Author: News Desk

Jamie Vardy netted his 100th Premier League goal as Leicester City notched their first victory since the league resumed, beating Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday to keep up their drive for Champions League football next season. Leicester swarmed all over Palace from the first whistle as defender James Justin hit the crossbar early on, but it took until the fourth minute of the second half for Kelechi Iheanacho to finally put his side ahead with a close-range effort. Despite the return of striker Christian Benteke, visitors Palace struggled to create much in front of goal, with their best efforts coming…

China fired back at Canada on Saturday for criticising Beijing’s national security law for Hong Kong, the second rebuke in a week that has added to strains on their bilateral ties. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Canada was suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong due to the law and Canada’s foreign minister called the legislation “a significant step back” for liberty. China’s embassy in Ottawa said in a statement on its website that Canada had “grossly interfered” in Chinese affairs, adding that the new legislation would safeguard security in Hong Kong. “Some western countries including Canada…

A man has died after being attacked by a shark off the east coast of Australia, officials say. The 36-year-old was bitten on the leg while spearfishing in waters near Queensland’s Fraser Island, north of Brisbane, police said on Saturday. A doctor and nurse provided first aid treatment on shore, but the man was later pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. It is the fourth fatal shark attack in Australian waters so far this year. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour said it was a “tremendously sad day for our community”. He offered…

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas will start the Formula One season on pole position after denying Mercedes team mate and six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton the top slot in Austria on Saturday. The front-row lockout by Mercedes equalled Ferrari’s record of 65, and the “Black Arrows” — their new livery a statement against racism – were in a private duel at the scenic Red Bull Ring. Hamilton had started as favourite after dominating all three practice sessions but Bottas shifted up a gear just when it mattered. “It feels really good, I’ve missed this feeling,” said the Finn of a third career…

As coronavirus cases spike, public health officials are pleading with Americans to avoid large crowds and hold more muted Independence Day celebrations, but subdued is not President Donald Trump’s style, and he aimed to go big, promising a “special evening” in Washington that could bring tens of thousands to the National Mall. Trump’s “Salute for America” celebration on Saturday evening was to include a speech from the White House South Lawn that he said would celebrate American heritage, as well as a military flyover over the city and an enormous fireworks display that could pack people downtown. The president kicked…

Egypt will hold inaugural elections for a new second parliamentary chamber on Aug. 11-12, election commissioner Lasheen Ibrahim said on Saturday. Amendments made to Egypt’s constitution last year provided for the creation of the Council of Senators, a 180-member secondary chamber that will be two-thirds elected by the public and the remainder appointed by the president. “Holding elections during the pandemic that has swept the world necessitates that we take several precautionary measures to protect ourselves and society,” Ibrahim said during a televised press conference. He said all polling stations will observe health guidelines, with all voters and polling staff…

India’s leading clinical research agency said Saturday its decision to fast-track development of a potential coronavirus vaccine was in line with international standards, after health experts raised concerns about the schedule for clinical trials. The Indian Council of Medical Research issued a statement after a letter was leaked on Friday showing ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava as saying the agency “envisaged” launch of the vaccine for public health use by Aug. 15, with the aim to begin patient enrolment for human trials by July 7. The vaccine, being jointly developed by India’s Bharat Biotech and ICMR, is one of several…

Saudi Arabia has reported 4,128 new cases and 56 deaths from coronavirus, taking the total cases to 205,929. Saudi Arabia is holding the 13th position for most coronavirus cases worldwide. The death toll raised to 1,858 after reporting the new deaths. Meanwhile, 2,642 patients fully recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 143,256. In line with recent trends, the majority of the new cases are in Riyadh (360), followed by Dammam (315) and Al Hofuf (217). https://twitter.com/media_ksa/status/1279393270368366592?s=20

Kuwait has reported 631 new coronavirus cases, of which 386 are citizens, taking the total confirmed cases in the country to 49,303, according to the Ministry of Health. 5 patients died of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 365. 667 new recoveries have been reported in the country, raising the total recoveries to 39,943. Kuwait has done 3,443 NP swab tests in the past 24 hours, as the country ramps up its efforts to test more people and detect cases early, according to the health ministry. So far, the country has conducted…

Russia is not in talks with Washington about its potential role at an expanded Group of Seven summit later this year, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday, insisting that China should also be included in the event. His comments to TASS news agency countered those of John Sullivan, U.S. ambassador to Russia, who told RBC TV on Friday that Washington was “engaged with the Russian Foreign Ministry and with the other G7 governments about whether there is an appropriate role for Russia at the G7.” U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of Russia’s return to the…