World

        The South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea, results showed Wednesday.Bougainville Referendum Commission Chairman Bertie Ahern was cheered when he announced that more than 98% of valid ballots favored independence. The only other option in the vote was greater autonomy from Papua New Guinea.The referendum is nonbinding, and independence would then need to be negotiated between leaders from Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The final say would then go to lawmakers in the Papua New Guinea Parliament. The process of becoming a separate nation could take years to achieve.Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape’s office said he was out of town and was not available for comment.Around 85% of eligible voters cast more than 181,000 ballots in two weeks of voting.The referendum is a key part of a 2001 peace agreement that ended a civil war in … [Read more...] about Bougainville votes overwhelmingly to become world’s newest nation

Fresh from securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool’s involvement in the Club World Cup does not begin until next week, but the fight for the right to face Jurgen Klopp’s men in Qatar starts on Wednesday.Competing as champions of the host country, Qatar’s Al-Sadd - coached by Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez - entertain minnows Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia in the tournament’s opening game at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.The winner of that game will advance to a tie against Mexico’s Monterrey, the CONCACAF Champions League winners, on Saturday. Whoever emerges from that match will then be able to look forward to a plum semi-final against Liverpool on December 18.While Al-Sadd have a world famous coach and some notable players - former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi and the Algeria striker Baghdad Bounedjah - the story of Hienghene Sport is a remarkable one.The amateur side from the French overseas territory are in Qatar, and … [Read more...] about Minnows dream of date with Liverpool at Club World Cup

Video PlayerClose RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday announced that the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will be the World Capital of Architecture for 2020. Having defeated Paris and Melbourne, Rio will be the first city to receive the title under a program launched together by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) in November 2018. The city will host the World Congress of UIA, an event that occurs every three years, in July 2020. "The World Capital of Architecture initiative underscores the common commitment of UNESCO and the UIA to preserve architectural heritage in the urban context," said UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone R. "Through the range and quality of its activities, the World Capital of Architecture in Rio de Janeiro will demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development," Ottone R said. According … [Read more...] about UNESCO names Rio as World Capital of Architecture for 2020

Washington: Nearly 10,000 Indians were detained in the US in 2018 by law enforcement agencies as part of their operations to identify and remove aliens who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, according to a government report. Of these, 831 were removed from the US, the report said on Tuesday. According to the report titled Immigration Enforcement: Arrests, Detentions, and Removals, and Issues Related to Selected Populations by Government Accountability Office, the number of Indians detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the ICE has more than doubled between 2015 and 2018. In 2015, the ICE had detained 3,532 Indians, which increased to 3,913 in 2016; 5322 in 2017 and 9,811 in 2018. According to the report, the ICE removed 831 Indians in 2018. The figure was 296 in 2015; 387 in 2016 and 474 in 2017. The number of administrative arrests of Indians by the ICE in 2015 was 317, which increased to 390 in 2016, 536 in 2017, and 620 in 2018, … [Read more...] about Nearly 10,000 Indians Detained in US in 2018 in Removal Operations, Says Report

Kabul: A bomb exploded close to the largest US military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, injuring at least five people and damaging a hospital that was under construction near the entrance to Bagram Airfield, officials said. The attack -- which has not yet been claimed -- comes as Washington resumed talks with the Taliban on Saturday, three months after President Donald Trump abruptly halted diplomatic efforts that could end America's longest war. "The explosion happened in front of the gate of the Korean hospital which is almost adjacent to Bagram airfield," Parwan governor spokeswoman Wahida Shahkar said, referring to the US airbase in eastern Parwan province. "So far five injured civilians have been transferred to the hospital." NATO's Resolute Support mission said there were no US or coalition casualties and "Bagram remained secure throughout the attack". "The attack was quickly contained and repelled... but the future medical facility was badly damaged," it added in a statement. … [Read more...] about Five Wounded in Bomb Blast Near Largest US Military Base in Afghanistan, Hospital Damaged