6.2 magnitude tremor hits central Indonesia, no casualty reported

Jakarta (IANS) A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off North Sulawesi province in central Indonesia on Sunday, and no report of casualty or damages was issued, officials said.

The jolts triggered no tsunami, Head of the Quake and Tsunami Mitigation…

Pakistan embassy in Washington ran out of funds to pay salaries

New Delhi (IANS) The Pakistan embassy in Washington had run out of funds to pay salaries for at least four months to some of its employees, though the Pakistani ambassador's active engagement saved the day, The News reported.

At least five…

Chinese Communist Party deploys online disinformation campaigns to distract from int'l criticism

New Delhi (IANS) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) deploys online disinformation campaigns to distract from international criticisms of its policies and to attempt to reframe concepts such as human rights, a new report found.

It aligns the…

In diplomatic setback to Taliban, UN panel fails to recognise its envoy

United Nations (IANS) In a diplomatic setback to the Taliban, the permanent representative of the democratically-elected government of Afghanistan Ghulam Isaczai has received a temporary reprieve after the deadlocked credentials committee failed to…

Japan urges airlines to halt bookings over Omicron fears

Tokyo (IANS) Japan's transportation ministry on Wednesday requested airlines to stop bookings for incoming flights to Japan for one month as fears are growing among people over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

However, people with…

Global campaign under Xi Jinping to exploit extradition treaties

New Delhi (IANS) A new report documents hundreds of cases of the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) international harassment campaign against Taiwanese nationals via deportations and extraditions.

The report by Safeguard Defenders…

Coastal sea temperatures around New Zealand well above average

Wellington (IANS) Coastal sea temperatures around New Zealand have risen well above average recently, a National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) meteorologist said on Tuesday.

Meteorologist Ben Noll said that water temperatures…

Recovery roadmap released for New Zealand tourism

Wellington (IANS) New projections for the recovery of New Zealand tourism suggest that it could be 2024 before the industry gets close to its "new normal".

Tourism Industry Aotearoa (New Zealand) (TIA) released a Tourism Industry Roadmap to…

S.Korea hopes for progress in Iran nuclear negotiations

Seoul (IANS) South Korea welcomed on Monday the resumption of negotiations on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and expressed hope for "substantive progress," amid the ongoing diplomatic row over Teheran's assets frozen here under US sanctions.

US to restrict travel from southern Africa amid new Covid variant scare

Washington (IANS) US President Joe Biden has announced that the US will impose travel restrictions on eight African countries as a new variant of the coronavirus has been detected on the continent.

As per advice from his chief medical adviser…