International

03-07-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ ISLAMABAD/ BEIJING: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into the northern Himalayan region of Ladakh on Friday, officials said, weeks after Indian and Chinese troops clashed on their disputed border there, escalating tension between the Asian giants. Modi, who …

03-07-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISTANBUL/ WASHINGTON/ RIYADH: A Turkish court is set to open the trial of 20 Saudi officials indicted over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The trial will begin at Istanbul province’s main court in the district of Caglayan at 10am …

02-07-2020 WASHINGTON: After long resisting wearing a face mask in public during the coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump has now struck a different tone, saying he is in favour of the protective covering. “I’m all for masks. I think masks are good,” Trump told media on Wednesday. The Republican …

02-07-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report QUEENSLAND/ MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY: Supermarkets have reissued calls not to panic buy, as shoppers begin to strip shelves again. Woolworths and Coles have today urged customers to be considerate, saying there’s plenty of supply for everyone. Both supermarkets brought back toilet paper limits nationwide just …

02-07-2020 MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA: A campaign to boycott Facebook advertisements is set to go global, organisers said as pressure builds on Facebook to crack down on hate speech related to racial discrimination. The “Stop Hate for Profit” campaign will begin calling on major companies in Europe to join the boycott, Jim …

02-07-2020 NAYPYITAW: At least 113 bodies have been found after a landslide at a jade mining site in northern Myanmar, officials say. Rescue work is continuing for people still missing at the site in the Hpakant area of Kachin state. A wave of mud triggered by heavy rain engulfed those …

02-07-2020 NEW DELHI/ BEIJING: Sina Weibo, China’s response to twitter closed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s account on Tuesday after a request from the Indian embassy following the country’s move to boycott Chinese mobile apps following a deadly border clash involving soldiers from both sides. Since posting on Sina Weibo …

02-07-2020 ADDIS ABABA: The military was deployed in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday as armed gangs roamed neighbourhoods in a second day of unrest that claimed more than 80 lives. Popular musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa was shot dead on Monday in what police said was a targeted killing. Protests following the …

02-07-2020 RAMALLAH/ JERUSALEM/ OCCUPIED WEST BANK: Despite a delay in the long-anticipated declaration of an Israeli plan to annex one-third of the already illegally occupied West Bank, including parts of the strategic Jordan Valley, Palestinians decried the plan with some holding protests in Ramallah and Gaza City. Israel’s Foreign Minister …

01-07-2020 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies CANBERRA: Australia says it will significantly increase military spending and focus on the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions between the US and China. PM Scott Morrison pledged A$270bn (£150bn; $186bn) to Australia’s arms budget over 10 years – a 40% boost. …