World

Beijing COVID-19 wave ‘peaked’ but China months away from tsunami of infections

Hong Kong: With nearly 250 million now infected without 20 days, infections may have already peaked in Beijing and could do so in Shanghai soon but it will take months before the…
China shifts how it counts Covid deaths as crematoriums fill up

Beijing: Facing growing scepticism that it is downplaying Covid deaths, the Chinese government defended the accuracy of its official tally by revealing it had updated its method of counting fatalities caused by…

Hundreds of flights cancelled in US due to snowstorms

San Francisco: Hundreds of flights were cancelled in major airports in the US Pacific Northwest due to icing and snowstorms. By 8 a.m. Friday local time, Seattle, the largest city in the…
Indian-American Richard Verma comes home to US State Department

Washington: US President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American Richard Verma, a former ambassador to India, as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, the White House said in an announcement on…
US extends interview waiver for certain non-immigrant visa categories

Washington: The US on Friday (local time) extended the interview waiver facility for certain non-immigrant visa applicants. “We are pleased to announce that the Secretary of State has made a determination extending…
China estimates Covid surge infecting 37 million people a day

New Delhi: Nearly 37 million people in China may have been infected with Covid-19 on a single day this week, according to estimates from the government’s top health authority, making the country’s…
UAE: Khalaf Al Habtoor to give 100 scholarships for Afghan women

Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates (UAE) businessman, Khalaf bin Ahmed Al Habtoor has offered to help 100 Afghan women to relocate to Dubai and complete their studies in the emirates. Khalaf Al…

Scientists reveal ‘eating just one potato chip is impossible’ gene

Tokyo: If you are unable to control your urge from snacking over chips, ice creams or chocolates, blame it on a gene. A team of Japanese researchers has identified the role a…
YouTuber MrBeast is candidate for Twitter CEO: Musk

San Francisco: MrBeast, the top YouTuber in the world, has expressed his interest in taking on one of the most vexing jobs in today’s world — Twitter CEO. MrBeast asked his followers…
2 dead, 4 wounded in Paris shooting; suspect arrested

Paris: A shooting in central Paris left two people dead and four others wounded on Friday, prosecutors said. A 69-year-old suspect was arrested. The reason for the shooting wasn’t immediately clear. The…
Suicide car bomb explosion in Islamabad, one cop killed

Islamabad: At least one cop was killed while three policemen were injured on Friday in a suicide attack in the Federal Capital’s I-10 area, Islamabad Police spokesperson said. The law enforcement agency…
Thousands of residents in US Texas off power amid Arctic blast

Houston: Thousands of people were without power as the Arctic blast rushed into the south-central US state of Texas, bringing freezing temperatures expected to last through Christmas. As of 11:00 p.m. Central…
Scotland passes gender recognition reform bill, making easier to legally change gender

Edinburgh: Scotland’s lawmakers passed controversial legislation which will make it easier for transgender people to legally change their gender, despite the toxic debate that led to a split within the ruling Scottish…
Bikini killer Charles Sobhraj freed from Nepal prison

Kathmandu: Charles Sobhraj, 77, who is popularly known as “serpent killer” and “bikini killer” was freed from the jail on Friday afternoon as per the order from the Supreme Court of Nepal.…
China sanctions two U.S. individuals

Beijing: China decided to take countermeasures and sanction two US individuals in response to the US sanctions against two Chinese officials on December 9 over alleged human rights issues related to Tibet.…