China detects new XBB COVID sub-variants
Beijing: China, the nation which was seen struggling to contain a surge at the start of the year, has also registered the highly contagious XBB new sub-variants of the COVID-19 infection, media reports said.
World
Singer-actor-activist Harry Belafonte dies of congestive heart failure at 96
Singer-actor Harry Belafonte, who broke racial barriers in the United States, has died at his home in New York's Manhattan. He was 96.
Canada's auditor general refuses to probe Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation's donations over alleged links to China
Ottawa/IBNS: Canada's federal auditor general Karen Hogan was reported saying that her office will not investigate the handling of two donations made to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation with possible links to the Chinese government.
Guterres: Urgency of global challenges demands bold, swift action
New York: The world’s multilateral system is under greater strain than at any time since the creation of the United Nations, requiring swift action to “do better, faster” in using the UN Charter and existing tools to forge greater security and prosperity for all, the Secretary-General told the Security Council on Monday, which marks the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.
UN pledges to ‘stand with and work for the Sudanese people’
New York: The UN Secretary-General on Monday welcomed the temporary relocation of hundreds of staff members and their families from the Sudanese capital Khartoum, amid the continuing intense fighting between rival military factions which has now entered its second week.
Israel: Five die in car-ramming incident near Jerusalem, PM Netanyahu calls it 'terror attack'
At least five people died in a car-ramming incident near Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market on Monday, media reports said.
Pakistan: Blasts rock Counter Terrorism Department police station in Swat, 12 policemen die
Swat: At least 12 policemen were killed and more than 40 others injured as explosions rocked the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Swat's Kabal region in Pakistan on Monday, media reports said.
Canada: Volkswagen’s new EV battery plant in Ontario's St.Thomas to create thousands of new jobs
St. Thomas/IBNS: A historic investment of $7 billion from Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker, was secured last month by Ontario in Canada, to establish its first overseas electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in St. Thomas, a news release has said.
New poll finds King Charles III unpopular among Canadians, 60 pct do not acknowledge him as new monarch
Ottawa/IBNS: With the formal coronation of King Charles on May 6 less than two weeks away, a new poll from the Angus Reid Institute reportedly suggests that the new monarch could have a tough road ahead when it comes to winning over Canadians with even lesser support for his wife, Camilla.
Toque Macaque: Activists express fear over proposal to export 100,000 monkeys from Sri Lanka to China
Colombo: Environmentalists have expressed doubts over Sri Lankan Minister Mahinda Amaraweera's recent announcement that the government is considering a Chinese private company’s proposal to import 100,000 “toque macaque” monkeys from Sri Lanka for 1,000 zoos in China as the animal is already considered to be endangered.
Encroachment: China's new rural land transfer scheme triggers fear
Beijing: There are fears that the ruling Communist Party may be gearing up for the mass confiscation and reallocation of farmland in the name of "stabilizing the grain supply" following the start of implementing new rules governing the transfer of rural land in China, media reports said.
US Senator Marco Rubio reintroduces Uyghur Policy Act
Washington: As recent arrests by federal law enforcement have shown, dissidents who oppose the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continue to be targets of intimidation campaigns by CCP security and intelligence officials on U.S. soil.
Bangladesh: 10 bodies recovered from fishing trawler in Cox's Bazar
Dhaka/Cox's Bazar: At least 10 decomposed bodies, who are believed to be fishermen, were found in a trawler floating off Nazirertek Beach in Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh on Sunday, media reports said.
Pakistan: Locals demonstrate against police over killing of villager
Lakki Marwat: Locals demonstrated against the police in Shahbazkhel town of Pakistan on Friday over the killing of a villager, media reports said.
Afghanistan: Taliban bans women from participating in Eid gatherings in two provinces, Malala criticizes
Kabul: The Taliban forces of Afghanistan have banned women from participating in Eid gatherings in two provinces of the country.
Christian cult graves: Kenyan police exhume 47 bodies
Kenyan Police have exhumed 47 bodies, who are believed to be members of a Christian cult, from Kenya's coastal town of Malindi, media reports said on Sunday.
France: Car drives into crowd, 11 hurt
Paris: A car drove into a crowd at an international kite-flying festival held in northern France, injuring at least 11 people, with four in critical condition, media reported.
US temporarily suspends operation of embassy in Sudan
Washington: US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced the temporary suspension of the operation of the American embassy in conflict-torn Sudan.
Canada suspends work of embassy in Sudan: Foreign Ministry
Ottawa/Khartoum: Canada has decided to suspend the work of its embassy in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Canadian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Nine people die in attack in central Mali
Bamako: At least nine civilians were killed and 61 others injured in a car bomb attack mounted by the Armed Terrorist Groups (GAT) at an airport area in central Mali.
US in close contact with Sudan leaders to extend ceasefire: State dept
Washington/IBNS/UNI: The United States is in close contact with Sudan's armed forces and civilian leaders about the possibility to extend the ceasefire, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee said.
China can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to destroy Taiwan's control centres in future conflict: Report
Under the shadow of a constant cross-straight threat to Taiwan, China can make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to achieve precision in artillery attacks in future conflict with the former, according to a report in The EurAsian Times.
Saudi Arabia evacuates nationals, foreigners from Sudan
Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday the evacuation of Saudi citizens and other nationals from Sudan as fierce fighting continues in the country.
Japan strengthens diplomacy to avoid 'losing' Global South to China
Tokyo: With the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima just a month away, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is all set to embark on a multi-country trip in a bid to compete against China and Russia for influence in Africa, reported Nikkei Asia.
Oliver Dowden named UK Deputy PM after Dominic Raab resigns
London: Dominic Raab resigned on Friday as the deputy prime minister of the UK, prompting the British government to subsequently appoint Oliver Dowden in his position.
Unintended bombing: Russian warplane strikes own city by mistake
Moscow: A Sukhoi-34 fighter jet of Russia mistakenly dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which is situated approximately 40km (25 miles) away from the Ukraine border.
Stoltenberg says Zelensky accepted invitation to NATO summit
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted an invitation to attend the NATO summit in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius in July, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.
Death toll from clashes in Sudan rises to 413: WHO
Geneva/UNI: The death toll as a result of armed clashes between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has risen to 413, and more than 3,500 others have been injured, World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris said on Friday.
Canada: $20 million worth gold, other high-value goods stolen at Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto/IBNS: Investigation by Peel Region Police is underway after the theft of a high-value container carrying gold and other valuable items worth an estimated $20 million were stolen from Toronto Pearson International Airport, police reported.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigns over bullying allegations
London/UNI: UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab said on Friday that he had decided to resign following an investigation into allegations made against him of inappropriate behavior towards civil servants.