6 dead, hundreds evacuated as floods, landslides hit Indonesia

Jakarta (IANS) Six people died and 500 others evacuated from their homes as floods and landslides hit Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, the country's disaster management agency said on Friday.

"Heavy rains since Thursday night…

Residents of Chinese city under lockdown barter dishwashing liquid for apples

New Delhi (IANS) Some residents under quarantine in the Chinese city of Xi'an have resorted to bartering supplies in recent days, as worries of food shortages continue, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

Posts on social media show residents swapping…

S.Africa tourism shows signs of recovery

Johannesburg (IANS) South African tourism is showing signs of recovery with the coastal city of Durban having 80 per cent occupancy at establishments and over 200,000 visitors during the festive season.

"We desperately needed this development…

S. African Parliament 'extensively destroyed' by fire

Cape Town (IANS) The interior of South Africa's National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, was "extensively destroyed" by a fire, a local official said on Monday.

As of 6.50 a.m. (local time) Monday, firefighters have been working…

1.4mn tourists visit Tanzania in 2021

Dar es Salaam (IANS) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said that 1.4 million tourists visited the east African nation in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic that hugely affected the tourism industry.

In her message to welcome the New Year,…

Winter storm hits Chicago

Chicago (IANS) A winter storm system hit Chicago, with snow accumulations expected to reach four to seven inches and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

A winter storm warning was issued shortly…

UN Command passes 86 messages to N.Korea via direct communication line

Seoul (IANS) The US-led UN Command (UNC) said on Friday that it passed a total of 86 messages to North Korea through a round-the-clock communication line throughout this year.

In Facebook posts, the Command catalogued a series of activities…

Taliban stop Pakistani military from fencing Durand Line in Nimroz

New Delhi (IANS) Taliban security forces have stopped the Pakistani military from fencing part of the Durand Line in southwestern Nimroz province of Afghanistan, Pajhwok News reported.

A source wishing not to be named said on Thursday the Pakistani…

Aus states allow New Year celebrations despite Covid surge

Sydney (IANS) Australia's three most populated states, currently battling the country's largest Covid-19 outbreaks, have allowed New Year celebrations with slightly modified versions of their traditional fireworks displays.

On Thursday,…

'Try and demolish mosque if you can': Pak Chief Justice gets a warning

New Delhi (IANS) Warning Pakistan Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Sindh province Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of dire consequences, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Secretary General for Singh, Rashid Mahmood Soomro, has said that the party wont…