Taliban leader bans windows overlooking women’s areas on December 31, 2024The Taliban’s supreme leader has issued an order banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by Afghan women and saying that existing ones should be blocked. According to a statement released late Saturday by the Taliban government spokesman, new buildings should not have windows through which it is possible to […]
Indian workers replace Palestinians in Israel’s building sector on December 31, 2024Wearing a safety belt, helmet and work boots, Raju Nishad navigates the scaffolding, hammering blocks that will form part of a building in a new neighbourhood in central Israel’s town of Beer Yaakov. While he and other Indians working alongside him do not look out of place on the expansive construction site, they are relative […]
S Korea investigators seek arrest of impeached president over no-show on December 31, 2024Investigators probing South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law said Monday they had sought an arrest warrant for the suspended president after he failed to report for questioning. Yoon briefly suspended civilian rule this month, plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. He was stripped of presidential […]
Rabada unlikely batting star as South Africa edge Pakistan in thriller on December 30, 2024Kagiso Rabada turned batting hero as he and Marco Jansen took South Africa to a dramatic two-wicket win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Sunday. Needing 148 to win, South Africa crashed to 99 for eight against superb bowling by Mohammad Abbas. The 34-year-old Abbas took a […]
Bumrah gives India a shot at victory, but Australia lead by 333 on December 30, 2024Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah unleashed more destructive bowling but Australia stubbornly battled back to reach 228-9 on Sunday, leading by 333 runs in an absorbing fourth Test. Bumrah scythed through the middle order on day four in Melbourne to record figures of 4-56 off 24 overs and hand India an outside chance of victory in […]
Atalanta snatch late draw at Lazio to hold Serie A lead on December 30, 2024Atalanta kept hold of top spot in Serie A on Saturday after escaping Lazio with a 1-1 draw which kept Inter Milan at bay but ended their club-record league winning streak at 11 matches. Marco Brescianini tapped home into an open goal with two minutes remaining to snatch a point from the Stadio Olimpico in […]
Brunson’s 55 points propel Knicks to overtime win over Wizards on December 30, 2024Jalen Brunson delivered a 55-point masterpiece as the New York Knicks rallied from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 136-132 in overtime on Saturday. Brunson scored 42 of his points in the second half and overtime to help the Knicks fend off the lowly Wizards for a seventh straight NBA victory. It […]
Celestial V70 wins overall honours in Sydney to Hobart yacht race on December 30, 2024Australia’s Celestial V70 won the overall trophy for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Sunday, after the bluewater classic was overshadowed by the deaths of two sailors in treacherous, blustery weather. Skipper Sam Haynes opened up the champagne after he and the crew were presented in Hobart with the prestigious Tattersall Cup, awarded to […]
Zverev helps champions Germany knock Brazil out of United Cup on December 30, 2024Germany took a solid first step on Sunday in defence of their United Cup title with world number two Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund powering them past Brazil, who were knocked out of the mixed-team tournament. Zverev assured the win by dominating Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4 after Siegemund began with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory […]
UNESCO-listed musical instrument stifled in Afghanistan on December 30, 2024Wood shavings littered the floor of Sakhi’s cramped workshop in the Afghan city of Herat as another rubab, the national musical instrument of his homeland, took shape under his deft hands. Sakhi has crafted two rubabs a month for decades, and he refuses to set down his tools even as a Taliban crackdown strangles music […]