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Elon Musk sells $3.6bn worth of slumping Tesla stock

Elon Musk, who lost his number one spot on Bloomberg’s ranking of the world’s richest people this week, unloaded Tesla stock for the fourth time this year. Tesla’s chief executive sold almost 22 million shares of the electric-car maker for $3.58 billion (€3.4 billion), a filing showed late Wednesday in the US. The transactions happened […]

Security minister raises concerns over TikTok as news source

T he security minister has raised concerns about a growing number of young people reading the news on social media sites such as the Chinese-owned TikTok. Tom Tugendhat warned on Tuesday that “challenges” could be created if Beijing declares the platform’s algorithms a national security asset. He used a speech at the Policy Exchange think […]

Peach Panic: Why people in China are hoarding the canned yellow fruit

Since China suddenly eased its zero-COVID restrictions, people have resorted to stockpiling and panic buying fearing a wave of infections. Besides cold or flu medicines, the sale of canned peaches rich in vitamin C has seen a spike. In the last few days, the demand for yellow peach, which is considered a home remedy in […]

China pushes vaccines as retreat from ‘zero-COVID’ turns messy

China raced to vaccinate its most vulnerable people on Thursday, December 15, in anticipation of waves of COVID-19 infections, with some analysts expecting the death toll to soar after a loosening of strict controls that kept the pandemic at bay for three years. The push comes as the World Health Organization also raised concerns that China’s 1.4 […]

A week into easing, uncertainty over China virus direction

A woman collects COVID-19 antigen kits from a worker at a pharmacy in Beijing. AP. Beijing: A week after China eased some of the world’s strictest COVID-19 containment measures, uncertainty remains over the direction of the pandemic in the world’s most populous nation. While there are no indications of the massive case surge some had […]

Can the US’ Patriot missile system change Ukraine’s fortunes in the war?

Washington: Patriot missile systems have long been a hot ticket item for the US and allies in contested areas of the world as a coveted shield against incoming missiles. In Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific, they guard against potential strikes from Iran, Somalia and North Korea. So, it was a critical turning point […]

Medical staff in China’s hospitals say COVID-19 ripping through their ranks

A growing number of China’s doctors and nurses are catching COVID-19 and some have been asked to keep working, as people showing mostly moderate symptoms throng hospitals and clinics, according to medical staff and dozens of posts on social media. China’s health authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment on infections among […]

Japan expected to announce big shift in defence policy in view of China threats

Representational image. AFP Tokyo: Japan is expected to announce its biggest defence overhaul in decades this week, hiking spending, reshaping its military command and acquiring new missiles to tackle the threat from China. The policies, to be outlined in three defence and security documents as soon as Friday, will reshape the defence landscape in a […]

What is this new omicron variant spreading in China, and should we be worried?

The symptoms of an infection with BF.7 are similar to those associated with other Omicron subvariants, primarily upper respiratory symptoms. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay Since the COVID variant omicron emerged in late 2021, it has rapidly evolved into multiple subvariants. One subvariant, BF.7, has recently been identified as the main variant spreading in Beijing, […]

Important news and event of 2022 in India

Russia invaded Ukraine and got suspended from the UNHRC. Massive layoffs took place at Meta, Twitter, and Amazon and some of the world’s largest tech giants collectively lost over $3.2 trillion in value. The US Federal Reserve and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced rate hikes to combat inflation. And cryptocurrency exchange FTX declared bankruptcy, […]

Heart Media Group to launch Italy’s fashion bible GRAZIA in SG and MY

Heart Media Group is launching GRAZIA in Singapore and Malaysia next March. GRAZIA is touted as the first 100% Italian fashion magazine to have exported its successful formula worldwide, from Italy to China. It is published by the Mondadori Group and is also said to be “Italy’s fashion bible”. GRAZIA Singapore and GRAZIA Malaysia will […]

China protester detained for nine days: mother

BEIJING, CHINA — A young protester has been held in police detention in southern China for nine days after taking part in rallies against Covid restrictions, her mother told AFP, expressing fear and anguish over her daughter’s safety. China last week effectively ended its harsh zero-Covid policy, following years of economic damage and simmering public […]

Islamic State group claims attack on hotel in Afghan capital

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The militant Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on a hotel in Afghanistan’s capital that left three assailants dead and at least two of the hotel guests injured as they tried to escape by jumping out from a window. The attack on the Kabul Longan Hotel on Monday […]

China waves goodbye to tracking app as COVID-19 controls ease

People in China celebrated the withdrawal on Tuesday of a state-mandated app used to track whether they had travelled to COVID-stricken areas, in the latest loosening of some of the world’s toughest anti-virus rules. As authorities deactivated the ‘itinerary code’ app at midnight on Monday, December 12, China’s four telecoms firms said they would delete […]

Senator Hontiveros files bill seeking to decriminalize libel

MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a bill that seeks to decriminalize libel, her office confirmed on Tuesday, December 13. “Our libel laws have been weaponized to stifle very basic fundamental rights. These laws have been used to constantly attack many of our freedoms, but particularly the freedom of the press. We need […]

China sends 18 fighter aircraft into Taiwan territory in 24 hours

China sent a record 18 nuclear-capable bombers into Taiwan’s air defence zone, Taipei said Tuesday, just days after Beijing banned more Taiwanese imports in the latest sign of deteriorating ties Image Courtesy AP Taipei (Taiwan): Even as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China was driven back by the Indian Army from the Line of […]

Ukraine war and the Western objective of Russia’s dismemberment: Lessons for India

The West and NATO, led by the US, a crumbling Britain and their intelligence services, were apparently always engaged in a deeper conspiracy against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. They had directed Washington’s Ukrainian puppet Volodymr Zelenskyy to force Putin’s hand by directing him to engage in extreme provocation. Early in 2022, they had helped him assemble […]

Viral Video of Dog Carrying Groceries Has The Netizens in Complete Awe

Social media has become a hub for all sorts of videos. At times, there are videos that will make your heart melt. A similar video which is currently going viral shows a dog carrying groceries in a basket. Uploaded on Twitter handle Now This, the video was shot in Chengdu, China. “With a bag in […]

China Struggles To Tackle Covid Surge, Tells Citizens ‘Protect Yourselves’

People queued on Monday outside fever clinics at China’s hospitals to check if they had Covid-19 a new sign of the rapid spread of symptoms after authorities began dismantling stringent measures against the disease. Three years into the pandemic, China is moving slowly to align with a world that has largely opened up to live […]