International

15-05-2023 DHAKA: About half a million people are being evacuated to safer areas in south-eastern Bangladesh, ahead of a cyclone that could be extremely dangerous. Mocha is predicted to make landfall at midday, with 170kph (106mph) winds and storm surges of up to 3.6m (12ft). There are concerns the cyclone …

15-05-2023 KHARTOUM: Heavy fighting between warring parties has continued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other cities ahead of the ceasefire talks on Sunday. Residents say the Sudanese army has pounded civilian areas, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has occupied civilian properties. Clashes were reported in Khartoum, neighboring Omdurman …

15-05-2023 MOSCOW/ KYIV: The hometown of Ukraine’s Eurovision act was hit by Russian missiles moments before the band took to the stage in Liverpool, officials say. The head of Ternopil regional state administration, Volodymyr Trush, confirmed two people had been injured. Ternopil mayor Serhiy Nadal said warehouses were damaged. Ukraine’s …

15-05-2023 BERLIN: Germany will provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth almost $3bn, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition, the government announced ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s arrival in Berlin. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday that Berlin wanted to show, with its latest military aid package …

15-05-2023 Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump’s planned outdoor rally in Florida was abruptly canceled on Saturday due to a tornado watch. The cancellation came on the same day that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, considered a top potential challenger for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, engaged with voters in …

15-05-2023 GAZA/ JERUSALEM: A ceasefire was implemented, ending five days of intense fighting between Gaza and Israel. The violence claimed the lives of at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza and two individuals in Israel. Scheduled to commence at 10:00 pm local time, the ceasefire faced a last-minute barrage of rockets …

14-05-2023 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ KARNATAKA: India’s opposition Congress party has won power in a key state, partial election results showed, defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a year ahead of national polls. It removed Modi’s BJP from office in Karnataka, the only southern …

14-05-2023 ANKARA: Turkey’s all-powerful President Erdogan is in the fight of his life against an opposition that has united against him for Sunday’s elections. His main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu appeared before a throng of supporters on Friday, flanked by allies from across the political spectrum who have come together as …

14-05-2023 BANGKOK: Campaigning has wrapped up for Thailand’s election with the major parties making their final pitch to vast crowds at their final rallies. Some 52 million Thais are eligible to vote in Sunday’s election, with the opposition parties promising to end the military’s political dominance and even reform the …

14-05-2023 NAYPYIDAW/ DHAKA: Thousands of people in Myanmar and Bangladesh are evacuating residents ahead of Cyclone Mocha, which is expected to bring winds as fast as 175km an hour (108 mph) when it makes landfall. The storm is currently in the Bay of Bengal and moving northwards. It is expected …