Bombay Durpun - Politics

Venezuela marks 30 years since Chavez's failed but career-launching coup

The Venezuelan president's daughter was on the telephone when the first shells hit the official residence in Caracas 30 years ago in a coup attempt led by a then-unknown paratrooper, Hugo Chavez.

Beijing Olympics open under shadow of rights fears and Covid

President Xi Jinping declared the Beijing Winter Olympics open Friday as China tried to turn the page on a build-up overshadowed by human rights concerns, Covid and a US-led diplomatic boycott.

US lawmakers to vote on China competition bill

US lawmakers were due to vote Friday on a multibillion-dollar bill aimed at jumpstarting high-tech research and manufacturing, countering China's growing influence and easing a global shortage of computer chips.

Stoltenberg to leave NATO after battle to keep US in and Russia out

NATO's outgoing leader Jens Stoltenberg will leave the alliance late this year after a diplomatic battle to hold it together against outside threats and the clashing egos of its national leaders.

Macron the mediator wades into Russia-Ukraine crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron will fly to Russia and Ukraine next week in an attempt to avert conflict between the neighbours, reprising his role as a crisis mediator that has produced limited results in the past.

NIreland court orders post-Brexit port checks to resume

Northern Ireland's High Court on Friday issued an interim order suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to stop post-Brexit checks on agri-food moving to and from mainland Britain.

European stocks retreat after positive start, oil surges

European equities retreated from a positive start Friday as investors await key US jobs data after being spooked by a possible eurozone interest rate hike and the crash of Facebook owner Meta's shares.

Russia wins Chinese backing in showdown over Ukraine

Russia won China's backing in its showdown with the West over Ukraine on Friday, as Beijing agreed with Moscow that the US-led NATO military alliance should not admit new members.

Beijing Olympics opening ceremony starts under cloud of Covid, rights fears

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics began on Friday as China attempted to turn the page on a troubled build-up overshadowed by human rights concerns and Covid.

Death of IS chief: what we know

A day after the death of Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi during a US raid in Syria, many questions remain on the operation and the jihadist group's future.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in court after health no-show

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi returned to a junta court on Friday after skipping a previous hearing because she felt unwell, a source with knowledge of the case said.

After eight years of war, Ukraine's army a tougher prospect

When he arrived at the front line as a volunteer to fight Russian-backed separatists in 2014, Pavlo Dolynskiy found Ukraine's army in a desperate state.

'Bless that woman': Hondurans look to tiny icon, and a new president, for hope

Thousands of Honduran believers descended on their country's most famous religious icon Thursday, praying for an end to the Catholic nation's crippling poverty and success for their newly elected leftist leader.

Ahead of Beijing Games, is China really 'a winter sport country'?

Beijing says it met and even exceeded its target to make more than 300 million Chinese people winter sports enthusiasts since it won the bid to host the Winter Olympics.

Nicaragua court finds activists guilty of 'conspiracy'

A Nicaraguan court Thursday found two prominent opposition figures guilty of "conspiracy," according to a human rights organization which condemned the trial as "null and void" for taking place behind closed doors.

Costa Rica: Central America's green pin-up

Costa Rica, which elects a new president Sunday, is a small country thriving on ecotourism. Its neutrality, strong democracy and political stability have earned it the nickname of Central America's Switzerland.

Ex-heavyweights resurrected in Costa Rica polls, but election still unclear

There is a feeling of uncertainty hanging over one of Latin America's most stable democracies as Costa Rica heads to the polls on Sunday with a crowded presidential field and no clear favorite.

Private military contractors bolster Russian influence in Africa

Russia's geopolitical ambitions in Africa have in recent years been backed by private military contractors, often described as belonging to the "Wagner group" -- an entity with no known legal status.

Repsol says Peru oil spill will be cleaned up in March

Spanish energy giant Repsol on Thursday vowed to finish by March cleaning up a devastating oil spill that has polluted beaches and killed wildlife.

Europe to fore in Ukraine crisis as US warns of Russian plot

The leaders of Turkey and France attempted to mediate in the Ukraine crisis on Thursday as Washington announced it had evidence of a Russian plan to fake a Ukrainian attack to justify invading its neighbour.

US claims evidence of Moscow plan for 'false flag' Ukrainian attack

The Pentagon said Thursday it had evidence of a plan by Moscow to film a fake Ukrainian attack on Russians to justify a real assault on its pro-West neighbor.

'Incredibly complex': the US raid that killed IS chief

By early December US intelligence was certain: the man occupying the top floor of a nondescript house in Atme, northern Syria -- who never left the premises, emerging only to bathe on the roof -- was the head of the Islamic State group.

Beijing Olympics set to open under cloud of Covid, rights fears

A Winter Olympics overshadowed by rights concerns and Covid will officially begin in Beijing on Friday with an opening ceremony at the "Bird's Nest" stadium.

Xi to meet Putin as tensions rise with West

China's President Xi Jinping is poised for his first face-to-face meeting with a world leader in nearly two years on Friday when he hosts Russia's Vladimir Putin, with the pair drawing closer as tensions grow with the West.

Using military to end trucker protest 'not in the cards': Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday poured cold water on sending in the military to clear protestors opposed to Covid vaccine mandates, whose convoy of big trucks are clogging Ottawa's downtown.

From Kansas school teacher to Islamic State battalion leader

On a scale of one to 10 of jihadist radicalization, an American woman alleged to have led an all-female Islamic State battalion in Syria was described by someone who knew her there as an "11 or a 12."

Tibetans protest 'Games of shame' at Olympic HQ

Around 500 Tibetans marched outside the International Olympic Committee headquarters on Thursday, led by an activist on skis dragging the Chinese flag behind him, to protest against Beijing hosting the Games.

'Incredibly complex': the raid that killed IS chief

By early December, US intelligence was certain of it: the man occupying the top floor of a nondescript house in Atme, northern Syria -- who never left the premises, emerging only to bathe on the roof -- was the head of the Islamic State group.

US raid on IS leader boosts Biden's foreign policy stature

The daring US helicopter raid deep in Syria that ended in the death of one of the world's most wanted men gives Joe Biden the kind of dramatic military win presidents crave -- and one the Democrat particularly needed.

Biden says IS leader killed, removing 'major terrorist' threat

President Joe Biden said Thursday a global "terrorist threat" was removed when the head of the Islamic State blew himself up after US special forces swooped on his Syrian hideout in an "incredibly challenging" nighttime helicopter raid.

Erdogan offers Ukraine-Russia summit as Europe pushes to defuse tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered Thursday on a visit to Kyiv to hold a Ukraine-Russia summit, as EU leaders stepped up outreach to the Kremlin to defuse fears Moscow could invade.

Biden says 'major terrorist' blew himself up in US raid

President Joe Biden said Thursday a global "terrorist threat" was removed when the head of the Islamic State group blew himself up after US special forces swooped on his Syrian hideout in an "incredibly challenging" nighttime helicopter raid.

Myanmar junta slams 'dictating' UN rights chief

Myanmar's junta on Thursday slammed "dictating" remarks by the United Nations human rights chief and accused the body of interfering in its affairs after it called for the world to ramp up pressure on the generals.

Brazil's Bolsonaro tweets support for podcaster Rogan

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted his support for embattled American podcast host Joe Rogan, whose spreading of disinformation about Covid-19 has caused a firestorm of controversy on streaming service Spotify.

IS chief blows himself up during US raid in Syria

US special forces carried out a nighttime airborne raid Thursday in northwestern Syria during which the head of the Islamic State group blew himself and his family up, the White House said.

Beijing Games set to open as Peng Shuai allegations back in spotlight

Thomas Bach will meet Peng Shuai at the Beijing Winter Olympics to assess her "physical integrity and her mental state", the IOC chief said Thursday, as controversy dogged the Games right up to the eve of the opening ceremony.

US says IS leader 'taken off battlefield' in Syria raid

US special forces carried out a brazen nighttime airborne raid in northwestern Syria during which the head of the Islamic State group was "taken off the battlefield", US President Joe Biden said on Thursday.

Top India diplomat to boycott Beijing Games over torchbearer

India's top diplomat in Beijing will skip the Winter Games after a Chinese soldier involved in a deadly Himalayan skirmish took part in the Olympic torch relay, officials said Thursday.

Pakistan says 7 troops killed in southwest, rebels claim dozens

Seven Pakistani soldiers and at least 13 militants were killed in clashes in restive Balochistan province, the army said Thursday, while separatists claimed dozens more had died in fighting that was still ongoing.

Bombay Durpun - Politics (English)

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