World news

UK’s National Health Service starts world's largest trial of Galleri blood test

The United Kingdom’s state-run National Health Service (NHS) has commenced the world’s biggest trial of a blood test where they will detect more than 50 types of cancer. The world's largest trial of Grail Inc's flagship Galleri blood test will find out different types of cancer even before the sympt

Why is there a food emergency in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has experienced long queues to buy essential items amid tight lockdown measures to control the spread of Covid-19. Shelves at government-run supermarkets have been running low - some even empty - with very little stock remaining of imported goods like milk powder, cereal and ric

Lebanon gets new government amid deepening crisis.

A new government has been announced in Lebanon over a year after the previous administration quit following the devastating Beirut port explosion. Najib Mikati - Lebanon's richest man - becomes prime minister, a position he has held twice before. His appointment, along with the

Afghanistan: US concerned by new Taliban government

The US has said it is concerned after the Taliban unveiled Afghanistan's new all-male government with figures linked to attacks on American forces. The interim cabinet is led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on a UN blacklist. Another figure, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is wanted

Taiwan says 19 Chinese warplanes entered air defence zone

Taiwan has said a large incursion of Chinese military jets flew into its air defence zone on Sunday. The defence ministry said 19 aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered its so-called air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Taipei has been compla

Afghanistan: Last US military flight departs ending America's longest war

The last US military flight has left Kabul airport, marking the end of a 20-year presence in Afghanistan and America's longest war. Officials said the last C17 aircraft took off with the US ambassador onboard after midnight local time on Tuesday. They added that the diploma

Hurricane Ida: New Orleans loses power as storm strikes

The US city of New Orleans has lost power, with only generators working, as Hurricane Ida batters Louisiana. The storm brought 150mph (240km/h) winds when it made landfall and those people who did not flee have been advised to shelter in place. One person was killed when a

Shein: China fashion giant investigates 'false' anti-Uyghur job ads

Chinese fast fashion firm Shein has launched an investigation into "false" discriminatory job adverts posted on recruitment sites under its name. Adverts seen by the BBC for factory and warehouse workers said those from certain ethnic minority backgrounds, including Uyghurs, must not appl

Kabul airport attack kills 95 Afghans, 13 U.S. troops; IS claims responsibility

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the killings on its Amaq news channel Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport on Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fle

Japan suspends 1.6 million Moderna doses over contamination fears.

Japan has suspended the use of about 1.63 million doses of the Moderna vaccine due to contamination. The health ministry said "foreign materials" were found in some doses of a batch of roughly 560,000 vials. Takeda Pharmaceutical, which sells and distributes the vaccine in Japa

Madagascar on the brink of climate change-induced famine.

Madagascar is on the brink of experiencing the world's first "climate change famine", according to the United Nations, which says tens of thousands of people are already suffering "catastrophic" levels of hunger and food insecurity after four years without rain. The drought - the worst in

China’s warm welcome for Taliban sparks backlash at home.

BEIJING: China is struggling at home to sell the Taliban as a suitable partner for a country waging a war on alleged Islamic extremism, as it prepares to embrace an Afghanistan led by the militant group. State media and diplomatic attempts to paper over the group’s past and present it as the “peo

'Taliban impose some order around Kabul airport'

KABUL: Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers imposed some order around chaotic Kabul airport on Sunday, making sure people formed orderly queues outside the main gates and not allowing crowds to gather at the perimeter, witnesses said. There was no violence or confusion at the airport as dawn broke on Su

Turkey welcomes 'positive messages' from Taliban after 'amnesty' announcement.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu expressed hope that the Taliban would follow the message with their actions. Amid the Taliban’s attempt to calm the nerves by declaring general amnesty across Afghanistan, Turkey on Tuesday welcomed the “positive messages” to the international communi

Joe Biden orders 1,000 more troops to aid Afghanistan departure.

US troops will also help in evacuation of Afghans who worked with the military during the nearly two-decade war. President Joe Biden authorized on Saturday an additional 1,000 US troops for deployment to Afghanistan, raising to roughly 5,000 the number of US troops to ensure what Biden called

Biden allocates 500 million dollars to help refugees from Afghanistan

President Biden has allocated $500 million in additional funds for relocating Afghan refugees, including applicants for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), in response to the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country. The funds were announced by the White House late Monday to meet “unexpected urgent re

U.S Left "An Awful Mess" In Afghanistan: China

Beijing, China:  China on Tuesday accused Washington of "leaving an awful mess" in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country prompting a chaotic evacuation of US personnel and allies. Beijing has signalled its readiness to cooperate with the Taliban after the United States' w

PM Modi terrific, ‘will not be forgotten’: Trump

Washington: Amid the medical fraternity racing against time for a panacea against COVID-19, which has infected a whopping 4.3 lakh Americans and claimed over 14,600 lives, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, April 8 thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing export of Hydroxychloroquine,