World

Every night, Damascus residents stand guard outside shops and homes armed with light weapons often supplied by Syria’s new rulers, eager to fill the security vacuum that followed the recent takeover.After Islamist-led rebels ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in early December, thousands of soldiers, policemen and other security officials deserted their posts, leaving the door …

‘Protect our people’: Armed Syrian volunteers watch over Damascus Read More »

Russia said Monday its forces had captured the “important logistics hub” of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area.Moscow has been pressing hard in eastern Ukraine, and the claimed capture of the industrial town is a major boost for its forces just two …

Russia says captured key town in eastern Ukraine Read More »

European and Asian stock markets started the first full week of 2025 on a mixed note, with traders’ minds turning Monday to Donald Trump’s second US presidency.Concerns about China’s stuttering economy, the outlook for US interest rates and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were causing a sense of uncertainty ahead of Trump’s …

Stock markets diverge as traders eye Trump 2.0 Read More »

Israel said Monday that Hamas had not yet provided the status of 34 hostages the group declared it was ready to release in the first phase of a potential exchange deal.Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been working for months to strike a deal to end the war in Gaza, but both warring …

Israel says Hamas has not given ‘status of hostages’ it says ready to free Read More »

North Korea on Monday fired a missile as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea, where he warned Pyongyang was working ever more closely with Russia on advanced space technology.Blinken’s trip came as investigators were trying to arrest conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has entrenched himself in his residence after being impeached …

North Korea fires missile as Blinken warns of Russia cooperation Read More »

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officially step down on Monday as leader of the world’s Anglicans, nearly two months after resigning over failures in the Church of England’s handling of a serial abuse case.Welby, 69, will be replaced on a temporary basis by outgoing Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, currently the second most senior …

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby faces final day in role Read More »

More than a hundred shaven-headed men pour out of their Yangon hostel around 6 am for a day of weightlifting, karate drills, dancing and Buddhist prayer — drug rehabilitation, Myanmar style. The group of doctors, musicians and street food vendors set off for a jog around a verdant, orchid-dotted compound, watched over by supervisors carrying heavy wooden …

Myanmar addicts battle their demons in the ‘House of Love’ Read More »

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared set to evade arrest ahead of a Monday night deadline after anti-graft investigators asked for more time to enforce a warrant.The former star prosecutor has defiantly refused questioning three times over a bungled martial law decree last month and remained holed up in his residence surrounded by …

South Korea’s Yoon set to avoid arrest by warrant deadline Read More »

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer on Monday to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim.Najib, 71, is serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to the plunder of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB and faces several other …

Jailed ex-Malaysian leader Najib moves closer to house arrest Read More »

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted twice in separate cases since leaving office, goes on trial Monday charged with accepting illegal campaign financing in an alleged pact with the late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.Sarkozy’s career has been shadowed by legal troubles since he lost the 2012 presidential election but he is an influential figure and …

France’s ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Kadhafi pact Read More »