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Trump taps big tech critic Carr to lead US communications agency

US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Republican Brendan Carr, an Elon Musk-backed critic of big tech, to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), calling him a "warrior for Free Speech" in a statement on Sunday.

India's capital shuts schools because of smog

India's capital New Delhi switched schools to online classes Monday until further notice because of worsening toxic smog, the latest bid to ease the sprawling megacity's health crisis.

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US reopens embassy in Kyiv after closure forced by war

The United States reopened its embassy in Kyiv Wednesday after closing it for three months due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said.

Russian soldier pleads guilty at Kyiv war crimes trial

A Russian soldier pleaded guilty on Wednesday to killing a Ukrainian civilian in the opening stages of Moscow’s invasion during the first war-crimes trial held since the war began.

World Bank to provide additional $12 bn to address 'devastating' global food crisis

The World Bank announced Wednesday an additional $12 billion in funding to mitigate the "devastating effects" of severe growing global food insecurity driven by climate change and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kosovo veterans jailed for intimidating war crimes witnesses

A war crimes court in The Hague jailed two Kosovo former separatist fighters for four and a half years on Wednesday for intimidating witnesses, in its first ever verdict over Kosovo's 1990s independence conflict from Serbia.

Finland, Sweden hand in applications to join NATO

Finland and Sweden on Wednesday handed in their bids to join NATO, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine up-ended decades of military non-alignment.

Ukrainian flag on summit of Everest

On the roof of the world, Antonina Samoilova held up a blue and yellow panel emblazoned "Stand With Ukraine" while her father and brother were serving in the army defending their country against Russia's invasion.

Some Trump China tariffs impose 'more harm on consumers, businesses': Yellen

Some of the Trump-era tariffs imposed on China appear to hurt consumers and businesses more than address real issues posed by the Asian giant, US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday, as the Biden administration mulls lifting the punitive duties.

Sri Lanka honours Tamil war-dead after 13 years

Thousands of Tamils killed in Sri Lanka's decades-long separatist war were commemorated on Wednesday for the first time outside the minority's heartland in the north and east of the country.

Kabul brokers peace talks between Pakistani Taliban and Islamabad

The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday that it was hosting peace talks between Pakistan officials and a Taliban-inspired militant group that has battled Islamabad for over a decade.

Kosovo veterans jailed for war crimes witness intimidation

A war crimes court in The Hague jailed two Kosovo former separatist fighters to four-and-a-half years on Wednesday for intimidating witnesses, in its first verdict over Kosovo's 1990s independence war from Serbia.

Sri Lankan police arrests ruling party MPs over mob violence

Sri Lankan police arrested two ruling party lawmakers for allegedly instigating mob violence that plunged the country into days of unrest and left nine people dead last week, officials said Wednesday.

Japan urges China to play 'responsible' role on Ukraine crisis

Japan's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beijing to "play a responsible role" on Russia's invasion of Ukraine in his first talks with his Chinese counterpart in six months.

Conservatives tipped to lose in Australian nail-biter election

Australians punch drunk after three crisis-ridden years of fire, flood and plague will go to the polls on Saturday, in a tight race narrowly tipped to end a decade of conservative rule.

US eases some sanctions on Venezuela: official

The United States is easing some of its tough sanctions on Venezuela to encourage dialogue between President Nicolas Maduro's regime and its opponents, a senior official said Tuesday.

Kosovo veterans face witness intimidation case verdict

A war crimes court in The Hague will on Wednesday deliver its verdict on two former separatist fighters from Kosovo's 1990s independence war against Serbia, who are accused of intimidating witnesses.

Ukraine street artist Gamlet 'under orders' to paint Kharkiv

A black bulletproof vest bearing a Ukrainian military crest, a tourniquet and two felt-tip pens make up street artist Gamlet Zinkivsky's unpretentious work equipment.

US is flooded with guns: Justice Dept

US firearms makers produced over 139 million guns for the commercial market over the two decades from 2000, including 11.3 million in 2020 alone, according to a new government report.

In rare hearing, Pentagon reports rise in UFOs in past 20 years

An increasing number of unidentified flying objects have been reported in the sky over the past 20 years, a top US defense official told lawmakers Tuesday in the first public hearing on UFOs in half a century.

Libya capital rocked by deadly battle as rival PM vies for power

Gunfire rocked oil-rich Libya's capital for several hours Tuesday as a rival prime minister attempted to oust interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah, threatening another escalation in the war-torn country.

Pentagon finds no wrongdoing in 2019 Syria strike that killed civilians

An investigation into a 2019 strike by US forces in Syria that killed numerous civilians found no violations of policy or wanton negligence, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

US eases some sanctions on Venezuela to encourage political talks: official

The United States is easing some of its tough sanctions on Venezuela in order to encourage political dialogue between President Nicolas Maduro's regime and its opponents, a senior official said Tuesday.

Libya capital rocked by battle as rival PM vies for power

Gunfire rocked Libya's capital for several hours on Tuesday as a rival prime minister attempted to oust interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah, threatening another escalation in the war-torn country.

More than 100,000 people officially missing in Mexico

More than 100,000 people are now listed as missing in violence-wracked Mexico -- a grim milestone that the United Nations rights chief on Tuesday called "a tragedy of enormous proportions."

Sweden, Finland to submit NATO membership bid Wednesday

Finland and Sweden will submit their bids to join NATO together Wednesday, the two Nordic countries announced, despite Turkey's threat to block the military alliance's expansion.

Eagles of Death Metal testify at France attack trial

The frontman for the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal testified Tuesday at the trial for the November 2015 attacks on Paris which saw gunmen attack the Bataclan concert hall while the band was playing.

Russia says hundreds of Ukrainians surrender at Azovstal

Russia said Tuesday that 265 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered after staging a last stand at the besieged Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, prompting Kyiv to call for a prisoner exchange.

Experts warn arms for Ukraine could end up in wrong hands

Western countries have been ramping up weapons and ammunition shipments to Ukraine as Kyiv fights off a Russian invasion, but arms trade experts warn some of the lethal assistance could end up falling into the wrong hands.

Biden visits site of racist mass shooting

President Joe Biden flew Tuesday to mourn at the site of America's latest deadly mass shooting, warning that the white supremacist ideology motivating the alleged gunman is tearing the country's "soul" apart.

UK unveils radical overhaul of EU trade deal in N. Ireland

The UK government Tuesday announced its intention to drastically overhaul post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland, arguing the plan was needed to end political paralysis in the territory but risking a trade war with the EU.

Sri Lanka's embattled president escapes censure motion

Sri Lanka's beleaguered president side-stepped a censure motion on Tuesday after his fractured coalition rallied to delay a resolution blaming him for the country's worst economic crisis.

Over 100,000 people missing in Mexico: data

The number of people reported missing in violence-wracked Mexico has exceeded 100,000, according to official data, with rights groups calling for "immediate" action from the government to locate the disappeared.

Kyiv seeks Azovstal rescue after hundreds of fighters 'surrender'

Ukrainian authorities were seeking to extract the last defenders of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol on Tuesday, as Russia said hundreds of soldiers who left in an earlier operation had surrendered.

Hezbollah lose ground, reformists surge in Lebanon polls

Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority in Lebanon's parliament, official results showed Tuesday, while independents achieved a surprise breakthrough.

Ukrainian town of New York comes under Russian assault

The four-year-old recognised the low whistle of the Russian artillery shell hurtling toward the Ukrainian town of New York long before his mother had a chance to grab his hand.

US urges India to reverse ban on wheat exports

The United States hopes India will reverse its ban on wheat exports, Washington's top diplomat to the United Nations said Monday, warning the move would worsen global shortages of the commodity.

'Dancing, not war': Signs of normality in Ukraine's shattered Kharkiv

Three women plant flowers on a roundabout in central Kharkiv, while not far away men fill sandbags for a defensive barrier on the north of the city, the side closest to Russia.

Kremlin critic Navalny appeals jail sentence

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Tuesday appealed a nine-year prison sentence he was handed in March on charges that he and his allies say are politically motivated.

Chile redeploys army to restive southern region

Chile ordered the redeployment of its military to the Araucania region in the south of the country Monday, in the face of mounting violence linked to territorial claims by the Mapuche indigenous group.

Young, poor and from minorities: the Russian troops killed in Ukraine

The bulk of the thousands of Russian soldiers killed in Moscow's onslaught against Ukraine are very young, have poor backgrounds and many are from ethnic minority groups, observers say.

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