Philippines court to allow Nobel laureate Ressa to go to Norway

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa will be allowed to travel so she can accept her Nobel Peace Prize in person after a court gave her permission to leave the Southeast Asian country to visit Norway later this month.
3 December 2021

Russian offensive possible in Jan: Ukraine minister

Ukraine warned yesterday that Russia could launch a large-scale attack on the country in late January as tensions soar over an alleged Russian troop build-up near Kiev’s borders.
3 December 2021

This day in history

1991 - The American journalist Terry Anderson, the Western hostage held longest by Islamic militants in Lebanon, was freed after 2,454 days. He had been seized on March 16, 1985.
3 December 2021

Quote of the day

We’re going to fight this variant with science and speed, not chaos and confusion. This is a moment we can put the divisiveness behind us, I hope.” US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ON FIGHT AGAINST OMICRON COVID VARIANT
3 December 2021

Third dose can boost immunity

Seven jabs used as boosters against Covid-19 mostly produced a strong immune response, though results varied depending on the vaccine combination, a study said yesterday.
3 December 2021

Iran nuke talks set for pause

Negotiations in Vienna aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal were set to be suspended yesterday, Iranian media said, as European diplomats expressed “disappointment and concern” at the latest proposals from Iran.
3 December 2021

WHO has no reports yet of deaths

The World Health Organization said yesterday it had not seen any reports of deaths relating to the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
3 December 2021

US, EU concerned by China’s ‘problematic and unilateral actions’ at sea

The United States and European Union on Thursday voiced strong concern at China’s “problematic and unilateral actions” in the South China Sea and stressed the need for close contact to manage “competition and systemic rivalry” with Beijing.
3 December 2021

UAE buys record 80 French fighter jets as Macron starts Gulf tour

The United Arab Emirates signed a record 14-billion-euro contract for 80 French-made Rafale warplanes and committed billions of euros in other deals as President Emmanuel Macron kicked off a Gulf tour on Friday.
3 December 2021

Palestinian Authority struggles to pay public employees

After years of economic stagnation, authorities in the occupied West Bank say they are struggling to pay salaries for public employees, as soaring inflation, dwindling donor aid and Israel’s withholding of vital tax revenues strangle the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) already crippled budget.
3 December 2021

WB backs using $280m in frozen aid funds

The World Bank’s board has backed transferring $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan cope with a brewing humanitarian crisis after the US withdrawal, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
3 December 2021

‘This is a new wave’

Greece has become a European port of call for refugees from Africa and Asia.
3 December 2021

UN launches ‘bodyright’ symbol against online violence

The United Nations on Thursday launched a campaign against gender-based violence on the internet, complete with the symbol ⓑ which can be added to social media posts.
3 December 2021

US proposes ‘code of conduct’ at UN for killer robots

Rejecting calls for a binding agreement regulating or banning the use of weapons often dubbed killer robots, Washington instead proposed at the United Nations on Thursday a “code of conduct”.
3 December 2021

UAE places $19 bn order for warplanes, helicopters with France

The United Arab Emirates ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters on Friday, deepening economic and political ties with France through an arms contract worth 17 billion euros ($19.20 billion).
3 December 2021

US reports first case of community transmission, steps up fight against Omicron variant

The United States reported its first known case of community transmission of Omicron on Thursday hours before President Joe Biden was due to lay out his strategy to fight the coronavirus in the winter as the highly contagious variant spread across the globe.
2 December 2021

Russia, Asean hold first naval drills off Indonesian coast

Russia and a number of Southeast Asian countries kicked off their first ever joint naval exercise along the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most important
2 December 2021

US world’s biggest plastic polluter

The United States is by far the biggest contributor to global plastic waste in the world, according to a new report submitted to the federal government Wednesday that called for a national strategy to tackle the growing crisis.
2 December 2021

Avert impasse

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen urged a US Congress panel Wednesday not to get mired in drawn out debate amid a new push to set social media regulations, which have long been blocked by partisan combat.
2 December 2021

This day in history

1912 - Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro signed an armistice ending the first Balkan War.
2 December 2021