The Russian navy “repelled” a drone attack on the port of Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea early on Wednesday, the Kremlin-backed governor of the city said.
The peninsula, seized by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, is home to Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet and has been hit by a series of drone attacks since the Kremlin’s offensive in Ukraine.
The attack came just four days after President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Sevastopol.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“In total, three objects have been destroyed,” the Russian-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram.
He said military personnel had shot at the drones with “small arms” and that “air defense was also working.”
Razvozhayev added there were no casualties and claimed no ships had been damaged, but said that the explosions blew out windows in nearby buildings.
These included the Moscow House cultural center, a well-known building that is beyond the port.
But Razvozhayev downplayed the attack, saying the navy “confidently and calmly” repelled it. He urged calm saying the “situation was under control.”
In a later post, he dismissed reports that people were leaving Crimea, saying it was a “lie” spread by Kyiv.
“Information is spreading about evacuations from the peninsula by ferry crossings and other such nonsense,” he said.
A day earlier Kyiv said Russian missiles were destroyed in a blast in Crimea, but denied responsibility for the incident.
In October, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was hit by a major drone attack that the Kremlin blamed on Ukraine.
Read more:

Russia’s Putin make surprise trip to Ukraine’s Mariupol, first to occupied Donbas

Pro-Kremlin activists rally outside embassies on Crimea anniversary

What does the ICC arrest warrant mean for Putin?

The Taliban administration’s former acting finance minister, Mullah Hidayatullah Badri, has been appointed as governor of Afghanistan’s central bank, a finance ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Badri, who acted as the Taliban’s finance minister and oversaw budgets after they regained power in 2021, had already taken up his new role, finance ministry spokesman Ahmad Wali Haqmal told Reuters.

The reason for the appointment and who would replace Badri at the finance ministry were not immediately clear. His predecessor as central bank governor was Haji Mohammad Idris.

Badri was head of the economic commission of the Taliban government, as they conducted a 20-year insurgency against the former Western-backed government of Afghanistan, according to Taliban officials. In that time, he ran most of the Taliban’s fundraising, they say.

Afghanistan’s central bank appointments have been closely watched by Washington, which froze billions of the bank’s reserves held in the US and later transferred half of the money to a trust fund in Switzerland overseen by US, Swiss and Afghan trustees.

One of several proposed US conditions on considering letting the central bank access to the funds has been replacement of senior Taliban members at the institution with experienced professionals. The aim would be to build confidence in the central bank being insulated from political interference.

Read more:

Afghan broadcaster airs rare all-female panel to discuss rights on Women’s Day

UN grants extension to Afghanistan mission

Female entrepreneurs from across Afghanistan seek out foreign markets

London’s famous Piccadilly Circus lit up with Ramadan decorations for the first time ever ahead of the Islamic holy month.

The city’s West End sparkled with 30,000 new lights as Muslims around the world prepared to fast for an entire month starting from March 23.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan switched on the lights on Tuesday evening in honor of the 1.28 million Muslims who live in the city.

For the first time ever the West End is being lit up by a beautiful display of lights to mark the holy month of Ramadan ☪️✨
It was an honour to switch them on officially this evening ahead of the start of Ramadan. pic.twitter.com/t6gXpwAxiE

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) March 21, 2023

A “Happy Ramadan” LED sign was hung on Coventry Street, which links Leicester Square – the heart of West End London – with Piccadilly.

of 3

(3 Photos)

Share

• URL Copied

First ever Ramadan lights installation at Piccadilly Circus is pictured on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in London, Britain, March 21 2023. (Reuters)

Women take pictures of the first ever Ramadan lights installation at Piccadilly Circus on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in London, Britain, March 21 2023. (Reuters)

First ever Ramadan lights installation at Piccadilly Circus is pictured on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in London, Britain, March 21 2023. (Reuters)

Ramadan is an essential pillar of Islam and is the month-long period when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. The ritual is meant to encourage everyone to focus on their spirituality, patience, and charity.

Across London, an open Iftar – the meal with which Muslims break their fast at sunset – will be organized at the Victoria and Albert Museum in south Kensington, according to local media reports.

A temporary mosque and Ramadan pavilion have also been set up for Muslims and non-Muslims to enjoy.

Football giant Chelsea is also set to host an Iftar at their stadium in Stamford Bridge on March 26 – the first time a Premier Club has done so.

We can’t wait to make history! @ChelseaFC @CFCFoundation #RamadanFestival https://t.co/h5MVQGnhg9

— Open Iftar (@OpenIftar) March 16, 2023

Read more:

Ramadan around the world: 2023’s longest and shortest fasting hours

Ramadan: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman wishes Muslims around the world a blessed month

Saudi Arabia, UAE announce Ramadan to begin on Thursday