Author: News Desk

Pilgrims began the second day of Tashreeq by throwing the three Jamarat (Pebbles), under careful preparation and high precautionary measures, to achieve physical distancing between the pilgrims and preserve their safety and the cadres involved in their services. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) team at the Holy Sites reported that the pilgrims’ movements were planned according to a preventive measure; each phase of throwing Jamarat (Pebbles) was done safely and in a healthy manner. The movements of pilgrims were under specific colored paths. This was done under coordination with the relevant security and civil sectors participating in Hajj 1441H season.…

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Indian union home minister Amit Shah has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been admitted to Medanta hospital, located in Haryana’s Gurugram near Delhi. In a tweet, the minister said his health was “fine” but he was being hospitalised “on the advice of doctors”. ♦ ‘Baahubali’ director S.S. Rajamouli, family test positive for coronavirus ♦ Aishwarya Rai and her daughter Aaradhya test positive for COVID-19 ♦ Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan test positive for COVID-19 Amit Shah. 55, had taken part in a cabinet meeting a few days ago. Sources said extensive contact tracing will be carried out and anyone who came…

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Japan’s imports of crude oil from the UAE reached to 20.13 million barrels in June, according to data from Agency for Natural Resources and Energy in Tokyo. The agency, part of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, reported that the percentage of oil imports from the UAE amounted to 35.1 percent of the total Japanese oil imports, noting that the amount of crude oil that Japan imported during that month amounted to 57.33 million barrels.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed on Sunday at swelling protests against his rule, saying they are egged on by a biased media that distorts facts and cheers on the demonstrators. Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the long-serving, indicted leader to resign and panning his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Netanyahu has painted the protests as dens of “anarchists” and “leftists” out to topple “a strong right-wing leader.” The protests have largely been peaceful. In some cases they have ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. In others, small gangs of…

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The Kingdom of Bahrain denounced the hostile statements of the Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, regarding the United Arab Emirates, considering them an unacceptable provocation that contradicts diplomatic norms, and a reprehensible threat to a brotherly Arab country that is known for its constructive role in the international community. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms solidarity of the Kingdom of Bahrain with the United Arab Emirates regarding the Turkish interventions in the internal affairs of Arab countries, which contradicts the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and represents a threat to Arab national security…

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Indian police raided rural hamlets and made arrests to break up a bootlegging cartel on Sunday, after 86 people died from consuming illegally-produced alcohol this week in the northwestern state of Punjab, officials said. “We have conducted raids at more than 30 places today and we have detained six more persons,” Dhruman H. Nimbale, a senior police officer in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, told Reuters. Nimbale said the first death occurred on Wednesday but police were only alerted on Friday, and then launched an investigation to determine whether the fatalities were linked. Punjab police have so far arrested at least…

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Germany-based Siemens Healthineers said Sunday it will buy U.S. cancer therapy and research company Varian in a deal worth around $16.4 billion. Siemens Healthineers, in which industrial conglomerate Siemens holds a majority stake, said it will buy all shares in Varian Medical Systems, Inc. for $177.50 per share in cash. It said that the acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2021, and requires the approval of regulators and Varian shareholders. Varian’s board of directors unanimously approved the agreement, it added. Palo Alto, California-based Varian had revenues in the 2019 fiscal year of $3.2 billion, Siemens Healthineers…

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US President Donald Trump insists that schools reopen so students can go back to their classrooms, but the Maryland private school where his son Barron is enrolled is among those under county orders to stay closed. Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said his order to stay closed for in-person instruction through Oct. 1 and to conduct online classes only will be reevaluated before Oct. 1 to determine whether it should be extended, terminated or amended. Gayles noted increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 — the disease caused by the virus — in Maryland, the District of Columbia and…

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Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate India’s independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, amid growing interest in recognizing the contributions of people from the Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities. British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak asked the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) in a letter to pursue recognition of individuals from those communities, the UK Treasury said in an emailed statement late on Saturday. “RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi”, the Treasury said. Gandhi, who was born in 1869, advocated for non-violence throughout his life and played a key role in India’s struggle for independence. His…

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Bahraini trucks and their drivers will be allowed to resume their trips to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway as from Sunday (August 2). “The reopening of the causeway was coordinated with the Saudi Customs Authorities”, said Exits Customs director at the Customs Affairs, Mohammed Hassan Al-Isa.

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