Bombay Durpun - Politics

Trump defends health pick RFK Jr over vaccine stance

Donald Trump defended his nomination of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy for health secretary as the US president elect offered up debunked data linking vaccines and autism in his first post-election news conference on Monday.

SoftBank pledges to invest $100 bn into US, creating 100,000 jobs

The Japanese tech titan SoftBank will invest $100 billion in the United States, creating at least 100,000 jobs, US President-elect Donald Trump said Monday, in a boost to his incoming administration.

Western powers resume contacts in Syria to prevent chaos

Western powers are looking to establish contact with Syria's new rulers, aiming to avoid Iraq- or Libya-style chaos after the fall of the Assad regime to Islamist-led rebels.

Friedrich Merz: German conservative gunning to become chancellor

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who hopes to become the next chancellor, is a millionaire ex-corporate lawyer who promises a return to his CDU party's conservative roots as an alternative to the far right.

Germany's Scholz loses confidence vote, triggering early elections

Germany's centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote on Monday after weeks of turmoil, setting Europe's biggest economy on the path to early elections on February 23.

SoftBank CEO set to announce $100 bn US investment

The head of Japan's SoftBank is set to announce plans on Monday to invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years, a spokesperson for US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team told AFP.

EU sanctions Chinese firms, N. Korea minister over Ukraine war

The EU on Monday for the first time imposed fully-fledged sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on Chinese firms for supplying Russia's military for the war on Ukraine.

Putin says troops have upper hand in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed his army's accelerating advance in Ukraine and praised 2024 as a "landmark" year in the course of Moscow's military offensive on its Western-backed neighbour.

US stocks mostly rise, bitcoin hits new record

Wall Street shares mostly rose Monday ahead of an expected US interest-rate cut later this week while concerns over political battles in Europe and China's struggling economy sent other world markets lower.

Rival football fans show diversity of Georgia's pro-EU protest movement

Supporters of rival football teams have come together alongside artists, intellectuals and the internally displaced in Tbilisi as Georgian protesters celebrate their diversity in the unity of their opposition to the government, which they accuse of authoritarian drift.

The last days of a Ukrainian ghost town within Russia's grasp

The pack of stray dogs -- thin and rain-soaked -- yelped in fear at the roar of incoming Russian artillery fire that echoed off abandoned Soviet-era buildings and an Orthodox church in frontline Pokrovsk.

Assad says Syria in hands of 'terrorists'

Ousted president Bashar al-Assad broke his silence Monday after fleeing Syria, saying in a statement that he only left once Damascus had fallen and denounced the country's new leaders as "terrorists".

EU sanctions Russian military intelligence for 'hybrid attacks'

The EU on Monday targeted Russian military intelligence agents with its first ever sanctions over so-called "hybrid" attacks aimed at destabilising Europe, including with disinformation, cyber strikes and arson.

Under-fire Scholz to trigger German elections with confidence vote

Germany's embattled centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz traded angry blows with his top rival ahead of a parliament vote Monday that was expected to trigger the process towards February 23 elections.

Putin cheers 'landmark' 2024, says troops have upper hand in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hailed his army's accelerating advance in Ukraine and praised 2024 as a "landmark" year in the course of Moscow's military offensive on its Western-backed neighbour.

Stock markets retreat as China data disappoints

Major stock markets and oil prices retreated Monday after an unexpected slowdown in retail sales reinforced worries about China's struggling economy.

French cinema cancels 'Last Tango in Paris' screening after protests

A screening of "Last Tango in Paris", which features a rape scene filmed without the consent of actress Maria Schneider, has been cancelled at the prestigious Cinematheque Francaise in the French capital following an outcry from women's rights groups, the cinema announced.

EU sending envoy to talk to Syria's new leaders

The EU's envoy to Syria headed to Damascus Monday to hold talks with the country's new Islamist rulers, just over a week after president Bashar al-Assad's ouster ended decades of brutal rule and civil war.

Sri Lanka president in India in first overseas trip

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake vowed to bolster ties with India Monday on his first overseas visit as head of state, with a red carpet welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taiwan receives first batch of US-made Abrams tanks

Taiwan has received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the United States, the defence ministry said Monday, as the island boosts its military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack.

Bangladesh to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, said Monday that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.

Bangladesh to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026: Yunus

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who heads the caretaker government installed after an August revolution, said Monday that general elections would be held late next year or in early 2026.

Nations step up outreach to Syria's post-Assad rulers

Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to engage with Syria's new interim rulers, just over a week after Islamist-led rebels ousted president Bashar al-Assad, ending decades of brutal rule and civil war.

Top South Korean court begins Yoon impeachment trial

South Korea's constitutional court kicked off proceedings on Monday over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been suspended from office over his failed bid to impose martial law.

North Korea state media slams South's Yoon as 'ringleader of rebellion'

North Korean state media on Monday decried the South's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as a "ringleader of rebellion", its first reaction to his removal from office over a short-lived martial law decree.

Israel aims to 'double population' in annexed Golan: PM

The Israeli government approved on Sunday a plan to increase the population of the annexed Golan Heights, while insisting it had no intention of confronting Syria after seizing a UN-monitored buffer zone.

Foreign countries intensify contact efforts with new Syria rulers

Foreign countries stepped up efforts Sunday to establish contacts with Syria's interim rulers, a week after Islamist-led rebels sent president Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Moscow, ending decades of brutal rule.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 40 Palestinians

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory on Sunday killed at least 40 people, including several children, an Al Jazeera TV cameraman and three rescuers.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 22 Palestinians

Gaza's civil defence agency reported Sunday that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory had killed at least 22 people, including an Al Jazeera TV cameraman and three rescuers.

Francis celebrates mega-mass in first-ever papal visit to Corsica

Pope Francis celebrated mass Sunday before a congregation of thousands in Corsica, a stronghold of the Catholic faith, the first-ever trip by a pontiff to the French Mediterranean island.

W.Africa bloc gives military leaders more time to stay

West African leaders from the regional group ECOWAS on Sunday gave three countries led by military governments six months to reconsider their decision to quit the bloc.

Assad's prisoner No 3006 tells his story

The Syrian military intelligence officers who detained Ghazi Mohammed al-Mohammed told him to forget his name and who he was.

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