World News

Moscow on Monday confirmed that North Korea’s hardline leader, Kim Jong-un, will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days for talks that are expected to focus on military cooperation as the war in Ukraine drags on, but Germany pledged more support for Kyiv. Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, made clear that she wants Ukraine to join the European Union during an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday morning.

Israel and Hungary continue to be involved in the 150th anniversary of the city of Budapest and further encourage a Jewish revival in the capital despite a fresh row over perceived antisemitism.

The Group of 20 (G20), which includes the world’s leading economies, has agreed to build the infrastructure for digital currencies and digital identification, despite criticism that it will lead to more government control over people’s lives.

Iran’s breakout time to produce enough fuel for a nuclear weapon has dropped to just 12 days, according to a new analysis of the latest reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

The Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration on the opening day of a summit on Saturday that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory.

The US has been quietly holding talks since January on the project with India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The plan is to link Middle Eastern countries by rail and to India through shipping lanes from ports in the region, extending on to eastern Europe.

The Biden administration is likely to send Ukraine long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, to help in its fight to repel the Russian invasion of its territory, according to U.S. officials.

Kyiv has condemned U.S. billionaire Elon Musk after he refused to give Ukraine access to his Starlink communications satellites over Crimea to avoid complicity in a “major act of war” against Russia.

The death toll of Morocco’s earthquake rose to more than 2,000 overnight, making it the deadliest tremor in decades.

Hong Kong authorities say at least two people have died, and 100 others were rushed to hospital as Southeast Asia’s financial hub battles flooding caused by its heaviest rains in over 140 years.

Kyiv has warned Ukrainian citizens not to participate in local elections in Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, calling them “a sham.” With their new Russian passports in their hands, people in eastern Ukraine vote in regional and municipal elections, which the West has condemned.

Leaders of the United States, India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were working to finalize a joint infrastructure deal that could be announced this weekend at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, according to an official familiar with the matter.

The United States says it will send controversial weapons to Ukraine as part of more than $1 billion in military and humanitarian aid, prompting an angry reply from Russia. Washington’s announcement came as the death toll of a suspected Russian missile strike on a busy market street in eastern Ukraine reportedly rose to at least 17, with dozens reportedly injured.

An Austrian couple on honeymoon remained missing late Thursday in central Greece after record rains swept away the house they were staying in, authorities said.

Scores of people have died in massive flooding hitting Europe and Brazil after record rainfall hit several areas in these parts of the world.

Mexico’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday to decriminalize abortion across the predominantly Roman Catholic country, calling the existing federal ban on abortion “unconstitutional.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced a new aid package worth $1 billion for Ukraine.

More than 5 million people have now been displaced by the months long fighting in Sudan, the United Nations’ migration agency said Wednesday as clashes between the country’s military and a rival paramilitary force show no sign of easing.

Ukraine’s president says at least 17 people, including a child, have been killed in a Russian missile attack hitting a market, a pharmacy and shops in the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka.

The Pentagon intends to field a vast network of AI-powered technology, drones and autonomous systems within the next two years to counter threats from China and other adversaries.