AFP, MOSCOW: The United States declined to host a high-ranking Russian delegation on Syria and also refused to send its own mission to Moscow, Russia’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of refusing to cooperate and share intelligence…

AFP, LAS VEGAS: Hillary Clinton emerged unscathed Tuesday from the Democratic Party’s first presidential debate, giving her renewed momentum as…

AFP, TEHRAN: Iranian state television broadcast unprecedented footage Wednesday of a deep underground tunnel packed with missiles and launcher units, which officials said could be used if “enemies make a mistake”. The pictures were released just three days after Iran tested a new long-range…

AFP, MUMBAI: An Indian man who shocked hospital staff when he woke up on an autopsy table just before a post-mortem was about to begin has died, authorities said Wednesday. On Sunday a hospital doctor in Mumbai mistakenly certified the homeless man, who has been named as Prakash, as dead after police…

AFP, VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Wednesday offered a surprise public apology from the Catholic Church for a series of scandals which have shaken the city of Rome and the Vatican. The Vatican has been the focus of several controversies including the coming out of a gay priest and the leak of a controversial…

AFP, COLOMBO: Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has sacked his defence minister after a security lapse led to an alleged attempt to assassinate the leader, his spokesman said Wednesday. Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Muaz Ali announced the sacking of Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel in a tweet, but…

AFP, BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces have made significant advances around Ramadi and an operation to retake the city captured by the Islamic State group in May is near, officers said Wednesday. “Great people, the hour of victory against the Daesh criminal gangs (IS) has come,” said a statement from…