Author: admin@primenews

Italy’s defense minister called his country’s decision to join a flagship Chinese infrastructure scheme “wicked,” as the government weighs up whether continue as part of the scheme. In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper published Sunday, Guido Crosetto said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – which Italy signed up to under its previous government – had done little to help the country’s exports. The BRI – a name coined by China’s Xi Jinping in 2013 – is Beijing’s global infrastructure investment program. It was established to rebuild China’s Silk Road, connecting Asia with Africa and Europe with the aim of…

West African leaders have threatened military action against Niger’s junta after it took power in a coup last week. The leaders gave the junta seven days to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held captive. Earlier, the junta warned it would resist any “plan of aggression against Niger” by regional or Western powers. Meanwhile hundreds of coup supporters protested outside the French embassy in the capital Niamey. Leaders from Ecowas, the bloc of West African nations, held crisis talks in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Sunday to discuss the latest coup – which follows army takeovers in neighbouring Mali and…

Ukrainian forces are trying to retake the city of Bakhmut in the country’s east. The BBC was given exclusive access to a team of elite snipers, referred to as “the Ghosts of Bakhmut”, who are conducting night raids nearby. Ghost, the sniping team’s commander, takes us to the place he calls the “edge of existence” – their base on the outskirts of the city. “Ghost is my call sign” he tells me. “When we started bringing terror to Bakhmut, we got the name ‘the Ghosts of Bakhmut’.” Their base is already well within the range of Russian artillery. Ghost doesn’t…

At least 44 people have been killed in an explosion in Pakistan during a rally organised by an Islamist party. More than 100 people were also injured in the explosion in north-west Bajaur district, where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was holding a meeting. Police told the BBC that they have found evidence suggesting the explosion was a possible suicide attack. A rescue operation has been completed and all injured have been taken to hospital, officers said. Officials have warned the death toll may rise further, as 15 people are in a critical condition. The motivation behind the attack is not yet…

For two decades, one remarkable talent has sprung to mind whenever Brazilian women’s football has been mentioned – Marta. When the forward came off the bench in the final minutes of Brazil’s 4-0 victory over Panama to open their Women’s World Cup campaign, it marked the sixth global tournament in which she has played. In Australia and New Zealand she is looking to become the first player to score at six World Cups – male or female – to go with her status of record World Cup goalscorer of any gender, with 17 strikes from 21 matches. What is more meaningful than…

There’s no longer any hope of locating survivors from a military helicopter crash, Australia’s defence minister says. A significant amount of wreckage was recovered, pointing to a “catastrophic incident”, Richard Marles told reporters on Monday. The crash happened during a multinational military exercise off Lindeman Island on Friday night. Australian authorities have launched a full investigation. Australia’s army chief had grounded a fleet of military helicopters after the crash, which left four crew members missing, and now feared dead. Lt Gen Simon Stuart said none of the army’s 45 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters – the craft involved in the accident -…

China is pressuring Uyghurs living abroad to spy on human rights campaigners by threatening families back home, researchers say. Refugees and activists tell the BBC intimidating tactics are tearing communities apart. “My dearest son,” said Alim’s mother as she flickered into view. “I didn’t think I’d see you before I died.” Alim – not his real name – says he was overcome by the moment. The reunion over a video call was their first contact in six years, since he fled as a refugee to the UK. But it was bittersweet: someone else was in control of the call. Like…

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned war is coming back to Russia after a drone attack on the capital Moscow. Mr Zelensky said attacks on Russian territory were an “inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process” of the war between the two countries. Russia’s defence ministry said three Ukrainian drones were downed on Sunday, with two crashing into offices. Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city centre, was also briefly shut. The drone attack in the early hours of Sunday is the latest that Moscow has blamed on Kyiv. And in a video address on Sunday from the western Ukrainian city of…

Online marketplace Etsy has come under fire from sellers for putting 75% of their takings on hold for 45 days. Hundreds of small business owners got an email from Etsy notifying them it was actioning its “reserve system”. Ceramics seller Rachel Collyer said Etsy was holding £899 of her money, which means she cannot afford to buy materials to keep producing. Etsy said payment reserves were used to “keep the marketplace safe” and cover any potential refunds. Ms Collyer has been selling ceramics on Etsy since 2021. She was given only a few hours’ notice before her money was put…

NatWest’s chair has said he will not quit after initially backing former boss Dame Alison Rose in the row over the closure of Nigel Farage’s account. Sir Howard Davies said on Friday he would continue at the bank to ensure “stability” after the resignations of Dame Alison and the boss of Coutts. NatWest is 39% owned by the taxpayer and Sir Howard said: “We do have the support of our main shareholder.” However, on Thursday, the prime minister refused to back Sir Howard. When asked if he would support the chair staying on until the middle of next year when…