By Philip O’Connor and Yiming Woo ZHANGJIAKOU, China (Reuters) – While athletes have been competing on artificial snow throughout the Beijing Olympics, organisers are now dealing with the logistical challenge of clearing away the real thing after heavy snowfalls in the mountains of Zhangjiakou on Saturday. Brown scrub and brush on the hills around some …
Olympics-Heavy snow a welcome ‘problem’ for Beijing venues Read More »
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China’s National Immigration Administration said it will not be renewing passports for non-essential travel while the international COVID-19 epidemic situation is still severe and cross border travel poses “great security risks”. The administration said in a statement on social media it will “normally issue passports” for individuals who need to travel abroad …
China says not granting passport renewals for non-essential travel Read More »
By Alexander Cornwell DUBAI (Reuters) – Afghan refugees held in the United Arab Emirates for months since fleeing Afghanistan last year protested for a third day on Friday, calling for resettlement in the United States. The demonstrations by hundreds of Afghans began on Wednesday at the centre where they are being housed as months of …
Afghan refugees in UAE protest for third day, call for U.S. resettlement Read More »
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee said on Saturday that a total of eight new COVID-19 cases were detected among games-related personnel on Feb. 11. All of the cases were among those already in the “closed loop” bubble that separates all event personnel from the public, five of whom were classified …
Olympics-Beijing Games organiser reports 8 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 11 Read More »
(Reuters) – New Zealand’s foreign ministry urged on Saturday all New Zealanders in Ukraine to leave immediately in response to heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine. “Aotearoa New Zealand does not have diplomatic representation in Ukraine and the government’s ability to provide consular assistance to New Zealanders in Ukraine is therefore very limited,” the foreign …
New Zealand urges its citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately Read More »
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China reported 99 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Feb. 11, down from 101 a day earlier, its health authority said on Saturday. Of the new infections, 40 were locally transmitted, according to a statement by the National Health Commission, compared with 56 a day earlier. China reported 41 new asymptomatic cases, which …
China reports 99 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 11 vs 101 a day earlier Read More »
By David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States vowed on Friday to commit more diplomatic and security resources to the Indo-Pacific to push back against what its sees as China’s bid to create a regional sphere of influence and become the world’s most influential power. In a 12-page strategy overview, the …
U.S. vows stepped-up Indo-Pacific effort in push back against China Read More »
GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Health Organization said on Friday it had added its first monoclonal antibody tocilizumab to its so-called pre-qualification list, an official list of medicines used as a benchmark for procurement by developing countries. The WHO recommended the drug, manufactured by Roche and typically used to treat arthritis, only for patients diagnosed …
WHO adds Roche’s arthritis drug tocilizumab to COVID-19 medicines list Read More »
By Devjyot Ghoshal and Wa Lone (Reuters) – A Myanmar army officer who defected and fled the country has detailed battlefield losses to rebels in the southern part of Chin state, with at least 50 soldiers killed and 200 badly wounded in 2021 by opposition fighters with homemade weapons. Kaung Thu Win, a captain who …
Exclusive-Myanmar army defector recounts heavy losses inflicted by Chin rebels Read More »
KABUL (Reuters) – Two detained journalists in Afghanistan who had been working with the United Nations were released on Friday along with several Afghan workers, the U.N. refugee agency said. Earlier in the day, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had reported the detentions and said it was seeking to ensure the journalists …
Journalists working with U.N. released after detention in Afghanistan Read More »
