WORLD
US Treasury calls for 'extraordinary measures' as Congress sees no deal on debt ceiling
The US has reached its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday, with no obvious deal in sight, media reports said. Axios media network said that if the US government runs on a deficit, the Treasury Department will launch "extraordinary measures" to avoid any default on government securities and bonds.
Germany postpones decision on Leopard tank delivery to Ukraine
"There are good reasons for the delivery, there are good reasons against it," the country's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday after meeting his US and European counterparts in Ramstein, Germany. Pistorius added that his ministry would check the country's stocks of the Leopard tank for possible delivery to Ukraine in the next few weeks, Xinhua news agency reported.
New Omicron subvariant accounts for half new Covid infections in US
The subvariant XBB.1.5 is spreading quickly in the US. It made up 35.5 per cent of the total cases in the week ending January 7, rising to 37.2 per cent in the week ending January 14, according to the CDC on Friday. XBB.1.5 is currently the most transmissible variant in the country. The subvariant may spur more Covid-19 cases based on genetic characteristics and early growth rate estimates.
Chris Hipkins to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand Prime Minister
Hipkins is currently the only nominee for the Labour leadership and will still need to be formally endorsed by the party in the House of Representatives on Sunday before he can assume the top post, the BBC reported on Saturday. If he receives the endorsement, Ardern will formally tender her resignation to the Governor-General on February 7, who will then on behalf of King Charles III appoint Hipkins as Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak fined by police again - this time for not wearing seatbelt
The incident occurred while he was filming a video, to promote the government's latest round of "levelling up" spending, in Lancashire, during a trip across the north of England, the BBC reported. The video was posted on Sunak's Instagram account. Lancashire Police said it had issued a 42-year-old man in London with a conditional offer of a fixed penalty.
US covertly sponsoring IS, says Russia
Asked if the US is in contact with the Afghan opposition, Kabulov, in an interview with Russia 24 TV on Friday, said: "Yes, there is such data", RT reported. The Americans have been acting this way "because they really want to avenge their shameful military-political defeat in Afghanistan, and in retaliation they do everything so that peace isn't established in this troubled land".
Imran Khan blames ex-Army chief for manufacturing economic crisis
While addressing the 'Rule of Law' virtually on Friday, the former Prime Minister said: "Due to the decision of one person, the PTI-led government was toppled and the crisis started," The News reported. Khan was removed from power through a trust vote in the National Assembly in April last year.
Russia ramps up Moscow's air defences with missile launchers placed on roofs
A Pantsir-S1 defence system has appeared on the roof of the Russian defence ministry's National Defence Management Centre (NTsUO) on Frunzenskaya Embankment, the command centre of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Daily Mail reported. A video showed the same powerful system being lifted onto a rooftop in Teterinsky Lane, Taganka district, one-and-a-half miles from the Kremlin.
We'll stand by Sri Lanka in this hour of need: Jaishankar
"I would like to underline that India is a reliable neighbour, a trustworthy partner, one who is prepared to go the extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need. My presence here today is a statement about Prime Minister Modi's commitment to 'Neighbourhood First'," Jaishankar said while making a statement in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.
Gen Faiz, Gen Bajwa responsible for Pakistan's mess: Nawaz
Speaking to the media in London on Thursday evening after holding talks with his party colleagues including Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Sharif reminded people of his Gujranwala speech to a PDM rally on October 16, 2020 in which he shocked Pakistan by directly accusing former army chief General (retd) Qamar Bajwa and former ISI chief Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed of rigging elections.
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