Author: News Desk

Washington : Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives early on Saturday, after making extensive concessions to a group of right-wing hardliners that raised questions about the party’s ability to govern. The 57-year-old Californian suffered one final humiliation when Representative Matt Gaetz withheld his vote on the 14th ballot as midnight approached, prompting a scuffle in which fellow Republican Mike Rogers had to be physically pulled away. McCarthy’s victory in the 15th ballot brought an end to the deepest congressional dysfunction in over 160 years. But it sharply illustrated the difficulties that he will face…

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today sent a cable of condolences to the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, following the passing of the former Prime Minister of Jordan, Dr Abdulsalam Al-Majali.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Thursday opened registration for Hajj 2023 for pilgrims within the kingdom. Applications can now be submitted by citizens and residents wishing to perform the Hajj through its website and the Nusuk app. Nusuk offers more than 121 services to assist pilgrims from all over the world. he most expensive package will cost up to 11,435 riyals, with pilgrims accommodated in the six towers in Mina, near Jamarat. The minimum age for Hajj application is 12 years, the ministry said. Women will also be able to perform Hajj without a mahram, or close male relative. Applicants…

Tokyo :  Japan’s Nikkei share average reversed early losses to end higher on Friday, as investors bought back beaten-down stocks with the yen weakening against the dollar. The Nikkei rose 0.59% to close at 25,973.85, after opening lower following Wall Street’s weak finish overnight. The index lost 0.46% for the holiday-shortened week. Wall Street’s main indexes lost more than 1%, with the Nasdaq leading the declines, as evidence of a tight labour market eroded hopes that the Federal Reserve could pause its rate hike cycle anytime soon as it stays focused on taming inflation. The broader Topix rose 0.37% to…

Sydney : Jessica Pegula’s rout of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the United Cup in Sydney on Friday has placed the United States in a dominant position to progress to the final of the mixed teams event. The American defeated Swiatek 6-2, 6-2, leaving the world’s top-ranked woman sobbing afterwards as she struggled to cope with the magnitude of what was a rare defeat over the past 12 months. Frances Tiafoe later gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead over Poland in the first semi final by defeating Kacper Zuk 6-3, 6-3 in a convincing display at Ken Rosewall Arena.…

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Afghanistan on Thursday, with strong tremors felt across the country, including the capital Kabul, and as far away as Pakistan and India, witnesses said. The quake struck Afghanistan’s northern Hindu Kush region at a depth of 189km, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Strong shaking was also felt in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and Indian capital New Delhi, the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology said.

Singapore : Gold prices inched higher on Friday after a sharp drop in the previous session, even as the dollar firmed ahead of a closely watched U.S. jobs report that could offer more clarity on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate-hike path. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,834.79 per ounce, as of 1008 GMT, after falling 1.1% on Thursday. Prices have gained about 0.6% so far this week. U.S. gold futures were steady at $1,839.70. “Gold is probably seeing a little bit of apprehension ahead of the jobs report. It’s going to have a big impact on yields, on the…

Manama :  As part of his visit at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Jordanian Prime Minister and Defence Minister Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh  today visited the Economic Development Board at Bahrain Bay. He was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and other ministers and senior officials. He welcomed Dr. Al-Khasawneh   and the accompanying delegation, hailing strong bilateral relations, supported by by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and and HM Majesty King Abdulla II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan. He…

Mexico City: Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzmán, an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the United States and one of the sons of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in a pre-dawn operation Thursday that set off gunfights and roadblocks across the western state’s capital. Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Army and National Guard personnel had captured a son of “El Chapo.” Sandoval identified him only as Ovidio, in keeping with government policy. Ovidio Guzmán, nicknamed “the Mouse,” had not been one of El Chapo’s better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years ago.…

VISAKHAPATNAM: The three-day Global Health Summit will begin on Friday in the port city of Visakhapatnam from January 6 to 8, 2023.  The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is conducting the 16th event, and reports state that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will virtually address the conference on Friday. Over 450 Indian-origin doctors and medical professionals from all over the world are participating in this three-day conference at Novatel Hotel by AAPI. The AAPI, founded in 1982, represents a global group of more than 80,000 practicing Indian physicians from all medical and surgical specialties in the U.S. The focus…