World

Ukraine 'temporarily' loses access to Sea of Azov: Defence Ministry 19 Mar 2022 - 10:00 am

Ukraine's defence ministry said late on Friday it lost access to the Sea ofAzov"temporarily" as invading Russian forces were tightening their grip around...

Russia's onslaught continues amid optimism over talks 19 Mar 2022 - 08:59 am

KYIV, Ukraine: Russian forces destroyed a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering Wednesday and rained fire on other cities, Ukrainian...

China reports first COVID-19 deaths in more than a year 19 Mar 2022 - 08:02 am

BEIJING: China's national health authorities reported two COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, the first recorded rise in the death toll since January 2021, as...

Austria reimposes some coronavirus measures to curb record cases 18 Mar 2022 - 10:15 pm

Austria will broaden mandatory mask wearing and shorten the quarantine for health care workers to curb record coronavirus infections and ensure hospitals continue...

Singapore health minister says omicron wave has "clearly peaked” 18 Mar 2022 - 09:59 pm

Singapore’s omicron wave has "clearly peaked” and is fast subsiding, health minister Ong Ye Kung said Friday, highlighting a development that could pave...

EU health body recommends free COVID tests, vaccines for Ukrainian refugees 18 Mar 2022 - 07:34 pm

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on Friday that countries should provide free COVID-19 testing for refugees from Ukraine...

Hong Kong's COVID infections exceed 1 million amid outbreak 18 Mar 2022 - 06:24 pm

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s cumulative coronavirus infections have exceeded 1 million as the city grapples with a widespread outbreak that has killed more...

Texas wildfires fueled by gusty winds prompt evacuations 18 Mar 2022 - 06:20 pm

EASTLAND, Texas: Low humidity and gusty winds fueled multiple wildfires Friday in Texas, burning homes and other structures and prompting evacuations of hundreds...

Thailand drops pre-arrival COVID test for foreign visitors 18 Mar 2022 - 05:38 pm

BANGKOK: Visitors vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer need a test before traveling to Thailand starting April 1, health officials said Friday. Visitors...

Ukraine says 130 people rescued from bombed Mariupol theatre but many more could be trapped 18 Mar 2022 - 04:16 pm

LVIV, Ukraine: Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman said on Friday 130 people had been rescued so far from a bombed theatre in Mariupol but...

COVID-19 pandemic is 'far from over': WHO official 18 Mar 2022 - 03:43 pm

GENEVA: A World Health Organization spokesperson said on Friday that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic was a long way off, citing a...

After fleeing Kyiv, 15-year-old twins cram to catch up at school in Paris 18 Mar 2022 - 03:38 pm

PARIS: Weeks after fleeing Kyiv with their mother and arriving in Paris, 15-year-old twins Masha and Sasha Litkovska have already started high school...

Pakistan PM Khan pressured to quit as party members desert him 18 Mar 2022 - 01:51 pm

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to fight "till the last ball” as more lawmakers from his ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party deserted him, signaling...

Kremlin calls Biden irritable and forgetful, says he insulted Putin 18 Mar 2022 - 01:46 pm

The Kremlin on Friday called comments by U.S. President Joe Biden about his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "personal insults" and said Biden's remarks...

Japan adds Russia sanctions, US envoy offers home to Ukrainians 18 Mar 2022 - 12:03 pm

TOKYO- Japan will impose sanctions on 15 Russian individuals and nine organisations, it said on Friday, among them defence officials and the state-owned...