Amid pivot from India, Maldives upgrades ties with China
China and the Maldives upgraded their relationship on Wednesday during newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu’s first state visit to Beijing, following a campaign in which he cast China’s regional rival India as a threat to sovereignty.
Trump’s civil fraud trial concludes after bomb threat to presiding judge
Former US President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York has concluded after a bomb threat was made to the presiding judge of the hearing. Police in the Nassau County responded to a bomb threat to the home of Manhattan Supreme Court
Large part of New Zealand under water restriction due to high summer demand
Wellington, Jan 12 - Many New Zealanders are facing water restrictions due to dry conditions and high summer demand, local authorities said on Friday.
Biden names Indian-origin judge to Illinois District Court
New York, Jan 12 - President Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Indian-American judge Sunil R. Harjani for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
London mayoral election: Second British-Indian throws hat in the ring
London, Jan 12 - London may get its first Indian-origin mayor with finance and property broker Shyam Batra announcing his intent to run as an independent in the May 2024 election.
Brutal Arctic blast to drop temperatures in US to minus 30s
Washington, Jan 12 - A brutal Arctic blast in the US is expected to plunge temperatures to as low as 20 to 30 degrees below zero in the northern Plains on Friday and Saturday night.
Russian tourists flocked to China, Europe during New Year holidays
Moscow, Jan 12 - During the 2023 New Year holidays, there was a surge of Russian tourists flocking to China and Europe, a local media outlet said in a report on Friday.
IMF allows immediate disbursement of $700 mn to Pakistan
Islamabad, Jan 12 - 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.
Israel’s war expenses in 2023 reached $6.59 bn
Jerusalem, Jan 12 - 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.
Turkey inflation picks pace, denting consumer confidence
Ankara, Jan 12 - Despite the economic revamp, inflation in Turkey remained stubbornly high, and many consumers said their living standards continue to decline.
38 nations offer help to tackle violence: Ecuadorian Prez
Quito, Jan 12 - Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced that 38 nations have offered to help his country tackle an unprecedented wave of violence unleashed by "terrorist" gangs linked to drug trafficking.
US aviation watchdog to probe Boeing’s quality control
Washington, Jan 12 - The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has formally notified Boeing in a letter that it is conducting an investigation into the American aircraft maker's quality control after the January 5 Alaska Airlines in-flight blowout incident.
Right-wing AfD party election leads survey in 3 German states
Berlin, Jan 11 - The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in leading a survey conducted for the elections in three eastern German states in September.
Jaishankar, Blinken discuss ‘reckless’ Houthi attacks, Gaza aid
New York, Jan 12 - The US has welcomed "increased cooperation" with India in defending freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden amid growing Houthi attacks in the region.
Trump’s civil fraud trial concludes after bomb threat to presiding judge
New York, Jan 12 - Former US President Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York has concluded after a bomb threat was made to the presiding judge of the hearing.
Path to Palestinian state best way to isolate Iran, normalize regional ties: Blinken
Tel Aviv, Jan 12 - Wrapping up a seven-day whirlwind tour of the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that a pathway towards establishing a Palestinian state is the "single best way to isolate, marginalise Iran" and normalise regional ties.
Lebanese PM urges calm on Israel-Lebanon border during meeting US envoy
Beirut, Jan 12 - Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged an end to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon during discussions with US envoy Amos Hochstein.
Biden says strikes on Yemen’s capital in retaliation to Houthi attacks in Red Sea
Washington, Jan 12 - President Joe Biden has said that he ordered the strikes "in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea" as quoted by media reports.
US and UK carry out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen
Washington, Jan 12 - The US and UK militaries launched strikes against several used by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a US official and a UK official told the media.
Yemen’s Houthis launch fresh missile attack on ship in Gulf of Aden: US Navy
Sanaa, Jan 12 - Yemen's Houthi group has launched a new attack on a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, using a ballistic missile, the US Central Command wrote on social media platform X.