20-10-2020 GAZA/ JERUSALEM/ DUBAI: The arrival of a United Arab Emirates delegation in Israel has been slammed as “shameful” by Palestinian officials. The delegation – UAE’s first official visit to Israel – was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Finance Minister Israel Katz at …
Read More »‘Detained UAE Spy working as journalist in Turkey’
20-10-2020 ISTANBUL: A Jordanian national posing as a journalist received more than $400,000 to provide Emirati intelligence officers with details about Arab dissidents living in Turkey. During an 11-year-long espionage career, Jordanian national Mahmoud Ayesh Al Astal posed as a journalist to obtain information about Turkish domestic and foreign politics …
Read More »Muted microphones for Thursday’s final debate
20-10-2020 WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will have their microphones muted for parts of their final debate on Thursday to allow each candidate a block of uninterrupted time to speak and avoid the rancour of the two candidates’ first encounter. The Commission on Presidential Debates, …
Read More »Chinese zoo visitors see workers killed by bears
19-10-2020 SHANGHAI: A Chinese animal park has promised to improve safety after one of its workers was fatally attacked by bears in front of a tourist bus. The accident at the Shanghai Wildlife Park took place on Saturday in the zoo’s “wild beast area”. Video reportedly of the incident, which …
Read More »Pakistan lifts ban on TikTok after app vows to moderate content
19-10-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI/ BEIJING: Authorities in Pakistan have announced the lifting of a ban on TikTok, saying they received assurances from the video-sharing app that it would “moderate” content in accordance with local laws. “TikTok is being unlocked after assurance from management that they …
Read More »Chinese soldier captured in Ladakh, will be returned: India
19-10-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report NEW DELHI/ BEIJING/ ISLAMABAD: The Indian army says it has apprehended a Chinese soldier after he strayed across a contested de facto border in the western Himalayan region where both countries have amassed thousands of troops following a deadly clash in June. The …
Read More »Rallies held to support beheaded French teacher
19-10-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report PARIS/ LONDON/ MELBOURNE: Thousands have attended rallies across France in support of Samuel Paty, the teacher beheaded after showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his pupils. People in the Place de la République in Paris carried the slogan “Je suis enseignant” (I …
Read More »Israel & Bahrain formalize relations at ceremony in Manama
19-10-2020 MANAMA / JERUSALEM/ DUBAI: Bahrain and Israel have signed a joint communiqué to formalize ties during a visit by an Israeli and US delegation to Manama to broaden cooperation that Washington has promoted as an anti-Iran bulwark and potential economic boom. Bahrain followed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in …
Read More »Dozens killed in car bomb attack outside Afghan Police HQs
18-10-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: At least 24 civilians have been killed and more than 100 people wounded after a car bomb targeting an Afghan police headquarters in the western province of Ghor went off on Sunday. The attack took place in Feroz Koh, the capital …
Read More »Arms embargo on Iran expires despite US opposition
18-10-2020 UNITED NATIONS/ TEHRAN/ WASHINGTON/ RIYADH: Despite opposition from the United States, a long-standing conventional arms embargo imposed on Iran has expired in line with the terms of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. The 13-year ban imposed by the United …
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