28-12-2022 BEIJING: Chinese people, cut off from the rest of the world for three years by COVID-19 curbs, flocked to travel sites on Tuesday ahead of borders reopening, even as rising infections further strained the health system and roiled the economy. Zero-tolerance measures from shuttered borders to frequent lockdowns have …
Read More »Death toll from rain & floods in Philippines rises
28-12-2022 MANILA: The death toll from Christmas day rains and flooding in the southern Philippines has risen to 13, according to the country’s disaster management council, with a further 23 people still missing. Most of the deaths were caused by flash floods after two days of heavy rains over Christmas, …
Read More »Russia’s Lavrov issues ultimatum to Ukraine
28-12-2022 MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has given Ukraine an ultimatum: Fulfil Moscow’s demands including surrendering Ukrainian territory that Russia now controls or the Russian army will decide the fate of Ukraine. Speaking a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin once again said he was open to peace talks …
Read More »Death toll rises after ‘blizzard of the century’ blankets US
28-12-2022 NEW YORK: The death toll from a devastating winter blizzard that left much of the United States in a deep freeze has risen to at least 25 in a hard-hit region of western New York state, authorities said, as tens of thousands remain without power. During a news conference …
Read More »Serbian troops on high alert over Kosovo tensions
28-12-2022 BELGRADE: The Serbian army says it is at its “highest level of combat readiness” after weeks of escalating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. President Aleksandar Vucic says he will “take all measures to protect our people and preserve Serbia”. The saber-rattling is louder than ever and follows media claims …
Read More »South Korea lifts ban on import of adult sex dolls
28-12-2022 SEOUL: South Korean officials have lifted an import ban on adult-sized sex dolls. The decision comes after years of debate over whether the government was interfering in people’s private lives. The revised guidelines allow adult-shaped dolls through customs, but child-like dolls resembling minors are still prohibited, the Korea Customs …
Read More »Taiwan extends mandatory military service to one year
28-12-2022 TAIPEI CITY: Taiwan will extend mandatory military service from four months to one year, President Tsai Ing-wen has said. The decision comes amid growing tensions with China, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, President Tsai announced new plans to bolster …
Read More »US & West vying to negotiate with Iran: Raisi
27-12-2022 TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi decried the West and US’ hypocritical approach to the country, saying they demand to hold talks with Iran while trying to portray the Islamic Republic as weak. In an address at the funeral of 200 unidentified martyrs, held in Tehran on Tuesday, Raisi called …
Read More »Deadliest winter storms of recent decades in US
27-12-2022 WASHINGTON: Winter storm this year in the United States is one of the deadliest in the country in the past three decades. The storm has left much of the eastern United States in a deep freeze and killed nearly 50 people. The nationwide toll of deaths related to the …
Read More »‘No going back’ as Iran protests hit 100 days
27-12-2022 TEHRAN: A hundred days after they began, the longest running anti-government protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution have shaken the regime, but at a heavy cost to the people. More than 500 protesters, including 69 children, have been killed, according to the Human Rights Activists’ News Agency …
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