Author: News Desk

Russian forces pounded Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv and surrounding countryside with rockets, killing at least 20 people in what Kyiv called a bid to force it to pull resources from the main battlefield to protect civilians from attack. Inside Russia, a fire tore through an oil refinery just 8 km (5 miles) from the Ukrainian border, after what the refinery described as a cross border attack by two drones. In the main battlefield city of Sievierodonetsk, where Russia has claimed to have Ukrainian forces surrounded since last week, scenes filmed by a freelance journalist made clear the battle was…

The death toll from an earthquake in Afghanistan on Wednesday hit 1,000, disaster management officials said, with more than 600 injured and the toll expected to grow as information trickles in from remote mountain villages. Houses were reduced to rubble and bodies swathed in blankets lay on the ground, photographs on Afghan media showed Helicopters were deployed in the rescue effort to reach the injured and fly in medical supplies and food, interior ministry official Salahuddin Ayubi said. “The death toll is likely to rise as some of the villages are in remote areas in the mountains and it will…

The European Union will temporarily shift back to coal to cope with slowing Russian gas flows, an EU official said on Wednesday, as a tight gas market and rocketing prices set off a race for alternative fuels. European leaders have rounded on Russia as flows through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline were cut to just 40% of capacity, deepening an energy standoff after the invasion of Ukraine prompted Europe to impose tough sanctions on Moscow. To cope with gas shortfalls, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Europe must replace Russian energy supplies while boosting efficiency and renewables, including nuclear power.…

The once ubiquitous Russian signs along Montenegro’s picturesque Adriatic coast have all but disappeared as the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia keep tourists from those countries away from one of their favourite destinations. Adriatic resorts in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, NATO members that have joined international sanctions against Russia, are all feeling their absence, dealing a blow to their economies. The sanctions include a ban on commercial flights from Russia, the blocking of Russian banks from international payment systems making it harder for Russians to access cash abroad, and the seizure of some real estate and yachts belonging…

Russia may cut off gas to Europe entirely as it seeks to bolster its political leverage amid the Ukraine crisis, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday, adding Europe needed to prepare now. “I wouldn’t rule out Russia continuing to find different issues here and there and continuing to find excuses to further reduce gas deliveries to Europe and maybe even cut it off completely,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol said in a statement sent to Reuters. “This is the reason Europe needs contingency plans”, Birol added, saying a recent reduction in flows may be an…

Bahrain will ban outdoor work during the afternoon in July and August. The ban of work under direct sunlight and in open places will run from noon until 4 pm, the Ministry of Labour said. The aim is to protect workers and ensure their safety from heat stress, sunstroke and various summer diseases, and to reduce occupational accidents during the hottest months of the year, the ministry added. Bahrain is committed to banning afternoon work under searing temperatures and high humidity in line with human rights principles and the need to provide a safe and healthy work environment, Labour Minister…

The 1st Behavior Forum kicked off with the participation of 45 public schools. The forum was organized by Education Ministry in support of the efforts made to promote positive behavior, address bad attitude, and enriching the good educational values ​​among students. The first day, was attended virtually by 381 participants, who discussed boosting positive behavior initiatives from 13 schools.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, arrived in Cairo. At Cairo International airport, HRH Crown Prince was received by President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi of Egypt and senior government officials, Saudi press agency (SPA) reported. Saudi Crown Prince is visiting Egypt as part of a regional tour, as he is scheduled to travel to Turkey to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The crown prince’s talks in Cairo and Amman aim at coordinating their positions on key issues, the AP reported. Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be having…

Expo City Dubai will be opened in October, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has said. The new city is an ideal smart and futuristic destination for business and innovation, driven by sustainability, innovation, education and entertainment, UAE news agency WAM reported. “Brothers and Sisters, after the historical success of Expo 2020 Dubai, which was visited by more than 24 million visitors, and which left an indelible mark in the 170-year history of World Expositions, today we announce the transformation of the exhibition site into Expo City Dubai, a city that…

The head of Tunisia’s constitution committee delivered the draft of a new constitution to President Kais Saied, the presidency said, with expectations that the document will grant more powers to the president. Saied, who seized executive power last year, dissolved parliament and ruled by decree. He said on Monday some chapters needed amendments, Reuters reports. The president intends to put the new constitution to a referendum on July 25, though the opposition has said it will boycott the plebiscite. Saied named law professor Sadok Belaid to draft the new constitution, without including Tunisia’s main political parties such as the Islamist…