Author: News Desk

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sidelined his childhood friend as head of Ukraine’s security service, and another close ally as top prosecutor, in the biggest internal purge of the war, citing their failure to root out Russian spies. Ivan Bakanov, head of the powerful SBU security agency, and Iryna Venediktova, the prosecutor general, had been emblematic of Zelenskiy’s policy of putting young loyalists in charge of combatting corruption since sweeping to power in 2019. But nearly five months after Russia’s invasion, the president acknowledged that his two allies had failed to root out traitors and collaborators in their organisations. Zelenskiy said on…

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered generals to prioritise destroying Ukraine’s long-range missile and artillery weapons after Western-supplied weapons were used to strike Russian supply lines. Nearly five months since President Vladimir Putin ordered the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces are grinding through the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and now occupy around a fifth of the country. Shoigu, one of Putin’s closest allies, inspected the Vostok group which is fighting in Ukraine, the defence ministry said. Shoigu “instructed the commander to give priority to the enemy’s long-range missile and artillery weapons,” the defence ministry said. The ministry…

Canada sent a turbine for the Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany by plane on July 17 after repair work had been completed, Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation. The return of the turbine from Canada to the Russian Portovaya compressor station, a crucial element of Nord Stream, has been in focus for the past month since Russian energy producer Gazprom reduced gas supplies to Germany. Europe has experienced a reduction in Russian gas supplies amid already soaring energy costs and broader inflation after what Moscow calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine prompted sweeping Western…

For decades, Antonis Disios’ workshop was abuzz with the sound of sewing machines stitching fur coats for his wealthy Russian buyers. In March, European Union sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war shut the business overnight. Disios, like hundreds of other fur businesses in the lakeside city of Kastoria, was banned from exporting to Russia, the main market for Greece’s fur industry. With no domestic market, he sent his 23 workers home and his stockrooms filled up with hundreds of unsold garments. “This city is going through its worst,” Disios said, standing in his silent showroom. “We’re in despair.” Holding…

Bahrain Rugby Federation (BRF) has been accepted as a member of Asia Rugby, the regional governing body for rugby. BRF President Nader Shaheen detailed at the Asia Rugby bi-annual General Assembly in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan the history of rugby in Bahrain over the past 50 years and the plans to develop the sport in accordance with World Rugby guidelines. Following Nader’s presentation, the General Assembly voted unanimously in favour of accepting Bahrain Rugby Federation as a member. Asia Rugby has 35 other member countries, covering the geographical area from Jordan to China, and including North Africa. Bahrain Rugby Federation was established…

Quick help for suicidal thoughts and other mental health emergencies will soon be as easy as 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline goes live on Saturday. It’s designed to be as easy to remember and use as 911, but instead of a dispatcher sending police, firefighters or paramedics, 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors, AP reports. The federal government has provided over $280 million to help states create systems that will do much more, including mobile mental health crisis teams that can be sent to people’s homes and emergency mental health centers,…

Oman’s Ministry of Labour has imposed a ban on expats practicing more than 200 professions in the country. The decision issued by His Excellency Professor Mahad Bin Said Bin Ali Baawain, Minister of Labour banned 207 professions including the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Recruitment, the Director of Personnel Affairs, and the Director of Public Relations.

U.S. airplane maker Boeing Co trimmed its projected industrywide demand for airplanes over the next 20 years, but said it expects deliveries to be stable excluding the Russian market. Boeing projects airlines worldwide will need 41,170 new airplanes over 20 years with half of the deliveries for replacement aircraft, and with single-aisle aircraft accounting for about 75% of planes, Reuters reports. Boeing’s new market outlook, released on Sunday ahead of the Farnborough Airshow, is down from its previous rolling 20-year-forecast of 43,610 deliveries. The new estimate excludes the Russian market and its projection of 1,540 airplanes, because of the war…

Members of the Kuwait air force reflected their professionalism and dedication while participating in the Royal International Air Tattoo at the RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England on July 15-17, said a Kuwaiti official on Sunday. Speaking to KUNA and Kuwait Television (KTV), head of the Kuwaiti military office in London Brigadier Naif Al Askar said that Kuwaiti pilots were amongst 56 teams taking part in the airshow. The Kuwaiti air force is keen on developing its capabilities and combat readiness during such events, he added. Commander of the Seventh Squadron Colonel Isa Al-Rashidi said that it was the second Kuwaiti…

A Ukrainian cargo plane carrying munitions from Serbia to Bangladesh crashed near the city of Kavala in northern Greece late on Saturday, Serbian authorities said on Sunday. Drone images from the scene showed debris from the bulking Antonov An-12 aircraft strewn in fields. Greek authorities said there were eight crew members on board and a Ukrainian foreign mnistry spokesman said they were all Ukrainian citizens. Serbia’s defence minister said the plane was carrying 11.5 tonnes of products made by its defense industry and the buyer was Bangladesh defense ministry. He said the crew members were killed. Greek authorities could not…