TAIPEI: Thousands of people marched in Taipei’s streets on Sunday demanding the reversal of a decision to allow US pork imports into Taiwan, alleging food safety issues. President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration lifted a long-standing ban on US pork and beef imports in August, in a move seen as one of the first steps towards possibly negotiating a bilateral trade agreement …

TEHRAN: The “crimes” committed by the United States against Iran do not prevent “carefully considered” exchanges from taking place, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday. “The future of relations between Iran and the United States is not simple,” Saeed Khatibzadeh acknowledged at a press conference in Tehran, as President Hassan Rouhani’s government makes signs of apparent overtures to US …

GUATEMALA CITY: Hundreds of Guatemalans partly burned the Congress building on Saturday in a protest demanding the resignation of President Alejandro Giammattei, following the passage of a budget that has sparked outrage in the impoverished Central American nation. The flames in the legislative building could be seen from the street in Guatemala City, and a spokesman for the Red Cross …

An Indian state has asked police to investigate after a member of the country’s ruling party objected to scenes in the Netflix series A Suitable Boy, in which a Hindu girl kisses a Muslim boy against the backdrop of a Hindu temple. The series is based on an English novel by one of India’s leading writers Vikram Seth and follows a …

PARIS: France will make serious intentional damage to the environment punishable by up to 10 years in prison as part of planned “eco-cide” law, government ministers said in remarks published on Sunday. The law was one recommendation from a Citizens’ Convention for the Climate, a group created by the government a year ago, bringing together 150 people from the French …

JERUSALEM: Israel said on Sunday its military struck Hamas targets in Gaza in response to a rocket attack launched from the Palestinian enclave. The Israeli air force struck two rocket ammunition manufacturing sites, a military compound and “underground infrastructures”, the Israel Defence Forces said. A rocket was fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, according to the …

• People defy ban on Peshawar show despite pandemic, security warning • Fazl asks establishment to stop backing ‘illegitimate’ govt • Maryam leaves venue when learns about grandmother’s death PESHAWAR: In a ren­ewed attack on the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government, the Pak­istan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders on Sunday sought an end to the ‘puppet rule’, warning that actions and policies …

KARACHI: Expressing his party’s concern over a lack of strategy on the part of government to clear city drains of encroachments, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal has demanded that people whose houses are being demolished be provided alternative accommodations before the action. He made this demand while speaking at an event on Sunday to announce “hundreds of …

ISLAMABAD: The city managers have developed a new tourist site having a lotus lake near the natural history museum. Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed on Sunday inaugurated the site which will be known as ‘Family Park’. “The purpose of the facility is to provide a peaceful environment close to nature. The lotus lake will be another attraction …

ISLAMABAD: The city managers have received bids from four consortiums of international town planning firms for the revision of Islamabad’s master plan. Sources in the CDA said after evaluation the financial bids would be opened in about a month to award the contract to the lowest bidder. The master plan was prepared in 1960 and supposed to be revised after …