France’s richest man, LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, testified Thursday in the influence-peddling trial of the former head of France’s domestic intelligence agency, denying any knowledge of an alleged scheme to protect the luxury group.Bernard Squarcini, ex-head of the DCRI security service (since renamed the DGSI), is one of 10 men on trial and charged with …
French luxury mogul Arnault defiant at ex-spy chief trial Read More »
With its longtime leaders dead, its military capabilities vastly diminished, and its fighters forced to retreat from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah emerges from its war with Israel facing unprecedented challenges.But analysts say that it is too early to write off the Iran-backed group, which still plays a major role in Lebanese politics.When Hezbollah began firing rockets …
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday slammed a “despicable escalation” by Russia as he accused its military of firing cluster munitions on Ukraine’s energy grid in a massive overnight attack.More than a million Ukrainians were without power in freezing cold temperatures after Russia launched a barrage of almost 200 cruise missiles and drones at energy …
Zelensky slams Russia’s ‘despicable’ use of cluster munitions in energy strikes Read More »
Lebanon’s military deployed troops and tanks across the country’s south on Thursday as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war largely held for a second day.The truce ended a war that began a day after Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, killing thousands in Lebanon and sparking mass displacements in both Lebanon and Israel.Israel …
Lebanon army deploys under Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire Read More »
In the chaos of protests that turned Pakistan’s capital into a battleground, a new figurehead has emerged: Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.Until now, she has appeared only rarely in official photos, shielded from view during court appearances by large white sheets and always wearing a face veil.But since being …
Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi emerges as Pakistan protest figure Read More »
Crunch United Nations talks to find funding to curb the destruction of nature will resume in Rome in February, the UN said on Thursday, after negotiations this month in Colombia ended without a deal.The largest summit yet on biodiversity — the so-called COP16 talks in Cali, Colombia — were aimed at boosting efforts to protect …
COP16 biodiversity talks to restart in February: UN Read More »
Iran is set to meet with Britain, France and Germany for talks Friday on its nuclear programme after the three governments joined with the United States to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.Last week’s chiding prompted a defiant response from Tehran, but its officials have since signalled willingness to engage with others ahead …
Iran to hold nuclear talks with three European powers Read More »
A top Chinese military official has been dismissed while an investigation into “serious violations of discipline” takes place, Beijing said Thursday, the latest senior figure to fall in a sweeping crackdown on graft in the country’s armed forces.The ruling Communist Party has “decided to suspend Miao Hua from duty pending investigation”, Wu Qian, a spokesman …
China probes top military official for corruption Read More »
A Syria war monitor on Thursday said clashes between the army and jihadists killed more than 130 combatants in the worst fighting in the country’s northwest in years, as the government also reported fierce battles.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions launched a surprise attack …
Syria war monitor says more than 130 dead in army-jihadist clashes Read More »
The French government is ready to offer concessions to parliament to get through its budget, the finance minister said Thursday, in a standoff which is causing market turbulence and risks bringing down the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier.”Whatever differences in values we have, we are today facing an extremely serious situation for the country… …
French govt ready for budget concessions to avoid financial ‘storm’ Read More »
