SINGAPORE: Vice President Kamala Harris accused China on Tuesday of intimidation in disputed Asian waters, seeking to rally regional allies as the United States’ superpower status takes a hit over Afghanistan. Her comments in Singapore came as Washington seeks to reset relations in Asia after the turbulent Donald Trump era and build a bulwark against the rising might of Beijing. …

LONDON: The Taliban must “guarantee” safe passage for those fleeing Afghanistan beyond the current August 31 evacuation deadline, the G7 agreed on Tuesday, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Johnson, who convened the emergency meeting, said that he and his colleagues had agreed “a roadmap for the way in which we’re going to engage with the Taliban” in the …

KABUL: The Taliban on Tuesday urged skilled Afghans not to flee the country and asked America to stop taking “Afghan experts” such as engineers and doctors out of Kabul, as US-led troops have ramped up operations to evacuate tens of thousands of people including many Afghans on a daily basis. “This country needs their expertise. They should not be taken …

As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies. Using a robotic arm, the “AutoVacc” system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according to researchers at Chulalongkorn University, who made the machine …

Tags for identifying bitcoin, ethereum and other crypto assets will be launched in September in the latest sign of how the fast growing, unregulated market is adopting the hallmarks of mainstream investing. The ability to monitor cryptocurrencies has become a major worry for regulators as the ballooning market, which reached a record $2 trillion capitalization in April, has experienced wild …

LEEDS: India captain Virat Kohli has dismissed talk that England’s injury crisis has bolstered his side’s hopes of victory in the third Test as they ‘don’t wait for the opposition to be weak’. Kohli’s men head into Wedne­sday’s clash at Headingley 1-0 up in a five-match series after a superb 151 run-win in the second Test at Lord’s. England, already …

TOKYO: The Tokyo Paralympics opened with howling guitars and neon-streaked performers on Tuesday, with athletes ready to defy stereotypes and shatter records despite a year-long pandemic delay. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open surrounded by banks of vacant seats at the 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, with virus rules banning spectators from almost all events. International Paralympic Committee (IOC) president Andrew …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday held another meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ehsan Mani to discuss cricket affairs, while indicating that he would continue as head of the PCB. During the last 24 hours, Mani — whose three-year term expires on Wednesday — has twice met the prime minister, who is also PCB’s patron-in-chief. A government official …

IT’S difficult to find the perfect way to describe retired Lt Gen Arif Hasan, Pakistan’s Olympic chief since 2004. For many of his supporters, he is a source of pride; an honest and sincere sports personality. For his detractors and opponents, a man who is relentlessly clinging on to power. In his 17 years at the helm of the Pakistan …

Shaheen Shah Afridi completed a ten-wicket match haul to bowl Pakistan to a series-levelling 109-run victory over the West Indies in the final session of the second and final Test at Sabina Park on Tuesday. Frustrated by the loss of an entire day’s play and another session to rain and a sodden outfield over the weekend, Shaheen kept Pakistan’s hopes …