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Troops deployed in Indian state as coronavirus cases surge

AHMEDABAD: Hundreds of paramilitary forces have been deployed in coronavirus-hotspot Gujarat state as India on Friday faced a surge in the number of deaths and infections from the outbreak. Official data show the deadly disease is taking a growing toll in the country of 1.3 billion people even as...




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Virus-hit Iran holds Friday prayers for first time in months

TEHRAN: Virus-hit Iran allowed worshippers to attend Friday prayers for the first time in more than two months, but the capital remains under restrictions amid the Middle East’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak. Since reporting its first cases in mid-February, the Islamic republic has...




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Egypt's Sisi ratifies emergency law amendments sparking rights concerns

CAIRO: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified a host of amendments to Egypt’s emergency law which an international rights groups says expands “repressive powers” as the country’s battles the coronavirus. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017 when...




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No apparent harm or benefit from hydroxychloroquine: study

WASHINGTON: A study performed in New York hospitals found no evidence of either harm or benefit from giving the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to severely ill coronavirus patients. “The risk of intubation or death was not significantly higher or lower among patients who received...




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Most Americans oppose reopening country now: poll

WASHINGTON: A large majority of Americans oppose reopening the country now, with Democrats and Republicans sharply divided on the question, according to a poll published on Friday.Sixty-four percent of those polled by ABC News/Ipsos said opening the country now is not worth it because it will mean...




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Troops deployed in Indian Gujarat as coronavirus cases surge

AHMEDABAD, India: Hundreds of paramilitary forces have been deployed in coronavirus-hotspot Gujarat state as India on Friday faced a surge in the number of deaths and infections from the outbreak.Official data show the deadly disease is taking a growing toll in the country of 1.3 billion people...




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Indian faces trial for spying on Sikhs and Kashmiris in Germany

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: An Indian national will stand trial in Germany accused of spying on Sikh and Kashmiri communities for New Delhi’s secret service, a court said on Friday.Federal prosecutors allege the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Balvir, has been working with the Indian foreign...




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'Trump ordered mercenary attack on Venezuela'

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says there is evidence his American counterpart Donald Trump “personally ordered” the recent military raid on the Latin American country, arguing that Washington swiftly cut remaining ties with Caracas thereafter. Maduro made the comments in...




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Oceans may rise over a metre by 2100, five metres by 2300

PARIS: Oceans are likely to rise as much as 1.3 metres by 2100 if Earth’s surface warms another 3.5 degrees Celsius, scientists warned on Friday.By 2300, when ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland will have shed trillions of tonnes in mass, sea levels could go up by more than...




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US to remove Patriots, other military assets from Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON: The US is pulling out four of its powerful Patriot missile systems from Saudi Arabia, after determining the threat from Iran that sparked an arms buildup in the region last year had waned, a Defence Department official said late on Thursday.Two of the anti-missile batteries deployed...




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Syrian fighters upping attacks on civilians: UN

GENEVA: The UN on Friday accused the Islamic State group and others in Syria of exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to step up violence on civilians, describing the situation as a “ticking time-bomb”.United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet lamented a surge in violence in the country...




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New York child dies from rare disease linked to Covid-19

NEW YORK: A five-year-old boy in New York state has died from a rare inflammatory disease believed to be caused by the new coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday.“There have been 73 reported cases in NY of children getting severely ill with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease...




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14 migrants killed by train in India

MUMBAI: Fourteen migrant labourers walking back to their villages after being left destitute by India’s strict coronavirus lockdown were killed Friday after being hit by a train, officials said.The men were returning home when they were hit by the goods train in the western state of...




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Americans oppose reopening country now

WASHINGTON: A large majority of Americans oppose reopening the country now, with Democrats and Republicans sharply divided on the question, according to a poll published on Friday.Sixty-four percent of those polled by ABC News/Ipsos said opening the country now is not worth it because it will mean...




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Rockets hit Libya's capital, killing 15

TRIPOLI: Rocket and shell fire on Tripoli has killed at least 13 civilians and two policemen in the last two days, Libya’s UN-recognised government said on Friday.The Government of National Accord accused forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar of carrying out the attacks, which it said...




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Sisi ratifies emergency law amendments

CAIRO: President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified a host of amendments to Egypt’s emergency law which an international rights groups says expands “repressive powers” as the country’s battles the coronavirus.Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017 when...




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Fourteen migrants killed by train in India

MUMBAI: Fourteen migrant labourers walking back to their villages after being left destitute by India’s strict coronavirus lockdown were killed on Friday after being hit by a train, officials said.The men were returning home when they were hit by the goods train in the western state of...




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Virus mutations unlikely to mean stronger strain, say experts

PARIS: The coronavirus’ constant mutation is unlikely to have changed its potency or its contagiousness, disease experts say, despite recent research suggesting the emergence of a more virulent strain.A pre-paper—that is, not reviewed by a collection of the researchers’...




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Drop in Covid-19 cases 'a must' for returning to normality

EDINBURGH: The number of cases of Covid-19 needs to come down “substantially” and consistently before there can be any return to normality, a disease expert has said.Professor Hugh Pennington said that while “we may be past the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of...




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700,000 credit payment holidays granted

LONDON: Nearly 700,000 payment holidays on credit cards have been granted as part of stop-gap measures to support borrowers whose finances have been affected by the coronavirus.Lenders have also provided almost 470,000 payment freezes on personal loans, according to the figures for the period up...




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U.S. prevents Security Council vote on pandemic resolution

The United States prevented a vote Friday in the UN Security Council on a resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, apparently because it made implicit mention of the World Health Organization, diplomats said.




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Venezuela charges two Americans with 'terrorism, conspiracy'

Venezuela has charged two former US soldiers with "terrorism" and "conspiracy" for allegedly taking part in a failed invasion bid to topple President Nicolas Maduro, the attorney general said Friday.




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'Every parent's nightmare': Boy's death may have virus link

The death of a 5-year-old New York boy is challenging assumptions that children are less susceptible to COVID-19 complications, Gov.




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Life-threatening extreme heat set to trap millions indoors by 2060

Extreme heat and humidity are increasing across the globe, threatening millions of lives and economies in places where it could become fatal to work outdoors, scientists said Friday.




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Virus tracing app raises privacy concerns in India

As India enters an extended coronavirus lockdown, the government is actively pursuing contact tracing to help control infections.




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WHO readies coronavirus app for checking symptoms, possibly contact tracing

The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to launch an app this month to enable people in under-resourced countries to assess whether they may have the novel coronavirus, and is considering a Bluetooth-based contact tracing feature too, an official told Reuters Friday.




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Biggest threat to Brazil coronavirus response? President Bolsonaro, says The Lancet

The biggest threat to Brazil's ability to successfully combat the spread of the coronavirus and tackle the unfolding public health crisis is the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, according to British medical journal The Lancet.




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New outbreaks in Germany, SKorea underline risk of easing up

Fresh coronavirus outbreaks at slaughterhouses in Germany and new cases reported Saturday in South Korea linked to a man who had visited multiple nightclubs highlighted the challenges authorities face as they seek to open up their economies.




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Gas leak in Indian city: Tribunal asks Korean company to deposit Rs1.05b

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Friday issued notices to South Korean company LG Polymers, Union Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board and others regarding the Vizag gas leak incident.The NGT has directed LG Polymers, India, at whose plant the gas leakage occurred, to...




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Arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman: Countrywide protest of media workers continues

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/PESHAWAR: The workers of Jang, Geo and The News along with representatives of civil society and political workers continued countrywide protest on Friday against illegal arrest of Editor-in-Chief of Geo and Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and pledged that the protest will...




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Abnormal increase in asymptomatic cases, local infection

ISLAMABAD: Eight out of 10 coronavirus patients didn’t have symptoms but found positive only after they were tested, countrywide data obtained by The News has determined.Similarly, local transmission of pandemic has considerably increased as around nine in 10 patients have contracted virus...




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Pakistan sincerely supports Afghan peace process: Gen Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad Friday called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Friday. During the meeting, issues of mutual interest and overall regional security situation, including Afghan reconciliation process, came...




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Impact of Covid-19 pandemic: Pakistan's GDP to contract by 1.6pc in current fiscal, says Economist Intelligence Unit

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan’s GDP is going to contract by 1.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal 2019-20 and will grow to 2.9 percent in the next financial year 2020-21 and the loans from IMF and other multilateral and bilateral donors will help to ease...




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Major, five soldiers martyred in Kech IED blast

RAWALPINDI: Six security forces personnel, including one officer, were martyred and another injured as an improvised explosive device hit their reconnaissance vehicle in Buleda near the Pakistan-Iran border, the military's media wing said in a statement released Friday.According to the...




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Corona cases surge ahead of lockdown ease: Pakistan slips two points in two days

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan’s position in the global ranking in respect of COVID-19 dropped from 24th to 22nd on Friday after the number of positive cases increased to 26,806 with addition of 1,791 new cases.The country ranked 20th and 29th in the global ranking on May 6 after reporting 1,000...




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If precautions not followed, lockdown will have to be reimposed, says Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday said people's cooperation is vital for the success of lifting the restrictions of lockdown.In a tweet, he said Standard Operating Procedures for various businesses will have to be implemented strictly.He said that...




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Gas leak in Indian city: Tribunal asks Korean company to deposit Rs1.05b

tNEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Friday issued notices to South Korean company LG Polymers, Union Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board and others regarding the Vizag gas leak incident.The NGT has directed LG Polymers, India, at whose plant the gas leakage occurred, to...




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25 robberies in a day in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: Robbers hit 25 houses, shops in the jurisdictions of different police stations of Rawalpindi, depriving the people of millions of rupees, while seven bikes and four vehicles, including a heavy dumper, were stolen on Friday, police sources said.People in the precincts of Nasirabad...




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Arrest of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman: Countrywide protest of media workers continues

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/PESHAWAR: The workers of Jang, Geo and The News along with representatives of civil society and political workers continued countrywide protest on Friday against illegal arrest of Editor-in-Chief of Geo and Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and pledged that the protest will...




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Pakistan sincerely supports Afghan peace process: Gen Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad Friday called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Friday.During the meeting, issues of mutual interest and overall regional security situation, including Afghan reconciliation process, came under...




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Abnormal increase in asymptomatic cases, local infection

ISLAMABAD: Eight out of 10 coronavirus patients didn’t have symptoms but found positive only after they were tested, countrywide data obtained by The News has determined. Similarly, local transmission of pandemic has considerably increased as around nine in 10 patients have contracted virus...




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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic: Pakistan's GDP to contract by 1.6pc in current fiscal, says Economist Intelligence Unit

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan’s GDP is going to contract by 1.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal 2019-20 and will grow to 2.9 percent in the next financial year 2020-21 and the loans from IMF and other multilateral and bilateral donors will help to ease...




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Major, 5 soldiers martyred in Kech IED blast

RAWALPINDI: Six security forces personnel, including one officer, were martyred and another injured as an improvised explosive device hit their reconnaissance vehicle in Buleda near the Pakistan-Iran border, the military's media wing said in a statement released Friday.According to the...




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Corona cases surge ahead of lockdown ease: Pakistan slips two points in two days

Ag APPISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s position in the global ranking in respect of COVID-19 dropped from 24th to 22nd on Friday after the number of positive cases increased to 26,806 with addition of 1,791 new cases.The country ranked 20th and 29th in the global ranking on May 6 after reporting 1,000...




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IIUI rector faces controversy of receiving dual salary

ISLAMABAD: Rector International Islamic University Islamabad Dr Masoom Yasinzai is in the middle of a controversy for allegedly receiving dual salary without the notice and prior approval of Board of Governors , Board of Trustees ."I received an honoraria for giving consultancy to a Saudi...




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If precautions not followed, lockdown will have to be reimposed, says Shibli Faraz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Friday said people's cooperation is vital for the success of lifting the restrictions of lockdown.In a tweet, he said Standard Operating Procedures for various businesses will have to be implemented strictly.He said that...




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Deteriorating media environment: Protests for Mir Shakil's release continue throughout country

RAWALPINDI: The countrywide protests by the Geo-Jang Group workers against the deteriorating media environment, disrupting circulation of dailies Jang and The News and incarcerating Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman on fabricated charges continued on Friday.The countrywide protests by the...




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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic: Pak GDP to contract by 1.6pc in current fiscal, says Economist Intelligence Unit

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan’s GDP is going to contract by 1.6 percent in the ongoing fiscal 2019-20 and will grow to 2.9 percent in the next financial year 2020-21 and the loans from IMF and other multilateral and bilateral donors will help to ease...




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Major, five soldiers martyred in Kech IED blast

RAWALPINDI: Six security forces personnel, including one officer, were martyred and another injured as an improvised explosive device hit their reconnaissance vehicle in Buleda near the Pakistan-Iran border, the military's media wing said in a statement released Friday.According to the...




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Pakistan sincerely supports Afghan peace process: General Qamar Javed Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad Friday called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Friday.During the meeting, issues of mutual interest and overall regional security situation, including Afghan reconciliation process, came under...