09 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Al-Jazeera BEIJING/ SICHUAN: Orders issued by China’s top health authority for the swift cremation of the remains of coronavirus victims at facilities near the hospitals where they died appear to be an overreaction and unnecessary to curb the transmission of the disease, top epidemiologists …

09 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies KABUL/ ISLAMABAD/ WASHINGTON: The American and Afghan troops have come under direct fire in eastern Afghanistan, and there are reports of casualties. American officials said it is not clear whether militants in Afghan uniforms attacked the US forces in Nangarhar province or …

07 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies SANA’A/ WASHINGTON: The United States has killed the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), President Donald Trump said. Qasim al-Raymi, who has led the jihadist group since 2015, was killed in a US operation in Yemen, the White House said. …

06 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies LONDON/ JERUSALEM: The number of anti-Jewish incidents logged in the United Kingdom (UK) last year hit record levels yet again amid accusations the opposition Labour Party had failed to tackle the issue within its ranks, a Jewish advisory body has said. The Community …

05 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + AJ CANBERRA/ MELBOURNE: More than half the Chinese students enrolled in Australian universities have found themselves stranded in their home country with a new academic year looming after the Australian government imposed a travel ban in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The new …

04 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies HOUSTON/ MELBOURNE: Two people were killed and a third was wounded on Monday in a shooting at a residence hall on the Texas A&M University campus in Commerce, the school said on its website. The wounded person was taken to a hospital, …

03 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies BEIJING/ WASHINGTON: The Chinese government has accused the US of causing “panic” in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. It follows the US decision to declare a public health emergency and deny entry to foreign nationals who had visited China in …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies WASHINGTON/ MELBOURNE: A former US Coast Guard officer has been jailed for 13 years for stockpiling weapons to carry out an alleged white supremacist attack. Officials said Christopher Hasson, 50, was planning to target liberal politicians and news broadcasters. Prosecutors said this …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri CANBERRA: A bushfire near the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) grew to more than 35,000 hectares on Saturday, as officials closed a major motorway. Residents in some areas around the capital, Canberra, were warned that it was “too late to leave” and they should try …

01 February, 2020 By SJA Jafri + Agencies LONDON: The flags outside embassies have been lowered, the countdown clocks have stopped. The United Kingdom (UK)is no longer a member of the European Union (EU). The country’s 47 years of membership officially ceased at the stroke of 23:00 GMT (midnight Brussels time), …