Cold temperatures, dense fog bring chaos to Delhi

Heavy fog coupled with a protracted cold wave forced authorities in New Delhi to ground flights and defer school reopenings on Monday as visibility dropped sharply in the Indian capital and cars drove with their hazard lights on.

Donetsk shelled in first minute of Christmas truce: Authorities

Ukraine’s forces disregarded the Christmas ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin less than a minute after it took effect, by shelling a residential area in the city of Donetsk, according to the local authorities. The truce is supposed to last from noon on January 6 until midnight on January 7.

China seeks to minimise Covid outbreak during travel rush

China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month’s Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of most pandemic containment measures.

Sinaloa cartel unleashes chaos after leader’s arrest 

The arrest of a notorious cartel boss has sparked mayhem in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa. Heavily armed criminal gangs have engaged the military in firefights as burning cars littered the streets of Culiacan. Civil unrest, looting, and even a prison riot have also erupted in the city, which reportedly resembles a warzone.

Grief, anger in Russia over soldiers killed by Ukraine strike

Mourners voiced grief and anger on Tuesday at a rare public commemoration in Russia for the scores of soldiers killed by a Ukrainian strike on New Year’s Eve.

Russia’s New Year raids on Ukraine kill three, wound dozens

Russia’s New Year assault on Ukraine left three people dead and wounded another 50 as Moscow on Sunday claimed to have thwarted Kyiv’s “terror attacks” on the homeland.

Taiwan’s Tsai offers aid to China amid Covid surge

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen extended an olive branch to Beijing on Sunday, pledging to offer assistance if needed as coronavirus cases surge in China after its abrupt lifting of pandemic restrictions.

Brazil’s Lula to be inaugurated as president amid tight security

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to be inaugurated Sunday for a third term as Brazilian president, in a ceremony snubbed by outgoing leader Jair Bolsonaro, underlining the deep divisions the veteran leftist inherits.

N.Korea orders new ICBM and larger nuclear arsenal

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for the country to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and boost its nuclear arsenal amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state-run media reported.

S.Korea fires warning shots after North flies drones

South Korea’s military fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance assets across the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for the first time in five years in a fresh escalation of tensions.

India to deploy ballistic missiles near China and Pakistan

India intends to field more than a hundred ballistic missiles along its border with China and Pakistan, according to local news agency ANI. The report follows New Delhi’s claims of clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in a contested area of the Himalayas earlier this month.

Buffalo, NY among areas worst hit by deadly US storms

A lethal blizzard paralyzed Buffalo, New York, on Christmas Day, trapping motorists and rescue workers in their vehicles, leaving thousands of homes without power and raising the death toll from storms that have chilled much of the United States for days.

US fighting ‘indirect war’ with Russia in Ukraine: Kremlin

Washington seems intent on waging a proxy war against Russia using Ukraine as a tool, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said. He added that the main takeaway from Wednesday’s meeting between the two countries’ leaders is that neither the US nor Ukraine is prepared to pay attention to Russia’s concerns.

WHO ‘very concerned’ as Chinese cities face blood, medicine shortages

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is “very concerned” about the Covid-19 situation in China as the viral outbreak spreads unchecked through the country amid continuing shortages of fever medicines and the fear of coming waves of infection in the days and weeks ahead.

Special forces kill 33 hostage-takers in Pakistan

All 33 suspected militant prisoners who seized a Pakistan police station over the weekend were killed and their hostages freed in a clearance operation by special forces on Tuesday, the defence minister said.

Quake in US’ California leaves 55,000 homes without power

Over 55,000 homes were left without electricity after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California in the United States early Tuesday. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) said the quake was about 16.1 km (10 miles) deep and 12km (7.4 miles) west-southwest of California’s Ferndale, which is about 260 miles from San Francisco.

Concern grows over China’s Covid surge

Cities across China scrambled to install hospital beds and build fever screening clinics on Tuesday as authorities reported five more deaths and international concern grew about Beijing’s surprise decision to let the virus run free.