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21-08-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies LONDON/ PARIS/ NEW YORK/ NEW DELHI/ DACCA: Millions of women and girls globally have lost access to contraceptives and abortion services because of the coronavirus pandemic, as they bear the brunt of the global calamity, warned an international aid group. Across …

21-08-2020 WASHINGTON/ UNITED NATIONS/ TEHRAN: The administration of US President Donald Trump has formally notified the United Nations that it wants all UN sanctions on Iran restored, claiming significant Iranian violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, in a move that drew swift rejections from countries that remain part of the …

20-08-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies JERUSALEM/ WASHINGTON/ DUBAI/ RIYADH/ ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia says it will not follow the United Arab Emirates in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel until it has signed an internationally-recognized peace accord with the Palestinians. The UAE last week became the first Gulf …

20-08-2020 TEHRAN/ DUBAI: Iran said on Thursday it seized a United Arab Emirates-registered ship violating its territorial waters this week after the UAE coast guard killed two Iranian fishermen the same day. The foreign ministry said the boat was seized on Monday after UAE coastguard vessels “opened fire on several …

20-08-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ GAZA/ DUBAI/ RIYADH: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said his country will not recognize Israel until there is a Palestinian state acceptable to the Palestinians. In an interview with local broadcaster Dunya News, Khan said on Tuesday Islamabad would …

19-08-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ RIYADH/ NEW DELHI/ DUBAI/ WASHINGTON: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has played down differences with longtime ally Saudi Arabia after his army chief visited Riyadh in a bid to ease a dispute over policy towards the disputed Himalayan region of …

18-08-2020 SACRAMENTO (CALIFORNIA): One of the hottest air temperatures recorded anywhere on the planet in at least a century, and possibly ever, was reached at Death Valley in California’s Mojave Desert where it soared to 55 Celsius (132 Fahrenheit). An automated observation system run by the US National Weather Service …

17-08-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI: Data from India’s health ministry showed the COVID-19 death toll in the country crossed the grim milestone of 50,000 on Monday, as the country struggles to cope with the pandemic with 900 fatalities reported over the last 24 …

17-08-2020 DUBAI/ JERUSALEM/ WASHINGTON: The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) agreement to normalise ties with Israel is a “sovereign decision” that was not directed at Iran, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said. Israel and the UAE announced they were establishing full diplomatic relations in a US-brokered deal …

17-08-2020 MOSCOW/ BELARUS: Tens of thousands of opponents of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have gathered in Minsk to protest against disputed elections. The “March for Freedom” in the centre of the capital comes amid growing anger over alleged poll-rigging and police violence at subsequent protests. Meanwhile, in an address to …