World news

US warns Russia of 'severe consequences' if it invades Ukraine

Washington(PTI): The Biden Administration has warned Russia of severe consequences in case its forces invade Ukraine and insisted on a diplomatic solution to the issue. We are actively working to reach a diplomatic solution to de-escalate the crisis. Over the weekend, as you all know, the Preside

Singapore: Man feared for life during otter attack

A British man in Singapore who was attacked by otters has said he thought the animals were going to kill him. Graham George Spencer said he suffered more than 20 wounds after he was bitten in the city-state's Botanic Gardens. A representative from the park told Mr Spencer t

Covid: Vaccines should work against Omicron variant, WHO says

Existing vaccines should still protect people who contract the Omicron variant from severe Covid cases, a World Health Organization (WHO) official says. It comes as the first lab tests of the new variant in South Africa suggest it can partially evade the Pfizer jab. Researc

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: China criticises US diplomatic boycott

China has condemned a planned US diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and threatened to retaliate. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China would take "resolute countermeasures", but did not give further details. On Monday, the US said it would

Covid: UK red list criticised as 'travel apartheid' by Nigeria

The UK's travel restrictions have been criticised by Nigeria, after the country was placed on the red list amid fears over the Omicron variant. "What is expected is a global approach, not selective," Sarafa Tunji Isola, Nigeria's high commissioner to the UK, told the BBC on Mo

Omicron: Biden tightens travel rules amid new Omicron cases

President Joe Biden has unveiled stricter Covid-19 travel rules as the US confirmed a handful of cases of the Omicron variant from coast to coast. From next week, international travellers to the US, including Americans, must take a Covid test no more than one day before travel

Inflation in 19 nations using euro hits record high of 4.9%

Official figures show that consumer prices across the 19 countries that use the euro currency are rising at a record rate LONDON -- Consumer prices across the 19 countries that use the euro currency are rising at a record rate as a result of a huge spike in energy costs this year, official

Omicron: WHO warns of 'high infection risk' around globe

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Omicron coronavirus variant poses a high risk of infection surges around the globe. The variant could lead to severe consequences in some regions, the WHO said on Monday. The head of the organisation, Dr Tedros

South Africa's president calls for lifting of Omicron travel bans

South Africa's president has condemned travel bans enacted against his country and its neighbours over the new coronavirus variant Omicron. Cyril Ramaphosa said he was "deeply disappointed" by the action, which he described as unjustified, and called for the bans to be urgently lifted

Belarus-Poland border: Putin warns Belarus over gas threat to EU

Belarus's threat to cut off gas supplies to Europe would be a breach of contract with Russia, President Vladimir Putin has warned. In a TV interview, Mr Putin said President Alexander Lukashenko may have made the threat in a fit of temper. Mr Lukashenko is facing new sancti

Erdogan: Turkey investigates posts about president's health

Turkish authorities have opened a legal inquiry against 30 people accused of tweeting disinformation about the health of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They posted "manipulative content" on Twitter using the hashtag #olmus (dead in Turkish), police said. The hashtag started tr

Missing 4-year-old found alive in Australia

A four-year-old girl missing for 18 days in a remote part of Western Australia has been found alive and well in a locked house, police have said. Cleo Smith disappeared from her family's tent at a campsite near the town of Carnarvon on 16 October, triggering a massive search.

Explosions and gunfire at Kabul military hospital in deadly attack

The Afghan capital Kabul has been rocked by two explosions and gunfire at the site of a military hospital. A Taliban spokesman said the first blast happened in front of the 400-bed Sardar Daud Khan hospital and the second was nearby. The spokesman said there had been casual

Covid-19 deaths pass five million worldwide

More than five million people are known to have died of Covid-19 worldwide, 19 months since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University. Vaccines have slowed the death rate, but some health experts say the true toll could be far higher. The milestone comes ami

Moscow shops and restaurants shut in partial lockdown

Shops, restaurants and schools have shut in Moscow in a partial lockdown, as Russia battles record Covid deaths and infections. Only essential shops like supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to open in the capital, while food outlets are only providing takeaways. Authori

Texas nurse guilty of killing patients by injecting them with air

A Texas nurse has been found guilty of the murder of four patients who died after he injected them with air following heart surgeries. William Davis, 37, was convicted of capital murder by a jury on Tuesday and could now face the death penalty. Prosecutors said he targeted

South Korea launches first homegrown space rocket Nuri

South Korea has launched its first homegrown rocket, stepping up the country's ambitions in space. The Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II, known as Nuri, took off from Goheung, about 500km (310 miles) south of Seoul. President Moon Jae-in said the vehicle completed its full

Havana syndrome reported at US embassy in Colombia

US officials are investigating possible cases of Havana syndrome illness in Colombia, days before a visit by the Secretary of State, US media say. US embassy staff in Bogota may have been injured by the mysterious illness, which causes a painful sound in the ears, fatigue and dizzines