Friday, 29 Mar, 2024

International

Iran executes four men convicted of spying for Israel

Iran executed four men at dawn on Monday after they were convicted of collaborating with the country’s arch-foe Israel on a plan to sabotage an Iranian defense site, according to the judiciary. The four defendants, identified as Mohammad Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, Wafa Azarbar,

Finland votes in presidential election amid Russia tensions

Voters in Finland are heading to the polls on Sunday to begin the process of electing a new head of state. Nine candidates are in the running to replace incumbent President Sauli Niinisto, 75, who is required to step down after serving two six-year terms. None of the contenders is

Saudi Arabia permits conducting marriage at Mecca and Medina

Saudi authorities have allowed conducting marriage contracts at Islam’s two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina as part of initiatives launched to enrich the experiences of pilgrims and visitors, according to a Saudi newspaper. The initiative was unveiled by the Ministry of Hajj

9 Pakistani labourers shot dead in Iran

Nine Pakistani workers were gunned down by unidentified attackers in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan on Saturday, as the neighbouring countries have sought to ease tensions after deadly cross-border fire. Iran’s Mehr news agency reported

Houthis attack British-linked tanker Marlin Luanda in Gulf of Aden

A tanker with links to the UK was on fire for several hours in the Gulf of Aden after a being hit by a missile fired by the Houthis. The Iran-backed movement, based in Yemen, said it targeted the Marlin Luanda on Friday in response to "American-British aggression". The US

World's largest cruise ship sets sail from Miami

The world's largest cruise ship has set sail from Miami, Florida, on its maiden voyage, amid concerns about the vessel's methane emissions. The 365m-long (1,197 ft) Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and can house a maximum of 7,600 passengers. It is owned by Royal Caribbean Group.

North Korea fires cruise missiles off east coast, Seoul reports

North Korea has fired several cruise missiles in waters off its east coast, South Korea's military says. In recent months the nuclear-armed communist state has tested missiles repeatedly, raising regional tension. Sunday's launch took place near the port of Sinpo. Neither

UN agency condemns aid halt after Hamas attack claim

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA has urged the countries that halted funding to reconsider their "shocking" decision. "UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over two million people depending on it for their sheer survival,"

US approves F-16 fighter jet sale to Turkey worth $23bn

The US government has approved the $23bn (£18bn) sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey - a move that had been long delayed - after Ankara ratified Sweden's accession to Nato. The deal includes modernisation kits for 79 existing Turkish F-16s. The US State Department

Oil tanker on fire after Houthi missile attack

An oil tanker is on fire in the Gulf of Aden, its operator says, after Houthis said they hit it with a missile. The Yemeni movement said it targeted the Marlin Luanda on Friday evening. Operator Trafigura told the BBC the strike caused a fire in one of the ship's cargo tanks and

Trump must pay $83.3m for defaming E Jean Carroll

A New York jury has decided Donald Trump should pay $83.3m (£65m) for defaming columnist E Jean Carroll in 2019 while he was US president. The penalty in the civil trial is made up of $18.3m for compensatory damages and $65m in punitive damages. Mr Trump was found in a

Saudi Arabia welcomes ICJ ruling against Israel

The Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed on Friday the International Criminal Court’s (ICJ) ruling that imposes emergency measures against Israel over the war in Gaza. The ICJ ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide, punish

ICJ says Israel must take ‘all measures’ to prevent genocide in Gaza

The UN’s top court ordered Israel to “take all measures” to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for Israel to suspend its military campaign in the war-torn enclave. In a hearing in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, the International Court of

UK to loan back Ghana's looted 'crown jewels'

Gold and silver treasure looted from west Africa by the British army in colonial wars are to be lent to Ghana in a three-year deal, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum have announced. The precious regalia, which had belonged to the Asante royal court, is regarded as

42 percent drop in Suez traffic following Houthi attacks: UN

The volume of commercial traffic passing through the Suez Canal has fallen more than 40 percent in the last two months after attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to the United Nations, raising concerns for global trade. The Iran-backed Houthis say they are targeting what

Switzerland to remove air border controls with Bulgaria, Romania

Passport checks for people flying to and from Bulgaria and Romania will be abolished at Swiss airports.  The Swiss government on Wednesday agreed to follow a recent European Union decision to lift internal border controls at air and maritime borders with Bulgaria and Romania.

Rohingya death toll at sea worst for almost a decade

At least 569 Rohingya were reported to have died or gone missing while trying to flee Myanmar or Bangladesh in 2023, the highest toll since 2014, the UN refugee agency said, calling for urgent action to protect the ethnic minority group. The deaths or disappearances occurred during

Mali gold mine collapse kills dozens

At least 40 people were killed after a tunnel collapsed in a gold mine in Mali, officials say. "It started with a noise. The earth started to shake," Oumar Sidibe, a local official for gold miners told the AFP news agency. The tunnel collapsed at a site in the

At least 39 dead after fire breaks out in China shop

At least 39 people have been killed and nine injured in a fire that started in the basement of a shop in the Chinese city of Xinyu. State media said the fire started on Wednesday afternoon local time in the city in Jiangxi province. Footage from state-backed Global Times showed

Saudi Arabia to open first alcohol store for diplomats

Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh, Reuters reported a source familiar with the plans saying. Customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the Foreign Ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases,