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08-04-2021 WASHINGTON/ BEIJING: The United States has warned China against what the Philippines and Taiwan see as increasingly aggressive moves, reminding Beijing of Washington’s obligations to its partners, as the two rival powers step up their naval activities in the South China Sea. “An armed attack against the Philippines’ armed …

07-04-202 BRASILIA: Brazil has recorded more than 4,000 COVID-related deaths in 24 hours for the first time, as a more contagious variant fuels a surge in cases. Hospitals are overcrowded; with people dying as they wait for treatment in some cities, and the health system is on the brink of …

07-04-202 Bureau Report SYDNEY: Australia’s Prime Minister on Wednesday laid the blame on European Union’s restricted vaccine supply for his country’s abrupt halting of coronavirus inoculation efforts, as he faced public pressure over sluggish rollout. Scott Morrison said vaccine shortages and “strict export controls” introduced by the European Commission meant …

07-04-202 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report KARACHI/ LONDON/ MELBOURNE: This year the Muslim holy month of Ramzan is likely to start on Tuesday, April 13. The pre-sunrise to sunset fast lasts anywhere from 10 to 21 hours depending on where in the world live. The fast entails abstinence from …

07-04-202 Bureau Report + Agencies TEHRAN/ DUBAI/ DJIBOUTI: An Iranian cargo ship believed to be a base for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and anchored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen was attacked. Iran’s foreign ministry on Wednesday confirmed the attack, saying the MV Saviz was hit with an …

06-04-202 Bureau Report + Agencies CANBERRA/ WELLINGTON: Australian and New Zealand residents will be able to travel between the two nations without having to quarantine from 19 April. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the move on Tuesday. Since October, New Zealand travelers have been allowed to enter most …

06-04-202 By SJA Jafri + Agencies + Bureau Report ABUJA (NIGERIA): More than 1,800 inmates have escaped after a heavily ISIL (Daesh/ al-Qaeda/ Taliban) attacked a prison in southern Nigeria using explosives, correctional authorities said Monday. It is one of the West African country’s largest prison breaks. The attackers blasted …

06-04-202 AMMAN: The prosecutor general in Jordan’s capital Amman has banned the publication of any information about an alleged plot said to involve the king’s half-brother, Prince Hamzah, state television said. Tuesday’s order came after Prince Hamzah, who has been highly critical of the government, pledged loyalty to King Abdullah …

06-04-202 RIYADH/ MECCA: Saudi authorities said Monday that only people immunized against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage, starting from the holy month of Ramadan. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement that only “immunized people” will be granted permits to perform Umrah as …

05-04-202 Bureau Report NEW DELHI: India has reported a record rise in coronavirus infections, becoming only the second country after the United States to register more than 100,000 new cases in a day, as hospitals in its worst affected state are overrun by patients. The country’s daily COVID-19 cases soared …