Washington: China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in an op-ed piece for US magazine, The National Interest, has indicated that Beijing seeks to improve ties with New Delhi. Days before replacing Wang Yi, Qin in an article titled “How China Sees the World”, referred to India-China border issues and said, “both sides are willing to … Read more
Beijing: Around a dozen countries have slapped fresh travel regulations on travellers from China, as the world’s most populous nation faces a surge in Covid cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions. Here is a run-down of the countries that have imposed mandatory Covid tests and other rules on arrivals from China- READ … Read more
Australia is gearing up to celebrate its first restriction-free New Year’s Eve after two years of COVID disruptions, with more than a million revellers expected to flock to Sydney’s harbourfront and watch an elaborate fireworks display. Sydney is one of the world’s first major cities to welcome in the New Year and draws huge TV … Read more
Sam Bankman-Fried is expected on Tuesday to enter a plea of not guilty to criminal charges that he cheated investors and looted billions of dollars at his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, according to a source familiar with the matter. Bankman-Fried is accused of illegally using FTX customer deposits to support his Alameda Research hedge fund, … Read more
Washington: US President Joe Biden has sent his deepest condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the loss of his mother Hiraben who died in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben died at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. READ | ‘My hope this Christmas season is that…’: President Joe … Read more
Kyiv: Ukraine’s army said Friday that it repelled an overnight drone attack on the country, including on the capital Kyiv, a day after Russia launched a barrage of missiles on the war-battered nation. “On the night of December 29-30, the enemy attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made kamikaze drones,” Ukraine’s air force said in a statement on … Read more
Japan on Friday started requiring COVID-19 tests for all passengers arriving from China as an emergency measure against surging infections there and as Japan faces rising case numbers and record-level deaths at home. Japan reported a record 420 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, one day after reaching an earlier single-day record of 415 deaths, according … Read more
Paris: An explosion of Covid-19 cases in China as the country lifts its zero-Covid measures could create a “potential breeding ground” for new variants to emerge, health experts warn. China announced this week that incoming travellers would no longer have to quarantine from January 8, the latest major reversal of strict restrictions that have kept … Read more
Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv, the capital Kyiv and western Lviv on Thursday, causing a series of explosions, mayors said. Kharkiv’s Ihor Terekhov said officials were clarifying what had been hit and whether there were any casualties. Kyiv’s Vitali Klitschko warned of possible power cuts there and asked residents to charge their … Read more
India on Tuesday launched an inquiry into a Noida-based drugs manufacturer after deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan were linked to a syrup the firm made, according to people familiar with the matter. The State Security Service of the Central Asian nation announced it had started a criminal probe in the matter, reported the SSS … Read more
Beijing: Chinese reacted with joy and rushed to book flights overseas Tuesday after Beijing said it would scrap mandatory Covid quarantine for overseas arrivals, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation. In a snap move late Monday, China said from January 8 inbound travellers would no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival, in a … Read more
A plan to extend compulsory military service in Taiwan to one year from the current four months will be announced on Tuesday, a senior government official said, as the island deals with rising Chinese military pressure. The office of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said she will call a national security meeting on Tuesday morning to … Read more
China’s military sent 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry said Monday, after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a US annual defense spending bill passed on Saturday. READ | China COVID: Residents paying price for not having exit plan for … Read more
Brasilia: Outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has pardoned security forces convicted of crimes committed more than 30 years ago, which legal experts say applies to agents found guilty of an infamous prison massacre in 1992. READ | Biden has nominated Indian-American lawyer diplomat for top diplomatic position in State Department The far-right leader’s decree, which … Read more
Washington: US President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American lawyer diplomat Richard Verma, also a former US ambassador to India, to a top diplomatic position in the State Department, a move hailed by the Indian diaspora here as an “inspired choice”. The White House in a statement on Friday said that Joe Biden announced his intent … Read more