Angela Merkel is Time’s Person of the Year 2015
New York: Time magazine on Wednesday named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its “Person of the Year 2015”, saying her deft leadership has helped preserve and promote an open, borderless Europe in the face of economic turmoil, ongoing refugee and the Ukraine crises. Merkel, one of the most powerful women in the world, is the first female Person of the Year in almost three decades. She beat some of the world’s best-known politicians and leaders, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Russian President Vladimir Putin, ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump for the annual honour.
Brazil’s Rousseff gets impeachment lifeline
Brasília: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was thrown a lifeline by the Supreme Court in her fight against impeachment, while her chief antagonist faced troubles of his own today in Congress, where he is accused of corruption. The impeachment rollercoaster took a dramatic turn late yesterday when the Supreme Court slapped a week-long freeze on the special commission formed to recommend to Congress whether Rousseff should be removed from office.
37 killed in Taliban siege at Afghan airport
Kandahar: At least 37 people were killed and 35 others wounded when Taliban militants stormed Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan, with one gunman still resisting security forces, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Iraqi forces shore up new gains in Ramadi
Baghdad: Iraqi forces on Wednesday consolidated newly gained positions in Ramadi, after achieving a breakthrough in their fight against the Islamic State group by retaking a large part of the city. Backed by sustained air strikes from the US-led coalition, elite troops recaptured the southwestern neighbourhood of Al-Tameem the day before.