Nuclear deal with world powers worth preserving: Iran
Berlin: The head of Iran’s nuclear agency said on Monday that the landmark 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers on his country’s atomic program is struggling since the unilateral US withdrawal, but is still worth preserving. Ali Akbar Salehi told delegates at a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna that the […]
Iran dismisses US efforts at UN sanctions as currency drops
Tehran: Iran dismissed US efforts to restore all UN sanctions on the country as mounting economic pressure from Washington pushed the local currency down to its lowest level ever on Sunday. Iran’s currency dropped to 272,500 to the US dollar at money exchange shops across Tehran. The rial has lost more than 30% of its […]
Afghan government airstrikes kill 24 civilians: Witnesses
Kabul: Government airstrikes in the north of Afghanistan killed 24 civilians, including children, and wounded six others, witnesses told The Associated Press on Sunday. The two witnesses contacted by the AP said that most of those killed in Saturday’s airstrikes, which struck the village of Sayed Ramazan in northern Kunduz province, were civilians. The Khanabad […]
Biden would push for less US reliance on nukes for defense
Washington: Democrat Joe Biden leaves little doubt that if elected he would try to scale back President Donald Trump’s buildup in nuclear weapons spending. And although the former vice president has not fully detailed his nuclear priorities, he says he would make the U.S. less reliant on the world’s deadliest weapons. The two candidates’ views […]
US sends troops, armoured vehicles to Syria to counter Russia
Washington (US): The U.S. has deployed additional troops and armored vehicles into eastern Syria after a number of clashes with Russian forces, including a recent vehicle collision that injured four American service members. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said the U.S. has also sent in radar systems and increased fighter jet […]
China flies 18 warplanes near Taiwan during US envoy’s visit
Taipei: China’s military sent 18 planes including fighter jets over the Taiwan Strait in an unusually large show of force Friday as a U.S. envoy held a day of closed-door meetings on the self-governing island claimed by China. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach, who handles the economic growth, energy and the environment portfolio, held […]
Blast targets ‘American’ English school in southern Iraq
Baghdad: An improvised explosive device blew up outside an English-language institute in southern Iraq early Friday without causing any casualties, Iraqi police said in a statement, amid a recent uptick in attacks targeting the American presence in Iraq. The blast damaged the facade of the American Institute for English Learning in the holy city of […]
Spanish banks merge in sign of hard economic times ahead
Lisbon: Two of Spain’s biggest banks said Friday they were merging, pushed together by a need to weather tough economic times that likely will cost thousands of jobs. The tie-up between CaixaBank and Bankia will create the largest lender in the country, with assets of more than 664 billion euros (USD 787 billion). The deal […]
Showdown set as US to declare UN sanctions on Iran are back
Washington: In defiance of overwhelming opposition, the United States is preparing to declare that all international sanctions against Iran have been restored. Few countries believe the move is legal, and such action could provoke a credibility crisis at the United Nations. Virtually alone in the world, the Trump administration will announce on Saturday that UN […]
UK’s Johnson warns of tougher measures in COVID-19 fight
London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Thursday that authorities will have to impose tougher measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 and “protect” the Christmas holidays as the government prepared to introduce stricter measures in northeast England. Johnson’s comments came amid reports that the government plans to impose a 10 p.m. curfew on pubs […]
