Wednesday, 02 Apr, 2025

International

N Korea's 'first budget travel agent' dies aged 33

The head of the first budget travel agency to North Korea, Troy Collings, has died of a heart attack at 33. He was the co-founder and managing director of Young Pioneer Tours - an agency which focused on younger tourists who wanted to travel to the secretive communist country.

White House acknowledges Coronavirus test shortage

The White House has acknowledged the nation does not have enough coronavirus test kits as cases of the disease ticked upwards on both US coasts. Vice-President Mike Pence said the Trump administration would not be able to meet its objective of delivering one million testing kits this

Are South Korean Coronavirus alerts too revealing

As South Korea battles a snowballing number of Covid-19 cases, the government is letting people know if they were in the vicinity of a patient. But the volume of information has led to some awkward moments and now there is as much fear of social stigma as of illness, as Hyung Eun Kim of

Top court backs Afghan war crimes probe

An investigation of alleged war crimes by the US and others in the Afghan conflict can go ahead, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled. The ICC overturned on appeal a previous decision to block the investigation. The actions of the Taliban, the Afghan government and US

Coronavirus: California declares emergency after death

California has declared a state of emergency after announcing its first coronavirus death, bringing the US death toll from the disease to 11. The 71-year-old man, who died in a hospital near Sacramento, had underlying health conditions and had been on a cruise ship, said officials.

Coronavirus outbreak: 309 new cases, 3,286 total deaths

China reported 160 new cases on Thursday (March 5) in an outbreak of the coronavirus. Another 32 deaths were reported in mainland China, where the epidemic has been concentrated. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 80,430 cases and 3,013 deaths in the 24 hours. South

Coronavirus outbreak: 284 new cases, 3,203 total deaths

China reported 119 new cases on Wednesday (March 4) in an outbreak of the coronavirus. Another 38 deaths were reported in mainland China, where the epidemic has been concentrated. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 80,270 cases and 2,981 deaths in the 24 hours. South

Coronavirus: World Bank pledges $12bn in emergency aid

The World Bank has committed $12bn (£9.4bn) in aid for developing countries grappling with the spread of the coronavirus. The emergency package includes low-cost loans, grants and technical assistance. The action comes as leaders around the world pledge to shield their countries

Bangladeshis living in Bengal are Indians: Mamata 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that those who have from Bangladesh and have been voting in elections are citizens of India and they are not required to apply for citizenship afresh. Mamata Banerjee slammed the Modi government over how the clashes in Delhi,

Narendra Modi says he plans to quit social media

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indicated that he may quit social media from the coming Sunday. "This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Will keep you all posted," the prime minister said. Modi has 53.3

Coronavirus outbreak: 608 new cases, 3,119 total deaths

China reported 125 new cases on Tuesday (March 3) in an outbreak of the coronavirus. Another 32 deaths were reported in mainland China, where the epidemic has been concentrated. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 80,151 cases and 2,942 deaths in the 24 hours. South

Argentine president proposes legalizing abortion

Argentina's President Alberto Fernández has said he will send a bill to legalise abortion to Congress within the next 10 days. Mr Fernández, who was sworn in as president in December, has previously described abortion as "a matter of public health". In Argentina, abortion is

S Korea sect leader apologizes for Coronavirus spread

The head of the religious sect that has been at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea has apologised to the nation for the disease's spread. Lee Man-hee, the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, got on his knees and bowed at a news conference. About 60% of

Coronavirus outbreak: 689 new cases, 3,053 total deaths

China reported 202 new cases on Sunday in an outbreak of the coronavirus. Another 42 deaths were reported in mainland China, where the epidemic has been concentrated. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 80,026 cases and 2,912 deaths in the 24 hours. South Korea reported

Coronavirus surge S Korea religious services

Roman Catholic churches remained closed across South Korea on Sunday, as officials struggle with a coronavirus outbreak that has led to the cancellation of many public gatherings. The Catholic Church has an estimated 5,8m members in the country. Major Protestant groups have also

23 Bangladeshis quarantined in India not infected with coronavirus

23 Bangladeshis, who are housed at a quarantine facility in India after they were evacuated from Wuhan in China, are not infected with COVID-19. Authorities confirmed the matter after testing their samples on Saturday (February 29). Earlier on Thursday (February 27), 23 Bangladeshis

Coronavirus outbreak: 952 new cases, 2979 total deaths

China reported 575 new cases on Sunday in an outbreak of the coronavirus. Another 35 deaths were reported in mainland China, where the epidemic has been concentrated. The updates bring mainland China's totals to 79,826 cases and 2,870 deaths in the 24 hours. South Korea reported

Muhyiddin sworn in as Malaysia PM, Mahathir vows to fight

Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister on Sunday, an hour after his predecessor and former ally, Mahathir Mohamad, claimed he was the one with enough support to form a government and would prove it with a vote in Parliament. "I am telling the public that I have

Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign agreement aimed at ending war

US officials and Taliban representatives have signed an agreement after months of negotiations in Qatar's capital that is aimed at ending the United States's longest war, fought in Afghanistan since 2001. Saturday's agreement, signed in Doha in the presence of leaders from

Coronavirus: US confirms first death

The US has reported the first death from the new coronavirus in the country, in the state of Washington. Officials said the patient was a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions. President Donald Trump said more cases were "likely" but that the US was prepared for any