26-08-2022 HELSINKI: Three journalists from Finland’s largest daily went on trial on Thursday charged with publishing classified defence intelligence, with the prosecutor demanding at least 18-month suspended sentences if found guilty. In an unprecedented case in a country renowned for its press freedom, the prosecutor claims the two Helsingin Sanomat …
Read More »India’s NDTV seeks to block billionaire Adani’s takeover
25-08-2022 Bureau Report NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: India’s New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) on Thursday sought to block Gautam Adani’s attempt to acquire a majority stake in the news network, saying regulatory restrictions meant the bid from the billionaire tycoon’s group could not proceed. NDTV is regarded by some as one …
Read More »Oil prices rise on potential OPEC+supply cuts
25-08-2022 VIENNA: Oil prices rose on Thursday on mounting supply tightness concerns amid disruptions to Russian exports, the potential for major producers to cut output, and the partial shutdown of a US refinery. Brent crude rose 45 cents, or 0.4%, to $101.67 a barrel by 0630 GMT, while US West …
Read More »Former UK ambassador to Myanmar detained in Yangon
25-08-2022 NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar’s military authorities have detained the United Kingdom’s former ambassador to the country, according to anonymous sources quoted by news agencies. Vicky Bowman, who currently runs the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and her husband, Htein Lin, a Burmese artist and former political prisoner, were reportedly detained …
Read More »Biden forgives millions of student loans; critics fear inflation
25-08-2022 WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the US government will forgive $10,000 in student loans for millions of debt-saddled former college students, keeping a pledge he made in the 2020 campaign for the White House. The move could boost support for his fellow Democrats in the November congressional …
Read More »India’s SC to hear petition to reverse release of rape convicts
24-08-2022 Bureau Report NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court will hold a hearing on a petition challenging the release last week of 11 men convicted of gang-raping a pregnant Muslim woman during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002 in the western state of Gujarat. Last Monday, authorities in the Panchmahals district of Gujarat …
Read More »‘Pakistan misused Interpol’s system to get yellow warrants’
24-08-2022 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report LONDON/ DUBAI/ ISLAMABAD: The general secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) on Tuesday confirmed that it had received requests from the Government of Pakistan to issue yellow warrants against minor daughters of actor Sophia Mirza and businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor. The …
Read More »Afghan refugees protest in UAE over uncertain future
24-08-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies DUBAI/ KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: Afghan refugees and migrants living in limbo at a United Arab Emirates (UAE) facility for nearly a year since being evacuated from Afghanistan held protests this week over what they say is a slow and opaque resettlement process. Hundreds of Afghans carried …
Read More »India fires officers for accidentally firing missile into Pakistan
24-08-2022 Bureau Report NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force said on Tuesday the government had sacked three officers for “accidentally” firing a missile into Pakistan in March, an incident that the two nuclear-armed rivals handled calmly as there were no casualties. The BrahMos missile, a nuclear-capable, land-attack cruise missile jointly …
Read More »Revival of 2015 nuclear deal in sight as Iran eases demands
24-08-2022 WASHINGTON/ TEHRAN: The United States hoped to revive a 2015 nuclear deal as it said that Iran is willing to ease key demands that had held up the revival of the deal. The US is expected shortly to respond to Iran through European Union mediators, after a year and …
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