World

A Mexican mayor is under investigation for possible criminal links after public thanks were offered to a notorious cartel leader for giving gifts to children, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday.One of the world’s most wanted drug lords, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera leads the ultra-violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel, with the US Drug Enforcement Administration offering a …

Mexico probes public thanks to drug lord for children’s gifts Read More »

The German government, under fire for failing to prevent a deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market, argued on Monday that the tragedy would have been hard to prevent and said that the suspect appeared to be mentally disturbed.Interior Minister Nancy Faeser along with security and intelligence chiefs faced questioning by a parliamentary committee about …

Signs Christmas market attack suspect mentally ill: German minister Read More »

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has tapped dozens of former rebels for high-ranking army positions, several of whom are foreign fighters, a war monitor and experts said on Monday.The new authorities in Damascus, from the ranks of Islamist-led rebels who until several weeks ago had fought to overthrow longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, now face …

‘Foreign jihadists’ in Syria leader’s pick for army officers: monitor, experts Read More »

The United States on Monday unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to provide assistance before Donald Trump takes office next month.The imminent return of Trump, who has repeatedly criticized aid for Ukraine, has cast doubt on American support continuing at similar levels as under outgoing President Joe …

US announces $5.9 bn in military, budget aid for Ukraine Read More »

A Belgrade court on Monday sentenced the parents of a 13-year-old boy to prison after he shot dead nine students and a security guard at an elementary school in Serbia’s capital last year.The killings on May 3, 2023, deeply shocked the Balkan nation, where mass shootings have been rare despite high levels of gun ownership.The …

Serbian court jails parents of Belgrade school shooter Read More »

For decades, any Syrian daring to broach political topics got used to speaking in hushed tones and with a watchful eye trained for a listener among the crowd.”There were spies everywhere,” Mohannad al-Katee said in Al-Rawda cafe in Damascus, adding almost in disbelief: “It’s the first time that I sit in a cafe and I …

For the first time, Syrians ‘not afraid’ to talk politics Read More »

Iran played a central role in Jimmy Carter’s presidency, but in Tehran, where state television branded him the “architect of economic sanctions”, many have far from fond memories of the late US president. The former US president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who passed away on Monday at the age of 100, left behind a legacy …

In Iran, late Jimmy Carter remembered as ‘architect of sanctions’ Read More »

German security and intelligence chiefs faced questioning Monday about the car-ramming attack that killed five people and wounded more than 200 at a Christmas market 10 days ago.They were to be quizzed about possible missed clues and security failures before the December 20 attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg, where police arrested a Saudi psychiatrist, …

German security chiefs face questions over Christmas market attack Read More »

Joe Biden led US presidents and other world leaders in paying tribute to Jimmy Carter, who died aged 100.”America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House on Sunday.He added later in a televised address that Carter “lived a life measured not by …

US and foreign leaders praise Jimmy Carter’s legacy Read More »

Climate change sparked a trail of extreme weather and record heat in 2024, the United Nations said on Monday, urging the world to pull back from the “road to ruin”.The outgoing year is set to be the warmest ever recorded, the UN’s weather and climate agency said, capping a decade of unprecedented heat.Meanwhile emissions of …

Climate change brought extreme weather, heat in 2024: UN Read More »