ASIA

At least 42 dead as Indonesia quake topples homes, buildings

8:43 pm January 15, 2021

Mamuju: Astrong, shallow earthquake shook Indonesia’s Sulawesi island just after midnight, toppling homes and buildings, triggering landslides and killing at least 42 people. More than 600 people were injured by the magnitude 6.2 quake, which sent people fleeing their homes in the darkness on Friday. Authorities were still collecting information about the full scale of casualties and […]

China honours ‘Bat Woman’ of controversial Wuhan lab as WHO team arrives to probe COVID-19 origins

8:17 pm January 15, 2021

Beijing: China has honoured a virologist of a controversial Wuhan-based bio-lab, which was at the centre of COVID-19 storm, as a WHO team arrived at the Chinese city to probe the origins of the coronavirus. Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology who has earned the moniker of ‘Bat Woman’ for her passionate research into bats and viruses […]

Cambodian labor leader’s trial for border remarks begins

3:18 pm January 15, 2021

Phoenix: The trial of a Cambodian labor union leader charged with inciting social unrest opened in Phnom Penh on Friday, part of a large-scale legal offensive by the government against its critics. Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, is standing trial for “incitement to commit felony” for comments concerning territory in border areas, a politically sensitive issue. If […]

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

Lankan trade unions remain opposed to Adani Group investment in Colombo Port

11:32 pm January 14, 2021

Colombo : Sri Lankan port trade unions on Thursday said they were not convinced with the proposal of Indian multinational company Adani Group and its partners buying 49 per cent stake in the Eastern Container Terminal (ETC) of Colombo Port, a day after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met them to explain the need for foreign funding. ”The ETC is in its last gasp, we have […]

Health Official says new UK variant of COVID-19 enters Sri Lanka

9:23 pm January 14, 2021

Colombo : The new UK variant of COVID-19 has entered Sri Lanka, health officials have said, adding that England cricketer Moeen Ali had been tested positive for the new strain of the virus when he was tested here. The England cricket team is currently touring Sri Lanka for a 2 Test series. Ali had been tested positive on January 4, Hemantha Herath, the deputy director […]