India: Dalit woman’s body taken off funeral pyre in Uttar Pradesh
The body of a Dalit woman was taken off a funeral pyre in Uttar Pradesh by a group of upper-caste men who said she could not be cremated on communal land, police said on Tuesday, a case that prompted angry calls for an end to caste discrimination. The funeral was being held last week when […]
Heathrow Airport warns of ‘quarantine roulette’
LONDON: Heathrow Airport, once Europe’s busiest airport, called on Britain to urgently back a passenger testing regime, warning that without one, the country’s strict quarantine rules will stop travel, stall the economy and lead to more job losses. Heathrow said that to avoid losing a game of global “quarantine roulette”, the government should change its […]
As virus aid talks stalemate, Trump scorns help for cities
President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed Democratic demands for aid to cash-strapped cities in a new coronavirus relief package and lashed out at Republican allies as talks stalemated over assistance for millions of Americans. Another lawmaker tested positive for the virus. Republicans, beset by delays and infighting, signaled a willingness to swiftly approve a modest […]
Social distancing and electronic wristbands as pilgrims attend scaled-down Haj
Dubai: Muslim pilgrims, donning face masks and moving in small groups after days in isolation, began arriving at Islam’s holiest site in Mecca on Wednesday for the start of a historically unique and scaled-down hajj experience reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The hajj is one of Islam’s most important requirements, performed once in a lifetime. It […]
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 […]
