International

17 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies TEHRAN/ BAGHDAD/ MELBOURNE: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has defended the country’s military after it admitted shooting down a passenger plane by mistake. He said the Revolutionary Guard – the elite unit responsible for the disaster – “maintained the security” of …

17 January, 2020 TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Bank Pasargad plans to open a branch in India to facilitate bilateral trade between the Islamic Republic and the South Asian country. “We had a good meeting with the prime minister of India and they had a positive view …

17 January, 2020 FLORIDA/ NEW YORK/ MELBOURNE: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Thursday arrested a former Canadian Armed Forces reservist and two other men who are linked to a violent white supremacist group and who were believed to be heading to a pro-gun rally next week in …

17 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri CANBERRA/ MELBOURNE: A three-year-old girl and her pet dog have been found safe and well 24 hours after they went missing in Western Australia’s flood-hit Pilbara region. The girl was lost on Wednesday after wandering off from her home on Noreena Downs Homestead, around …

16 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY: This summer’s bushfire disaster has already taken 28 lives directly, but countless others could suffer from the health impacts of prolonged exposure to toxic smoke. Medical experts warn the exposure will lead to future health problems in the longer term, with children …

16 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies DAMASCUS/ RIYADH: Dozens of more Yemeni Shia Muslim civilians are reported to have died in Saudi led-coalition air strikes that hit a market and an industrial zone in the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib. A monitoring group said Russian and Syrian government …

15 January, 2020 MOSCOW: The Russian prime minister and entire government resigned on Wednesday as part of sweeping constitutional changes that could see President Vladimir Puton extend his hold on power. Putin, in his annual address to parliament, proposed a referendum on amending Russia’s constitution to increase the powers of parliament …

15 January, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies TEHRAN/ DUBAI/ RIYADH/ WASHINGTON: Iranian President Hassan Rouhan told foreign powers to withdraw their forces from the Middle East, warning they “may be in danger” if they remain in the region. “Today, the American soldier is in danger, tomorrow the European soldier …

15 January, 2020 LOS ANGELES/ MELBOURNE: A passenger plane has dumped fuel over a school playground as it made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport. At least 17 children and several adults are being treated for skin irritation and breathing problems. Fuel may be dumped in emergency landings, …

15 January, 2020 WASHINGTON/ MELBOURNE: US Democrats will include new evidence provided by Florida businessman Lev Parnas when they make their case that President Donald Trump abused his power. Democrats in the US House of Representatives say they will include new evidence when they send formal impeachment charges against President …