US basketball star Griner back home after Russia prisoner swap

San Antonio, Dec 9 (AFP/APP): American basketball star Brittney Griner arrived in the United States Friday morning after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death.” Griner, 32, who was arrested in Russia in February […]

Tanks, guns and ‘dragon’s teeth’ guard S Korea frontier island

Baekryeong, South Korea, Dec 9 (AFP/APP):It is South Korea’s westernmost territory, soldiers outnumber residents, and you can see North Korea from almost every barbed wire-lined beach: welcome to Baekryeong Island, a community on the front line. Far closer to the North Korean mainland than it […]

King of Bahrain Arrives in Riyadh

RIYADH, Dec 9 (SPA/APP): King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and his accompanying delegation arrived in Riyadh to participate in the Riyadh Gulf-China Summit for Cooperation and Development and Riyadh Arab-China Summit for Cooperation and Development scheduled to take place […]

Emir of Qatar, Chinese president discuss strategic partnership

Riyadh, Dec 9 (SPA/APP): Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, held an official session of talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the Riyadh Gulf-China Summit for Cooperation and Development as well […]

Russia repels drone attack on key Crimean port

Moscow, Dec 8 (Online): The Russian Navy foiled a drone attack in Crimea’s Sevastopol on Thursday morning, the city’s governor Mikhail Razvozhaev has revealed. The strategic port-city has seen a number of similar attacks in recent months, with Russian authorities pointing the finger at Ukraine. […]

Peru’s new president under pressure after predecessor’s arrest

Lima, Dec 8 (AFP/APP):Peru’s new President Dina Boluarte was under pressure Thursday to quell the political turmoil rocking the country, a day after the dramatic arrest of her predecessor, who stands accused of attempting a coup. The South American countries first-ever woman leader asked the […]

Thirty-five Tang Dynasty tombs excavated in east China

JINAN, Dec. 8 (Xinhua/APP): Archaeological excavations on 35 tombs dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) were completed in Liaocheng City, east China’s Shandong Province, said the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology. More than 110 cultural relics of various materials, such as pottery, […]

Bali bombmaker released on parole from Indonesian prison: official

Jakarta, Dec 7 (AFP/APP):One of the bombmakers in the Bali blasts that killed more than 200 people two decades ago was released on parole on Wednesday, an Indonesian official said, months after Jakarta reduced his 20-year prison sentence. Umar Patek was a member of an […]