International

ISTANBUL: A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor to nearly three years jail in a politically charged defamation trial that effectively bars him from standing in next June’s presidential election. Ekrem Imamoglu’s team immediately vowed to appeal his conviction in a case stemming from a remark he made after defeating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ally in a …

SEOUL: The United States military launched a space force unit in South Korea on Wednesday that will help better detect ballistic missile launches from North Korea. North Korea has carried out a record-breaking blitz of weapons tests this year, including its newest intercontinental ballistic missile last month. The new unit will provide “near-real-time detection and warning of ballistic missile launches”, …

BRUSSELS: The Greek MEP who has become the face of the European Parliament’s widening graft scandal will spend at least another week in jail before attending a postponed pre-trial hearing, her lawyer said on Wednesday. Eva Kaili, a 44-year-old former newsreader and until this week one of the vice presidents of the Strasbourg parliament, is one of four suspects charged …

LIMA: Peru declared a nationwide state of emergency on Wednesday amid violent protests against the ouster of ex-president Pedro Castillo that have left seven people dead. The announcement came as a judge ordered Castillo to remain in prison, on charges of rebellion and conspiracy for another 48 hours ahead of a release hearing. Castillo’s arrest last week after he tried …

LONDON: Thousands of homes on the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northeast coast were without power in freezing temperatures on Wednesday after “significant” snowfall, the electricity provider said. The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said engineers were working to restore supplies to about 2,800 homes but that full restoration was only likely by the end of the week. Temperatures on …

BEIJING: China’s top health body said on Wednesday the true scale of coronavirus infections in the country is now “impossible” to track, with officials warning cases are rising rapidly in Beijing after the government abruptly abandoned its zero-Covid policy. Beijing’s decision to scrap mass testing and quarantines after nearly three years of attempting to stamp out the virus has led …

KYIV: Ukraine said on Wednesday it had shot down multiple Iranian-made drones launched at its capital by Russian troops in their latest attack on Kyiv. Kremlin said there no would be no-let up in fighting over Christmas and the New Year while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders to back a court to try Russian officials. Explosions rang out …

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan urged the UN Security Council on Wednesday to support negotiations to limit and control the build-up of nuclear and conventional weapons. In his address to the Security Council in New York, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also supported the call for expanding the council but opposed adding new permanent members. “This council should support negotiations in the relevant …

At least 22 people have died and several others have been hospitalised in India after drinking toxic alcohol, authorities said on Thursday. The deaths happened mainly in two villages in the eastern state of Bihar, where the sale and consumption of liquor are prohibited. Such bans are in force in several Indian states, driving a thriving black market for cheap …

A decision on whether the Afghan Taliban administration and the Myanmar junta can send a United Nations (UN) ambassador to New York has been postponed for a second time, but could be reconsidered in the next nine months, according to a UN credentials committee report. The 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA) is on Friday due to approve the report, which …