World

China said on Thursday that a proposal by the World Health Organization (WHO) to examine Chinese laboratories as part of the ongoing investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic showed "disrespect" and "arrogance towards science". Last week, the UN health agency said a second phase of the international probe should…

Piles of cars were strewn across a central Chinese city on Thursday as shocked residents picked up debris from a historic deluge that claimed at least 33 lives, with heavy rains threatening surrounding regions. An unprecedented rainstorm hit a year of rain in just three hours in the city of Zhengzhou, weather officials say,…

Tokyo 2020's handsome Olympic mascots are dressed over the host city, but they have some serious competition in mascot-crazy Japan, where cuddly characters promote everything from prisons to health examinations. In Hello Kitty and Pokémon Land, adorable creatures give a friendly face to both private companies and public institutions, and the most successful have full celebrity status. .

The Covid-19 outbreak continues to worsen in Indonesia. Powered by the highly portable Delta variant, cases and deaths have risen across the country. Hospitals have become overwhelmed, forcing some of the newly infected to have no choice but to isolate themselves at home. We see how volunteers have helped. We also take a…

At least 12 people died in severe flooding on Tuesday in a Chinese provincial capital that caught people in subways and schools, washed away vehicles and stranded people at their workplaces overnight. The already submerged city of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, was hit by 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain from 1 p.m.…

At least three rockets landed near the Afghan presidential palace on Tuesday as the country's leader Ashraf Ghani held outdoor prayers with top officials to mark the beginning of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, it was the first rocket attack on Kabul since the Taliban…

Chinese authorities on Tuesday denied having carried out a massive hack of Microsoft's main servers, describing US allies' accusations as "baseless" and "irresponsible". The United States and several allies have publicly accused China of hacking Microsoft Exchange - an email platform used by companies around the world.In China's…

A Tokyo court on Monday sentenced US Army veteran Michael Taylor to two years in prison and his son to one year and eight months for helping former Nissan Motor Co Ltd chairman Carlos Ghosn escape from Japan, where he had been jailed. allegations of financial misconduct. Michael Taylor and his son Peter pleaded guilty and…

On Saturday, the Olympic organizers in Tokyo reported the first case of COVID-19 in the sports village, along with 14 other new cases linked to the games starting next week, which raises new doubts about promises of a "safe and secure" event. The recent COVID-19 events are a blow to local organizers and the International Olympic…

Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban met in Doha for talks on Saturday, AFP correspondents say, as violence rages in the country with foreign forces almost completely back. The two sides have been meeting on and off for several months in the Qatari capital, but talks have lost momentum as the rebels have made…