Death toll from Algeria wildfires rises to 34

Algiers (IANS) The death toll from the raging wildfires in Algeria has increased to 34, including 10 soldiers, the Interior Ministry said in an update.

The Ministry said some 8,000 people were battling the blazes across 11 provinces, supported…

Intense heat grips Japan

Tokyo (IANS) The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Tuesday that intense extreme heat is expected to spread across wide areas from western to northern regions of the country.

The JMA said a high-pressure system from the Pacific is covering…

Norway to shut down SL mission, shift operations to New Delhi

Colombo (IANS) Norwegian government has announced that it will shut down its embassy in Sri Lanka on July 31, and from August 1, its New Delhi-based diplomatic mission would be responsible for the country’s bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka and…

11 dead in arson attack in Mexico, accused arrested

Mexico City (IANS) At least 11 people were killed and six others injured after a man who was removed from a bar for disrespecting women, returned and threw a lit object in San Luis Rio Colorado city in Mexico's Sonora state, said local authorities.

Erdogan holds phone talks with Zelensky over grain deal revival

Istanbul (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed "in detail" the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

Erdogan…

WH confirms Ukraine using US cluster munitions

Washington (IANS) The White House has confirmed that Ukraine is using the controversial cluster munitions supplied by the US "effectively".

In a statement on Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "They (Ukraine)…

Russia's external debt-to-GDP ratio falls to historic low

Moscow (IANS) Russia's external debt-to-GDP ratio plummeted to a historic low of 15 per cent by the end of the first quarter, local media said on Friday.

Data from Russia's Central Bank reveal that the ratio, which stood at 16.6 per…

Israel's top court to hear petition to oust Netanyahu

Jerusalem (IANS) Israel's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office over a conflict of interest, the court announced.

The Supreme Court has scheduled September 12 for the hearing that…

Yoon, Biden, Kishida to hold summit in US on Aug 18

Seoul (IANS) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a trilateral summit with his US counterpart Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David, near Washington, on August 18, sources said on Thursday.

The three leaders…

Temperatures in Iraq likely to surpass 50 degrees

Baghdad (IANS) A blistering heat wave is expected to hit Iraq in the coming weeks, with temperatures likely to surpass 50 degrees Celsius, a weather observatory said in its forecast.

"Temperatures will peak at 52 degrees Celsius in the last…