Expect to have a real, inclusive government in Afghanistan: US

Expect to have a real, inclusive government in Afghanistan: US

Washington; The United States and the international community expects the Taliban to form an inclusive government with representations from different communities and interests, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday. “As we’ve said and as countries around the world have said, there is an expectation that any government that emerges now will have some […]

China eyes BRI extension to Afghanistan

China eyes BRI extension to Afghanistan

Beijing: China on Friday expressed hope to extend its multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into Afghanistan, saying the Taliban believes that the initiative is good for development and prosperity in the war-ravaged country and the broader region. China in the recent past has outlined plans to extend its USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor […]

Biden says Ida, wildfires show ‘climate crisis’ has struck

Biden says Ida, wildfires show ‘climate crisis’ has struck

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has pledged robust federal help for the Northeastern and Gulf states battered by Hurricane Ida and for Western states beset by wildfires with the catastrophes serving as deadly reminders that the climate crisis has arrived. These extreme storms, and the climate crisis, are here, Biden said in a White House speech. […]

Taliban say Western Union to resume operations

Taliban say Western Union to resume operations

KABUL: The Taliban say Western Union will resume its operations in Afghanistan, opening a rare conduit for foreign funds to flow into the cash-strapped country. The group’s ‘s cultural commission spokesman, Ahmadullah Muttaqi, announced the move Friday. The American financial services giant had halted operations in Afghanistan when the Taliban took power in the capital […]

Benefits of Covid vaccines far outweigh rare risk of facial paralysis: Study

The beneficial effects of COVID-19 vaccines far outweigh the risk of facial paralysis on one side of the face known as Bell’s Palsy, confirms a large-scale population-based study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The researchers from The University of Hong Kong found that for every 100,000 people vaccinated with inactivated vaccine, CoronaVac, an […]

UK to offer ‘revolutionary’ cholesterol-lowering jab on National Health Service

London: A “revolutionary” new treatment to lower cholesterol will be made available to thousands of patients through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) following a “world-leading deal” announced on Wednesday. The game-changing drug, inclisiran, is delivered as an injection twice a year and can be used alongside statins, adding to the options available to patients […]

Monoclonal antibody treatment combo cuts hospitalisation among high-risk Covid patients: Study

Monoclonal antibody treatment combo cuts hospitalisation among high-risk Covid patients: Study

Washington: A combination of two monoclonal antibody treatments keeps high-risk Covid-19 patients out of the hospital when infected with mild to moderate disease, according to an observational study published in The Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules engineered to serve as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance or mimic the immune system’s attack […]

Abbas, Israel’s Gantz hold new high-level talks, urged by US

Jerusalem: Israel’s defence minister has held talks with the Palestinian president in the occupied West Bank, the first high-level meeting between the two sides in years, officials said. Sunday’s meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas signalled a possible shift of direction after the near-complete breakdown of communication between Abbas and Israeli leaders in recent […]

Malaysia’s new PM self-isolates, misses Cabinet swearing-in

Malaysia’s new PM self-isolates, misses Cabinet swearing-in

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s new prime minister missed the swearing-in ceremony of his new government on Monday after coming into contact with someone infected with COVID-19, his office said. Ismail Sabri Yaakob has begun self-isolating and will virtually attend Tuesday’s official National Day celebrations, according to a statement from his office. It did not say whom […]

Britain ends 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan as troops fly back

Britain ends 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan as troops fly back

LONDON: The last remaining UK troops began landing back from Kabul in Britain on Sunday, ending the country’s 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan where the Taliban have seized power. The Taliban insurgents stormed across the country on August 15, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, two weeks before the US was set […]