The National Times

Ahmedabad set to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

The Indian city of Ahmedabad is in prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport announced on Wednesday.

Gaza to Egypt crossing remains shut as Israel pushes for hostage remains

The lifeline Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt remained shut on Wednesday despite reports that it could reopen to aid convoys, as Israel insisted Hamas hand over the remains of the last deceased hostages it holds.

US Treasury chief: Beijing's rare earths move is 'China vs world'

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing's rare earth export curbs Wednesday as "China versus the world," vowing that Washington and its allies would "neither be commanded nor controlled."

Row over conscription mars Germany's Russia strategy

The German government on Wednesday tried to smooth over a row within its ranks over conscription that threatens to overshadow its push to bolster military deterrence against Russia.

Ceasefire called after new Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes kill dozens

Dozens of troops and civilians were killed in a fresh round of border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials on both sides of the frontier said, hours before Islamabad said the two sides had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire.

Kenyans swarm home of fallen 'hero' Raila Odinga

"A king", "a hero", "Nelson Mandela", "Jesus Christ" -- no superlatives were too much for the crowd that came to mourn the death of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga at his Nairobi home on Wednesday.

Syrian leader seeks reset in Russia relations in Putin meeting

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Wednesday he wanted to "redefine" relations with Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him in Moscow, their first meeting since key Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted last year.

Madagascar adjusts to military rule after colonel seizes power

Madagascar braced for a new era of military rule Wednesday, a day after an elite army unit seized power following President Andry Rajoelina's impeachment and pledged elections in less than two years.

CO2 in the atmosphere up by record amount in 2024: UN

The increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere last year was the highest ever recorded, the United Nations said Wednesday, calling for urgent action to slash emissions.

New Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes kill dozens, officials say

Dozens of troops and civilians were killed in a fresh round of border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials on both sides of the frontier said, as clashes entered their second week.

South Korea bans travel to parts of Cambodia after student killing

Seoul on Wednesday banned travel to parts of Cambodia with South Korea shaken by the torture and killing of a college student there.

Israel expected to open key aid crossing into Gaza

Israel was expected to allow Gaza's sole border crossing to the outside world to reopen Wednesday to allow humanitarian aid into the devastated territory as part of a US-backed ceasefire deal.

Tested by Russia, NATO looks to boost Kyiv and its own defences

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday he expected more NATO countries to buy American arms for Ukraine, as the alliance sought to bolster Kyiv and its own ability to counter Russia.

Raila Odinga: Kenya's perennial opposition leader

Raila Amolo Odinga, whose death at 80 was announced on Wednesday, spent most of his adult life in politics, including eight years in prison as a pro-democracy campaigner -- but never achieved his goal of becoming Kenya's president, despite five attempts.

Jumbo drop in estimates of India elephant population

India's wild elephant population estimates have dropped sharply by a quarter, a government survey incorporating a new DNA system has found, marking the most accurate but sobering count yet.

Tested by Russia, NATO looks to strengthen its defences

NATO defence ministers will look Wednesday at shoring up the alliance's ability to counter Russian air incursions, as fears grow that Moscow is testing the West in a grey zone between war and peace.

Australia must deploy 'unconventional' means to deter China, Russia: think tank

Australia must learn from past guerrilla insurgencies and adopt an "unconventional deterrence" policy in facing down threats from China, Russia and elsewhere, one of the country's leading think tanks said Wednesday.

Major media outlets reject Pentagon reporting rules

US and international news outlets including The New York Times, AP, AFP and Fox News on Tuesday declined to sign new restrictive Pentagon media rules, meaning they will be stripped of their press access credentials.

Brash Trump approach brings Gaza deal but broader peace in question

A new US president, focused on domestic priorities, criticizes his predecessor as too hard on Israel but soon takes on the mantle of peace and reaches a deal heralded around the world.

Trump says FIFA chief would back moving World Cup games

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that FIFA chief Gianni Infantino would support moving 2026 World Cup games from US cities for security reasons if necessary.

Italian Pro-Palestinian activists clash with police, demand Israel boycott before World Cup qualifier

Italy's 2026 World Cup qualifier with Israel was prefaced by clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police on Tuesday as thousands of people marched through Udine in anger at the hosting of a match they felt should not be played.

Hamas launches Gaza crackdown as Trump vows to disarm group

Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza's ruined cities Tuesday, launching a crackdown and executing alleged collaborators, even as US President Donald Trump vowed to disarm the group.

Murdered Kenyan's niece calls for UK ex-soldier's extradition

The niece of a young Kenyan woman allegedly murdered by a British soldier more than a decade ago urged the UK government Tuesday to extradite the suspect as soon as possible.

Trump says 'we will disarm' Hamas, urges return of Gaza bodies

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that "we will disarm" Hamas if the Palestinian militants refuse to do it themselves, as he called for the group to release the bodies of hostages in Gaza.

Trump to attend signing of Thailand-Cambodia 'peace deal'

US President Donald Trump will attend the ceremonial signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia at an upcoming summit of Southeast Asian nations, the foreign minister of host Malaysia said Tuesday.

Hamas launches Gaza crackdown as truce holds

Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza's ruined cities Tuesday, launching a crackdown and executing alleged collaborators, even as global support mounted for a US-backed deal that would see them disarmed.

Theatrics trumped all at Trump's Gaza summit

US President Donald Trump's lightning summit in Egypt, meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, was more a celebration of one man's newfound peacemaker persona than a high-level political negotiation, according to diplomats.

Reunited hostage describes stark differences in couple's Gaza captivity

Former Israeli hostage Noa Argamani spoke out Tuesday after her partner was released under the Gaza ceasefire deal, to describe the differences in their treatment in captivity in the Palestinian territory.

French PM backs suspending pensions reform to save government

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday backed the suspension of an unpopular 2023 pensions reform, in a key move to bolster his cabinet's survival and draw his country out of political crisis.

Military seizes power in Madagascar as president impeached

An elite military unit that backed youth-led anti-government street protests said Tuesday it had taken power in Madagascar after the national assembly voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.

French PM backs suspending pensions reform in key move for survival