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13-06-2022 SEOUL/ PYONGYANG/ WASHINGTON: The United States warned this month that North Korea is preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test, and says it will again push for United Nations sanctions if that happens. “The South Korean government will strengthen capabilities to better implement the United States’ extended deterrence, and …

13-06-2022 BEIJING: China has made “impressive progress” in developing new nuclear weapons, but will only use them for self-defence, and never use them first, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. In response to a question about reports last year on construction of more …

12-06-2022 WASHINGTON/ RIYADH: United States President Joe Biden says he has “not yet” decided if he will travel to Saudi Arabia, a week after he opened the door to a possible trip. The comment on Saturday came amid opposition to the possible trip from Democratic Party legislators and human rights …

12-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has faced a backlash from Muslims at home and abroad, including from a number of Gulf countries, after two officials from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commented in late May and earlier this month on the prophet’s private …

12-06-2022 DAMASCUS: Syria has confirmed major damage including to runways at Damascus International Airport, which was closed for a second day Saturday for repairs after Israeli air strikes. The transport ministry said in a statement that runways were out of service. Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, …

12-06-2022 WASHINGTON: The price of US gasoline averaged more than $5 a gallon for the first time on Saturday, data from the AAA showed, extending a surge in fuel costs that is driving rising inflation. The national average price for regular unleaded gas rose to $5.004 a gallon on June …

11-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies CANBERRA/ PARIS: Australia has unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that the French firm had agreed to a …

11-06-2022 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI/ LUCKNOW/ SRINAGAR: Indian police shot dead two demonstrators on Friday during street protests around the country sparked by a ruling party official’s remarks about the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him/ PBUH), an officer told AFP Saturday. “Police were forced to open …

11-06-2022 GENEVA/ COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is at risk of tipping into a full-blown humanitarian crisis as the country’s economy suffers its biggest shock in decades, the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said on Friday. Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are suffering the country’s most serious financial turmoil in seven decades, with …

11-06-2022 By SJA Jafri + Agencies KUALA LUMPUR/ LONDON/ KARACHI: Malaysia’s government said Saturday it has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, with campaigners welcoming the move but cautioning the country had failed to deliver on previous vows to improve rights. The death penalty remains mandatory for several offences …