BEIJING: China vowed on Friday to punish “diehard” Taiwan politicians, saying it would ban several from visiting the mainland, as tensions between Beijing and Taipei spiked to their highest level in years. China claims Taiwan as its territory — to be seized one day, by force if necessary — and has intensified efforts in recent years to isolate the self-ruled …

TEHRAN: Iran’s atomic agency said on Friday that its stockpile of 20 per cent enriched uranium has reached over 210 kilograms (463 pounds), the latest defiant move ahead of upcoming nuclear talks with the West. The figure, attributed to agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvan, was carried in a report by the semi-official Tasnim and Fars news agencies. Under the historic 2015 nuclear deal between Iran …

BAGHDAD: Hundreds of supporters of pro-Iran groups clashed with security forces in Iraq’s capital on Friday, leaving more than 100 people injured as they vented their fury over last month’s election result, medical and security sources said. “There were 125 people injured, 27 of them civilians and the rest from the security forces,” the health ministry said. The political arm …

One of Spain’s busiest airports, Palma de Mallorca, was forced to close for nearly four hours after several passengers ran off when their plane made an emergency landing, according to airport authorities. The aircraft, which was on a flight between Morocco and Turkey, was diverted to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca on Friday due to an alleged medical emergency, the …

The astronauts who will depart the International Space Station on Sunday will be stuck using diapers on the way home because of their capsule’s broken toilet. Nasa astronaut Megan McArthur described the situation on Friday as “suboptimal but manageable”. She and her three crewmates will spend 20 hours in their SpaceX capsule, from the time the hatches are closed until …

At least eight people were killed and many others injured in a crush when fans surged toward the stage during the opening night of the Astroworld music festival on Friday in the US city of Houston, officials said. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena confirmed the casualty figures at an early morning news conference outside NRG Park. Pena said that at …

A confidential Israeli dossier detailing alleged links between Palestinian human rights groups and an internationally designated terrorist organisation contains little concrete evidence and failed to convince European countries to stop funding the groups. The 74-page document appears to have been prepared by Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service and shared with European governments in May. The Associated Press obtained the document from …

Four women have been found dead in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban government said on Saturday, following reports that activists had been killed. Two suspects have been arrested after the four bodies were found at a house in the city’s fifth police district, interior ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosti said in a video statement. “The …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has declared Rawalpindi Medical University (RMC) as best national university by excelling in National Licensing Examination (NLE). “The student who topped NLE was Dr Hamza from Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU), which reflects excellent training and teaching at RMU followed by Wah Medical College (WMC). “Secondly, RMU declared the best center for NLE out of all …

ISLAMABAD: The senior special magistrate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday issued warrants for the arrest of the chairman of Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) and directed the police to present him before the court on Nov 10. Senior Special Magistrate Sardar Asif issued the arrest warrants of the Iesco chairman for not appearing before his court in …