BEIJING: Beijing yesterday reasserted its right to build “defence” facilities in the disputed South China Sea, but declined to confirm reports it had installed new missiles on artificial islands it has built in the region, reports AFP. The Chinese army installed anti-ship and air-to-air…

 WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump yesterday confirmed a “reimbursement” as part of a hush agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels over allegations of a decade-old affair, but he said campaign money wasn’t involved, reports AFP. Trump’s comments in a series of tweets,…

KOLKATA: An Indian tea vendor caught on video taking water from a train toilet before selling his drinks to passengers has been fined amid heightened concern in India over food safety, reports AFP. The vendor on the Chennai-Hyderabad Express was caught after footage of him and two others coming out…

CANBERRA: The Pacific nation of Vanuatu is preparing to permanently evacuate the entire population of one of its islands as thick ash spewing from a volcano…

WASHINGTON: Eighteen House Republicans have nominated Donald Trump for the 2019 Nobel peace prize, reports The Guardian. In a letter spearheaded by the Indiana Republican Luke Messer and sent to the Norwegian Nobel committee, the lawmakers claim that Trump should “receive the 2019 Nobel Peace…

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad is under investigation for allegedly spreading “fake news” after claiming his plane was sabotaged, police said yesterday, just days before a closely-fought election, reports AFP. Veteran ex-premier Mahathir, 92, is seeking to oust…

2 killed as Russian jet crashes in Syria MOSCOW: A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria yesterday, killing both pilots, Moscow’s defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies, reports AFP. “As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim…