Global
A year of terror, instability and curbs on various freedoms in occupied Kashmir
Monitoring Desk SRINAGAR: It has been a very troubled year for residents of the Indian occupied Kashmir ever since last year, on August 5, 2019, the Modi-led government scrapped Article 370 of the Indian constitution that guaranteed the state some autonomy. Ahead of Wednesday´s one-year anniversary, AFP examines the background to the contentious move, the…
Read More1 person is dying of virus every 7 minutes in Iran
Monitoring Desk DUBAI: One person is dying from COVID-19 every seven minutes in Iran, state television said on Monday, as the Health Ministry reported 215 new deaths from the disease and state media warned of a lack of proper social distancing. Health Ministry spokesman Sima Sadat Lari was quoted by the state TV as saying…
Read MoreMost Brits, French, Germans to skip holiday if tests, masks involved
LISBON (Reuters): As new coronavirus travel restrictions kick in across Europe, a survey showed at least half of German, British and French travellers would rather cancel a holiday than quarantine afterwards, take a test upon arrival, or wear a mask outdoors. The survey, carried out on July 13-23 and whose results were shared exclusively with…
Read MoreJoint US military drills get thumbs down from Thais amid virus fears
BANGKOK (Reuters): This month’s joint U.S.-Thai military exercises in Thailand have drawn criticism from Thais on social media after authorities announced that dozens of visiting American troops would be undergoing their mandatory 14-day quarantine in Bangkok hotels. Some 106 American soldiers will join three separate exercises from Aug. 18 to 30 in three provinces and…
Read MoreEgypt, Sudan, Ethiopia return to talks
CAIRO (AP): Three key Nile basin countries on Monday resumed their negotiations to resolve a years-long dispute over the operation and filling of a giant hydroelectric dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, officials said. The talks came a day after tens of thousands of Ethiopians flooded the streets of their capital, Addis…
Read MoreIndia’s COVID-19 cases surpass 1.8mn
NEW DELHI (APP): India’s health ministry announced on Monday that the country’s COVID-19 cases have surpassed 1.8 million, reaching 1,803,695. As many as 52,972 fresh cases were added to the tally in the past 24 hours, according to data released by the ministry. Meanwhile, 771 deaths took place during the past 24 hours taking the…
Read MoreIndia’s ruling party leader promises return of statehood to Kashmir
SRINAGAR (AA): The special status of Jammu and Kashmir revoked last year in August was a psychological barrier towards the full integration of the region with the rest of India, said Nirmal Singh, a senior leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Singh, who is also former…
Read MoreTrump vows to sue Nevada Democrats over mail-in ballots
ANKARA (AA): US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to take legal action after the Nevada state passed a bill on Sunday to allow mail-in ballots. “In an illegal late night coup, Nevada’s clubhouse Governor made it impossible for Republicans to win the state. Post Office could never handle the Traffic of Mail-In Votes without preparation.…
Read MoreAfghanistan: 29 killed, 50 wounded in prison attack
KABUL (AA): The Afghan Defense Ministry declared the clean-up operation in Jalalabad prison over on Monday with all five attackers killed. The clash killed at least 29 people and wounded 50 others. The Daesh-claimed attack began Sunday evening with a suicide car bombing followed by armed assault on the prison by five attackers in the…
Read MoreIran warns against US move seeking UN embargo extension
TEHRAN (AA): The issue of UN arms embargo on Iran is increasingly becoming a new bone of contention between Tehran and Washington, with latter vigorously seeking its extension and former warning against it. In recent weeks, with calls growing in the US for extension of the 13-year embargo on Iran, which expires on Oct. 18,…
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