Browsing: News

It has been reported that the death toll from the migrant boat that sank off the Syrian coast earlier this week after sailing from Lebanon has risen to 94. This is after more bodies were recovered from the Baniyas coast on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, Syrian state TV reported on Monday. The trip from Lebanon is the most dangerous yet. Economic desperation has led thousands of people to board often rickety and overcrowded boats in the hope of reaching Europe, according to Reuters. On Thursday afternoon, Syrian authorities began finding bodies off the coast of Tartus, a port city in the…

As Indian Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has pointed out, sustainable biofuels play a major role in reducing Green House Gas emissions from transport. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently encourages Net Zero initiatives. Today, he addressed the Main Stage Summit on International Collaboration to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition in Pittsburgh. Dr. Jitendra Singh said India stands at the forefront of addressing climate change at another side event on “India Clean Energy Showcase.” According to him, India has committed to reducing emissions intensity by 33 to 35 percent in 2030 in comparison to 2005 levels, as part of…

Almost 2.5 years after it was first implemented, Hong Kong will scrap its controversial COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals beginning September 26, a long-awaited move for residents and businesses. Reuters reports that international arrivals will be able to go back home or to accommodation of their choice after entering the Chinese special administrative hub, but must self-monitor for three days. During a press conference, Chief Executive John Lee said, “We aim for people to have more convenience and they can carry about their activities with maximum possibilities.” For three days, people can report to work or school but…

The Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has lauded the deep ties between Egypt and India, expressing Egypt’s eagerness to cooperate with India in the field of defense. President El Sisi and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh discussed this during their meeting on Monday. The Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Egyptian President El Sisi expressed Egypt’s desire to strengthen relations with India in the area of military and defense cooperation, as well as cultivate a partnership between the two countries, according to the spokesman. An Indian minister emphasized Egypt’s crucial role in fighting terrorism, which reflects in the security…

It has been announced that at least four people have been killed and 10 have been wounded after an explosion ripped off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. This is according to a hospital. The Associated Press (AP) reported that several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter, a column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots were fired. It was reported by the Italian Emergency Hospital in Kabul that it had received 14 casualties. Four of them were already dead when they arrived at the hospital. Kabul police chief Khalid Zadran said the blast…

Hurricane Fiona pounded Bermuda with heavy rains and winds early Friday on its way to northeastern Canada, where it was forecast to approach late in the day as a still-powerful storm. AP reports that Bermuda authorities opened shelters and closed schools and offices ahead of Fiona’s arrival. Coastal areas of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland were under a hurricane watch issued by the Canadian Hurricane Centre. Fiona is expected to generate hurricane-force winds within the area, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. As Fiona, a Category 4 hurricane, swept by Bermuda in the early hours of Friday,…

As Taiwan continues to reopen to the rest of the world, it will end its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine around October 13 and ease other restrictions from next week. Taiwan has kept some of its entry and quarantine rules in place as large parts of the rest of Asia have relaxed or lifted them completely. However, in June it cut the number of days required in isolation for arrivals to three from seven previously, Reuters reported. Since the beginning of the year, Taiwan has reported six million domestic cases caused by the more infectious Omicron variant. The government relaxed rather than…

A one-on-one meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took place on Wednesday, in which both leaders agreed to improve relations tainted by historical disputes. In New York, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly for the first time since 2019, according to Reuters. Yoon has sought to improve relations with Tokyo since taking office in May. The importance of strategic cooperation has also been stressed by Japan. According to Yoon’s deputy spokesperson, Lee Jae-myoung, the two leaders agreed to improve relations by resolving pending issues. They agreed…

The Japanese government is considering allowing hotels to refuse entry to guests who do not wear masks and follow other infection control measures during an outbreak. This is according to Fuji News Network reported on Wednesday. At an extraordinary session of parliament next month, the government will propose a bill that would revise the law governing hotels and inns. This would enable them to enforce infection control measures more effectively. Reports indicate that Japan is expected to ease its COVID-19 border controls by waiving visa requirements for certain tourists and removing a daily limit on arrivals. A debate on border…

Water-borne diseases have killed at least nine more people in flood-hit areas of Pakistan, officials reported on Tuesday, following Angelina Jolie’s surprise visit to meet people affected by the crisis. In recent weeks, Pakistan received three times as much rain as on average. This led to major flooding that killed 1,559 people, including 551 children and 318 women, according to the disaster management agency. UNICEF described the situation as beyond bleak as officials warn Pakistan risks losing control over the spread of infections. As flood waters recede – which officials say will take two to six months – hundreds of…