Analysis: U.S. announcement of pullout from Afghanistan undermines chances of peace

U.S. President Joe Biden's announced pullout of troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 has jeopardised Washington's push for peace with Taliban Islamists and increased the chances of an upsurge in violence, sources say.

Biden to welcome Japan's Suga as first guest and key ally in China strategy

President Joe Biden welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday as the first foreign leader to visit his White House, underscoring Tokyo's central role in the U.S. strategy to counter the challenge of China's growing assertiveness.

Opponents of Myanmar military rule hold 'silent strike'

Opponents of military rule in Myanmar called for a "silent strike" on Friday, urging people to say at home to mourn the more than 700 people killed in protests against a Feb. 1 coup and to wear black if they have to go out.

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai, others to be sentenced for illegal assembly

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and nine other pro-democracy activists are expected to be sentenced on Friday after they were found guilty of participating in unauthorised assemblies during anti-government protests in 2019.

Britain has no plans to halt rapid COVID-19 testing - health ministry

By Kanishka Singh - Britain's health ministry said on Thursday there were no plans to halt rapid coronavirus testing, after the Guardian newspaper reported the programme may be scaled back in England because of concerns about false positives. "With around one in thre...

WATCH: UN Advisor slams BBC for totally ignoring Western human rights abuses during "absolutely bizarre" Newsnight debate

LONDON (Bywire News) - An advisor to the United Nations has severely criticised the UK's public broadcaster, the BBC, for totally ignoring Western human rights abuses during a fierce debate about US foreign policy and the environment on Wednesday night's Newsnight programme. Professor Jeffrey Sachs,...

U.S. sanctions Russia for 'malign' acts, Moscow reacts angrily

The United States on Thursday imposed a broad array of sanctions on Russia, including curbs to its sovereign debt market, to punish it for interfering in last year's U.S. election, cyber-hacking, bullying Ukraine and other alleged "malign" actions.

Factbox-Details of funeral service planned for Britain's Prince Philip

Following are details of the funeral this Saturday for Britain's Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband, who died on April 9 aged 99.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock holds a stake in his sister's company who were awarded lucrative NHS contracts

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, holds at least a 15% stake (15 shares) in his own sister's company, who were previously awarded lucrative NHS contracts as recently as March 2021, it can be revealed. Last month, a firm named Topwood Limited were handed two contracts worth £150,000 each by the NHS...

Exclusive: EU agrees to sanction two companies close to Myanmar military, diplomats say

The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on another 10 individuals linked to the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar and to target two businesses run by the armed forces for the first time in protest at the military takeover, two diplomats said.

Student's gun was not used to shoot officer in Tennessee school shooting

An investigation has revealed that the police officer shot during the Knoxville Tennessee school shooting, was not in fact harmed by the gun of the student.

Russian ambassador says no famine in North Korea, trade may resume soon

By Josh Smith SEOUL - Life is difficult in North Korea but there is no famine and some cross-border shipments may resume soon, Russia's ambassador in Pyongyang said, a week after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the country was facing a "worst-ever situation." Kim last week urged ruling part...

Myanmar security forces fire on protesting medical workers, some hurt: media

Myanmar security forces opened fire on Thursday on a pro-democracy protest by medical workers in the city of Mandalay, causing some casualties, media said.

U.S. set to slap new sanctions on Russia as soon as Thursday: sources

The United States will announce sanctions on Russia as soon as Thursday for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, targeting several individuals and entities, people familiar the matter said.

Magic mushroom compound at least as good as antidepressant in UK study

Psilocybin, the psychedelic active compound in magic mushrooms, may be at least as effective as a leading antidepressant drug and could help more patients into remission from severe depression, a small study by British scientists has found.

Biden to declare it is 'time to end America's longest war' in Afghanistan

By Phil Stewart and Steve Holland WASHINGTON -President Joe Biden will declare on Wednesday he plans to end the longest U.S. war and that it is "time for American troops to come home" from Afghanistan, looking to close the book on 20 years of U.S. military involvement there even as critics warn that...

SAP, LVMH earnings nudge European stocks higher; German shares lag

European stocks rose on Wednesday on upbeat earnings from software firm SAP and French luxury goods maker LVMH, while German shares lagged after sources said the country's economic institutes cut 2021 GDP forecast.

London stocks end higher led by gains in energy, travel stocks; Tesco weighs

British shares ended higher on Wednesday, helped by gains in heavyweight energy and travel stocks, while Tesco slipped to the bottom of the index after reporting a 20% drop in full-year pretax profit.

Hopes rise for Britain's summer getaway season

Hopes that the great British getaway would be possible this summer grew on Wednesday, with easyJet predicting that most of Europe would be open for travel and British Airways confident on routes to the U.S., despite ongoing uncertainty.

Britain wants in-person 'COP26' climate change summit this year

Britain is working hard to make sure it will host an in-person United Nations’ Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, in November and there is no desire to postpone the summit again, Britain's COP26 president said on Wednesday.

UK set to respond to EU legal action over Northern Ireland trade by mid-May

Britain plans to respond to the EU's legal action launched over the Northern Ireland trading rules by mid-May.

China says Chinese climate envoy to hold talks with Kerry on COP 26

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday that China's special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, will meet with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry in Shanghai.

EasyJet sees more flying from late May

British airline easyJet said it expected to start to fly more from late May onwards, guiding that overall in its March to June quarter it would fly up to 20% of 2019 capacity levels.

U.S. national security adviser reaffirms 'unwavering commitment to Israel' in joint meeting: White House

WASHINGTON - U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday reaffirmed the Biden administration's "unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to ensuring that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon" in a virtual meeting of a U.S.-Israel strategic consulting group, the White House ...

Stellar Louis Vuitton growth powers strong rebound at LVMH

Surging sales at Louis Vuitton and Dior powered a strong rebound at French luxury group LVMH in the first part of 2021, as thriving demand in Asia and the United States offset the drag from new coronavirus lockdowns in much of Europe.

Mick Jagger celebrates end of lockdown in new track 'Eazy Sleazy'

Mick Jagger released a surprise new track on Tuesday, "Eazy Sleazy", which celebrates the end of lockdown in England and takes a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the downsides of life cooped up at home during the pandemic.

Kremlin says Biden in phone call told Putin he wanted to normalise ties

The Kremlin said U.S. President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday that he wanted to normalise bilateral ties and to cooperate on arms control, Iran's nuclear programme, Afghanistan and climate change.

UK deeply concerned by young people's role in Northern Ireland violence

Britain's government is deeply concerned that young people have been encouraged to take part in violence in Northern Ireland, the British province's minister said on Tuesday, urging all sides to work together to uphold the peace.

Bank of England's Haldane to quit this year

The Bank of England said on Tuesday that its chief economist, Andy Haldane, will leave the central bank later this year to become chief executive of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.