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26-02-2023 Bureau Report SYDNEY: Amid the rainbow tulle, sequins and sparkles of Sydney’s 45th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade emerged the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in a simple open-necked shirt and jeans. Albanese is the first sitting prime minister to join the parade, which celebrates and continues to push …

26-02-2023 KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he plans to meet China’s leader Xi Jinping to discuss Beijing’s proposals on ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he said the proposal signaled that China was involved in the search for peace. “I …

26-02-2023 ADDIS ABABA/ TUNIS: The African Union (AU) has criticized Tunisia and urged it to avoid “racialized hate speech” following President Kais Saied’s comments directed at migrants from elsewhere on the continent. Saied ordered the expulsion of undocumented migrants from Tunisia on Tuesday, saying immigration was a plot aimed at …

26-02-2023 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report ISLAMABAD/ KABUL: The usual trade and movement of people between Pakistan and Afghanistan has fully resumed after the two sides reopened a key border crossing that was closed nearly a week ago by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, stranding people and thousands of trucks carrying …

26-02-2023 WASHINGTON/ KYIV: The words “as long as it takes” have become a rallying cry for American officials as they support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion, signaling an open-ended commitment to help Kyiv. US President Joe Biden put it bluntly on Tuesday when he said in a speech that …

25-02-2023 ANKARA/ DAMASCUS: Turkey has begun work to rebuild homes following this month’s devastating earthquakes, a government official said on Friday, as the combined death toll in Turkey and Syria surpassed 50,000. More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in the February 6 earthquakes that …

25-02-2023 BEIJING: China has called for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia and a gradual de-escalation of the situation that will pave the way for peace talks, as part of a 12-point proposal to end the conflict. The plan by China, which was released on Friday morning by the foreign …

25-02-2023 TEHRAN: The defense cooperation between Iran and Russia dates back to years before the start of war in Ukraine and is not against any third country, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated. “Military and defense ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation sit in …

25-02-2023 PYONGYANG: North Korea has launched four strategic cruise missiles as part of a military drill that state media said was designed to demonstrate its ability to conduct a nuclear counterattack. The launches came as the United States and South Korea held a simulated military exercise in Washington, DC, aimed …

25-02-2023 UNITED NATIONS: India has once again abstained from voting in a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started a year ago. The motion was backed by 141 nations with 32 abstaining and seven, including Russia, voting against it. India reiterated its position on the …