PARIS: Global coronavirus infections passed 65 million on Friday and countries doubled down on restrictions, even as plans to roll out vaccines gathered pace. Joe Biden said he would ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days when he takes over as president of the United States, the world’s worst-hit country from a pandemic that has now killed more than …

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he hoped France would get rid of Emmanuel Macron as soon as possible, the latest salvo in an escalating war of words between the two leaders. Turkey is embroiled in a series of disputes with France and its EU partners, from tensions in the eastern Mediterranean to the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. …

Eighteen people have died after being trapped in a mine in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, the region’s second such accident in just over two months. The dead were among 24 people trapped underground by excessive levels of carbon monoxide gas at the Diaoshuidong coal mine, the agency said, adding that one survivor had …

Bahrain will not allow the import of Israeli goods produced in settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, state news agency BNA reported, disavowing comments made by the Gulf state’s trade minister earlier this week. Bahrain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani had voiced openness to settlement imports, adding that Manama would make no distinction between products produced in Israel or …

QUETTA: Provincial leadership of the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) said on Friday that the present government had failed to fulfill its promises and its wrong policies had brought the country to the brink of economic disaster. Speaking at a public meeting organised by the 11-party alliance at the Bacha Khan Chowk, the PDM leaders said the struggle they had …

RAWALPINDI: Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood on Friday expressed anger over the sorry state of affairs in Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) offices. During a surprise visit to the RMC offices, he found furniture broken, iron cabinets rusting and records of files in a messy condition. He said building plans would be computerized so that people could be informed about the …

LAHORE: After a gap of five months or so, the Punjab government issued directions to make operational intensive care units (ICUs) and high dependency units (HDUs) of three teaching hospitals of the city and the Expo Centre Lahore to admit serious patients of Covid-19. A high alert has been issued to the hospitals following a rapid increase in the number …

ISLAMABAD: The controversial project of BNP Group — One Constitution Avenue — is set to witness business activities on partial payment of its outstanding dues. The project is likely to be de-sealed as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has directed the owner to deposit the first installment in accordance with Supreme Court and Public Account Committee (PAC) directives for getting …

ISLAMABAD: The election for the seat of Islamabad’s mayor will be held on Dec 28. The seat fell vacant when PML-N’s Sheikh Anser Aziz resigned in a surprising move on Oct 4 — days after sending a summary to the Ministry of Interior proposing to hand over the functions of four directorates under the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to the …

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday tested negative for Covid-19 after catching the coronavirus and staying in self-isolation for more than a week, paving the way for his appearance in Dec 13 Pakistan Democratic Movement rally in Lahore, a senior official said. The confirmation of the PPP chairman’s recovery came from a senior member of the Sindh …