Top News

10-03-2025 DAMASCUS: Syria’s interim government has sent reinforcements to coastal cities in the country’s northwest where security forces have been engaged in heavy battles with fighters loyal to former ruler Bashar al-Assad. The violence, which has reportedly killed hundreds of people, including many civilians, presents the most serious challenge yet …

10-03-2025 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ HAMPI, KARNATAKA: Two women were gang-raped and a man was killed in an attack near a popular UNESCO World Heritage site in southern India, according to police. The two women, an Israeli tourist and an Indian homestay operator were stargazing with three male …

10-03-2025 VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, who has been battling pneumonia and bronchitis for more than three weeks, has shown a “good response” to treatment, the Vatican has said. “The clinical condition of the Holy Father in recent days has remained stable and, consequently, indicates a good response to the treatment,” …

10-03-2025 BRUSSELS: Leading European nations have said they support an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza that would cost $53 billion (£41 billion) and avoid displacing Palestinians from the territory. The plan, drawn up by Egypt and endorsed by Arab leaders, has been rejected by Israel and by US …

09-03-2025 TEHRAN: Iran says it has yet to receive a letter from President Donald Trump after the US leader said he had sent one seeking talks with the country’s leadership about its nuclear program. “We have not received such a letter so far,” a spokesman for Iran’s embassy said on …

09-03-2025 NEW DELHI: India has signed a $248 million contract with Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport to acquire more powerful engines for its Soviet-era battle tanks, the Indian Defence Ministry said on Friday. The T-72 tank, first introduced in India in the 1970s, is the mainstay of the Indian Army’s …

09-03-2025 SYDNEY: A tropical storm is expected to make landfall on Australia’s eastern coast on Saturday morning as tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and more than 230,000 households left without power. Initially called Cyclone Alfred, the weather front was downgraded to a tropical low with winds set …

09-03-2025 JUBA: Several people have died in South Sudan after an attempt by the UN to evacuate members of the national army came under fire, the UN has said. One crew member died when a UN helicopter was shot at, a statement from its mission in South Sudan, Unmiss, said. …

09-03-2025 COLUMBIA: A South Carolina man convicted of bludgeoning his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death has become the first US death row inmate to be executed by firing squad in the last 15 years. Brad Sigmon was shot to death just after 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Friday by three …

09-03-2025 WARSAW: Work is under way to make all men in Poland undergo military training, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. In a speech to the Polish parliament, Tusk said the government aimed to give full details in the coming months. Efforts are being made to “prepare large-scale military training for …