World News

'We can't be blackmailed': Kosovo PM not giving in against Serbia

With pressure mounting from US and European allies to strike a deal with arch-rival Serbia, Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti vowed on Wednesday to resist any attempt at "blackmail" in the face of a looming deadline from the West to reach an agreement.  . According to Kurti, Kosovo is now facing a March deadline to come to some sort of agreement with Serbia, despite a mountain of hurdles and basic disagreements poisoning even the semblance of relations between the adversaries. 

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Half a million strike in UK's largest walkout in 12 years

Half a million workers went on strike in Britain on Wednesday, calling for higher wages in the largest such walkout in over a decade, closing schools and severely disrupting transport.. He urged opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer to say "that the strikes are wrong and we should be backing our school children" - Nationwide rallies - The latest official data shows 1.6 million working days were lost from June-November last year because of strikes -- the highest six-month total in more than three decades -- according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Norway not a war profiteer, PM says

Norway has grown richer by the minute as the conflict in Ukraine boosts its gas revenues, but the country is not a war profiteer, its prime minister told AFP in an interview.. Calls have mounted in Norway and abroad for the country to redistribute at least part of the windfall to Ukrainians, or risk being called a war profiteer.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Syrians fear IS resurgence as Kurdish-led forces sweep Raqa

From his rooftop in the Syrian city of Raqa, Youssef Nasser watches nervously as hundreds of heavily armed Kurdish-led fighters sweep the streets of what was once the de facto capital of the Islamic State group.. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, with support from the United States, in 2017 routed IS from Raqa, which the group had used to spread their reign of terror, perpetrating mass executions, including decapitations, and other crimes.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Adani shares nosedive as Indian tycoon drops down rich list

Shares in the Indian tycoon Gautam Adani's flagship firm nosedived again on Wednesday as its owner dropped out of the Forbes top 10 rich list following allegations of massive accounting fraud.. Adani's personal fortune has plummeted by more than $40 billion in the same period, according to the real-time Forbes list, dropping him out of the top 10 and below fellow Indian Mukesh Ambani.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Pakistan police blast puts scarred city on edge

A mosque blast that killed 101 people -- mostly police officers -- in northwest Pakistan this week has put a city long scarred by violence back on edge, residents said Wednesday.. The group have distanced themselves from this week's mosque blast but police are investigating whether an on-off TTP affiliate was the culprit.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 2 mins read

World News

NATO chief hails Japan plans to expand defence spending

NATO's chief on Wednesday applauded Japan's plan to double its defence spending, saying the pledge reflected the country's resolve for greater security involvement in a volatile world.. For decades, Japan has capped military spending at around one percent of GDP, but late last year Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government approved a new security strategy, including plans to increase defence spending to two percent of GDP by fiscal year 2027.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 1 mins read

World News

Hong Kong bans CBD, ranking it alongside heroin and cocaine

A new law criminalising the possession, consumption and selling of cannabidiol (CBD) in Hong Kong came into effect on Wednesday, placing the substance on par with heroin in terms of legal classification.. In Hong Kong, authorities gave businesses and residents three months to discard any potential contraband before the strict penalties came into effect Wednesday. 

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Dreaming of peace, DR Congo faithful flock to see pope

One hope united many of the people streaming to see Pope Francis perform mass in DR Congo's capital on Wednesday -- that his presence could at last bring peace to the war-wracked east of the African country.. The hope for peace was echoed by many worshippers in a country where conflict has raged in the mineral-rich east for nearly 30 years.

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 2 mins read

World News

War pushes Ukraine nearer EU, but long road ahead to joining

Russia's invasion has seen Ukraine hurtle towards joining the EU, but the path to full membership remains long and complex despite bullishness in Kyiv.. - 'Progressive integration' - Regardless of the complexities of the membership process, almost a year of war has already pushed Ukraine far closer to the EU in major practical ways. 

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 4 mins read