Trudeau rejects inviting Russia to G7 summit
OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected Russia’s participation in a coming summit of the G7 nations despite host US President Donald Trump’s willingness to invite the nation. “Russia was excluded from the G7 after it invaded Crimea a
Trump threatens military action against violent protests
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump vowed to order a military crackdown on violent protests escalating across the United States. The president said he was sending thousands of troops onto the streets of the capital and threatened to deploy soldiers to states
British PM Johnson offers visas for millions in Hong Kong
LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered visas to millions of Hong Kong residents and a possible route to citizenship if China persists with its national security law. “Many people in Hong Kong fear their way of life —
Global COVID-19 deaths tops 377,000
WASHINGTON: At least 6,365,000 confirmed cases worldwide have been reported with 377,558 deaths death since the pandemic began in China last year in December. According to the latest data, 2,903,418 patients have recovered from the pandemic so far. Brazil now
Life in Kashmir remains paralysed as curfew enters 303rd day
SRINAGAR: The curfew and communications blockage in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) continues to cut off the region from the rest of the world for the 303rd consecutive day on Tuesday. In the latest act of state terrorism, Indian forces martyred
Taj Mahal slightly damaged in thunderstorm
AGRA: The iconic Taj Mahal was damaged due to a deadly thunderstorm that struck parts of northern India. Officials confirmed that sections of the Taj Mahal complex, including the main gate and a railing running below its five lofty domes,
Global deaths from COVID-19 pass 373,000
NEW YORK: Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with more than 6.2 million confirmed cases in 188 countries. At least 6,267,657 confirmed cases worldwide have been reported with 373,961 deaths death since the pandemic began in China in
Trump postpones G7 summit, invites other countries
WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has postponed the G7 summit scheduled to take place in June and to invite other countries including Russia to join the meeting. “I don’t feel that as a G7 it properly represents what’s going
Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem reopens after two months
JERUSALEM: The Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem — the third holiest site in Islam after Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia — reopened on Sunday after being closed for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dozens of
Saudi Arabia to impose fines for not wearing face masks
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will impose 1,000 riyals fine for people who do not wear face masks or fail to adhere to social distancing rules. The Saudi Ministry of Interior made the announcement on Saturday, adding that people who refuse to
Saudi Arabia to gradually reopen Masjid-e-Nabawi from today
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will reopen the Masjid-e-Nabawi – the mosque of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) – in Madinah gradually to the public starting Sunday (today). Mosques across the Kingdom, except for those in Makkah, will open their doors to worshippers
EU urges US to reconsider decision to cut ties with WHO
BRUSSELS: The European Union urged the United States to reconsider its decision to cut ties with the World Health Organisation over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. “In the face of this global threat, now is the time for enhanced
Merkel declines to attend in-person G7 summit hosted by Trump
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has declined to attend an in-person summit of G7 leaders that US President Donald Trump has suggested hosting despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Leaders from the Group of Seven, which the United States heads
Afghan journalist, driver killed six injured in blast
KABUL: A journalist and a driver were killed while six people sustained injuries when a private bus carrying employees of an Afghan television station was bombed in the country’s capital on Saturday. According to the director of Khurshid TV, a
WHO, 37 countries launch alliance to share tools against COVID-19
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and thirty-seven countries have developed an alliance calling for common ownership of vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic. The move by mostly developing nations, called the COVID-19 Technology Access
Trump revokes preferential treatment for Hong Kong
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Friday he would strip several of Hong Kong’s special privileges with the United States in response to China’s attempt to exert control in the financial hub. The United States and Britain also raised alarm at
Global coronavirus cases surpass 6 million
NEW YORK: More than 6.3 million people have been infected by the new coronavirus worldwide. At least 364,000 people have died of the coronavirus around the world. According to details, at least 366,141 people have been killed and more than
Protests erupt across US over killing of unarmed black man
MINNEAPOLIS: A former Minneapolis police officer has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of an unarmed black man in custody. Derek Chauvin, who is white, was shown in footage kneeling on an unarmed black man George Floyd’s
Trump cuts ties with WHO in midst of global pandemic
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he was severing US ties with the World Health Organisation, which he accused failed to do enough to combat the initial spread of the novel coronavirus. Trump first suspended funding to the UN agency a
Monkeys run away with COVID-19 test samples in India
MEERUT: A troop of monkeys in India has reportedly run away with COVID-19 test samples a lab technician was carrying. According to reports, the monkeys snatched the samples of the suspected COVID-19 patients from a lab technician in Meerut, a city in
Trump signs orders against social media platforms
WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has signed an order in which he has sought to scrap the law that protects social media companies in an attempt to regulate social media platforms where he has been criticized. The executive order
US passes grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths
NEW YORK: The United States has surpassed the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths, as the pandemic tightened its grip on Latin America. The figure was a painful reminder of the devastation being wreaked around the globe by a virus
UK appoints first hijab-wearing judge
LONDON: A 40-year old woman has become the first-ever hijab-wearing judge in the United Kingdom. Raffia Arshad, a 40-year old woman was appointed as a deputy district judge on the Midlands circuit last week after a 17-year career in law.
Trump lashes out at Twitter after it labels ‘fact check’ warning
WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has recently lashed out at Twitter after it labeled two of his tweets with a ‘fact check’ warning for the very first time. Twitter for the first time, prompted readers to check the facts
Coronavirus worldwide cases cross 5.6 million
WASHINGTON: Coronavirus worldwide cases have crossed 5.6 million mark taking positive patients toll to 5,681,601 with 352,168 deaths while 2,430,461 have recovered. United States, Spain, Russia, UK, Germany, Brazil, Italy, France are among the worst-hit countries having maximum cases of
WHO suspends hydroxychloroquine clinical trials for coronavirus treatment
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation has announced that it was temporarily suspending clinical trials of the hydroxychloroquine drug as a possible cure for the novel COVID-19, after a study warned that the drug can increase the threat of death among
New Zealand PM remains clam as earthquake hits mid-interview
AUCKLAND: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern maintained her composure as she conducted a live television interview as a moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled New Zealand. The quake struck just off the coast before 8:00 am local time (2000 Sunday GMT) at a
Taliban announces three-day Eid ceasefire
KABUL: The Taliban have announced a three-day ceasefire with the Afghan government starting today after months of months of fighting. A spokesperson for Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group’s “leadership instructs all the mujahideen of the Islamic
UK to introduce quarantine for international arrivals from June 8
LONDON: United Kingdom will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, to help slow the spread of coronavirus. All international arrivals, including returning Britons, will have to self-isolate
Canada to ramp up COVID-19 testing, recommend digital app
OTTAWA: Canada will ramp up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as it gradually lifts restrictions and is working closely with Apple and Google on a mobile phone app to help, the prime minister said. In his daily news conference, Prime