China has denied that one of its fishing vessels abandoned 22 Filipinos after their boat sank in the South China Sea.
The incident has resulted in increased pressure on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to take a tougher stance.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Manila said the crew had initially intended to rescue the Filipino fishermen.
However they aborted the mission when they were “suddenly besieged by seven or eight Filipino fishing boats”.
US government starts likely brief shutdown as House fails to approve deal
The US government entered what is expected to be a brief shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to approve a deal to keep a wide swath of operations funded ahead of a midnight deadline.
Thousands demonstrate in Minnesota and across US to protest ICE
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the United States staged walkouts on Friday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two US citizens.
France tightens infant milk rules after recalls
France has lowered the safety limit for cereulide toxin in infant formula, aiming to strengthen protections after several major groups ordered worldwide recalls over contamination concerns, the farm ministry said on Saturday.
Modi ally proposes social media ban for India's teens as global debate grows
An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a bill to ban social media for children, as the world's biggest market for Meta and YouTube joins a global debate on the impact of social media on young people's health and safety.
Fuel prices in the UAE will drop for a second consecutive month in February.
The UAE has reopened the newly renovated Sheikh Zayed Child Care Complex in Istanbul that can now accommodate and provide essential care for around 700 children.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held a phone call with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.
