JERUSALEM: Israel appeared headed into another political stalemate on Wednesday after nearly-complete results indicated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had failed to secure a clear majority for a right-wing bloc in parliament, despite his claim of victory. With 99pc of votes counted, Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party was seen taking 35 of parliament’s 120 seats, down from 36 initially projected after Monday’s …

HONG KONG: The pet dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong was confirmed to be infected with the disease, in a likely case of human-to-animal transmission, authorities said on Wednesday. The canine, which belongs to a 60-year-old woman patient, had repeatedly tested “weak positive” for the new coronavirus since Friday, when it was quarantined at an animal centre. The …

TEHRAN: The coronavirus outbreak disrupted worship in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia on Wednesday banned its citizens and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Makkah, while Iran cancelled Friday prayers in major cities. The Saudi move expands a ban last week on foreigners visiting Makkah and Madina. That decision alone disrupted travel for thousands of …

ANKARA: Turkey’s president warned on Wednesday that a fresh migrant crisis could be resolved only if Europe supports its efforts in Syria, as violent clashes broke out between refugees and police on the Greek border. Thousands of migrants have massed at the Greek frontier with Turkey since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last week that they would no longer be …

LONDON: While raising concern over recent violence in Delhi that resulted in loss of over 45 lives, Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom have pressed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to share the details of its engagement with the Indian government on this subject. Sikh MPs Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Gill Kaur are the latest UK lawmakers …

Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out, global offensive against the epidemic. More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories. …

As the Pentagon played down the gravity of new Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Thursday said he met with the insurgent group’s political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his team for a “candid discussion” on next steps. The recent attacks on Afghan forces had cast doubts on a four-day old peace …

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday warned its citizens and its foreign residents not to travel anywhere abroad amid the ongoing worldwide coronavirus outbreak, a stark warning for a country home to two major long-haul airlines. The country’s Health and Community Protection Ministry warning comes as its capital, Abu Dhabi, sent 215 foreigners it evacuated from hard-hit Hubei in China …

LANDI KOTAL: The administration imparted training to over 900 health workers in coronavirus surveillance and protective measures to check the spread of the deadly virus in the district. A statement, issued by the office of deputy commissioner on Wednesday, said that a comprehensive strategy was devised for effective protection against coronavirus under which 920 health workers were imparted necessary training …

ISLAMABAD: China has agreed to assist Pakistan to combat the menace of locust in various parts of the country with $5 million technical support besides providing 50 drones and 300,000 litres of pesticides to carry out spray in affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. Secretary of National Food Security and Research Muhammad Hashim Popalzai told Dawn that the Chinese …