International

28-08-2025 PARIS/ ANTANANARIVO: France has returned to Madagascar three human skulls kept at a Paris museum for 128 years, after they were looted during the colonial period including one believed to be that of a Madagascan king decapitated by French troops. The skull, presumed to be that of King Toera, …

28-08-2025 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: Indian exporters are bracing for a sharp decline in US orders after trade talks collapsed and Washington confirmed steep new tariffs on the South Asian nation’s goods will take effect from Wednesday, escalating tension between the strategic partners. An additional 25% duty …

28-08-2025 UNITED NATIONS/ GAZA: The UN has said “there needs to be justice” following Israel’s double strike on a Gaza hospital which killed at least 20 people, as an initial Israeli military probe said the strike had targeted a “camera positioned by Hamas”. Condemnation of the attack, whose victims included …

28-08-2025 KYIV: Ukrainian forces have acknowledged that Russia’s military has crossed into the eastern industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk and is trying to establish a foothold. “This is the first attack of such a large scale in Dnipropetrovsk region,” Viktor Trehubov, of the Dnipro Operational-Strategic Group of Troops told media, although …

28-08-2025 TEHRAN: “For me, hell was not the moment Israel attacked; hell was the moment they wouldn’t open the door (of the cell) for us,” Motahareh Goonei recalls in an exclusive interview with the BBC. A political activist, Goonei was in solitary confinement in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison when it …

28-08-2025 MELBOURNE: Australian police are continuing a massive search for a heavily armed man suspected of shooting and killing two officers in a rural town. Ten police officers were fired upon on Tuesday after travelling to the property in Porepunkah about 300km (186 miles) north-east of Melbourne to execute a …

27-08-2025 Bureau Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials have started evacuating tens of thousands of people after neighboring India released water from overflowing dams and swollen rivers into low-lying border regions. The move came a day after New Delhi alerted Islamabad about possible cross-border flooding, the first public diplomatic contact between the …

27-08-2025 CANBERRA: Iran has promised reciprocal action following Australia’s decision to expel its ambassador in Canberra over accusations that Tehran was behind anti-Jewish attacks in the country. On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei “absolutely rejected” Australia’s accusations, saying “any inappropriate and unjustified action on a diplomatic level will …

27-08-2025 NEW YORK: Oil prices climbed around 2% on Monday, continuing last week’s gains, as traders anticipated more US sanctions on Russian oil and Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure that could disrupt supplies. Brent crude futures settled up $1.07, or 1.58%, at $68.80, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures …

27-08-2025 WASHINGTON/ SEOUL: US President Donald Trump said on Monday he wanted to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year and was open to further trade talks with South Korea even as he lobbed new criticisms at the visiting Asian ally. “I’d like to meet him this year,” …