Top News

13-06-2022 TEHRAN/ CARACAS: Iran and Venezuela, oil producers grappling with crippling US sanctions, signed a 20-year cooperation plan in Tehran on Saturday, with the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader saying the allies would continue to resist pressure from Washington. The signing ceremony, carried by Iranian state TV, was overseen by Iranian …

13-06-2022 BAGHDAD: Iraqi lawmakers loyal to influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr resigned from parliament in order to break the country’s political deadlock. The Arab country has failed to form a new government nearly eight months after parliamentary elections. According to a report published by the official Iraqi News Agency, members of …

13-06-2022 SEOUL/ PYONGYANG/ WASHINGTON: The United States warned this month that North Korea is preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test, and says it will again push for United Nations sanctions if that happens. “The South Korean government will strengthen capabilities to better implement the United States’ extended deterrence, and …

13-06-2022 BEIJING: China has made “impressive progress” in developing new nuclear weapons, but will only use them for self-defence, and never use them first, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. In response to a question about reports last year on construction of more …

12-06-2022 WASHINGTON/ RIYADH: United States President Joe Biden says he has “not yet” decided if he will travel to Saudi Arabia, a week after he opened the door to a possible trip. The comment on Saturday came amid opposition to the possible trip from Democratic Party legislators and human rights …

12-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has faced a backlash from Muslims at home and abroad, including from a number of Gulf countries, after two officials from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commented in late May and earlier this month on the prophet’s private …

12-06-2022 DAMASCUS: Syria has confirmed major damage including to runways at Damascus International Airport, which was closed for a second day Saturday for repairs after Israeli air strikes. The transport ministry said in a statement that runways were out of service. Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, …

12-06-2022 WASHINGTON: The price of US gasoline averaged more than $5 a gallon for the first time on Saturday, data from the AAA showed, extending a surge in fuel costs that is driving rising inflation. The national average price for regular unleaded gas rose to $5.004 a gallon on June …

11-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies CANBERRA/ PARIS: Australia has unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that the French firm had agreed to a …

11-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ LUCKNOW/ SRINAGAR: Indian police shot dead two demonstrators on Friday during street protests around the country sparked by a ruling party official’s remarks about the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him/ PBUH), an officer told AFP Saturday. “Police were forced to open …