World
Russia strikes Kyiv as Western leaders meet in Europe
G-7 leaders were set to announce the latest in a long series of international economic steps to pressure and isolate Russia over Ukraine war
Biden: G-7 to ban Russian gold in response to Ukraine war
Gold is Moscow's second largest export and banning imports would make it more difficult for Russia to participate in global markets
US abortion ruling sparks global debate, polarizes activists
The U.N. agency dealing with sexual and reproductive health said that whether or not abortion is legal 'it happens all too often'
At least 1,000 killed in Afghanistan quake, with fear toll will rise
The 5.9-magnitude quake struck hardest in the rugged east, where people already lead hardscrabble lives in the grip of a humanitarian crisis
Biden’s chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci tests COVID positive, has mild symptoms
Fauci has not receantly been in close contact with President Joe Biden or other senior government officials
Neighbours
China is hardening its position along LAC; US Secretary of Defense
This is the second time this week that a senior US official has commented on the India-China stand-off
Imran Khan becomes first Pak PM to be ousted by no-confidence vote
No prime minister in Pakistan's history was ever ousted through a no-confidence motion
Shanghai starts coming back to life as COVID lockdown eases
Negative PCR tests for COVID taken within the previous 48 hours remain standard in Shanghai, Beijing for permission to enter public venues
Sri Lanka's new PM Wickremesinghe says he looks forward to closer ties with India
India has committed more than USD 3 billion to debt-ridden Sri Lanka in loans, credit lines and credit swaps since January this year
Pakistan's General Musharraf critical in UAE, says ex-minister
Musharraf's recovery not possible, says family
Asia
Major Chinese cities impose COVID-19 restriction as cases spike
The latest spike is being described as the severest COVID-19 outbreaks in two years
North Korea blames US for Ukraine crisis
North Korea, in a muted response issued in the form of a commentary, said the US was to blame for the unfolding disaster
Pakistan Assembly reinstated for no-trust vote
Pak CJ says deputy speaker's ruling prima facie violates Article 95
South Korea regrets Hyundai Pak's offensive post as India erupts
India on Tuesday said it had summoned the South Korean ambassador and conveyed to him New Delhi’s displeasure on the Hyundai post
North Korea test-fires most powerful missile since 2017
Pyongyang tested hypersonic missiles twice this month, as well as carrying out four launches of short-range ballistic and cruise missiles
Middle East
Taliban official: At least 100 dead, wounded in Afghan blast
The Taliban have been targeted in a series of deadly attacks by rival IS militants, including shooting ambushes and Kabul mosque explosion
'Terrorist groups' enjoy freedom in Afghanistan: UN experts
The Islamic State's strength in Afghan has risen from an estimated 2,200 to near 4,000 following the release of several thousand prisoners
Malala Yousafzai slams Taliban for hijab decree, urges world leaders to take action
Malala urged world leaders to hold Taliban accountable for violating the human rights of Afghan women
Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report
Quraishi on Thursday that nothing has changed from how the outfit ruled that country in the 1990s
Rights group expresses concern over Taliban's new media rules
As per the regulations, journalists are required to 'ensure that their reporting is balanced'
America
US announces 1.5-year extension for some expiring immigrant work permits
The move announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday will go into effect from May 4, 2022
Abortion battles in US fire up after Supreme Court leak
Roughly half of U.S. states are expected to move quickly to ban or greatly restrict abortion if Roe is overturned
Texas school massacre: 19 children, 2 adults shot dead, several critical
Texas Governor Greg Abbott named the suspect as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old local resident and a US citizen
Biden hits Russia with new sanctions, says Putin 'chose' war
The sanctions target Russian banks, oligarchs, and high-tech sectors, Biden said
U.S. Senate unanimously condemns Putin as war criminal
Russia calls its actions a 'special military operation' to demilitarise and 'denazify' Ukraine
Europe
Russia may be in Ukraine to stay after 100 days of war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that enemy forces now control almost 20 per cent of the country's territory
Russian forces edge closer to Kyiv as city becomes 'fortress'
Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain holed up in Ukrainian cities, as the first talks between top diplomats ended without any progress
Sweden, Finland NATO bid no threat to Russia but may 'trigger response': Putin
Finland announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday as Sweden's ruling party said it backed membership
Russia cuts gas to Poland, Bulgaria, West vows arms for Kyiv
Two months into the fighting, Western arms have helped Ukraine stall Russia’s invasion, but Kyiv leaders said they need more support fast
Russian strikes try to disrupt delivery of Western weapons
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of resorting to the missile terrorism tactics in order to spread fear across Ukraine
Africa
WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa
The latest variant is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far
Toddlers make up 10% of hospital cases in Omicron epicenter in S.Africa
More kids are being admitted than during the early stages of the country entering the current fourth wave of infections
WHO: Mortality from COVID-19 around the world dropped to lowest level
To date, the WHO has reported 238,229,951 cases of coronavirus infection worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic and 4,859,277 deaths
'It was scary': How South African scientists spotted the Omicron COVID variant
The samples, tested in the Lancet laboratory, all bore a large number of mutations, especially on the spike protein
South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa
The move will help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid a recent surge of cases
Australia and New Zealand
Coronavirus cases surge across Australia as omicron explodes
The surge has already overwhelmed testing stations, prompted new vaccine mandates and caused at least one state to cut back on surgeries
COVID lockdown to be lifted across New Zealand, except Auckland
The nation has been battling an outbreak of the delta variant of the coronavirus since last month
Hot poles: Antarctica, Arctic 70 and 50 degrees above normal
Weather stations in Antarctica shattered records Friday as the region neared autumn
Novavax becomes Australia's 5th approved COVID-19 vaccine
Australia ordered 51 million doses of the U.S.-manufactured vaccine, supplied under the brand Nuvaxovid, for its population of 26 million
Quad meet puts Aussies in a fix
Aussie PM, Oppn leader in race to attend