23-02-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies PARIS/ ISLAMABAD: The French foreign ministry has summoned Pakistan’s envoy to protest against claims by President Arif Alvi that a French bill cracking down on what it terms “Islamist extremism” stigmatizes Muslims. Addressing a conference on religion on Saturday, Alvi said: …

23-02-2021 WASHINGTON: The US space agency NASA on Monday released the first audio from Mars, a faint crackling recording of a gust of wind captured by the Perseverance rover. NASA also released the first video of last week’s landing of the rover, which is on a mission to search for signs of past life on the Red …

23-02-2021 Bureau Report DOHA/ KABUL/ WASHINGTON/ ISLAMABAD: Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government have resumed in the Qatari capital Doha after weeks of delays, escalating violence and a change in US diplomatic leadership as the Biden administration began. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem tweeted on Monday night the …

23-02-2021 Bureau Report + Agencies CANBERRA/ MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY/ BRISBANE/ ADELAIDE/ PERTH: A number of small rallies have been held in capital cities across the country in protest of the coronavirus vaccine. Gatherings were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on Saturday with a few hundred people at each. In Victoria, …

22-02-2021 SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KARACHI/ ISLAMABAD: The Head Office of the Geo and Jang Media Group was attacked on Sunday by protesters in Karachi. A mob broke a walkthrough gate installed at the entrance of the building as well as the main entrance door to the building. The …

22-02-2021 TEHRAN/ UNITED NATIONS: The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has said the agency reached an agreement with Iran to continue its “necessary” verification and monitoring activities for up to three months, but there will be less access and no more snap inspections from Tuesday. Speaking to reporters …

22-02-2021 TRIPOLI: Libya’s powerful interior minister survived an assassination attempt after his motorcade came under fire outside the capital, sources close to him have told media. Fathi Bashagha had finished a meeting on Sunday with the chairman of the national oil corporation and was returning to Tripoli, the seat of …

Bharuch district panchayat, which has 34 seats, was ruled by the Congress and Jhaghadia MLA Chhotu Vasava’s BTP which was formed following a split in the JD(U). Bharuch: The BJP has given tickets to as many as 31 Muslim candidates in Bharuch district for February 28 elections to local bodies in …

21-02-2021 TEHRAN/ WASHINGTON: Unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States inflicted $1 trillion worth of damage on Iran’s economy and Tehran expects compensation, its foreign minister said. Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday after the US takes action to restore Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers through lifting sanctions, …

21-02-2021 Bureau Report CANBERRA: Facebook Inc is back at the negotiating table; Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday after the tech giant this week blocked news on its site in the country. Facebook’s abrupt decision to stop Australians from sharing news on the site and strip the pages …