Soviet-era outpost helps Russia retain a foot in Norwegian Arctic on February 7, 2022Pyramiden, Norway: With its bust of Lenin, cultural center, and KGB offices, the abandoned Soviet outpost of Pyramiden may seem like a time-warped Arctic oddity but is valued by Moscow as it vies for clout in the warming region. Russia has made the development of the Arctic a strategic priority, pinning its hopes for supremacy […]
Macron discusses Ukraine with Biden ahead of Russia trip on February 7, 2022Paris: France’s President Emmanuel Macron discussed the Ukraine crisis with US counterpart Joe Biden on Sunday ahead of a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, both leaders’ offices said. The two leaders “discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty […]
Syria militant group denies knowledge of strike on IS chief on February 7, 2022Idlib, Syria: A group led by Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate on Sunday denied it knew the head of the Islamic State group, killed in a US raid, lived in an area under its control. IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi blew himself up Thursday during the nighttime raid on his house in Syria’s northwest region […]
CJP slams arrest of Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah, calls for his release on February 5, 2022NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent watchdog body, has sharply criticized the arrest on Friday of journalist Fahad Shah in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K), and called for his immediate and unconditional release and to cease detaining members of the press. “The arrest of Fahad Shah shows Jammu and […]
Record heat, forest fires in Colombia’s Amazon in January on February 5, 2022 Bogota: January of this year was the hottest month in the Colombian Amazon in a decade, leading to an increase in forest fires in the southeastern region and very likely impacting air quality in the capital Bogota, according to an Environment Ministry report seen by AFP Friday. It said the month of January recorded […]
Albania ex-minister jailed over abuse of power on February 5, 2022Tirana: An Albanian anti-corruption tribunal on Friday sentenced a former interior minister to three years and four months in jail over abuse of power. Samir Tahiri, a former political ally of socialist prime minister Edi Rama, was found guilty of “abuse of power and of having benefited” from people linked to drugs trafficking, judge Engert […]
Peru president sacks PM accused of domestic violence on February 5, 2022Lima: Peruvian President Pedro Castillo dumped his prime minister Friday just three days after appointing him, amid outrage over revelations he was accused of domestic violence in 2016. “I have decided to recompose the cabinet,” the president said, meaning Prime Minister Hector Valer Pinto is out. The leftist Castillo announced the change in a brief […]
Parents of Black man shot by US police demand justice on February 5, 2022Washington: The parents of a young Black man shot dead by police said Friday that Minneapolis officers “executed” their son and gave him no chance of survival. Authorities in the northern US city, still reeling from the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, said Amir Locke, 22, was shot Wednesday by officers carrying out […]
Russia wins Chinese backing in showdown over Ukraine on February 5, 2022Moscow: Russia won China’s backing in its showdown with the West over Ukraine on Friday, as Beijing agreed with Moscow that the US-led NATO military alliance should not admit new members. The demand for NATO to stop expanding came after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing that […]
Divided US Republicans punish dissidents as Pence rebukes Trump on February 5, 2022 Washington: Republicans’ deep divisions over the 2020 US election were laid bare Friday as the party censured two lawmakers investigating the deadly Capitol assault aimed at stopping its certification — only to see Donald Trump rebuked by Mike Pence for claiming falsely that his former vice president could have overturned the results. An extraordinary […]