International

China believes that India’s move to add more troops at their disputed border is “not conducive to easing tensions”, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. India has freed up a contingent of 10,000 soldiers, previously deployed at its western border, to strengthen its disputed border with China, according to several media reports. The two countries have previously agreed to maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic …

GAZA CITY: Women’s Day? At a tent in Rafah where Um Zaki said she was boiling porridge on an open flame to stave off the hunger of her six children, the holiday passed as a cruel joke. “Now, all our days look the same. The days of feasts, happy occasions, nice food, laughter and hope, are all gone because of …

NEW DELHI: India said it had uncovered a “major human trafficking network” which lured young men to Russia with the promise of jobs only to force them to fight in the war in Ukraine. About 35 men have been sent to Russia in the scheme so far, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said late on Thursday, an increase from …

PARIS: People around the world marked International Women’s Day on Friday with protests, demonstrations and celebrations. Some countries marked the day by voting on — or confirming — ground-breaking legislation. In Afghanistan, small groups of women staged rare demonstrations in private spaces, after a crackdown by Taliban authorities forced activists off the streets. A handful of women in several provinces …

NEW YORK: Rupert Murdoch, 92, has got engaged to his girlfriend, Elena Zhukova, a spokesman said on Thursday, which would mark his fifth trip down the aisle. The wedding will be held in California, at Murdoch’s vineyard and estate, Moraga, a spokesman said. The impending nuptials come just months after Murdoch stepped down as chairman of Fox and News Corp, …

LONDON: Former prime minister Theresa May announced on Friday she will stand down as an MP at the next election, adding to a growing list from the UK’s ruling Conservatives to abandon leader Rishi Sunak. May, 67, is the most high-profile of scores of Tory lawmakers to say they will not seek re-election at this year’s nationwide vote, in which …

GENEVA: Expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes “a war crime” and risks eliminating any likelihood of a viable Palestinian state, the UN rights chief warned on Friday. Volker Turk said there had been a drastic acceleration in Israeli illegal settlement building in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza crisis unfolded in October. In his statement, the …

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Thursday laid out his case for re-election in a fiery State of the Union speech that accused Donald Trump of threatening democracy, kowtowing to Russia and torpedoing a bill to tackle US immigration woes. In a 68-minute address to Cong­ress, Biden, a Democrat, drew sharp contrasts with his Republican rival and gamely challenged Trump’s supporters …

ISLAMABAD: While thanking world leaders who congratulated him on assuming office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday responded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a notably restrained manner on X (formerly Twitter). The premier’s succinct message, “Thank you @narendramodi for felicitations on my election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” mirrored Mr Modi’s own coolly worded congratulations a few days prior, …

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden will tell Congress on Thursday that he has ordered the US military to set up a port in Gaza to get more humanitarian aid into the beleaguered territory by sea, senior US officials said. The major announcement will not involve any US boots on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, as military personnel will stay offshore …