Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders are scheduled to meet on Jan. 20 for talks on opening new crossing points on the ethnically divided island, according to officials and diplomats on Friday. The island of Cyprus has nine crossings along the 180-kilometer (116-mile) cease-fire line that separates Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Thousands use them daily with long queues and traffic jams a regular occurrence. “We are going to this meeting with a constructive stance and hope the same sincere will is shown by the other side to facilitate the objective, which is opening new crossing points,” Konstantinos Letymbiotis, spokesperson for the…
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday declared a public health emergency for California to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County. The wildfires have devastated Los Angeles neighborhoods on the east and west sides of the sprawling metropolis and have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, with those figures expected to grow. The declaration gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of people enrolled under Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans, said the…
A majority of U.S. intelligence agencies have reaffirmed in an updated assessment that it is “very unlikely” that a foreign adversary was responsible for so-called Havana Syndrome ailments, a U.S. intelligence official said on Friday. The ailments were first reported by personnel at the U.S. embassy in Havana in 2016, leading to suspicions they might have been deliberately caused by a foreign power, or by non-state foreign attackers. Cuba repeatedly denied any involvement. Five of seven spy agencies involved in a years-long investigation “continue to assess it is very unlikely a foreign adversary is responsible” for the migraines, nausea, memory…
Britain has imposed new sanctions on Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, the foreign ministry on Friday. The measures, which included asset freeze and transport sanctions, comes as the U.S. Treasury set out new sanctions against the Russian energy sector.
The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials and increased the reward for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro on the day of his inauguration to a third term following a disputed election last year. It was the latest in a series of punitive steps by the outgoing Biden administration against Maduro’s government in aftermath of the July vote, which both his ruling Socialist party and the OPEC nation’s opposition claim to have won. The new officials sanctioned include the recently appointed head of Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon, and Venezuela’s transportation minister, Ramon…
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to discuss continued support in the country’s war with Russia, the White House said.
Novak Djokovic revealed on Thursday that he was “poisoned” by the food he consumed while detained during his visa saga at the 2022 Australian Open. The Serbian 24-times major winner had his visa canceled ahead of the tournament following days of drama over Australia’s COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status. The former world number was detained in a Melbourne hotel shared with asylum-seekers. “I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me,” Djokovic told GQ in an interview released on Thursday. He is known to monitor his diet strictly. “I had…
Novak Djokovic revealed on Thursday that he was “poisoned” by the food he consumed while detained during his visa saga at the 2022 Australian Open. The Serbian 24-times major winner had his visa canceled ahead of the tournament following days of drama over Australia’s COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status. The former world number was detained in a Melbourne hotel shared with asylum-seekers. “I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me,” Djokovic told GQ in an interview released on Thursday. He is known to monitor his diet strictly. “I had…
Barcelona advanced to their third consecutive Spanish Super Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Jeddah on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal. Gavi set the tone early, scoring in the 17th minute, while Yamal sealed the win just seven minutes into the second half. The 14-time Super Cup champions now await the winner of Thursday’s semifinal clash between holders Real Madrid and Mallorca to determine their opponent in Sunday’s final. Barcelona’s earliest chances fell to Raphinha, who first acrobatically volleyed over and then struck a powerful free kick that keeper Unai Simon…
Barcelona advanced to their third consecutive Spanish Super Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Jeddah on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal. Gavi set the tone early, scoring in the 17th minute, while Yamal sealed the win just seven minutes into the second half. The 14-time Super Cup champions now await the winner of Thursday’s semifinal clash between holders Real Madrid and Mallorca to determine their opponent in Sunday’s final. Barcelona’s earliest chances fell to Raphinha, who first acrobatically volleyed over and then struck a powerful free kick that keeper Unai Simon…