International Desk
India's Rahul Gandhi blames removal from parliament on Modi
Top Indian opposition figure Rahul Gandhi said Saturday his disqualification from parliament was retribution for his demanding a probe into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relationship with a controversial tycoon., reports AFP.
North Korea claims 'radioactive tsunami' weapon test
North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic "radioactive tsunami" that would destroy naval strike groups and ports. Analysts were skeptical that the device presents a major new threat, but the test underlines the North's commitment to raising nuclear threats, report's AP.
India's Rahul Gandhi loses parliament seat after conviction
Top opposition figure Rahul Gandhi was expelled from India's parliament on Friday, a day after his defamation conviction for a remark seen as an insult against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, report's AFP.
Indian court orders Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail for Modi comment
An Indian court sentenced opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday to two years in jail on charges of defamation for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi, report's Reuters.
Xi departs Moscow, Russia strikes Ukraine school
A Russian drone attack on a school near Kyiv killed at least four people before Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Moscow on Wednesday at the close of a summit with President Vladimir Putin, report's AFP.
12 killed in Afghanistan-Pakistan earthquake
At least 12 people were killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan by a strong earthquake felt across thousands of kilometres, but the region appeared Wednesday to have dodged the mass casualties usually associated with a tremor of such scale, reports AFP.
Taiwan president to visit Latin American allies with stops in US
Taiwan's president will visit diplomatic allies Guatemala and Belize next week while also making stopovers in the United States, the island's foreign ministry said Tuesday, as it aims to shore up ties in Latin America, reports AFP.
Xi hails 'close ties' with Russia during Putin meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed his country's "close ties" with Russia during his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin during a three-day state visit, report's AFP.
Russia opens criminal case against ICC judges, prosecutor over Putin arrest warrant
Russia's Investigative Committee said on Monday that it had opened a criminal case against the International Criminal Court prosecutor and judges who on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges, reports Reuters.
Palestinian PM blasts 'racism' of Israeli minister
Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday blasted as "inflammatory" remarks made by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Palestinians do not exist, report's AFP.
Putin visits Mariupol in first trip to occupied Ukraine territory
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise trip to Mariupol, the Kremlin said Sunday, his first visit to territory captured from Ukraine since the start of Moscow's invasion, reports AFP.
Syria's Assad in UAE for second post-quake Gulf visit
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived Sunday in the United Arab Emirates, his second visit to the Gulf since a devastating earthquake last month prompted Arab outreach to his internationally isolated government.
Seven die in Mexico shootout as gunmen ambush soldiers
At least five suspected criminals and two soldiers were killed in a shootout after gunmen ambushed a military unit in southwest Mexico, authorities reported on Saturday.
Trump expects 'arrest' on Tuesday in hush money case, calls for protests
Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be "arrested" Tuesday over an alleged hush-money payment to a porn star in 2016 and he urged his supporters to protest, as prosecutors gave signs of moving closer to an indictment, report's AFP.
Putin visits Mariupol in first trip to fallen city
ian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol, state media reported Sunday, his first to the city since it was captured after a lengthy siege at the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.