Kyiv — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has submitted his resignation, according to an announcement by the speaker of parliament on Wednesday. This resignation is part of a significant government reshuffle occurring two-and-a-half years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kuleba, who has been a prominent figure in Ukrainian diplomacy since the start of the war, is the most senior official to step down in the recent wave of resignations. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk confirmed that the parliament has received Kuleba’s resignation letter and will vote on it shortly. The 43-year-old Kuleba has held the position since 2020 and has…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Yangon — Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, has issued a warning to civilians in areas recently seized by ethnic minority armed groups, advising them to brace for upcoming military counterattacks, state media reported on Wednesday. The military has lost significant ground in northern Shan state, near the China border, to a coalition of ethnic armed groups and “People’s Defence Forces” opposed to the junta’s 2021 coup. These groups have captured a regional military command and taken control of key border trade routes, leading to rare public criticism of the junta’s leadership from its supporters. In a statement made…
Brussels/Ulaanbaatar — The European Union condemned Mongolia on Tuesday for failing to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to the country. “The EU regrets that Mongolia, a State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, did not comply with its obligations under the statute to execute the arrest warrant,” said an EU spokesperson. During his visit to Ulaanbaatar, Putin was warmly received by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, who greeted him with a formal ceremony featuring ceremonial guardsmen and a young girl presenting flowers. Despite the ICC’s warrant, which…
Cairo — Israeli forces killed 36 Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials. The fatalities occurred amid clashes with Hamas fighters, with significant casualties reported in Rafah, Gaza City, and other areas. The Israeli military reported the death of eight Palestinian fighters, including a senior Hamas commander, near Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. Additionally, three Palestinians, including a 16-year-old girl, were killed in the West Bank during a continued Israeli operation in Jenin and Tulkarm. Despite the violence, a major polio vaccination campaign is underway in Gaza. The World Health…
Boulogne-sur-Mer, France — At least 12 migrants lost their lives on Tuesday in the deadliest Channel crossing disaster of the year, as a major rescue operation unfolds off the northern French coast. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the fatalities and reported that two migrants are still missing. The boat, which ran into trouble near Wimereux, about five kilometers from Boulogne-sur-Mer, also resulted in several injuries. Darmanin announced that he would visit the disaster area to meet with officials, stating, “All government services are mobilised to find the missing people and treat the injured.” Emergency services, including French navy helicopters,…
Kolkata, India — In response to weeks of protests following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor, West Bengal has passed a controversial new law that could lead to the execution of rapists. The legislation, approved by the state assembly but pending presidential approval, aims to address the persistent issue of violence against women. The doctor’s body was discovered on August 9 at a state-run hospital in Kolkata, sparking widespread outrage and demonstrations across India. The new law proposes increasing the punishment for rape from a minimum of 10 years imprisonment to either life imprisonment or the death penalty.…
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in its battle against terrorism, following a series of deadly attacks in Balochistan last month that targeted both security personnel and civilians. Over 70 people were killed in these attacks, including the Musakhail incident where armed assailants killed passengers after checking their identities. During a meeting on Tuesday between US Ambassador Donald Blome and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan requested assistance to address its economic and security challenges. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the shared interest between the US and Pakistan in combating regional threats,…
Bangladeshi security forces have initiated a major operation to recover thousands of firearms, including those seized during recent deadly unrest that resulted in the removal of autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina. The unrest, marked by student-led demonstrations and mass protests, culminated in Hasina fleeing to India on August 5 after 15 years in power. In response to the protests, which saw police stations stormed and looted, authorities had launched an amnesty for gun surrender. By the end of the amnesty period on Tuesday, over 3,700 weapons had been recovered. However, more than 2,000 firearms, including rifles, along with thousands of rounds…
Recent research has overturned the longstanding belief that iconic New Zealand species like the kiwi, moa, and takahē are ancient natives of the region. Palaeontologists working at the St Bathans fossil site in Central Otago have found evidence that these birds arrived in New Zealand only a few million years ago, rather than being native since ancient times. Paul Scofield, senior curator of natural history at Canterbury Museum, noted that while species such as the kākāpō are indeed ancient New Zealand natives, DNA analysis indicates that the kiwi and moa diverged from Gondwanan ancestors in South America and Madagascar approximately…
ROME: The Arch of Constantine, a monumental ancient Roman structure adjacent to the Colosseum, suffered damage after a severe storm hit Rome, conservation authorities reported on Tuesday. The Colosseum Archaeological Park confirmed that lightning struck the triumphal arch, which was erected in the 4th century AD to commemorate Emperor Constantine’s victory over his rival Maxentius. Standing approximately 25 meters (82 feet) tall, the arch is located in a popular pedestrian area near the Colosseum. A tourist reported seeing a lightning strike hit the arch, causing a large block of stone to fall. Reuters images showed other fallen blocks and rubble…
