Day: January 3, 2020

Biden to meet Putin in Geneva on June 16: White House

Russia halts oil supplies to Belarus amid economic talks

8:08 pm January 3, 2020

Minsk (Belarus): Russia has halted oil supplies to Belarus after the two countries failed to renegotiate a contract amid talks on further improving economic ties. Belarus’ state-owned Belneftekhim oil company said Friday that Moscow has stopped supplying crude oil to the country’s refineries until contracts for this year are drawn up. The two Belarusian refineries […]

Nepal elephant festival scrutinised for beauty and bruises

8:03 pm January 3, 2020

Sauraha (Nepal): Hundreds cheered as the three beauty contest finalists strolled out into the middle of the grounds and raised their painted trunks to the judges — symbols of all that is admired and denounced at Nepal’s annual elephant festival. With her toe nails painted red and a lotus on her trunk, 35-year-old Buffkali took […]

Iran vows revenge for US attack that killed powerful general

Tens of thousands rally in Iran capital against US ‘crimes’

7:57 pm January 3, 2020

Tehran: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran to protest against American “crimes”, an AFP correspondent reported, after US strikes killed a top Iranian commander in Baghdad Friday. Chanting “Death to America” and holding up posters of the slain commander, Qasem Soleimani, the demonstrators filled streets for several blocks in central […]

4 of a gang held for cheating online shoppers

Britain temperature records tumbled in 2019

7:51 pm January 3, 2020

Paris: Britain recorded its highest ever summer and winter temperatures in 2019, ending one of the hottest decades in history, the Met Office said Friday. As much of northern Europe sweltered in a July heatwave, the mercury hit 38.7 Celsius (101 Fahrenheit) in the east of England, marking Britain’s highest daily maximum temperature on record. […]

US long watched Soleimani, but feared risks of a strike

Soleimani killing ‘irreparable blow’ for Tehran: exiled opposition

7:39 pm January 3, 2020

Paris: The killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in a US strike is an “irreparable blow” for Iran’s Islamic regime, the leader of a Paris-based exiled opposition group said Friday. Soleimani was killed earlier Friday in a strike at Baghdad’s international airport, prompting Tehran to vow “revenge” and dramatically upping the stakes in bitter […]