LONDON/KYIV — As Russia began military operations against Ukraine, key Ukrainian government websites were down early on Thursday as multiple cyber attacks hit the country. The websites of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, and those of the ministries of foreign affairs, infrastructure, education and others, were down, reports CNN. “In a separate and potentially more […]
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special “military operation” to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Putin made a surprise statement on television to declare his intentions. “I have made the decision of a military operation,” he said shortly before 6:00 am (0300 GMT) in […]
KYIV (UKRAINE) — U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday that he is “convinced” Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, including an assault on the capital, as tensions spiked along the militarized border with attacks that the West called “false-flag” operations meant to establish a pretext for invasion. A humanitarian convoy was hit […]
UNITED NATIONS — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he hopes the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan can be solved peacefully. “Well, the position of the UN and the resolutions that were taken are the same, remain the same. We have, as you know, a peacekeeping operation there. We are, of course, committed,” […]
GENEVA — The past seven years have been the hottest on record, the United Nations confirmed on Wednesday (Jan 19), adding that 2021 temperatures remained high despite the cooling effect of the La Nina weather phenomenon. “The warmest seven years have all been since 2015,” the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a statement. […]
SINGAPORE — A study in the United Kingdom has found that men who wear medical masks are perceived as more attractive by members of the opposite sex. Researchers at Cardiff University’s School of Psychology found that medical masks made for more attractive coverings than cloth masks and notebooks. The least attractive faces were completely uncovered. […]
PARIS — Five global nuclear powers pledged Monday to prevent atomic weapons spreading and to avoid nuclear conflict, in a rare joint statement setting aside rising West-East tensions to reaffirm a goal of a nuke-free world. “We believe strongly that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented,” said permanent UN Security Council members […]
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual news conference on Thursday said that insulting Prophet Muhammad does not count as freedom of expression. Insults to the prophet are a “violation of religious freedom and the violation of the sacred feelings of people who profess Islam,” said Putin, according to the Russian News Agency […]
DHAKA — At least 32 people died when a packed ferry caught fire in southern Bangladesh on Friday, police said. The incident happened early in the morning near the southern rural town of Jhalokathi, 250km (155 miles) south of the capital Dhaka. The vessel was carrying around 500 people. “The three-storey Obhijan 10 caught fire […]
WASHINGTON — More than 6,400 journalists in Afghanistan have lost their jobs since the Taliban takeover of the country, according to a recent survey. The survey conducted by non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) shows a radical change in the Afghan media landscape since the Taliban took power. […]