WELLINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Flood-ravaged Auckland is forecast to receive further heavy rain in the coming days, authorities in New Zealand’s largest city said on Monday, as insurers counted the costs of what looks likely to be the country’s most expensive weather. event ever. Four people lost their lives in flash floods and landslides … Read more
There are few joys greater than boarding a plane and discovering that the seat next to you is empty. But what if you had the entire plane to yourself? It’s called a “ghost flight,” and one man recently found himself in the strange and somewhat creepy scenario after booking a trip to Fiji for his … Read more
The World Health Organization said Monday that COVID-19 remains a public health emergency but the pandemic is at a “transition point.” The agency said its International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met on Friday to analyze data on the state of the pandemic. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “acknowledges the Committee’s views that the COVID-19 … Read more
CNN — US officials believe drone attacks at a military plant in Iran’s central city of Isfahan were carried out by Israel, according to US media reports. Tehran said on Sunday that drones had attacked the plant in Isfahan late the previous evening, calling the operation “unsuccessful.” The Wall Street Journal and the New York … Read more
By Stella Qiu and Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia is preparing for the arrival of thousands of Chinese students, the education minister said on Monday, days after China’s education ministry warned students enrolled overseas that online learning would no longer be recognized. Australia’s education sector, which generated A$39 billion ($27.66 billion) in export earnings … Read more
People said the pandemic made them want to travel more responsibly in the future. Now new data indicates they’re actually doing it. According to a report published in January by the World Travel & Tourism Council and Trip.com Group: Nearly 60% of travelers have chosen more sustainable travel options in the last couple of years. … Read more
Turkey on Saturday issued a travel warning for its citizens in Europe, citing “possible Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist attacks.” Turkey alarmed by anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish demos The Turkish Foreign Ministry called on citizens in Europe to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place. Turkey said recent anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish acts show the “dangerous level of … Read more
Comment on this story Comment Emergency officials in Western Australia warned that a tiny radioactive capsule was on the loose, with a harried hunt underway along a long stretch of highway for what was essentially a toxic needle in a haystack. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia, a largely rural state … Read more
Pope Francis pens a letter to Jesuit Fr. James Martin explaining his recent comments in an interview with AP that “being homosexual is not a crime”, saying he was referring to Catholic doctrine that teaches that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin. By Vatican News “I was simply referring to Catholic moral … Read more
S Jaishankar released his book “The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World” (File) New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday reprimanded foreign newspapers for reserving adjectives like “Hindu nationalist” for the Indian government. “If you read foreign newspapers, they use words like Hindu nationalist government. In America or Europe, they won’t say … Read more