International

Islamabad: Uncertainty prevailed over the much-touted second round of peace talks between the US and Iran on Monday, amidst exhibitory brinkmanship by both sides. The two sides are expected to meet in the coming days in Islamabad, for which Pakistani authorities have taken elaborate security...

Kathmandu: Government employees in Nepal will now receive their salaries every 15 days, breaking the long-held tradition of monthly salary payments. As per a Finance Minister-level decision taken April 17, government employees will be paid on a fortnightly basis (twice a month), and a circular...

London: Britain Monday called for a lasting settlement to ensure freedom of navigation and a toll-free Strait of Hormuz as the US-Iran ceasefire hung in the balance. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper arrived in Japan for the final leg of what has been branded as...

Paris: Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris Monday, where investigators are looking into allegations of misconduct related to the social media platform X, including the spread of child sexual abuse material and deepfake content. The world's richest man and Linda Yaccarino - the former...

Dubai: The US Navy's forcible seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship threw doubt on an announcement from President Donald Trump that US negotiators will head to Pakistan Monday for another round of talks with Iran. Trump's announcement Sunday had raised hopes of extending a fragile...

Colombo: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan Monday met with Indian-origin Tamil beneficiaries of the houses built with assistance from India during his visit to the central tea plantation district of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka. Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka,...

Tokyo: A powerful earthquake struck off the northern Japanese coast, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert in the region. The quake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4, occurred off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 453 pm (0753 GMT),...

Tehran: Iran's official news agency IRNA said that the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States, which were reportedly to be held in Pakistan soon. Iran's absence from the second round of talks "stems from...

New Delhi: President Lee Jae Myung stressed the need for South Korea and India to work together to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in an interview published Monday, also highlighting the need for joint efforts to stabilise global supply chains. In an...

Washington: Iran's military vowed a swift response to the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman, state media reported Sunday. The military headquarters said the attack and subsequent boarding of the ship by US forces was a violation of the ceasefire...