UK cost-of-living crisis pushes mothers to the brink
London/Coventry, Jan 26 (AFP/APP): At an east London church on a bitterly cold winter’s day, Beautine Wester-Okiya picks her way through boxes of donated baby clothes, toys, and other assorted…
US lawmakers push nationwide TikTok ban
Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced legislation seeking to ban TikTok on all devices in the United States and prohibit transactions with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance –…
Insects allowed as food in EU
Partially defatted and powdered house crickets will officially be able to find their way to EU citizens’ tables starting on January 24. This comes thanks to a European Commission ruling…
Russia delivers more aircraft to Mali
Bamako: The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) formally inducted another consignment of Russian jets and helicopters in a ceremony on 19 January, including a Su-25 ground-attack aircraft to replace the one…
Russian warship to join drills with China, South African navies
MOSCOW: A Russian warship armed with hypersonic cruise weapons will take part in exercises with the Chinese and South African navies in February, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency.…
The second man on Moon ties the knot at 93
Los Angeles: US astronaut Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, who was part of the legendary Apollo 11 mission that landed on the Moon in 1969, walked down the aisle on his 93rd…
Burkina Faso asks French troops to leave: govt letter
Ouagadougou, Jan 23 (AFP/APP): Burkina Faso has asked France to move its troops out of the country within a month, according to a letter from the authorities there to Paris…
California Lunar New Year mass shooter dead, motive unclear: police
Monterey Park, United States, Jan 23 (AFP/APP): The gunman believed to have killed 10 people during Lunar New Year celebrations in California shot himself dead as police moved in to…
‘Not afraid of the virus’: Wuhan turns page on Covid, three years on
Wuhan, China, Jan 23 (AFP/APP): Residents of China’s Wuhan said Monday they were hopeful for the future and no longer afraid of Covid-19, three years after the city was locked…
The women who dress men
Paris, Jan 23 (AFP/APP): Women are increasingly making their mark in men’s fashion, breaking through the “fabric ceiling” that has seen the industry dominated by men, and attracted by a…
Dubai to have the world’s first 3D-printed mosque
Dubai: The emirate of Dubai is planning to build the world’s first 3D-printed mosque which will be ready by early 2025. According to a report by The National last week,…
WWE legends set to return for RAW 30th anniversary
Alongside a match card filled with enticing encounters, the icons of WWE will be out in force with WWE Legends including The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, and…
UK Afghan relocation backlog reaches 71k as charities decry ‘restrictive’ criteria
LONDON: Britain’s Afghan relocation scheme has a backlog of 71,149 applications from vulnerable people still stuck in the Taliban-led country, The Independent reported. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy aims…
Iranian currency falls amid more EU sanctions
JEDDAH: Iran’s troubled currency rial fell to a record low against the US dollar on Saturday amid discussions in the European to impose new sanctions on 37 Iranian officials and…
Mummy of King Ramses II to go on show in Jeddah
CAIRO: The mummy of Egypt’s King Ramses II will go on show in Saudi Arabia next week as part of a global tour of ancient Egyptian artifacts.The traveling exhibition, titled…
Ten killed in shooting near LA after Lunar New Year festival
Los Angeles: At least 10 people have been killed and 10 injured in a mass shooting east of Los Angeles following a Lunar New Year celebration that attracted thousands, police…
Allies fail to agree on heavy tanks sought by Ukraine
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday there was “no alternative” but for the West to give Ukraine heavy tanks, as Germany failed to commit its sought-after…
Sweden greenlights Koran-burning stunt outside Turkish Embassy
Stockholm: Police in Sweden have said they will allow the leader of a hard-right political party to burn a copy of the Koran near the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, reportedly…
Russia and Pakistan agree to a major energy deal
ISLAMABAD: Moscow and Islamabad have reached “conceptual” agreements on supplies of Russian oil and petroleum products to Pakistan, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Sergey Mochalnikov said at a meeting of the…
Lebanon stripped of voting rights at UN
BEIRUT: Lebanon has been stripped of its voting rights at the UN General Assembly for failing to pay its annual dues. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the government in Beirut must…
Senior UN officials urge Taliban to reverse decrees limiting women’s freedoms
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 21 (APP): A high-level United Nations delegation, led by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Friday wrapped up its 4-day visit to Afghanistan during which it conveyed directly to…
Meat cultivated from cow cells is kosher, Israel’s Chief Rabbi rules
Cultivated meat, grown from animal cells in a lab or manufacturing plant, has been getting a lot of attention as a way to side-step the environmental toll of the meat…
It’s time for Finland and Sweden to join NATO: US
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration said Thursday it’s time for Turkiye to ratify Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO, bluntly saying that holdout members of the alliance should quickly approve…
UAE keeps its position as one of the safest countries in the world
ABU DHABI: The UAE has maintained its position as one of the safest places in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index.The GTI provides a comprehensive summary of global…
France disrupted by strikes over pension reform
PARIS: Train services, schools, flights, and scores of businesses in France were disrupted on Thursday as labor unions organized mass protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the retirement…
India accuses BBC of ‘colonial mindset’
New Delhi: The Indian Foreign Ministry has condemned the BBC for broadcasting a “propaganda piece” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The documentary focuses on allegations that Modi’s government discriminates against…
AAR Corp welcomes new US law on used aircraft parts
Washington: US-based aircraft maintenance provider AAR Corporation could benefit from a provision in the recently enacted fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that requires the US Air…
US to build a military-industrial base in Morocco
Washington: US President Joe Biden has instructed Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to prepare an emergency plan to establish an American military-industrial base in the Kingdom of Morocco, the New York…
Ukrainian interior minister killed in a helicopter crash
Kiev: Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky has been killed, police confirmed on Wednesday, after a helicopter he was traveling in crashed in a residential area in the town of Brovary…
Russia, Belarus launch joint air force drills
MOSCOW: Belarus said Monday that joint air force drills with Russia began on its territory, amid concerns Minsk was being dragged into the Ukraine conflict to fight alongside Moscow.Minsk’s defense…
China’s population shrinks for the first time in over 60 years
BEIJING: China’s population shrank last year for the first time in more than six decades, official data showed Tuesday, as the world’s most populous country faces a looming demographic crisis.The…
Catholic priest burned alive
Abuja: Catholic priest Reverend Isaac Achi was burned alive on Sunday in a botched home invasion at his house in Kaffin Koro parish in Nigeria’s Niger state, a police spokesman…
Italy’s most-wanted mafia boss arrested
ROME: Italian police have apprehended the country’s most-wanted mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro. The authorities believe the leader of Sicily’s Cosa Nostra was involved in a series of high-profile murders…
Ukraine’s defeat may lead to WWIII – EU state’s PM
Ukraine’s defeat may lead to a Third World War, meaning Germany and other NATO countries must step up and send Kiev more weapons, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claimed on…
China urges Israel to avoid provocations
China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has wrapped up his first overseas trip by calling for Israel to avoid further provocations that could escalate heightened tensions with Palestinians. “Israel should…
Thailand’s First Drone Delivery Service Launched in Phuket
Phuket: The first drone delivery service in Thailand was launched in Phuket to support the ‘Smart City’ project by using technology in international tourism cities. The Grand Opening – 1st…
West Japan high school to introduce ‘gender-neutral’ rules
OKAYAMA — A public high school in this west Japan city will introduce new “gender-neutral” school rules in the 2023 academic year starting in April, with restrictions on hairstyles —…
British Airways unveils new uniforms
LONDON: British Airways has unveiled a collection of new uniforms. The collection features a tailored three-piece suit for men with regular and slim fit style trousers, while women are offered…
Half of the world’s glaciers expected to vanish by 2100: study
WASHINGTON: Half of the Earth’s glaciers, notably smaller ones, are destined to disappear by the end of the century because of climate change, but limiting global warming could save others,…
Germany to drop mask mandate in trains and buses from February 2nd
Berlin: Germany will end the requirement to wear face masks on long-distance trains and buses from February 2nd as the coronavirus pandemic loosened its grip on the country, authorities announced…
Panic in US amid reports of a new Chinese military base in Argentina
Buenos Aires: China is allegedly making behind-the-scenes moves in Argentina to secure permission to establish a new naval base in the city of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province, which would…
Thanks To TikTok, Ukraine Is Raining Missile On Russian Troops With Pinpoint Accuracy & To A Devastating Effect
Ukrainian forces have been precisely targeting Russian troops, wreaking havoc on their command and control centers throughout the ongoing war. However, it appears that the unapproved use of smartphones by…
Japan to release radioactive water into the sea this year
Tokyo: Japan says it will release more than a million tonnes of water into the sea from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant this year. After treatment the levels of…
Over 80,000 Israelis protest against Supreme Court reform
Tel Aviv: More than 80,000 Israeli protesters have rallied in Tel Aviv against plans by the new right-wing coalition government to overhaul the judiciary. The reforms would make it easier…
Nearly 60,000 COVID-19-related deaths reported in China in the past month; peak infection has passed: NHC
Beijing: China announced the latest figures of epidemic-related deaths, as the National Health Commission (NHC) revealed on Saturday a total of 59,938 COVID-19-related deaths between December 8, 2022 and January…
TotalEnergies To Supply LNG To Germany’s Newest Import Terminal
TotalEnergies will supply LNG and is contributing a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to the Deutsche Ostsee LNG import terminal in Lubmin on the German Baltic Sea coast, which…
NAHCO staff suspended over suspected sabotage on Air Peace A320 fleet: Report
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), has launched an investigation into its own staff, following allegations of suspected sabotage after a piece of its equipment collided with an Air Peace…
Philippine Army receives Sabrah light tank
The Philippine Army has received a Sabrah ASCOD II light tank from Israel?s Elbit Systems. In a social media post, the Philippine Army’s Armor Division (AD) said that it has…
Syria: Protests against potential reconciliation between Damascus, Ankara
Syrians in most areas controlled by the Syrian opposition took to the streets on Friday to protest against the possible reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara, news agencies reported. The protesters…
‘Iran has enough enriched uranium to make 4 nuclear bombs,’ – Israeli army
Iran currently has enough enriched uranium to make four nuclear bombs, Israel’s outgoing military chief informed reporters on Friday. “Iran today has enough enriched material to produce four nuclear bombs,…
Russian missiles hit multiple Ukraine cities
Russia has launched a new barrage of missiles at targets across Ukraine, killing at least 14 people in the eastern-central city of Dnipro and disrupting power supplies in the Kyiv…
Plane with 72 people on board crashes in Nepal
An aircraft with 72 people on board has crashed in Nepal. The plane crashed on Sunday between the old and new Pokhara airports in central Nepal, according to media reports.…
FAA Failure Causes Massive Flight Delays in the US
WASHINGTON: Airlines in the United States resumed departures and a ground stop was lifted on Wednesday after a system outage the previous night had forced a halt to all departing…
Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley dies at 54
Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter and only child of Elvis Presley, died at the age of 54 on Thursday. The news came after Presley was rushed to the hospital…
How AI Could Predict The Damage to Ukraine from Russian Missiles
Kyiv: A Silicon Valley company is using artificial intelligence to help Ukraine better predict and prepare for Russian airstrikes like the ones that have knocked out power to thousands of…
India to spend $522M on missiles, air defense, and naval weapons
NEW DELHI — India’s top arms buyer on Tuesday approved a budget of 42.76 billion rupees (U.S. $522.17 million) to acquire weapons solely from domestic companies. The approved projects are…
Saudi Arabia, Egypt call for regional peace in a joint statement
RIYADH: Iran must fully respect its obligations to international treaties and end its pursuit of nuclear weapons as part of a regional push for peace, urged a joint statement released…
Indian town rapidly sinking, space agency warns
Joshimath: The Indian town of Joshimath, known as a gateway to the Himalayas, sank by 5.4cm, sometime between late December and early January, the Indian space agency has reported. The…
Strategic Donbass town of Soledar fully liberated – MOD
MNOSCOW: Russian forces have taken full control of the strategic Donbass town of Soledar, Moscow’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday. The news comes after Russian private military company Wagner Group…
Europe’s largest rare earth deposit discovered in Sweden
Kiruna, Sweden, Jan 12 (AFP/APP): Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements, essential for the manufacturing of electric vehicles, has been discovered in Sweden’s far north, boosting Europe’s hopes…
The world’s most powerful passport for 2023 revealed
NEW YORK: A trio of Asian passports offers their holders greater global travel freedom than those of any other countries, according to a new quarterly report released by London-based global…
US general fired after using troops for personal tasks – media
California: A general in the California National Guard has reportedly been fired after internal investigations found that he had exploited troops for personal use, such as driving him to medical…
Philippine defense chief quits in latest security shakeup
MANILA: The acting Philippine defense chief has resigned, officials said Monday, in the latest in a series of top-level changes in the country’s security establishment that has sparked speculation of…
Ukrainian troops heading to Oklahoma for Patriot missile training
Oklahoma: A hundred Ukrainian soldiers are set to begin training on the Patriot missile system at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, “as soon as next week,” Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder…
After hype and controversy, Prince Harry’s memoir goes on sale
London, Jan 10 (AFP/APP): After months of anticipation and a blanket publicity blitz, Prince Harry’s autobiography “Spare” went on sale Tuesday as royal insiders hit back at his scorching revelations.The…
UK desires economic growth in Pakistan: British HC
ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (APP): British High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner on Tuesday said the United Kingdom had deep relations with Pakistan and had a strong desire for its economic growth.…
Biden to visit Canada in March: White House
Mexico City, Jan 10 (AFP/APP): US President Joe Biden will travel to Canada in March for his first visit to the northern neighbor since taking office, the White House announced…
Extreme weather caused $165 billion in US damage in 2022: officials
Washington, Jan 10 (AFP/APP): Major hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, drought, and a fierce winter storm caused more than $165 billion in damage in the United States last year with climate change…
Boeing deliveries rose in 2022, but still lag behind Airbus
New York: Boeing accelerated the pace of commercial plane deliveries in the fourth quarter, but again lagged arch-rival Airbus for all of 2022, according to company data released Tuesday.The US…
Police move in on anti-coal activists at a German protest camp
Lützerath, Germany, Jan 10 (AFP/APP): German police on Tuesday began removing climate activists perched precariously on high structures as they embarked on a “dangerous” operation to evacuate a protest camp…
WB maintains Pakistan’s GDP growth forecast at 2% for FY23
ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (APP): The World Bank in its latest report has forecast Pakistan’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at 2.0% in the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) which…
Israel praises UAE inclusion of Holocaust
in school curricula
Tel Aviv: Israel yesterday praised the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE)’s decision to include studies on the Holocaust in the secondary school curriculum, describing the move as “historic”. “In a historic decision, the…
US prohibits Israel pilots from flying F-35 jets
Israeli media reported on Friday that the US Department of Defense and intelligence authorities are preventing Israeli pilots from flying F-35 fighter jets, fearing information technology leaks. Israeli newspaper The…
‘Chinese tracking device’ found in UK government car – media
LONDON: A hidden “Chinese tracking device” and other “disturbing things” were found in a recent security inspection of UK government vehicles, iNews reported on Friday, citing intelligence sources. The check…
McCarthy elected US House speaker on the 15th round of voting
Washington: Kevin McCarthy has been elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives after heated exchanges that almost saw fellow Republicans come to blows. It took 15 rounds of voting…
29 killed in the arrest of Mexico drug kingpin’s son
Culiacán, Mexico, Jan 7 (AFP/APP): Ten soldiers and 19 suspected criminals were killed in an operation to arrest the son of jailed drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Mexico’s government…
US approves new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease
Washington, Jan 6 (AFP/APP): The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a highly anticipated new drug designed to slow cognitive decline in patients in mild and early stages…
Six-year-old student shoots teacher in US school
Newport News: A six-year-old student shot and wounded a teacher in Virginia during an altercation inside a first-grade classroom, police and school officials in the city of Newport News said.…
Afghan Taliban signs oil deal with Chinese firm – Bloomberg
KABUL: The Taliban government of Afghanistan has signed an oil extraction deal with a Chinese company, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The contract with Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Company…
Mexico arrests son of notorious drug
kingpin ‘El Chapo’
CULIACAN: Mexican security forces on Thursday captured the son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, scoring a high-profile win in the fight against powerful cartels days before US…
Austrian officer shoots dead fellow soldier in scuffle
Vienna, Jan 6 (AFP/APP): An Austrian officer shot dead a fellow soldier in a scuffle Friday at an army barracks just outside Vienna, the defence ministry said.A soldier on guard…
Russia, Iran companies sign memorandums on space launch services
TEHRAN: Russia’s Space Corporation, on Thursday, said it signed memorandums with two Iranian companies on launch services, Anadolu News Agency reports. “As a result of international events, conferences and exhibitions…
Biden says US immigration system ‘broken’
Washington, Jan 5 (AFP/APP): US President Joe Biden declared the US immigration system “broken” Thursday as he unveiled what he said would be a “safe and humane” new plan to…
Social media may alter the brains of children – study
Habitually checking social media as a young teenager is linked to hypersensitivity to peer feedback and may potentially lead to permanent changes in the brain’s reward and motivation centers, neuroscientists…
Jordan king: If Israel wants a conflict ‘we’re quite prepared’
Amman: Jordan’s King Abdullah II has told CNN that his country is “quite prepared” for a conflict with the new Israeli government if it wants a conflict with Amman. “If…
Pioneering US television journalist Barbara Walters dead at 93
WASHINGTON: Barbara Walters, one of the most visible women on US television as the first female anchor on an American network evening news broadcast and one of TV’s most prominent…
Britain to declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terror group
LONDON: Britain will officially declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which has arrested seven people with links to the United Kingdom over anti-government protests, as a terrorist group, the Telegraph reported on…
Russian “precision strikes” destroys US supplied HIMARS – Moscow
MOSCOW: Russian forces have destroyed several US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers and eliminated scores of Ukrainian troops along with dozens of foreign fighters in the latest series of strikes, Moscow’s Defense…
Dubai scraps Alcohol tax
DUBAI: The emirati city of Dubai has ended a 30% tax on alcoholic drinks while making obligatory liquor licenses free to obtain, two major local retailers announced on Sunday. The…
Ex-NATO chief lands in Taiwan
Taipei: Former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, where he will meet with the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. The trip takes place amid a row…
Rally driver Ken Block dies in snowmobile accident
ANKARA, Jan 3 (AA/APP): American rally driver and YouTube sensation Ken Block died in a snowmobile accident on Monday. He was 55.“It’s with our deepest regrets that we can confirm…
U.N. temporarily stops some operations in Afghanistan after the ban on women aid workers
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 29 (APP): The United Nations has announced that some “time-critical” programmes in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely be paused following…
Brazilian football legend Pele has died: family
Sao Paulo, Dec 29 (AFP/APP): Brazilian football icon Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time and a three-time World Cup winner who masterminded the “beautiful game,” has…
Hundreds of 4,500-yr-old tombs found in central China
ZHENGZHOU: Archaeologists have found more than 300 tombs dating back around 4,500 years in central China’s Henan Province, which are of great significance to studying the burial system and social…
Sri Lanka’s int’l airport in Mattala resumes operation
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s second international airport in the southern town of Mattala resumed international flight operation on Thursday after a lapse of two years. A passenger plane from Russia’s Red…
Germany’s medicine shortage puts a squeeze on pharmacies
BERLIN: Germany is facing shortages of many common medications, putting the squeeze on pharmacies and leaving parents across the country in a desperate state. Anadolu Agency spoke to a pharmacist…
18 kids died after consuming syrup made by an Indian firm: Uzbekistan
NEW DEHLI: At least 18 children have died after consuming a syrup manufactured by Indian drugmaker Marion Biotech Pvt Ltd, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health says. The ministry said 18 of…
Xi, Benin president exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties
BEIJING, Dec 29 (XINHUA/APP): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday exchanged congratulations with President of Benin Patrice Talon on the 50th anniversary of the resumption of the two countries diplomatic…
Putin prohibits supplying Russian oil to countries using oil price cap
MOSCOW, Dec 28 (AA/APP): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a decree prohibiting supplies of oil and petroleum products to countries that imposed a price cap on Russian fuel.…
Pope says ex-pontiff Benedict ‘very ill’
Vatican City, Dec 28 (AFP/APP): Pope Francis said Wednesday that former pontiff Benedict XVI, 95, is “very ill”, and urged people to pray for him before going to be by…
Nothing in Islam prohibits exchanging Christmas greetings: Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Head of Muslim World League
DUBAI: Islam does not prohibit Muslims from exchanging Christmas greetings with Christians, the head of the Muslim World League has said in an earlier interview. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa particularly…
‘Blizzard of the century’ leaves nearly 50 dead across US
Buffalo, Dec 27 (AFP/APP): Emergency crews in New York were scrambling Monday to rescue marooned residents from what authorities called the “blizzard of the century,” a relentless storm that has…
4.9 magnitude earthquake recorded in Egypt’s Eastern Coast
Amman, Dec 27 (SPA/APP): An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale early Tuesday hit the South Sinai area, east of Egypt, Petra quoted the Jordan Seismological…
Turkiye launches new anti-terror operation in southeast
ISTANBUL, Dec 26 (AA/APP): Turkish security forces launched yet another counter-terrorism operation in the country’s southeast, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.The operation, called the Eren Abluka Autumn Winter-19 (Sirnak-Bestler…
China stops revealing COVID-19 numbers
ISTANBUL, Dec 26 (AA/APP): Facing a reported surge in infections, China has stopped publishing its daily COVID-19 data.The National Health Commission (NHC) put up the last update on its website…
Canada bus rollover leaves 4 dead, dozens injured
Montreal, Dec 26 (AFP/APP) :Four people have died and dozens more were injured after a passenger bus rolled over in western Canada, with authorities saying Sunday that icy roads were…
Six dead, 19 missing in Philippine floods
MANILA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua/APP): At least six people have died and 19 others are missing, as heavy rain and flooding triggered by the shear line have been seen in many…
Saudi Arabia: Flash floods hit the city of Mecca
MECCA: Severe flash floods hit Saudi Arabia’s Mecca on Friday, causing serious damages to properties and sweeping parked cars away. Several videos of heavy rains in the holy city have…
US winter storm kills 18, leaves hundreds of thousands without power
A fierce winter storm has knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the United States and left at least 18 people dead due to exposure…
Fuel shortage causes largest hospital in Yemen’s Taiz to shut down
SANAA, Yemen, Dec 25 (AA/APP) –: A fuel crisis has forced the largest hospital in Yemen’s central Taiz province to stop operations on Sunday, according to the hospital. In a…
South Africa fuel tanker blast death toll rises to 15
Johannesburg, Dec 25 (AFP/APP): The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in a South African city east of Johannesburg has risen to 15, the health minister said Sunday.“Yesterday (Saturday),…
Four killed in Spain after bus plunges into river
Madrid, Dec 25 (AFP/APP): Four people died after a bus plunged into a river overnight while crossing a bridge in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region, officials said Sunday. The accident occurred…
Germany seeks ‘clear global reaction’ to Taliban curbs on women
Berlin, Dec 25 (AFP/APP): Germany’s foreign minister on Sunday called for a “clear reaction from the international community” as Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban banned women from working in non-governmental organisations after…
US Central Command experimenting with new technologies to deal with Iranian drones
WASHINGTON: A senior US military leader said that the US is building innovative military systems in the Middle East designed to counter emerging threats from Iran and other non-state actors…
Israeli army mistakenly calls up tens of thousands of reservists
Tel Aviv: The Israeli army apologized Thursday for mistakenly sending automated call-up messages to tens of thousands of Israeli reservists, Anadolu reports. “In the night hours, a planned maintenance operation…
Brexit cost UK over £30 billion – study
LONDON: The UK economy would have been much better off if the country had stayed in the European Union, a study by the Centre for European Reform (CER) shows. According…
Hospitals overflow in China’s Covid wave
Chongqing, China, Dec 23 (AFP/APP): “Deceased, deceased,” a staffer in full protective gear shouted as she handed a nurse a death certificate, their hospital in central China overflowing with Covid…
New visa types introduced at Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka to attract foreign investment
COLOMBO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua/APP): Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers have granted the issuance of investment, employment and resident visas to foreigners at the Colombo Port City, cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena…
India begins to randomly test international visitors for COVID
NEW DELHI: India has begun randomly testing international passengers arriving at its airports for COVID-19, the country’s federal health minister has said, citing an increase in cases in neighbouring China.…
Prepay meters worsen energy inequality in the UK
London, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): A bitter cold descends on snow-topped terraced houses in north London, as Samantha Pierre-Joseph warms her living room with a small whirring fan heater.The home, bedecked…
Bankman-Fried in US custody, two associates plead guilty to FTX fraud
Nassau, Bahamas, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): US law enforcement on Wednesday took custody of Sam Bankman-Fried and were flying him from the Bahamas to New York, where prosecutors said two associates…
Mascot ‘Tu Yuanyuan’ launched ahead of the Chinese Year of Rabbit
ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): The government of China has released the official logo and mascot as the ‘Year of the Rabbit’ comes just around the corner on January 22, 2023.…
France fines Microsoft 60 million euros over advertising cookies
Paris, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): France’s privacy watchdog said Thursday it has fined US tech giant Microsoft 60 million euros ($64 million) for foisting advertising cookies on users.In the largest fine…
UN slams Taliban decision to bar women from universities and calls for ‘immediate’ revocation
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22 (APP): The United Nations and several countries on Wednesday condemned the Taliban’s decision to close universities to women and called for the de facto authorities to…
Israel’s Netanyahu forms new government
Jerusalem, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): Veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had formed a new Israeli government on Wednesday, returning to power as the head of the most right-wing coalition…
Belgium court to rule on MEP’s detention in graft case
Brussels, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): A Belgian court will decide on Thursday whether to keep a Greek MEP in jail pending trial on corruption charges in a graft scandal linked to…
Gambian government says has foiled coup attempt
Banjul, Gambia, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): The Gambia’s government on Wednesday said it had thwarted a coup attempt the previous day and arrested four soldiers.There was no immediate confirmation of the…
Twitter-owner Musk seeks new CEO, but casts big shadow
New York, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): Twitter boss Elon Musk is looking for a new CEO, but the winner will have to live in the shadow of the mercurial billionaire, who…
US to provide Patriot missile system to Ukraine
Washington, Dec 22 (AFP/APP): The United States said Wednesday it would provide Ukraine with the advanced Patriot air defense system to help counter Moscow’s relentless aerial attacks.The system is part…
Vehicles stranded, trains suspended as record snowfall hits Japan
TOKYO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua/APP) –: Record levels of snow hitting Niigata, southern Tohoku Prefecture and other areas north of Tokyo have left vehicles stranded on highways, caused power outages, and…
6.4-magnitude quake strikes off northern California: USGS
San Francisco, Dec 20 (AFP/APP): A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California early Tuesday but there was no tsunami threat, seismologists said.The relatively shallow quake hit 25…
The endless cycle of destruction and repair for Ukraine’s energy workers
Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Dec 20 (AFP/APP): It has become a daily struggle for Ukrainian technicians: mending pipes damaged by Russian airstrikes in a desperate bid to keep the energy grid working…
Dutch PM apologizes for 250 years of slavery
The Hague, Dec 19 (AFP/APP): Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday officially apologized for 250 years of the Netherlands’ involvement in slavery, calling it a “crime against humanity”.The apology…
Argentina wins the 2022 FIFA World Cup
DOHA: Lionel Messi captained Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory on a night of high drama as his team overcame France on penalties after a thrilling game ended 3-3 at…
Kissinger outlines Ukraine peace proposal
Washington: Urgently negotiating an end to hostilities in Ukraine would prevent another world war, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger argued in an essay published on Friday. The 99-year-old…
Russian troops get fresh batch of ‘Penicillin’ – RIA
MOSCOW: Russian troops have received a fresh batch of ‘Penicillin’ advanced reconnaissance systems, RIA Novosti news agency reported on Saturday, citing a source. The hardware is expected to be deployed…
Ex-UK PM David Cameron to teach politics in Abu Dhabi
LONDON: Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron is set to take up a position teaching politics at New York University Abu Dhabi in January. The former leader of the Conservative…
Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations critical to region’s stability: CENTCOM chief
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael E. Kurilla has said that Pakistan’s counter-terror operations remain critical to maintaining stability and security in the region. The…
Cocaine traces found at former UK PM’s retreat – Guardian
LONDON: Traces of cocaine were reportedly found by staff working at a UK government grace-and-favor home after parties attended by political allies of former Prime Minister and foreign secretary Liz…
Angelina Jolie quits UN role
Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie has quit as a special envoy for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) after two decades in the role, the United Nations said on Friday. The star…
UK orders audit of Ukraine aid – BBC
LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has requested a “data-driven assessment” of the situation in Ukraine, a Whitehall source told BBC Newsnight on Friday, prompting fears that London might slow…
NASA launches new mission to survey Earth’s water
LOS ANGELES, Dec 17 (XINHUA/APP): The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the newest Earth science satellite on Friday to track nearly all the water on Earth’s surface.…
Jose Maria Sison, Philippines’ communist leader dies at 83
Manila, Dec 17 (AFP/APP): Jose Maria Sison, who launched one of the world’s longest-running Maoist insurgencies, has died at 83, the Communist Party of the Philippines announced Saturday.The former university…
UN experts call on Taliban to halt public floggings, executions
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (APP): The resumption of public floggings and executions in Afghanistan must stop immediately, a group of UN human rights experts said in an appeal to the…
IAF scrambled jets in response to Chinese tensions
NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force (IAF) combat jets have been scrambled several times in the last few weeks in the country’s northeastern borders in response to growing tensions with China,…
U.S. CENTCOM chief visits Pakistan to reaffirm security ties
ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael E. Kurilla, visited Islamabad on a two-day visit from December 14-16 to hold meetings with Pakistani military leadership…
Four critically injured after crush at London concert venue
London, Dec 16 (AFP/APP): Four people were critically injured and four others were hospitalised following a crush outside a south London venue hosting a concert by Nigerian Afrobeats singer Asake,…
Russia fires ‘massive’ missile barrage at Ukraine grid
Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec 16 (AFP/APP): A fresh barrage of fatal Russian strikes hit cities across Ukraine early Friday, cutting water and electricity in major urban hubs and piling pressure on…
Fire outside France’s Lyon kills 10, including five children
Lyon, Dec 16 (AFP/APP): Five children including a three-year-old were among 10 people killed when a fire broke out in a seven-story apartment building in a suburb of the French…
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: France into final with 2-0 win as Morocco goes down fighting
AL KHOR, Qatar — France is on its way to a second consecutive World Cup final after goals from Theo Hernandez and substitute Randal Kolo Muani gave Les Blues a…
China pulls diplomats after riot investigation by UK Police
LONDON: China has repatriated six of its envoys who UK police wanted to question over the alleged beating of a pro-Western demonstrator during a riot at the Chinese consulate in…
UN chief, in a message for Human Rights Day, calls for ensuring human dignity, justice
ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has underscored the need for a recommitment to human rights, which, he said, are central to solving global problems. “Human rights are…
European Parliament vice-president Kaili arrested
Brussels, Dec 9 (AFP/APP): Belgian police arrested Greek socialist MEP Eva Kaili, one of the vice presidents of the European Parliament, in Brussels on Friday evening, a source close to…
German forces loyal to the constitution – interior ministry
BERLIN: German lawmakers are calling for a review of security arrangements at the Bundestag lower house of parliament after authorities detained members of a far-right group that they say were…
Pentagon Splits $9B Cloud Effort Among Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced the awardees of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability—or JWCC—contract, with Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle each receiving an award. Through the contract, which…
Indra, Centum partner to build space surveillance radar for India
NEW DELHI: Spanish technology company Indra has signed an agreement with Bangalore-based Centum Electronics to submit a joint proposal to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to manufacture a space…
Aramco, Shandong energy collaborate on downstream projects in China
Dhahran, Dec 9 (SPA/APP): The Saudi Arabian Oil Company “Aramco”, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and Shandong Energy Group, are exploring collaboration on integrated refining…
Finland introduces new ways to monitor COVID-19 deaths
HELSINKI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua/APP): Finland is set to change its method of collecting data on deaths caused by COVID-19 infections from Thursday onwards, to make the information more accurate and…
From Shetlands to Azores, Europe’s space race takes off
Paris, Dec 8 (AFP/APP): Projects to develop space centers that can launch satellites into Earth’s orbit are sprouting up around Europe, amid the soaring popularity of small rockets and the…
Lebanon’s cholera outbreak under control: health minister
BEIRUT, Dec. 8 (Xinhua/APP): Lebanese caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad said on Wednesday that the cholera outbreak in Lebanon is under control given the limited number of confirmed daily cases,…
UNGA adopts four Pakistani resolutions aimed at underpinning regional, and world peace
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (APP): The United Nations General Assembly Wednesday adopted Pakistan’s four annual disarmament-related resolutions that are aimed at strengthening regional as well as international peace and security,…
Aussie gov’t to overhaul environmental laws
CANBERRA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua/APP): The Australian government has announced its plan to fix the country’s broken environmental protection laws.Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, on Thursday, released a…
AIIB to provide Bangladesh with 250 mln USD as budgetary support
DHAKA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua/APP): The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will provide 250 million U.S. dollars to help Bangladesh improve the inclusiveness and responsiveness of social development. The loan will…
Largest-ever Pak-Australia parliamentary friendship group established at Australian parliament
CANBERRA (Australia), Dec 7 (APP): The largest-ever Australia-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group with 38 members has been established at the 47th Parliament of Australia.The group comprises members from both the Houses…
N. Zealand takes custody of ill baby from anti-vax parents
Wellington, Dec 7 (AFP/APP): A New Zealand court on Wednesday took temporary custody of a sick infant whose parents blocked life-saving heart surgery because potential blood donors may be vaccinated…
Japan to provide an additional grant of $ 38.9 million for Pakistan’s flood victims
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): The government of Japan has announced its plan to provide grant assistance of $ 38.9 million to Pakistan as part of Japan’s supplementary budget to deliver…
Democrats capture Senate seat in Georgia runoff
Washington, Dec 7 (AFP/APP): US President Joe Biden celebrated the strengthening of his party’s majority in the Senate on Tuesday after Democrat Raphael Warnock was declared the winner of a…
Morocco shock Spain to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Doha, Dec 6 (AFP/APP): Morocco stunned Spain in a penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history on Tuesday as Achraf…
PA, Egypt, Israel, Hamas make Gaza Marine breakthrough
Washington: The Palestinian Authority (PA), Egypt, and Hamas have made a breakthrough regarding the Gaza gas field, known as Gaza Marine, news reports revealed last week. The Washington Post reported…
Musk’s brain chip company under US federal investigation – media
Elon Musk’s Neuralink Corp, a firm specializing in brain implants, is facing a federal probe due to alleged “animal-welfare violations” during product tests, Reuters reported on Monday, just days after…
Pope John Paul II covered up child abuse as bishop – Dutch author
A Dutch journalist based in Poland has claimed to have found archival documents that incriminate Pope John Paul II in shielding priests allegedly involved in the sexual abuse of children…
Trump rebuked for the call to suspend Constitution over election
WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump faced rebuke Sunday (Dec 4) from officials in both parties after calling for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution over his lie that the…
Historic crown to be modified for King Charles’s coronation
LONDON: The historic St Edward’s Crown, which has been the centerpiece of the coronation of monarchs in England for more than 350 years, has been removed from the Tower of…
Russia willing to provide Pakistan with crude oil, LNG at discount – Pak Govt
ISLAMABAD: Russia has agreed to provide Pakistan with crude oil at a discount. Further, the country is finalizing an agreement to import two million pounds of gas from Iran. This…
Violence at work has affected more than one in five people worldwide: UN report
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 05 (APP): More than one in five people employed – almost 23 per cent – have experienced violence and harassment in the workplace, whether physical, psychological or…
‘Around 300’ dead in east DR Congo massacre: minister
Kinshasa, Dec 5 (AFP/APP): “Around 300” people died in an attack on villagers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week blamed on the M23 rebel group, Industry Minister…
Colombia landslide kills at least 27
Bogotá, Dec 5 (AFP/APP): Heavy rains in northwest Colombia sent a wall of earth crashing onto a winding road, swallowing up a bus and other vehicles and killing 27 people,…
Chad jails 262 in mass trial after deadly protests
N’Djamena, Dec 5 (AFP/APP): A Chadian court has handed jail terms of between two and three years to 262 people who were arrested after deadly protests in October, the public…
UAE leader visits Qatar for the first time since the blockade
Doha, Dec 5 (AFP/APP): The United Arab Emirates president on Monday made his first visit to Qatar since the end of a nearly four-year regional blockade that put ties in…
Russia hits Ukraine grid in a latest fatal barrage
Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec 5 (AFP/APP): Ukraine was targeted on Monday by a new wave of fatal Russian missiles, the latest attack to cause massive power disruptions across the country and…
UNGA adopts resolution highlighting the power of sport to attain peace, development
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 04 (APP): Against a backdrop of global conflicts, economic uncertainty, and climate change, the UN General Assembly has recognized the transformative power of sport to achieve peace…
UNHCR warns of risky Andaman Sea crossings amid rising numbers
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 03 (APP): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, on Friday, issued an alert over the dramatic increase in the number of people attempting to cross the Andaman Sea,…
‘Deterrence the American way’: The new B-21 bomber debuts
PALMDALE, Calif.: For the first time in a generation, the Air Force revealed a new stealth bomber — a sleek, highly capable weapon the service hopes will be so deadly…
4.5 magnitude quake jolts parts of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 3 (APP): An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale jolted several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Peshawar, in the wee hours of Saturday.People came out of…
Russia planning to encircle Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut – UK
KEIV: Russia is likely planning to encircle the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut with tactical advances to the north and south, Britain’s defense ministry said on Saturday.The capture of the…
EU, G7, and Australia to cap the price of Russian oil at $60 per barrel
WASHINGTON: The Group of Seven nations and Australia joined the European Union on Friday in adopting a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil, a key step as Western sanctions aim…
US to redeploy weapons from Middle East to Ukraine – Raytheon
Washington: The US is working to move some National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) batteries from Middle Eastern countries to Ukraine, Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes has said. The Virginia-based…
China faces marriage crisis
China’s annual rate of new marriages has fallen to the lowest point in more than three decades, contributing to the country’s already declining birth rate, news agency Yicai reported on…
Edward Snowden receives Russian passport – lawyer
MOSCOW: Former CIA and National Security Agency (NSA) officer Edward Snowden received his Russian passport, after having been granted citizenship by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year. According to Snowden’s…
Pakistan’s mission head in Kabul escapes assassination attempt
KABUL: Pakistan’s Mission Head in Kabul Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani escaped an assassination attempt on Friday, confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a statement, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said:…
COUNTER STRIKE: Iran-backed media outlet reveals ‘sensitive’ sites Iran will strike in war against Israel
TEHRAN: Media close to the Iranian government has published a list of “sensitive” sites vulnerable to attack by Tehran and its proxy groups in the event of a future war,…
China’s two meteorological satellites put into operation
BEIJING: Two meteorological satellites, along with their ground application systems, have officially started operation, said the China Meteorological Administration on Thursday.The trial operation of the two satellites, Fengyun-3E (FY-3E) and…
Israel and US hold drills targeted at Iran
The Israeli military has conducted joint training operations with the United States, holding a series of air drills to simulate strikes on Iran just days after West Jerusalem pressed US…
India assumes UNSC’s presidency for December; faces a question about the decline in democracy
UNITED NATIONS: India took over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council Thursday for December — the month this South Asian country will also complete its two-year term as…
Chile and Bolivia agree on river row, UN court says
The Hague: Chile and Bolivia have agreed on the status of a disputed cross-border river, the International Court of Justice said on Thursday, adding that judges were not required to…
WHO donates ambulances, and medical equipment to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (APP): World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday donated ambulances, mobile labour rooms, health clinic, and medical equipment to the government of Pakistan. WHO, Pakistan Representative Dr Palitha…
England breaks 112-year-old cricket record
in Pakistan match
RAWALPINDI: England batters broke a 112-year-old record on the first day of the first test match against Pakistan, racking up 506 runs for a loss of four wickets at Rawalpindi’s…
Lebanon MPs again fail to fill the vacant presidency
BEIRUT: Lawmakers in crisis-hit Lebanon failed to elect a new president on Thursday for the eighth time, despite the deepening impact of the political deadlock on the country’s economic woes.…
Parcel bomb intercepted at Spanish air base
Madrid: Security agents have intercepted a parcel bomb sent to the Torrejon Air Base in Spain, the military section of the Madrid–Torrejon Airport serving the capital, local media have reported.…
Tokyo’s court continues ban on same-sex marriage
A court in Tokyo has dismissed a case, in which plaintiffs argued that denying same-sex couples the right to get married was unconstitutional. In two similar cases in other Japanese…
Hakeem Jeffries elected House Democratic leader in milestone for Black Americans
WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (AA/APP): Democrats in the House of Representatives unanimously chose congressman Hakeem Jeffries to be their next party leader on Wednesday, making him the first Black lawmaker to…
US House of Representatives votes to block nationwide rail strike
WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (AA/APP): The House of Representatives approved with a strong bipartisan majority on Wednesday legislation that seeks to avert a looming nationwide rail shutdown, which would have dire…
Climate ‘tragedy’: Vanuatu to relocate ‘dozens’ of villages
Port Vila, Vanuatu, Dec 1 (AFP/APP): Vanuatu is drawing up plans to relocate “dozens” of villages within the next two years, as they come under threat from rising seas, the…
Japan’s power saving scheme goes into effect amid supply concerns
TOKYO, Dec. 1 (Xinhua):– Japan began a power-saving scheme on Thursday in a bid to ensure a stable electricity supply throughout the winter months amid concerns over a possible power…
Tesla hoping electric ‘Semi’ will shake up heavy duty market
New York, Dec 1 (AFP/APP): After years of delays, US automaker Tesla is expected on Thursday to deliver its first battery-powered semi-truck, with which it hopes to get a jump…
‘Triple-dip’ La Nina could continue into March: UN
Geneva, Nov 30 (AFP/APP): The exceptionally-long La Nina, which has worsened drought and flooding around the globe, is set to continue into February or even March, the United Nations warned…
Russia finalizes ‘LGBTQ propaganda’ ban
MOSCOW: The Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber of parliament, supported a bill that imposed a complete ban on LGBTQ, pedophilia, and sex-change ‘propaganda’ in the country on Wednesday. The legislation…
Former China leader Jiang Zemin dies, aged 96
Beijing, Nov 30 (AFP/APP): Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin died Wednesday at the age of 96, state media reported, hailing him as a great communist revolutionary who helped quell the…
US may declare Russia’s ‘Wagner Group’ a terrorist organization
US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering labeling the Wagner Group a foreign terrorist organization as a way to put more pressure on Russia, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing anonymous…
US Space Force to track North Korean missiles
The United States Space Force is working to create an early warning system for North Korean missile launches, a top commander said, hoping to step up surveillance following a record…
NATO to supply fighter jets to Kiev – retired US admiral
NATO leaders are considering a possible a U-turn on providing Ukraine with advanced fighter jets, James Stavridis, retired supreme allied commander and US Navy admiral, claimed in an op-ed published…
‘Golden era of UK-China ties is over’: UK PM
The British prime minister has said the period of burgeoning trade with China, based on mutual economic interests, is now over. Rishi Sunak described Beijing as a rival while pledging…
China-Central Asia gas pipeline transports over 40 bln cubic meters this year
URUMQI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua/APP): The China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline has delivered over 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China this year, according to PipeChina West Pipeline Company.The pipeline…
Over 4,000 European doctors left UK’s health services after Brexit
ANKARA, Nov 28 (AA/APP): More than 4,000 European doctors have decided not to work with UK’s National Health Service (NHS), worsening the country’s shortage of doctors after Brexit, recent research…
Oil slips over demand woes as China struggles with COVID protests
ANKARA, Nov 28 (AA/APP): Oil prices lost almost $2 a barrel on Monday as ongoing China COVID restrictions and protests in several cities fuelled demand concerns in the top oil-importing…
Road accident kills four, injures 10 in north Afghanistan
Afghanistan, Nov. 28 (Xinhua/APP): Four commuters have been confirmed dead and 10 others injured as a car collided with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction in Khawja Sabzpush district…
Imran Khan announces to quit all assemblies
RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced that his party has decided to quit all the assemblies.. “We will not be part of this…
Study: Human and Octopus Brains Turn Out to Be Surprisingly Similar
A team of scientists, with systems biologist Nikolaus Rajewsky of the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine as the lead author, has found a trait that octopus brains share with humans: a…
US to send anti-drone machine guns, air defense ammunition to Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said it will send Ukraine up to $400 million in artillery ammunition, weapons, and supplies in its latest drawdown package to help the nation defend itself…
World-leading 3D printing tech widely used on China’s newly developed warplane
China’s aviation industry has started applying world-leading 3D printing technologies on new-generation warplanes, with 3D printed parts widely used on a newly developed aircraft that made its maiden flight not…
Flash dance … ‘What a Feeling” singer Irene Cara dies at 63
Washington, Nov 26 (AFP/APP): Irene Cara, an Oscar-winning singer and actress who recorded the title tracks to the blockbuster 1980s movies “Fame” and “Flash dance,” has died at age 63,…
US bans Chinese tech imports over ‘risk’ to national security
Washington has banned the import and sales of new telecommunications equipment from China’s largest manufacturers due to “an unacceptable risk” they allegedly pose to US national security. According to a…
Sri Lanka plans to end power cuts next year
COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua/APP): Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on Saturday told journalists that he will take all possible measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply by January…
India launches 9 satellites onboard PSLV rocket
NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua/APP): The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday launched earth observation satellite EOS-06 and eight nano-satellites into their intended Sun-synchronous polar orbits onboard a Polar…
Peru’s embattled president names fifth PM in 16 months
Lima, Nov 26 (AFP/APP): Peruvian President Pedro Castillo on Friday appointed the culture minister as the country’s prime minister after her predecessor resigned over a row with parliament.Betssy Chavez, a…
Police robots may get license to kill in San Francisco
The San Francisco Police Department is seeking permission to deploy lethal robots against human suspects, according to a policy proposal sent to city officials. While the SFPD’s robots are primarily…
Scientists revive 48,500-year-old Zombie virus
Melting permafrost may pose a threat to humanity, scientists have warned, after reviving an ancient virus that lay frozen for tens of thousands of years. Viruses such as this are…
Three killed in twin school shootings in Brazil: authorities
Brasília, Nov 25 (AFP/APP): At least three people including an adolescent girl were killed and 11 others wounded Friday when a gunman opened fire on two schools in southeastern Brazil,…
Global wildlife summit approves shark protections
Panama City, Nov 25 (AFP/APP): Delegates at a global summit on trade in endangered species on Friday approved a plan to protect 54 more shark species, a move that could…
Gen. Asim Munir appointed as the new Pakistan army chief
Islamabad: Lieutenant General Asim Munir has been appointed as Pakistan’s new army chief as President Arif Alvi approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s nominations for the top two military posts, ending…
Pakistan to send armed helicopter unit to UN peacekeeping mission in Mali: Spokesperson
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistan and Bangladesh will each be sending an armed helicopter unit to the UN peacekeeping operations in Mali, which faces serious problems as several countries…
Opposition leader Anwar named next Malaysia PM
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 24 (AFP/APP): Malaysia’s perennial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was named prime minister on Thursday, ending a days-long political impasse after inconclusive election results.The 75-year-old was scheduled to…
EU chief Michel to head to China for Xi meeting
Brussels, Nov 24 (AFP/APP): EU chief Charles Michel will head to Beijing next week for a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, a European official told AFP on Thursday.The official,…
Saudi $5 billion deposit in Turkish Central Bank likely ‘economic life-saver’ to Erdogan
DUBAI/ANKARA- In a move described by analysts as an “economic life-saver” for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Arabia is finalising a deal with Ankara to place a $5 billion…
Ukraine conflict: UK sending helicopters to Kyiv
LONDON: The United Kingdom is donating surplus Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine as part of a wider raft of military support measures revealed on 22 November. The planned transfer…
China’s J-15 carrier-based fighter jet to get domestic engines
A newly produced J-15 carrier-based fighter jet was fitted with what seems to be a pair of China’s domestically developed engines, according to an official media report on Wednesday, which…
Morocco: Israeli company has eye on ‘large reservoir’ of natural gas in desert
The CEO of Israel’s public energy company NEOMED energy, Yossi Abu, has expressed its readiness to invest in natural gas exploration in the Moroccan Sahara. “Morocco will become an energy…
Turkiye hits nearly 500 Kurdish targets in Iraq, Syria
ISTANBUL: Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Wednesday that Turkiye’s military had hit nearly 500 Kurdish targets across Iraq and Syria as part of a campaign of air strikes.“So far…
WHO to rename monkeypox
The World Health Organization (WHO) will soon announce the redesignation of monkeypox as “MPOX,” Politico has reported, citing anonymous sources. The decision was reportedly taken following pressure from Washington. The…
Wave of massive air strikes reported in Ukraine
There’ve been emergency power outages in all regions of the country, according to national operator Ukrenergo Russia has apparently targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a large-scale missile attack on Wednesday,…
Indian Army progresses integrated warfare strategy
The South Western Command (SWC) of the Indian Army has conducted an Integrated Battle Group (IBG) exercise along the country’s western border with Pakistan. The integrated firepower exercise took place…
Iran could attack World Cup: Israeli security chief
LONDON: The head of the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate has claimed Iran could attack the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in which its national team is currently…
US Space Force announces major anti-China move
The United States Space Force is set to create its first-ever component command in the Indo-Pacific region, where officials have increasingly pointed to rising tensions with regional rivals such as…
Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with ‘immediate effect’
London, Nov 22 (AFP/APP): Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial second spell at Manchester United is to end with “immediate effect”, the Premier League giants announced Tuesday.The Portugal forward set the stage for…
US approves arms sales to Switzerland, Lithuania and Belgium
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department cleared $700 million in a possible foreign military sale to Switzerland, along with other sales to Lithuania and Belgium, as the neutral European country…
Israel killed 40 Palestinian children, detained over 770 this year – Report
Tel Aviv: The Israeli occupation army has killed 40 Palestinian children and detained more than 770 others since the beginning of the year, Palestinian groups revealed yesterday as they marked…
Qatar World Cup helps FIFA earn record revenue of $7.5bn
RIYADH: FIFA earned record revenues of $7.5 billion through commercial deals tied to the World Cup, the governing body of soccer has revealed. Just hours before the opening ceremony in…
China reports more COVID-19 deaths as infections surge
The last major economy wedded to a zero-COVID-19 policy, Chinese authorities have continued to impose snap lockdowns New cases in the capital jumped to 962 on Monday from 621 the…
At least 46 dead, 700 injured in Indonesia quake: local official
Jakarta: At least 46 people have been killed and 700 injured in an earthquake that rattled Indonesia’s main island of Java on Monday, a local official from the town worst…
UK Dragonfire laser weapon demonstrator completes first high-power firings
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has completed the first trials of a high-powered, long-range Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) testbed at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl’s) Porton…
Main points of COP27 declaration, ‘loss and damage’ deal
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Nov 20 (AFP/APP): The United Nations COP27 summit in Egypt wrapped up Sunday with delegates adopting two main texts: a final declaration and a landmark deal…
Saudi crown prince lands in Qatar for World Cup kickoff
Doha, Nov 20 (AFP/APP): Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince and a delegation of ministers arrived in neighbouring Qatar on Sunday morning to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup,…
Turkey launches air raids against Kurdish militants in Syria, Iraq
Istanbul, Nov 20 (AFP/APP): Turkey announced on Sunday it had carried out air strikes against the bases of outlawed Kurdish militants across northern Syria and Iraq, which it said were…
US to help Thailand develop small nuclear reactors
Bangkok: The United States will help Thailand develop nuclear power through a new class of small reactors, part of a programme aimed at fighting climate change, Vice President Kamala Harris…
Inflation in Japan highest since 1982
A weak yen has been pushing up the cost of imported commodities Japan’s consumer price growth accelerated to a 40-year high in October, driven by a weak national currency and…
Former US billionaire sentenced to 11 years in jail
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes will also have to pay a $400 million fine San Jose: Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of US startup Theranos, which offered fast and low-cost blood tests,…
Indonesia approves USD3.9 billion in foreign loans for fighter aircraft programmes
Jakarta: The Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted approval for the country to obtain up to USD3.9 billion in foreign loans for three separate proposals that have been put…
Exxon Mobil Makes First Oil Discovery In Angola In 20 Years
Exxon has now announced that it has, together with its partners, discovered hydrocarbons in Block 15 off Angola in the Bavuca South prospect. The discovery marks the first commercial oil…
UK reduced to rationing of eggs
Some British supermarkets have limited sales amid supply issues. LONDON: The latest outbreak of bird flu along with soaring production costs have forced food retailers across the UK to ration…
Blue Diamond Affair: Saudi Thai diplomatic ties restored after three decades
Bangkok: Thailand’s Prime Minister met with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Friday in Bangkok, signing agreements to expand diplomatic relations restored this year, more than three decades after…
Saudi Arabia and Thailand sign landmark agreements on energy
BANGKOK: Saudi Arabia and Thailand on Friday signed landmark agreements on energy cooperation and renewable power during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Bangkok. The crown prince is a…
Russia and China to abandon dollar in energy trade – Moscow
MOSCOW: The energy trade between Russia and China has been steadily growing and is up 64% in monetary terms so far this year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak told…
Iranian death threats against individuals in Canada being investigated: Canadian intelligence
Ottawa: The Canadian intelligence service said on Friday that it is investigating death threats from Iran against individuals inside Canada, according to the agency. “CSIS is actively investigating several threats…
N Korea warns of ‘all-out’ nuclear response to US ‘aggression’
North Korea has promised to ‘resolutely react’ to US threat of nuclear weapons use with its own nuclear capabilities. Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promised to use…
Traces of explosives found on Nord Stream debris – Sweden
The gas pipeline, linking Russian to Germany, was apparently blown up in September. Stockholm: Swedish investigators have found traces of explosives on fragments of “foreign objects” recovered from the blast sites of…
Twitter offices shut and employee access suspended
Media reports suggest the move is due to fear of sabotage within the company Twitter told its employees on Thursday that all office buildings will be temporarily closed and that…
Pakistan, Russia sign road transport agreement
ISLAMABAD: A road transport agreement has been signed between Pakistan and Russia to pave the way for promoting commercial and public relations between both countries. Federal Minister for Communications and…
Macron says Australia submarine cooperation offer ‘on the table’
Bangkok, Nov 17 (AFP/APP): French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that an offer to cooperate with Australia on submarines still stood, after a bitter row over a canceled contract last…
Pakistan’s annual GDP can fall 18-20% by 2050 due to climate change risks: WB
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (APP): Pakistan’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is at risk of falling by 18 to 20 percent by 2050 due to the combined risks from the intensification…
Ukraine grain deal extended ‘under current terms’: Türkiye
Istanbul, Nov 17 (AFP/APP): An agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea will continue “under current terms,” a senior Turkish official told AFP.“The agreement will remain in…
Climate change fuelled rains behind deadly Nigeria floods: study
Paris: Heavy rains behind floods that killed over 600 people in Nigeria this year were about 80 times likelier because of human-induced climate change, scientists reported Wednesday. The floods mainly…
Republicans take control of US House,
Congress split: projections
Washington, Nov 17 (AFP/APP): Republicans on Wednesday took control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats, networks said, narrowly securing a legislative base to oppose President Joe Biden’s agenda…
Haiti, UN launch 145 mln USD appeal for cholera, humanitarian relief
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 16 (Xinhua/APP) –: Haiti and the United Nations are seeking 145 million U.S. dollars for humanitarian relief, including for a cholera outbreak that has killed 161 people,…
Liftoff! NASA successfully launches mega Moon rocket
Kennedy Space Center, United States, Nov 16 (AFP/APP): NASA launched the most powerful rocket ever built on a journey to the Moon on Wednesday, in a spectacular blaze of light…
Spy technology vs. human assets – big debate in Israel
Israeli security agencies are still in shock after it was reported last month that three Palestinian “Arab Israeli” citizens managed to leak sensitive information about Israel’s mobile phone company Cellcom…
Global leaders hold ‘emergency’ meeting after missile hits Poland
It was Russia’s biggest barrage yet, and some of the missiles crossed into Poland, where two people were killed, according to a US official Marked the first time in the…
After Covid, ‘Laziness epidemic’ grips France
The trauma of Covid lockdowns has left many French people unwilling to leave their homes, feeling tired and less motivated at work Laziness regularly prevents nearly half of the French…
Bullseye! Russian missiles destroy Ukraine’s energy network
KIEV: Russia targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a “massive” missile attack, the Ukrainian authorities said on Tuesday. The attack came less than a day after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky set…
UNGA votes to pass a resolution urging Russia to pay Ukraine war reparations; Pakistan abstains
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 15 (APP):: Pakistan, along with 72 other countries, abstained when the UN General Assembly Monday voted to adopt a resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable…
China’s WJ-700 UAS debuts at Airshow
As China’s first high altitude, high speed, and long endurance armed reconnaissance UAV system that had made its maiden flight, WJ-700 UAV is exhibited at this year’s Airshow China, attracting…