The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has reported its first case of the coronavirus after a US tourist tested positive, the prime minister said Friday. The tiny, land-locked country, famous for measuring Gross National Happiness has emerged as a popular tourist destination in recent years.

Guaruja: Violent rain has killed scores of people and forced thousands from their homes this year in Brazil's most populous states, a disaster experts blame on climate upheaval but also rampant urbanization. Flash floods, landslides and other havoc wrought by torrential rain have killed at least

Kabul: The US hit Taliban fighters with an air strike for the first time in 11 days in response to an insurgent attack on Afghan forces in southern Helmand province on Wednesday, an American military spokesman said. "The US conducted an airstrike on March 4 against Taliban fighters in Nahr-e Sara

Washington: The World Bank unveiled a USD 12 billion aid package on Tuesday, March 3 that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak. “The goal is to provide fast, effective action that responds to country needs,” World Bank President David Malpass told report

Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in Israel’s general election Monday, with exit polls putting the indicted premier in a strong position to form the next government. The election, Israel’s third in less than a year, was called after inconclusive votes in April and Septe

NEW DELHI: The Indian government has suspended visas and e-visas granted on or before Tuesday to people travelling from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, effective immediately, following a surge in cases of COVID-19, commonly referred to as novel coronavirus, in these countries. “Those requirin

A Florida man convicted of taping a dog’s mouth shut and leaving the animal dehydrated and malnourished was sentenced to five years of probation on Monday. Oscar Lee Thompson III, 19, was convicted last month of a felony count of aggravated animal cruelty, according to court records. Animal co

The Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track and kill Osama bin Laden has launched a hunger strike from his prison cell, his lawyer and family said Monday. Shakeel Afridi has been languishing behind bars for years since his fake vaccination programme helped US agents track and kill the Al Qaeda

Kabul: Afghanistan's president said Sunday that he will not free thousands of Taliban prisoners ahead of all-Afghan power-sharing talks set for next week, publicly disagreeing with a timetable for a speedy prisoner release laid out just a day earlier in a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. President A

Luxembourg: Luxembourg on Saturday, February 29 became the first country in the world to offer free public transport, as the small and wealthy EU country tries to help less-well-off workers and reduce road traffic. Some cities elsewhere have already taken similar, partial measures. But the transp

An Iran Health Ministry spokesman says the new coronavirus has killed 43 people amid 593 confirmed cases in the Islamic Republic. Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour gave the new figure Saturday. Jahanpour urged people to stay away from mass gatherings and limit their travel. Iran has the world's hig

London: An Indian national is among a gang of five men jailed by a UK court for a total of over 30 years for an online fraud conspiracy involving a 10-million pounds payment diversion scam. Satish Kotinadhuni, 44, was arrested from his home in east London and charged in June last year with conspi

Kolkata: Foreigners can apply for Indian citizenship without a valid passport from the country of origin if they can furnish proper reasons for not possessing one, the Calcutta High Court has ruled. Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya disposed of a petition by granting the petitioner liberty to file

Istanbul: A Turkish official said Saturday that Turkey destroyed a chemical warfare facility in northwest Syria after dozens of its soldiers were killed by Syrian regime fire. The Turkish army destroyed overnight "a chemical warfare facility, located some 13 kilometres south of Aleppo, along with

Even as a debate is underway in India over religious freedom owing to the contentious citizenship law protests, the UN Human Rights chief has flagged violent attacks on minorities in neighbouring Pakistan. Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Thursday, said

Malaysia’s king summoned Mahathir Mohamad to the palace Thursday, fuelling talks he may have majority support to return as the next Prime Minister after his abrupt resignation and the collapse of his ruling coalition this week. Mahathir didn’t speak to reporters as he was driven into the palace g

Washington:  A day after US lawmakers reacted sharply to the violence in the Indian capital, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders here accused US President Donald Trump of failing on the issue of human rights.   Slamming the US president, Sanders said the Trump's statement reg

Islamabad: Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been declared an “absconder” by the government for violating the bail requirements by not presenting his medical report from his doctors in London, according to a media report on Wednesday. Sharif, 70, left for London in November last f