- Kolisi on the bench as Springboks ring changes for Scotland clash
- Israeli football supporters back home after Amsterdam violence
- Stock markets waver after US election rally, rate cut
- Guardiola will 'solve' Man City's malaise
- Russia seeks six years for medic for criticising Ukraine campaign
- Leveraging Trump win, embattled Macron eyes diplomatic comeback
- England cricket great Botham hails Hughes for Aussie croc rescue
- Mbappe 'down but not out' says Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
- Arsenal ready to rebound after troubled spell: Arteta
- Cartier owner's profit sinks as China sales slump
- UN aims to set standards for scandal-hit carbon markets
- Australia rugby captain Wilson aiming to hit England for six
- Amsterdam mayor 'ashamed' by 'unbearable' attacks on Israel football fans
- UN probe says women, children comprise the majority of Gaza war dead
- England's Lawrence eager to face rising Wallabies star Suaalii
- Judge Spurs at end of the season, says Postecoglou
- Paris Olympic horses to be awarded military medals
- Flood-hit Spain drenched by wettest October on record
- Spain call up uncapped trio for Nations League
- INEOS Britannia named as challenger for 38th America's Cup
- Scarlets wing Murray set for Wales debut against Fiji
- Stocks falter tracking US, China policy updates
- Prince William reflects on 'brutal' year as Kate returns to public life
- After Trump win, EU leaders tackle 'urgent' reform agenda
- France expects massive slump in 2024 wine harvest
- Leaders condemn 'anti-Semitic' football clashes in Amsterdam
- China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'
- Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
- Kagiyama leads Miura at NHK Trophy
- China unveils sweeping local govt debt swap to lift ailing economy
- Partial UN probe of Gaza war dead over 6 months shows 'nearly 70%' women, children
- 'Anti-government' samosa theft prompts India police probe
- Qantas plane returns to Australia airport due to 'engine failure'
- Ayub hits 82 as Pakistan crush Australia in 2nd ODI
- Russian drones, missiles pummel cities across Ukraine
- First artwork by humanoid robot sells for over $1.0 million
- China to raise local govt debt ceiling to boost struggling economy
- Climate change poses multiple risks for banks
- Boxing club helps fight Greenland's suicide scourge
- Retired Olympian Daley dives into the spool with Tokyo knitwear show
- Japanese organ builder 'honoured' to restore voice of Notre Dame
- Sony quarterly net profit jumps but forecast unchanged
- Asian markets struggle to maintain momentum after Fed cut
- Fur flies as Russia takes on young fans of 'quadrobics'
- Pharrell Williams to bring star power to Web Summit tech event
- On Kinshasa's streets hairdressers make a quick buck
- Rauf takes five as Australia out for 163 in 2nd Pakistan ODI
- Harris thrusts himself into pole position in Australia 'bat-off'
- Trump makes first cabinet pick, eyes Putin talks
- Qantas plane returns to Australia airport due to 'engine failure', sparks fire
JRI | 0.74% | 13.47 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.32% | 24.76 | $ | |
BCC | 0.75% | 141.91 | $ | |
SCS | 1.06% | 13.22 | $ | |
BCE | 1.4% | 28.47 | $ | |
NGG | -0.58% | 63.929 | $ | |
RIO | -4.95% | 64.29 | $ | |
GSK | -1.44% | 36.14 | $ | |
BTI | -0.11% | 35.36 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.84% | 7.15 | $ | |
RBGPF | 0.02% | 61.4 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.44% | 24.999 | $ | |
RELX | 0.55% | 47.925 | $ | |
BP | -2.76% | 29.01 | $ | |
AZN | -0.4% | 64.435 | $ | |
VOD | -0.22% | 9.3 | $ |
UN General Assembly president to join China's Winter Olympic torch relay
China on Friday said the president of the UN's General Assembly will take part in the Winter Olympics torch relay, which organisers announced would be closed to the public because of coronavirus fears.
Abdulla Shahid will take part in next month's relay before the 4 February opening of the Games, Beijing's foreign ministry said.
He is the second top UN official to attend the Winter Olympics which are the target of a US-led diplomatic boycott over China's human rights abuses, including those against its Muslim Uyghur minority.
"China welcomes Mr. Shahid to the Beijing Winter Olympics and to serve as a torchbearer," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a routine briefing, adding that Shaheed expressed his "firm support" for the Games.
"He believes that the Beijing Winter Olympics will show the progress of science and technology, and show the best side of China and the best side of all mankind."
Beijing is keen to shore up international support for the Games, after a growing number of countries including Australia, the UK, Canada and Japan have joined the diplomatic boycott.
Others nations like New Zealand have refused to send officials due to strict coronavirus restrictions.
UN chief Antonio Guterres will attend the Games' opening ceremony, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In recent weeks, China's foreign ministry has repeatedly emphasised Guterres' support of the Games at daily briefings, while Beijing has denied UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet a long-sought independent visit to Xinjiang.
The US government and lawmakers in five Western countries have declared China's treatment of the Uyghurs in its Xinjiang region a "genocide", with France's National Assembly the latest to do so this week.
- Closed relay -
Games organisers also announced Friday that the already scaled back torch relay will be cordoned off from the general public because of Covid measures -- days after public ticket sales were cancelled due to a recent Omicron outbreak in Beijing.
The capital city has recorded 17 cases since Monday while other outbreaks have flared across major urban centres in recent weeks.
The relay involving 1,200 torchbearers will take place across the Games' three sites and also travel to tourist attractions such as the Great Wall from February 2 to 4, when the Olympics open.
"Safety will always be prioritised for this torch relay," said Yang Haibin, a Games organising committee official, at a briefing.
"Given epidemic control considerations... the torch relay and ceremonial activities will be arranged in safe and controllable closed venues."
In a break with tradition, there was no torch relay on Greek soil because of Covid before the flame arrived in China.
Last October's flame-lighting ceremony in Greece was disrupted by human rights activists.
The upcoming Games are set to be the most restrictive large-scale sporting event since the pandemic began, with all participants required to be in a "closed loop" completely separated from the outside world.
J.Bergmann--BTB