US President Donald Trump urged Hamas on Tuesday to accept a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, saying that Israel had agreed to finalise such a deal, as its forces also stepped up operations in the Palestinian territory. Nearly 21 months of relentless Israeli bombardment have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in…
Bangladesh on Wednesday convicted fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina of contempt of court and issued a six-month prison sentence in absentia, the first verdict since she was ousted last year. Hasina, 77, fled to neighbouring India at the culmination of the student-led uprising in August 2024, and has defied orders to return to Dhaka. “She will serve the sentence the day…
CLOSE to the end of the Israel-Iran war, and right after he had Iran’s Fordow enrichment centre bombed, the US president indulged in some unusual criticism of Israel. Granted, a day or so later, he was effusive in his praise for Israel’s prime minister and renowned war criminal Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu, but given the death grip that Israel…
Iran on Wednesday formally suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, a measure drawn up in the wake of unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites. The war between Iran and Israel, which broke out on June 13 and lasted for 12 days, has intensified tensions between Tehran and the International Atomic…
Bulls continued their reign over the trading floor at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday as shares scaled the 130,000-point barrier to reach a new high after climbing by 2,100 points. The benchmark KSE-100 index opened on a positive note, rising by 1,430.07 points (1.12 per cent) to reach 129,629.49 points at 10:07am, from…
Defence lawyer Amir Hossain said Hasina has denied all charges Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina speaks during the annual Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany February 17, 2024. DHAKA: Bangladesh’s fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina has denied accusations that she committed crimes against humanity, her state-appointed defence lawyer said Tuesday. Up to 1,400 people were killed…
Bush, Obama deplore cost in lives WASHINGTON: The US foreign aid agency formally closed down on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump’s administration trumpeting the end of the “charity-based model” despite predictions that millions of lives will be lost. Founded in 1961 as John F Kennedy sought to leverage aid to win over the developing world…
Tens of thousands of people have died in Europe during past heatwaves A tourist holding an umbrella to protect himself from the sun walks at Trocadero square next to the Eiffel Tower as an early summer heatwave hits Paris, France. PARIS: Nearly 2,000 schools were shut in France, monuments closed to tourists, and cities across…
Greece adopted the legislation last year in an effort to curb soaring tourist numbers Greece tour ATHENS: Greece on Tuesday began charging a tax on island cruise ships, the latest European effort to tackle soaring visitor numbers to the continent’s most popular destinations. Cruise ships docking at the popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos will…
US president escalates feud with Musk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he welcomed “all help” with destroying Iran’s nuclear sites, while Trump said he will decide whether to attack Iran within the next two weeks due to a “substantial” chance of negotiations. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will…
