Australia to make Facebook and Google pay for news in world first
SYDNEY: Australia will force US tech giants Facebook and Alphabet’s Google to pay Australian media outlets for news content in a landmark move to protect independent journalism that will be watched around the world. Australia will become the first country to require Facebook and Google to pay for news content provided by media companies under […]
There Is No ‘Zero Risk’ in Easing Travel Restrictions, WHO Says
World Health Organisation (WHO) has said countries need to careful as they prepare to ease coronavirus travel restriction as there is no “zero risk” strategy. In a long-awaited update to its guidance on travel, the United Nations global health agency said cross-border trips for emergencies, humanitarian work, the transfer of essential personnel and repatriation would […]
US records over 60,000 coronavirus cases for fifth consecutive day
The United States (US) detected over 60,000 COVID-19 cases for the fifth consecutive day as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the pandemic would be lengthy. The US counted 61,262 new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. There were also 1,051 deaths in past 24 hours. […]
Canada extends travel ban to August 31, launches COVID-19 contact tracing app
Canada on Friday extended a measure barring most foreign travelers from entering the country and launched a new contact tracing app as part of its fight to control the “gate-crashing” coronavirus pandemic. The extension to Aug. 31 applies to foreign travelers entering Canada from outside the United States. It came despite calls from Air Canada […]
Saudi Arabia concludes downsized hajj amid pandemic
MAKKAH: Pilgrims concluded the smallest Hajj in modern history amid the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday. Only up to 10,000 Muslims took part in the Hajj, a far cry from the 2.5 million who took part in the five-day annual pilgrimage last year. Masked pilgrims threw pebbles at a wall symbolising Satan in Mina, close to […]
India’s Interior Minister Hospitalised With Coronavirus
NEW DELHI: India’s Interior Minister Amit Shah has been admitted to hospital after catching the coronavirus, he said on Sunday, becoming the most senior politician in the country to test positive for the disease. Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, heads a ministry that has been at the forefront of managing the […]
Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to clinch TikTok deal
Microsoft and US President Donald Trump have worked out an agreement which gives the software giant 45 days to finalise a deal for the US arm of Tiktok. The software giant said in a statement that its chief executive Satya Nadella has been in discussions with the President about a potential Tiktok purchase, and that […]
Lebanese confront devastation after massive Beirut explosion
BEIRUT (AP) — Residents of Beirut confronted a scene of utter devastation on Wednesday, a day after a massive explosion at the port rippled across the Lebanese capital, killing at least 100 people, wounding thousands and leaving entire city blocks flooded with glass and rubble. Smoke was still rising from the port, where a towering […]
TRUMP’S DEMAND THE US GET A CUT OF TIKTOK’S SALE COULD SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s unprecedented demand that the United States get a cut of the proceeds from the forced sale of Chinese internet giant ByteDance’s short-video app TikTok is based on an interpretation of US law that regulatory lawyers say may be open to challenges. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), […]
Saudi Arabia reopening land borders with UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain
The government of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has opened it borders with the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain after a four-month closure. According to the details, this step comes as the KSA eases the pandemic’s restrictions and economic activity returns to normal. In addition to this commercial trucks carrying goods for the Kingdom will also be allowed to […]
