UAE holds talks with Taliban to run Kabul airport
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has held talks with the Taliban to run Kabul airport, going up against Gulf rival Qatar in a diplomatic tussle for influence with Afghanistan’s new rulers, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. UAE officials have held a series of discussions with the group in recent weeks to […]
Iran calls on IAEA to maintain ‘technical cooperation’
The Iranian Foreign Ministry insisted on Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should “stay in the path of technical cooperation with Iran.” Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the ministry, said at weekly press conference that the UN nuclear watchdog should “not allow some countries to advance their political leanings and intentions in the name […]
COVID-19 cases in country lowest in 543 days
New Delhi: India logged 7,579 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 543 days, taking the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,45,26,480, while the active cases were the lowest in 536 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The death toll climbed to 4,66,147 with 236 fresh fatalities, according […]
Sri Lanka ends farm chemical ban as organic drive fails
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka abandoned its quest to become the world’s first completely organic farming nation on Sunday, announcing it would immediately lift an import ban on pesticides and other agricultural inputs. The island country has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis, with a lack of foreign exchange triggering shortages of food, crude […]
Delhi gurdwara committee submits complaint against Kangana Ranaut seeking FIR over ‘derogatory’ language
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Monday submitted a complaint seeking registration of an FIR against film actor Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai alleging that she had used derogatory language against Sikhs in her social media post. A Khar police station official said a complaint was received from the DSGMC and they were looking […]
Hundreds try to cross EU border despite easing of crisis
SOKOLKA: Hundreds of migrants have again tried to cross the border from Belarus into Poland, Warsaw said on Friday, despite signs of the crisis easing after migrants left a makeshift encampment. Polish border guards said there were attempted crossings by two groups on what is the eastern border of the European Union and Nato — […]
‘PM has accepted his crime, time for people to punish him’, Congress ups the ante
Moments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the government decision to repeal the farm laws the opposition upped the ante on the issue with the Congress saying the PM had accepted his crime and it was now time for people to pronounce punishment. The party said people had realised that “the nation’s victory lay in […]
10 shot dead in crackdown on Sudan’s anti-coup protests
KHARTOUM: Sudanese security forces shot dead at least 10 anti-coup protesters and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, medics said, in the bloodiest day since the military’s October 25 takeover. The fatalities — all in Khartoum, especially its northern districts — raised to 34 the death toll from unrest since the military seized power, a pro-democracy […]
Delhi Winters Are Now About A Frothy Yamuna And Hazardous Air
Having spent 20 years in Delhi I decided in 2016 to keep away from it at least during the winter months when it becomes, to parody a popular Bollywood song haanikarak (threat) to sehat (health) of anyone living here. But it wasn’t always so. Delhiites were actually proud of its winter and Dilli ki sardi […]
US journalist detained in Myanmar pardoned and released
YANGON: A US journalist imprisoned in Myanmar since May was pardoned and deported on Monday, a day before he was due to face terror and sedition charges that could have jailed him for life. The military has squeezed the press since taking power in a February coup, arresting dozens of journalists critical of its crackdown […]