Further sanctions will ‘rapture’ ties

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have exchanged warnings over Ukraine but conveyed some optimism that diplomatic talks in January could ease spiraling tensions.
31 December 2021, 18:00 PM

‘Effective dialogue’ possible

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday told US counterpart Joe Biden he is “convinced” that “effective dialogue” between Moscow and Washington is possible, hours ahead of telephone talks as tensions rise over Ukraine.
30 December 2021, 18:00 PM

3 of Germany’s last six nuclear plants to shut down on Friday

Germany will pull the plug on three of its last six nuclear power stations on Friday, another step towards completing its withdrawal from nuclear power as it turns its focus to renewables.
30 December 2021, 17:02 PM

US sees possible progress in Iran nuclear talks

The United States said Tuesday it had seen possible progress in talks with Iran but joined European negotiators in pressing for urgency in rolling back Tehran’s nuclear programme. 
29 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Russia court hits Memorial rights group with second ban

A Moscow court yesterday hit Russia’s most prominent rights group, Memorial, with a second ban in as many days despite an international
29 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Pandemic prognosis 2022: Where does it go from here?

Two years in, as the now Omicron-fuelled Covid crisis rages, there is still hope the pandemic could begin fading in 2022 -- though experts say gaping vaccine inequalities must be addressed. 
29 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Climate Change 2021: No turning back now

Across a quarter century of UN climate conferences tasked with saving humanity from itself, one was deemed a chaotic failure (Copenhagen/2009), another a stunning success (Paris/2015), and the rest landed somewhere in between. 
29 December 2021, 18:00 PM

France closes mosque after ‘unacceptable’ preaching

France has ordered the closure of a mosque in the north of the country because of the radical nature of its imam’s preaching, regional
28 December 2021, 18:00 PM

US, Russia to meet early Jan in Geneva

The United States and Russia will hold much-anticipated talks in January on European security and the Ukraine conflict after Moscow listed demands including to end Nato’s expansion.
28 December 2021, 18:00 PM

'Radical preaching': France orders closure of mosque north of Paris

France has ordered the closure of a mosque in the north of the country because of the radical nature of its imam's preaching, regional authorities told AFP on Tuesday.
28 December 2021, 09:56 AM

Russia denies withholding gas supplies to Europe

Russian energy giant Gazprom has rejected accusations that Moscow is limiting gas deliveries to Europe and denounced Germany’s resale of gas to Poland amid soaring prices.
26 December 2021, 18:00 PM

World economy to top $100t in 2022 for first time

The world’s economic output will exceed $100 trillion for the first  time next year and it will take China a little longer than previously  thought to overtake the United States as the No1 economy, a report  showed on Sunday.
26 December 2021, 18:00 PM

UK police arrest armed man on grounds of Queen’s home

British police have arrested a man suspected of breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle, where Queen Elizabeth II was spending Christmas, with what was reported to be a crossbow.
26 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Omicron threat mars Christmas

Pope Francis yesterday called for dialogue to counter the isolation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic as billions around the world marked a second Christmas under the shadow of the coronavirus.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Migrant Boat Accidents: At least 30 killed in Greece

Greek coast guards scoured for survivors in the Aegean Sea yesterday after the latest in a series of migrant boat accidents that have killed at least 30 people in just days.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Russia blocks rights monitor website

Russia has blocked the website of a rights monitor tracking political persecution, saying it promoted terrorism and extremism, amid an unprecedented official crackdown on dissent.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

‘Putin wants to destroy Ukraine’

Russian President Vladimir Putin is bent on destroying Ukraine but there is no major risk of an imminent invasion, a senior Ukrainian security official said on Friday.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

‘Value the little things in life’

Pope Francis yesterday urged dialogue on both personal and political levels as he celebrated a second Christmas under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic that was pushing people into isolation.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

Libya urged to reschedule presidential polls ‘swiftly’

The US and four European powers on Friday urged war-torn Libya to quickly set a new date for delayed presidential elections.
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM

16 migrants dead in Greece shipwreck, 3rd maritime disaster in a week

At least 16 people died when their boat overturned off the Greek island of Paros in the central Aegean Sea on Friday, in the third maritime disaster involving migrants this week, the country's coastguard said.
25 December 2021, 07:02 AM