Australia

Silent Night in Bethlehem: No Christmas Tree, Dampening Joy in the Birthplace of Jesus Christ

25 Dec 2023 13:47 PM IST

Bethlehem, a town heavily reliant on global visitors eager to witness the historic Church of the Nativity, finds itself deserted this Christmas season due to the recent surge in violence and war in the region. Typically bustling with activity during the holiday season, Bethlehem now faces a grim reality with

Taiwan detects two military aircraft and four Chinese naval ships in the area

25 Dec 2023 13:05 PM IST

Two military aircraft and four Chinese naval vessels have been monitored by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense. Taiwan News reports that the naval vessels and planes were monitored throughout the country from 6 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, to 6 a.m. on Monday, December 25. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and

Plane carrying 303 Indians grounded over ‘human trafficking’ allowed to leave France, may head to Mumbai today

25 Dec 2023 12:37 PM IST

After being grounded for four days due to a human trafficking investigation, a passenger plane that was transporting 303 Indians to Nicaragua was finally permitted to depart from France’s Vatry Airport in Champagne nation on Sunday. Numerous stranded passengers would be flown back to India on Monday, according to a

Russia grapples with 4.8 million worker shortage in 2023, crunch to persist

25 Dec 2023 09:24 AM IST

Russia faced a shortage of approximately 4.8 million workers in 2023, and this issue is expected to persist in 2024, as reported by the newspaper. Experts and research from the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Economics contributed to this assessment. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina highlighted the severity of

Ukraine detains defence official over alleged $40 million artillery fraud

25 Dec 2023 09:23 AM IST

A high-ranking official within the Ukrainian Defence Ministry has been apprehended on charges of embezzling USD 40 million (1.5 billion Ukrainian hryvnia) related to a contract for artillery shells, the news channel reported the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). The SBU alleged that the official, in December of the previous year,

German police heighten security at Cologne Cathedral amid attack threats

25 Dec 2023 09:23 AM IST

German Police carried out searches at a cathedral in the western city of Cologne amid warnings of a possible attack on New Year’s Eve, the news channel reported. Cologne police chief Michael Esser said the Cologne cathedral would be closed and sniffer dogs would be brought in to search the

WHO highlights escalating polio danger in Afghanistan with returning migrants

25 Dec 2023 09:22 AM IST

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the recent increase in the number of Afghan returnees from Pakistan, significantly increases the risk of cross-border poliovirus spread, the news agency reported. The WHO in a statement during the 37th session of the Emergency Committee for Polio Eradication, stated that the

Tensions mount as Palestinian labourers prepare to return to Judea and Samaria

25 Dec 2023 09:21 AM IST

The Berkleys live on a quiet street in Karnei Shomron, Samaria where almost every second house is undergoing necessary renovations. The homes, built in the 1980s when the town was first established, need weatherproofing, plumbing and basic upgrading. Before the current Hamas war, Palestinian Arabs flooded the neighbourhood each morning–building,

UAE holds final forum on economic Policy Alignment Project

25 Dec 2023 09:20 AM IST

The Ministry of Economy, in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), organised the final forum on the UAE’s Economic Policy Alignment Project, which was launched in February 2023. The project is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s economic legislative environment. The forum was held

French judge to decide on extending stay of 303 passengers, mainly Indians

25 Dec 2023 09:18 AM IST

The 303 passengers, mostly Indians, of a plane detained by French authorities since Thursday over suspected “human trafficking”, are set to appear before a judge on Sunday at the airport to decide on their continued detention. The plane that took off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates carrying 303

UN calls on Taliban to stop children’s recruitment in security forces

25 Dec 2023 09:18 AM IST

The United Nations (UN) has called on the Taliban to recognise individuals under 18 years of age as children and prevent their recruitment into security forces, Khaama Press reported. The UN has said that Afghan children remain in an extremely vulnerable situation. In a report released on Friday, the UN

Israel discovers Hamas bomb belts adapted for children

25 Dec 2023 09:17 AM IST

The Israeli military struck 200 terror infrastructure targets in Gaza over the past 24 hours and seized weapons belonging to Hamas, the Israel Defence Forces said on Sunday. Among the facilities was a building in northern Gaza where civilians were staying that contained a Hamas weapons complex. Soldiers found explosive