‘Extremely dangerous’ hurricane Laura makes landfall in US
Houston: Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana early Thursday after strengthening into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 classification, with the US authorities warning of potentially catastrophic impacts. The National Hurricane Center said that Laura, packing 240 km per hour sustained winds, brought a “catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding” to the state. […]
West Africa tells Mali’s junta to install interim government
Bamako: West Africa’s leaders have demanded that Mali’s ruling military junta put in place an interim government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, that would last no longer than one year before democratic elections are held to restore the country to civilian rule. That demand was conveyed by special envoy, former Nigerian president […]
Turkey accuses France of stoking tensions in east Med
Ankara: Turkey on Thursday accused France of stoking tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where NATO allies Turkey and Greece are locked in a stiff standoff over competing claims over offshore energy exploration rights. The accusation came as European Union foreign ministers were set to meet in Berlin as they try to persuade EU-member Greece and […]
China criticises US sanctions over South China Sea buildup
Beijing: China on Thursday accused Washington of violating international law by imposing sanctions on officials and companies over Beijing’s military buildup in the disputed South China Sea, but gave no indication of possible retaliation. The sanctions add to conflict over control of the sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Washington rejects Chinese claims […]
Trump’s convention aims to airbrush his tenure
Washington: At President Donald Trump’s Republican convention, he is welcoming to immigrants, not the architect of some of the nation’s harshest anti-immigration policies. At Trump’s convention, the coronavirus pandemic has largely subsided, not continued to infect thousands of Americans a day. The economy is booming, not sputtering. Trump is a leader in healing racial strife, […]
Poetic words bring tears in New Zealand mosque shooting case
Christchurch (New Zealand): The poetic words of love from a daughter to her murdered father brought many people to tears in a New Zealand courtroom Wednesday during the sentencing hearing for the white supremacist who killed 51 worshippers at two mosques. Sara Qasem said she wonders if, in his last moments, her father was frightened […]
Turkey warns Greece not to test its patience over east Med
Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece on Wednesday not to test his country’s patience or courage, further stoking tensions between the NATO allies over offshore energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. Erdogan’s tough words came despite mediation efforts by Germany, whose foreign minister conducted shuttle diplomacy between Athens and Ankara a day earlier […]
Taliban truck bomb, other attacks kill 12: Afghan officials
Kabul: A wave of attacks across Afghanistan on Tuesday left at least 12 dead and wounded scores, officials said, including a Taliban truck bombing in the country’s north that targeted a commando base for Afghan forces. The violence comes as expectations had been rising that negotiations could soon get underway between the Afghan government and […]
UN: Global tourism lost USD 320 billion in 5 months from virus
United Nations: The tourism global industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, with USD 320 billion lost in exports in the first five months of the year and more than 120 million jobs at risk, the UN chief said on Tuesday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a policy briefing and video address that tourism […]
Iran won’t accept any demands beyond 2015 nuclear deal
Tehran: Iran won’t accept any additional demands beyond its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, the country’s top nuclear official declared Tuesday as the chief of the UN nuclear watchdog was visiting Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Iran on Monday to […]
