business 
Niger’s ruling junta has quit a regional force fighting armed Islamist groups in west Africa’s Lake Chad area, cementing an acrimonious split from former allies in the region. The decision to exit the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was announced in a bulletin on state television over the weekend. The move “reflects a stated intent … Read more
Myanmar’s military is facing criticism over continued airstrikes and claims it is blocking aid to earthquake survivors, as international agencies urged “unfettered access” to humanitarian aid in the conflict-riven nation. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit central Myanmar on Friday has caused widespread destruction, killing more than 2,000 people and leaving affected areas in dire need … Read more
Good morning. Marine Le Pen appeared to have been expecting a guilty verdict in her trial for embezzling millions in European parliament funds to pay her party’s workers in contravention of the rules – and even to have anticipated that she might face a period of ineligibility for political office once her inevitable appeal was … Read more
A colossal fire has erupted in a Malaysian suburb outside Kuala Lumpur due to a burst gas pipeline, prompting evacuations of nearby homes. The inferno near a gas station in Putra Heights in central Selangor state on Tuesday was visible for kilometres. National oil company Petronas said the fire broke out at one of its … Read more
Tens of thousands of doctors across India are being trained to promote the HPV vaccine, in a push to eliminate cervical cancer in the country. They will check with mothers attending medical appointments that they intend to vaccinate their daughters, and visit schools and community centres armed with facts and slideshows to counter vaccine disinformation. … Read more
A large majority of western Europeans support retaliatory tariffs against the US, a survey has shown, if Donald Trump introduces sweeping import duties for major trading partners as expected this week. The US president appears likely to unleash a range of tariffs, varying from country to country, on Wednesday, which he has called Liberation Day. … Read more
“Although we are trying to replicate Uganda and Kenya we are actually in Cheshire so the weather is slightly different,” admits Chester zoo boss, Jamie Christon, on a fresh and very grey Monday morning. But ignore the chilliness and screw your eyes and you could well be transported to a sweeping African savannah where, one … Read more
China has launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan, accusing its leaders of being “separatists” and “parasites” who were pushing the democratically run island into war. The drills, accompanied by a propaganda campaign, were launched without warning on Tuesday morning. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said they were a “stern warning” to Taiwan’s democratically elected government … Read more
An incident in which a mother allegedly stabbed her three children as they slept has been labelled a “tragic case” by her lawyer after the matter was mentioned in court for the first time. The 47-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly attacking her children – aged 10, 13 and 16 – with a household knife … Read more
Only 2.5% of private rented homes in England were affordable for people on housing benefit last year, with charities warning that more people will be pushed into rent arrears and homelessness as a freeze on the benefit takes effect. From Tuesday, housing benefit rates will be locked at current rates until 2026, affecting 5.7m households … Read more