Volcano eruption on Spanish island hits new record

Madrid (IANS) The eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Spanish island of La Palma has continued for 87 days, has hit a new record of being the longest than the previous one in 1585.

The eruption began on September 19, three-days longer…

World's biggest blue sapphire 'Queen of Asia' found in Sri Lanka

Colombo (IANS) The world's largest natural corundum blue sapphire, weighing around 310 kg and named the "Queen of Asia", was unveiled on Sunday.

The rare gem stone had been found three months ago from a gem pit in Ratnapura, popularly known…

Two missing after cargo ship capsizes off Sweden's coast

Stockholm (IANS) Two crew members were missing and a rescue operation was launched after a cargo ship capsized in the Baltic Sea off the south coast of Sweden on Monday.

The accident which occurred at 3.30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT) between…

Moon embarks on Australia visit to deepen ties

Seoul (IANS) South Korean President Moon Jae-in left for Australia on Sunday for a four-day state visit that is expected to focus on deepening bilateral ties and securing a stable supply chain of raw materials and core minerals.

Moon is the…

US sanctions Bangladesh's elite paramilitary unit

New Delhi (IANS) The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladeshs elite paramilitary unit, after widespread allegations of serious human rights abuse.

The Treasury said as part of the Bangladeshi…

Virtual Nobel Prize award ceremony for 2nd time due to Covid

Stockholm (IANS) In the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Nobel Prize award ceremony was streamed online for a second time in a row from Stockholm's City Hall.

The Laureates received their awards respectively at their homes, and…

World Bank offers $600mn loan to boost Philippines' recovery

Manila (IANS) The World Bank on Saturday approved a $600 million loan to support the Philippine government's reform programme to position the Southeast Asian country for a competitive and resilient economic recovery.

The World Bank said…

TTP chief asks fighters to resume attacks against Pak govt

New Delhi (IANS) The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant outfit has declined to extend the month-long ceasefire with the Pakistan government, accusing it of failing to honour the decisions reached earlier. The announcement has put the nascent…

Diplomatic boycott of China Winter Games triggers deep freeze with US

Beijing (IANS) Amid vaulting China-US one-upmanship and US President Joe Biden's recriminations against Russia, East-West tensions spilling onto the turf of sports didn't raise many eyebrows as Washington announced a diplomatic boycott of…

Terror threat looms again as TTP declines ceasefire extension

Islamabad (IANS) Pakistan is bracing for a new wave of increased terror outburst from the dreaded Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani faction of the Afghan Taliban, which had agreed for a month-long ceasefire with the Imran Khan-led government,…