US set for mass vaccinations as world virus deaths top 1.6 million
WASHINGTON: The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine began leaving the company’s Michigan factory on Sunday, ready to be injected into the arms of millions of the most vulnerable Americans as the global death toll topped 1.6 million. Doses will be shipped out in boxes containing dry ice that are capable of staying at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 […]
US Paper-Based Test Can Detect Covid-19 In Less Than Five Minutes
A team led by an Indian-origin scientist has developed a rapid, ultrasensitive Covid-19 test using a paper-based electrochemical sensor that can detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in less than five minutes. The researchers from the University of Illinois in the US created a graphene-based electrochemical biosensor with an electrical read-out setup to selectively […]
14 army men fired, suspended over violence at US base
WASHINGTON: US military leaders fired or suspended 14 officers and enlisted soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, on Tuesday and ordered policy changes to address chronic leadership failures at the base that contributed to a widespread pattern of violence including murder, sexual assaults and harassment. Two generals were among those being removed from their jobs, as […]
Citing low virus rates in schools, NYC again reopens schools
It’s back to school again for some New York City schoolchildren, weeks after the schools were closed to in-person learning because of rising COVID-19 infections. The city’s public school system, which shut down in-person learning earlier this month, will bring back on Monday preschool students and children in kindergarten through fifth grade, whose parents chose […]
Chinese spacecraft lands on moon
BEIJING: China successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon’s surface on Tuesday in a historic mission to retrieve lunar surface samples. China launched its Chang’e-5 probe on Nov 24. The uncrewed mission, named after the mythical Chinese goddess of the moon, aims to collect lunar material to help scientists learn more about the moon’s origins. […]
Argentina declares three-day national mourning for Maradona
The Argentina government has declared three days of national mourning for the death of football legend Diego Armando Maradona, the office of the Presidency has said. “The President of the Nation will decree three days of national mourning from the day (of his death),” according to the statement on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua news agency. […]
Israeli PM flew to Saudi Arabia, met crown Prince MBS clandestinely: reports
Jerusalem: Israeli media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials. Hebrew-language media cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu and Yossi Cohen, head of Israel’s Mossad spy […]
5 killed after 14 rockets hit Kabul
Agencies Kabul : At least five people were killed and more than 25 injured after 14 rockets hit different parts of Kabul following two IED explosions in the Afghan capital, officials said. The Interior Affairs Ministry said the rockets landed in Wazir Akbar Khan and Shahr-e-Naw areas in downtown Kabul; Chahar Qala, the Traffic Roundabout; […]
Australian forces killed 39 Afghans, says inquiry
SYDNEY: Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan, with senior commandos reportedly forcing junior soldiers to kill defenceless captives in order to “blood” them for combat, an investigation spread over four years found. Australia said on Thursday that 19 current and former soldiers would be referred for potential criminal prosecution […]
Hafiz Saeed Gets 10-Year Jail Term In 2 Cases
New Delhi: Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been sentenced to 10 years in two terror cases by a court in Pakistan, news agency PTI reported. This was not the first time that Hafiz Saeed, chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front organisation for the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was sentenced in […]
