Author: AFP

1.5°C limit vital to save earth’s ice, snow

BANGKOK: Allowing global temperatures to increase by two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels would have catastrophic consequences for the world’s cryosphere, including ice sheets, glaciers, polar seas, and permafrost, warns a report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. The assessment urges upcoming climate talks to commit to keeping warming below

Vu surges to victory at LPGA’s The Annika

MIAMI: Lilia Vu (pic) secured her fourth LPGA title of the year at The Annika, shooting a four-under par 66 to claim victory by three strokes and regain the world’s top ranking. The Californian golfer had five birdies and one bogey at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.  Vu

Despair in Gaza City hospitals encircled by fighting

GAZA CITY (Palestinian Territories): At Gaza’s largest hospital, a sheltering Palestinian said Friday he felt “under siege” as the facility was encircled by fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. “We need help from the international community, people are dying here due to lack of treatment,” said Atef, who has

Russian aviation sector faces strong headwinds

MOSCOW: Russia’s aviation industry is facing heavy turbulence, as concerns for passenger safety mount in the face of poor maintenance, a lack of spare parts and regular breakdowns. The sector, heavily reliant on international suppliers, has been among the hardest hit by Western sanctions over Moscow’s assault on Ukraine. Cut

China vessels in high-seas chase of Philippine boat

SOUTH CHINA SEA: As a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat carrying journalists sped towards Filipino troops on a grounded navy vessel in the disputed South China Sea, three Chinese speed boats gave chase. The high-seas pursuit near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands on Friday ended when Philippine Navy

Confiscated letters finally opened after 265 years

UNDELIVERED letters written to French sailors during an 18th century war between Britain and France have finally been opened and studied — after more than 250 years gathering dust. The unread letters have provided a rare insight into the lives of sailors and their families in the 1700s, from the

China’s Singles Day getting less attractive

BEIJING: China’s annual “Singles Day” sales bonanza wraps up at midnight on Saturday, but consumers this year appear largely unswayed by its flashy deals and discounts as the world’s second-largest economy slows. Conceived by tech giant Alibaba, “Singles Day” — which this year spanned well over a week — was

US arm of China’s ICBC hit by ransomware attack

WASHINGTON: The US arm of China’s largest bank said it was hit by a ransomware attack, forcing clients to reroute trades and disrupting the US Treasury market. Ransomware attacks typically access vulnerable computer systems and encrypt or steal data, before sending a ransom note demanding payment in exchange for decrypting

Monet painting fetches $74m at auction

NEW YORK: A painting of water lilies by French impressionist Claude Monet has sold for $74 million, as part of a lively fall art auction season. “Le bassin aux nympheas” topped the projected sale price of $65 million when it went under the hammer at Christie’s auction house in New

China’s exports extend slump in Oct

BEIJING: China’s exports fell at a faster pace than predicted in October, data showed yesterday, as the world’s second-largest economy is buffeted by faltering global demand and a sluggish domestic recovery. Beijing has sought to boost business activity in a country grappling with a major property crisis and weaker consumption