SEOUL:Up to 600 North Koreans have “vanished” after being forcibly deported by China in October, a Seoul-based human rights group said on Thursday, warning they may face imprisonment, torture, sexual violence and execution in the isolated state. The report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) came about two months after South Korea lodged a […]
GENEVA:A UN expert today urged UN Member States to save lives endangered by an intensifying military conflict in Myanmar by taking immediate measures to stop the flow of weapons that the military junta is using to commit probable war crimes and crimes against humanity. “Even though world attention is drawn to multiple conflicts and crises, […]
ABIDJAN:African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has warned that a new EU carbon border tax could significantly constrain Africa’s trade and industrialization progress by penalizing value-added exports including steel, cement, iron, aluminium and fertilizers. Adesina said, “With Africa’s energy deficit and reliance mainly on fossil fuels, especially diesel, the implication is that Africa […]
NAIROBI:Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan declared a state of emergency on Thursday after a blast at an explosives depot and heavy rains damaged an industrial zone and surrounding areas. “Everyone is being asked to stay at home. All schools will be closed. Only workers in the essential services and persons travelling will be allowed free movement,” […]
SINGAPORE:Singapore and China will put in place a 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement early next year, the Singapore foreign ministry said on Thursday. “Both countries will work out the implementation details of the mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement and implement it in early 2024,” the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Thailand […]
WASHINGTON:NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which lifted off in October in search of gold, diamond on an asteroid, has retrieved the first images — a milestone called “first light”, the US space agency announced on Wednesday. In the eight weeks since it left Earth on October 13, the orbiter has performed one successful operation after another, powering […]
MOSCOW:Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and will hold talks with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a rare trip abroad to discuss oil, OPEC+ and the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The meeting between Putin and MbS, whose countries pump one fifth of the world’s […]
BEIJING:Beijing-based LandSpace Technology, one of China’s private space companies, is preparing to launch satellite payloads to orbit in a key commercial test of its methane and liquid oxygen fuelled rocket. Investors and rocket developers have said methane could offer a way to help slash costs and support reusable rockets in a cleaner and more efficient […]
NEW DELHI:US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal discussed future collaboration on supply chains, workforce development and other sectors. The two leaders held discussions during a virtual US-India CEO Forum meeting held on November 30, according to US Department of Commerce press release. During the meeting, US […]
SHARJAH:Under the auspices of Yab Legal Services, arts and culture programs were held as part of the UAE National Day celebrations. Yab Office Manager Yusra Isanthar inaugurated the function by cutting the cake. Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services, who delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony, said that though there are around […]