South Sudan’s government on Thursday denied that President Salva Kiir had died, following online speculation. The long-serving 73-year-old leader has long been dogged by rumours of ill health. But he has been pictured in recent months meeting visiting dignitaries and ordering a series of dramatic government reshuffles. He has also moved decisively against his long-time rival and the current first …

No fewer than 14 people have died and six others hospitalised after consuming overnight toxic liquor in northern India, police said on Tuesday. A Senior Police Officer, Maninder Singh, who revealed this also said that seven people have been arrested on allegations that they supplied the toxic liquor. Singh said that the arrested persons were said to have supplied the …

The United Kingdom (UK) Home Office has announced changes to its immigration system in a new white paper to reduce reliance on international recruitment and strengthen domestic workforce development. A key initiative is the creation of the Labour Market Evidence Group, which will analyse labour market data to inform policy decisions. The group will focus on developing local skills rather …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Kyiv would meet with Moscow for talks in Istanbul on 15 May but that Russia must first commit to a 30-day ceasefire starting from Monday. Zelensky, using rare language since Moscow invaded more than three years ago, described Russia’s proposal to convene direct peace talks as a ‘positive sign’. Turkish President Recep …

United States President Donald Trump has declared two new national holidays in the country. Trump took to his Truth Social media account on Monday night to announce his plans to celebrate the end of World War I and World War II in the United States. The 78-year-old noted that the two national holidays are 11 November and 8 May. The …

Friedrich Merz is set to be sworn in as Germany’s next chancellor on Tuesday, heading a cabinet faced with challenges from an ailing economy to fraying US ties and a resurgent far right. Here are his key picks to help govern Europe’s top economy in the coalition between his conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left SPD: Finance: Lars Klingbeil Lars …

President Donald Trump has offered to pay a $1,000 stipend as travel assistance to migrants who decide to voluntarily deport themselves from the United States. Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Noem noted that the policy, which will offer $1,000 and a flight home to each immigrant who self-deports, covers part of the Trump …

Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. ‘The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran’s latest defence achievement’, the broadcaster said. Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran’s …

The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey, has scheduled 3 June for the trial of a Spanish-Brazilian man, Marcus Monzo, arrested for the alleged murder of a 14-year-old Nigerian boy, Daniel Anjorin, in the United Kingdom. Monzo, who described himself as a ‘mystic musician’, was arraigned in connection with Anjorin’s death, which occurred …

The latest Forbes report has highlighted how tech giants, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and America’s wealthiest individuals, collectively lost more than $300 billion in the first 100 days of President Donald J. Trump’s second term. Since 20 January, Musk’s fortune has shrunk by more than $45 billion, the largest individual decline among U.S. billionaires. The report said the …