29-12-2022 ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN: An Iranian chess player has taken part in an international tournament without a hijab, according to media reports, the latest of several Iranian sportswomen to appear at competitions without one since anti-government protests began. Iran has been swept by demonstrations against the country’s clerical leadership since mid-September …

29-12-2022 PARIS: Catastrophic floods, crop-wilting droughts and record heat-waves this year have shown that climate change warnings are increasingly becoming reality and this is “just the beginning”, experts say, as international efforts to cut planet-heating emissions founder. The year did see some important progress, with major new legislation, particularly in …

29-12-2022 BEIJING/ CHENGDU: Chinese hospitals and funeral homes were under intense pressure on Wednesday as a surging COVID-19 wave drained resources, while the scale of the outbreak and doubts over official data prompted some countries to consider new travel rules on Chinese visitors. In an abrupt change of policy, China …

29-12-2022 Bureau Report MELBOURNE/ BRISBANE: A British mother-of-two killed while defending her home in Australia on Boxing Day has been remembered by her husband as the “glue” of their family. Two 17-year-old boys will face court charged with the murder of Emma Lovell, 41, and the attempted murder of her …

29-12-2022 NEW YORK: Apple and Tesla stocks have tumbled over growing concerns about delays in their production lines in China. Apple shares hit their lowest point since June 2021. Tesla’s stock has dropped 73% from a record high in November 2021. Companies have struggled to keep production going in China …

29-12-2022 WASHINGTON: The US is considering imposing new COVID restrictions on Chinese arrivals, after Beijing announced it would reopen its borders next month. American officials say this is due to a lack of transparency surrounding the virus in China, as cases surge. Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan – worried at importing …

29-12-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI: Indian police are investigating the sudden death of a wealthy Russian politician who reportedly criticized Moscow’s war in Ukraine as well as the unexpected death of one of his travelling companions, authorities said. The body of Pavel Antov, 65, was found on Saturday …

29-12-2022 VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has asked for prayers for his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying he is “very sick”. Francis made the surprise appeal on Wednesday at the end of his general audience, giving no details. “I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope …

29-12-2022 JOHANNESBURG: From an eight-year-old girl snatched on her way to school to a wealthy businessman who was abducted and murdered, South Africa is experiencing a surge in kidnappings for money. During the festive season, police have been warning parents to be vigilant around beaches and shopping malls, potential hotspots …

29-12-2022 UNITED NATIONS/ KABUL: The UN Security Council on Tuesday called for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan, denouncing a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups. In a statement agreed by consensus, the 15-member council …