Author: admin@primenews

Pakistan has temporarily suspended mobile services as millions head to the polls to vote in a new government. An interior ministry spokesman said the measure was warranted, citing recent incidents of terror in the country. The election comes almost two years since the previous prime minister, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Three-time PM Nawaz Sharif is now on the ballot in what many analysts say is Pakistan’s least credible election yet. Both calls and data services have been suspended, though Wifi networks still appear to be working. One voter told the BBC they were shocked at…

It is a lonely drive to Israel’s most northern town, Metula, along a spur of land that is surrounded on three sides by Lebanon. That means it is also surrounded on three sides by Lebanon’s most powerful armed group, Hezbollah. The soldiers at the checkpoint on the edge of Metula were all local men, mostly middle-aged reservists with no illusions about the force on the other side of the border. As the rain lashed down on a miserable, foggy night, one of them, who did not want his name to be published, used his finger to traverse the compass, pointing…

A senior commander of an Iran-backed militia has been killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad. A leader of Kataib Hezbollah and two of his guards were in a vehicle when it was targeted in the east of the Iraqi capital. All three of them died. The Pentagon said the commander was responsible for directing attacks on American forces in the region. The US has linked the militia to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three US troops last month. In the wake of that attack, Kataib Hezbollah said it was suspending attacks on American troops to prevent…

Spy camera footage of South Korea’s first lady accepting a luxury bag gift was leaked as a “political manoeuvre”, President Yoon Suk Yeol said. Mr Yoon said the act was “regrettable” but stopped short of apologising. He has been under pressure to address the issue, which has roiled his ruling party ahead of key elections in April. His first comments on what local media has called the “Dior bag scandal” disappointed citizens and angered the opposition. Late last year, left-wing YouTube channel Voice of Seoul published a video that purportedly showed first lady Kim Keon Hee accepting a 3m won…

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has hailed ties with “big brother” Australia in a historic and closely watched speech in Canberra. James Marape’s address to Australia’s parliament – the first by a Pacific Island leader – comes as Australia and China race for influence in the region. It is also nearly the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence from Australia. “Nothing will come in between our two countries because we are family,” Mr Marape told Australian MPs. In jest, he added that “one can choose friends, but one is stuck with family forever” and “we have no choice but to get…

Disney’s chief executive, Bob Iger, has announced a series of moves which he hopes will bring “significant growth” to the entertainment giant. The plans include streaming an exclusive cut of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert movie on Disney+. The firm will also invest $1.5bn (£1.2bn) in Epic Games, the maker of the hugely popular video game Fortnite. The deal means gamers will be able to interact with Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and Avatar characters. “This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion,” Mr Iger said in a statement as…

An 18-year-old Indian chess player has sparked a conversation on attitudes towards women in the sport with an Instagram post about her experiences. Divya Deshmukh, who is an International Master (the second-highest title in chess), said that her chess videos often received online comments that focused on her appearance rather than her games. “It’s a sad truth that when women play chess, [people] often overlook how good they actually are… and every irrelevant thing is focused on,” she wrote, adding that she had wanted to address the issue “for a while”. Deshmukh shared the post at the end of the…

For the first time, global warming has exceeded 1.5C across an entire year, according to the EU’s climate service. World leaders promised in 2015 to try to limit the long-term temperature rise to 1.5C, which is seen as crucial to help avoid the most damaging impacts. This first year-long breach doesn’t break that landmark ‘Paris agreement’, but it does bring the world closer to doing so in the long-term. Urgent action to cut carbon emissions can still slow warming, scientists say. “To go over [1.5C of warming] on an annual average is significant,” says Prof Liz Bentley, chief executive of…

Last month, reports emerged that North Koreans working in China had rioted, after finding out they would not be paid, and that their wages had instead been put towards building weapons for Pyongyang. Instances of North Koreans protesting are virtually unheard of, as the state exercises near total control over its citizens, and public dissent can result in execution. The reported riots, though unconfirmed, have sparked concern for the wellbeing of the tens of thousands of North Koreans working overseas, earning money for the cash-starved regime. The BBC has spoken to a former North Korean worker in China who claimed…

Campaigners are taking the government to court, accusing it of not stopping chicken manure polluting the River Wye. The case has been brought by the charity River Action which says laws designed to keep waterways healthy have not been enforced. The Wye last year had its status downgraded to “unfavourable”, and the rapid expansion of chicken farming in the catchment area was partly blamed. The Environment Agency said anyone breaking the law could be prosecuted. The Wye flows along the English-Welsh border and is home to otters, kingfishers and the endangered Atlantic salmon. “We believe that the government and the…