North Korea dubs UN nuclear watchdog a 'dancing marionette of the West' North Korea on Wednesday dubbed the global atomic watchdog "a marionette dancing to the tune of the West" rejecting its information about the country's nuclear programme as “grossly distorted” and based on “guesswork and fabrication.

Morning news brief: US warns China, Biden picks chief of staff and more

Chinese regions deemed at low risk from the coronavirus outbreak should fully resume normal activities and end transport bans, an official at the state planning agency said on Tuesday.

Low-risk Chinese regions must resume activity: State Planning Agency

Two more Iranians infected with coronavirus have died, media website Eghtesaonline said on Tuesday, taking to 14 the toll in the Islamic Republic, which has the highest tally of deaths outside China, where the virus emerged late last year.

Iran's coronavirus death toll reaches 14

Taiwan's parliament approved a $2 billion package on Tuesday to help cushion the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its export-reliant economy. The package includes loans for small businesses, subsidies for hard-hit tour agencies, tax cuts for tour bus drivers and even vouchers to spend on food in Taiwan's famous night markets, normally a top attraction for foreign tourists.

Taiwan passes $2 billion package to soften coronavirus hit to economy

A US federal judge on Sunday denied a request by Roger Stone's lawyers that she be removed from the case in which she last week sentenced the long-time adviser to President Donald Trump to three years and four months in prison.

Roger Stone requests removal of judge reviewing his case; request is denied

Rival apps could obtain more screen time on iPhones as Apple Inc. is considering opening access of certain apps to third-party services. Customer will be able to use the iPad and the HomePod speaker to enjoy music services provided by parties other than Apple, a decision that comes after criticism that the company provides an unfair advantage to its in-house products.

Third-party apps to get more screen time on Apple products after criticism

France is now facing a new plague that involves blood-sucking parasites. A campaign has been launched by the French government to combat an influx of bedbugs that have settled in homes and hotels to feed on human blood.

Paris launches new offensive against old enemy, bed bugs

Leader of the fringe far-right group Britain First, Paul Golding, has been charged with violating the terrorism act in the United Kingdom, according to reports. Golding was returning from a trip to the Russian parliament in Moscow when he was stopped at the Heathrow airport in October.

Paul Golding, leader of Britain First, arrested by anti-terror police: Report

The Democratic presidential contenders begin a frantic dash for votes on Thursday after a fiery debate featuring a volley of attacks on big-spending billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut on the national debate stage.

After fiery debate attacks on Bloomberg, Democrats scatter on campaign trail

The US Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced a goal for biofuels to make up 30 per cent of US transportation fuels by 2050, a move that could bolster an industry that has been otherwise battered by the Trump administration.

Trump's agriculture department announces 30 per cent biofuel goal for 2050

The inventor of computer functions so simple and instrumental to our daily functions on our devices, i.e., Ctrl + X, Ctrl +C and Ctrl + V, has passed away. Larry Tesler, the unsung hero of the digital world, has made life easier for multitudes of people across the world.

Inventor of cut, copy and paste, Larry Tesler dies

SpaceX announced its intention to send four people deeper into orbit than any private citizen before them, in a mission that could cost more than $100 million and take place by 2022.

SpaceX announces partnership to send four people into deep orbit

The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state.

Utah Senate votes to decriminalize polygamy

Britain's government on Wednesday faced a backlash over its new post-Brexit immigration plans, which are designed to cut "cheap Labour from Europe" in favour of high-skilled English speakers.

UK's new immigration plan designed to cut 'cheap Labour from Europe' sparks criticism

The Latin American region has been hit by a severe dengue outbreak, with Peru reporting the latest victims of this pestilence. Dengue has claimed 12 lives in Peru and around 5,400 cases have been reported across the nation.

Dengue outbreak in Latin America as 12 die in Peru

Amsterdam is plagued by overflowing hordes of tourists and is considering a ban on visitors from cannabis-vending coffee shops, to balance the quality of life for locals and the demands of travellers.

Amsterdam considers banning tourists from cannabis cafes

John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, raised concern on Monday about his unpublished book being "suppressed" by the White House and suggested he should be able to respond to the president's tweets about him.

Bolton hopes his book is not 'suppressed' by White House

Relatives of a seven-year-old girl murdered in Mexico said on Monday the government had failed to protect her despite their pleas, while President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appeared to blame the crime on neo-liberal economics.

Government accused by Mexican family for daughter's murder in Mexico City

The British monarchy was left ashen-faced on Monday after it emerged that clicking on a link on the Royal Family's website led to a site featuring inappropriate content.

British Royals left ashen-faced after X-rated error on royal website

Though the tech giant Amazon, after much pressure, admitted that conversations recorded by virtual assistant Alexa and transcribed by humans were to check for accuracy and the information is made anonymous beforehand, Robert Frederick revealed that he always turns off his Alexa smart speaker during personal and particularly sensitive conversations.

Former Amazon executive says he turns off Alexa when he needs privacy

In a recent interview with South Africa's national broadcaster, former State President Frederik Willem de Klerk was asked to confirm whether apartheid - the legalised discrimination against non-white people - was a crime against humanity.

Former South African President Klerk says apartheid was not 'genocide' or a 'crime against humanity'

Online content should be regulated with a system somewhere between the existing rules used for the telecoms and media industries, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told global leaders and security chiefs on Saturday.

Zuckerberg asks Facebook to be treated "'like something between a telco and a newspaper"

The number of new cases of a coronavirus in China fell slightly, more than three weeks after the outbreak's epicentre was locked down, and a Chinese tourist died from the virus in France, the first fatality in Europe.

Chinese tourist dies in France as coronavirus cases show slight decline

Like Western feminists of the early 20th century, in an era of social change in Saudi Arabia some women are embracing cigarettes, shisha pipes or vaping as a symbol of emancipation.

'Happy I can choose': New era sees Saudi women light up in public