Russian president reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's

Trump unveils trade deal with Vietnam 

US President Donald Trump has announced a new trade deal with Vietnam that imposes a 20 percent tariff on Vietnamese exports to the country, significantly lower than previously proposed rates.  The agreement, disclosed on Wednesday, arrives just days before a July 9 deadline to

Bali ferry disaster leaves 4 dead, dozens missing 

At least four were killed and dozens remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 65 passengers sank off the coast of Bali, Indonesian authorities confirmed Thursday (July 3). The vessel, identified as KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, went down shortly after departing from Banyuwangi port in

Lebanon PM steps up efforts on weapons control

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday said that his government is intensifying its efforts to confine weapons solely to state institutions and to extend its authority across all areas of the country as part of a broader push to advance the implementation of a ceasefire.

Dalai Lama announces he will have a successor after death

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, said on Wednesday that the Buddhist institution will continue after his death. "I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue," he said in a video broadcast in Tibetan language from the mountainous town of

Kazakhstan bans face coverings in public places

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law on Monday prohibiting individuals from wearing clothing in public places that covers their faces, joining a trend in several Central Asian countries to restrict forms of Islamic dress. The text of the law says clothing that

US court rules pro-Palestinian Georgetown student can remain free

A pro-Palestinian Georgetown University student from India, detained by President Donald Trump’s administration but then released on a judge’s order, can remain free while fighting deportation efforts, a US appeals court ruled on Tuesday. A three-judge panel of the

Trump urges 60-day Gaza ceasefire deal ahead of Netanyahu visit

US President Donald Trump urged Hamas on Tuesday to accept a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, saying that Israel had agreed to finalize such a deal, as its forces also stepped up operations in the Palestinian territory.  Trump, in a post on social media, said his representatives had met

Trump global aid cuts could claim over 14m lives by 2030: Study 

A drastic reduction in U.S. humanitarian assistance during Donald Trump’s presidency may result in more than 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.  The report underscores that nearly one-third of these projected

End to US strikes prerequisite for renewed nuclear talks: Iran

Iran has urged the United States to formally rule out any further military strikes if Washington seeks a return to diplomatic negotiations, Tehran's deputy foreign minister told the BBC. Majid Takht-Ravanchi revealed that the Trump administration, via intermediaries, had expressed

Iran holds state funeral for commanders, scientists killed in war

Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran as the country held a state funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s aerial war with Israel. At least 16

Trump slams Israel’s prosecutors over Netanyahu corruption trial

President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States was “not going to stand” for the continued prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges. “The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other

Truck-microbus collision claims 19 lives in Egypt 

Nineteen people—most of them teenage girls—lost their lives on Friday in a tragic road accident in Egypt’s Menoufia province, when a truck collided with a minibus transporting workers to their job site. The fatal crash occurred in the early morning hours on a regional

Iran holds state funeral for dozens killed in conflict with Israel

A state funeral was held in Tehran on Saturday for nearly 60 individuals, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists, who died during the 12-day confrontation with Israel. Crowds gathered near Enghelab Square in central Tehran as flag-draped coffins bearing the images

Gaza rescuers say 62 killed by Israeli forces 

The reported killing of people seeking aid marks the latest in a string of deadly incidents near aid sites in Gaza, where a US- and Israeli-backed foundation has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 62 Palestinians

No chance for Ukrainian forces to re-enter Kursk Region: Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, chairman of the United Russia party and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council said the enemy has been expelled from the Kursk Region, though sporadic and futile incursions continue to occur.  He made this remark during a personal meeting with citizens.

EU summit fails to approve statement supporting Ukraine

The European Union’s summit has not managed to approve a statement supporting Ukraine because of Hungary’s veto. "The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine [in a video conference format]. The European Council

EU summit agrees to extend anti-Russian sanctions for next six months

The European Union’s summit agreed upon the extension of anti-Russian sanctions for the next six months. A European diplomatic source told Russian reporters. "There is a consensus to extend restrictive measures against Russia at the summit," he said. The EU

US strikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear program: CIA

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday that a “body of credible intelligence” indicates Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged by US strikes last weekend. “This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method that