World
Brazil sees record-high ICU occupancy due to COVID-19 surge
The South American country has the world's second-largest COVID-19 outbreak after the US, with 340,776 deaths and 13,193,205 infections
New Zealand temporarily suspends entry of travellers from India amid COVID-19 surge
The travel restriction comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new COVID-19 cases in managed isolation on Thursday, of which 17 came from India
Russia stresses on need for participation of Talibans in Afghanistan peace process
The exclusion of a group will not lead to implementation of peace agreement and that it is fraught with the risk of hostilities, says Lavrov
Saudi Arabia issues new guidelines for Umrah pilgrims
From the 1st of Ramadan, only those who have received coronavirus vaccines will be allowed to enter the holy mosques
No trade with India under current circumstances: Pakistan PM Khan
India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence
Neighbours
China to start opening vaccination programme to general public
Sichuan is the first province to outline a timeline of its vaccination plans for the general public
Bangladeshi floating hospital treats flood-ravaged community
The Jibon Kheya started its journey on September 1 with eight doctors and nurses
Myanmar junta frees 600 detainees including AP photographer
Activists called for a nationwide 'Silent Strike' on Wednesday, and streets were bare in the cities of Yangon and Naypyidaw
Why is the military taking control in Myanmar?
In the capital, Internet and phone access appeared to be blocked and barbed wire road blocks were set up across Yangon
Thousands rally in Myanmar's Yangon despite military build up
UN special rapporteur Tom Andrews said he feared the situation was spiralling out of control
Asia
US orders diplomats out of Myanmar as violence spirals
Around 3,000 people fled through the jungle to seek safety across the border in Thailand after the weekend strikes
Myanmar military promises new election; Suu Kyi faces additional charge
The military has not given a date for a new election but has imposed a state of emergency for one year
Taiwan claims entrapment after China shows spy 'confession'
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Taipei for offering support to Hong Kong’s protests
Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh
The announcement follows 10 hours of talks between the diplomats in Moscow, which were sponsored by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Azerbaijan captures key Karabakh town of Shusha; Armenia vows to fight on
Clashes broke out in late September between Azerbaijan and Armenia-backed separatists over control of Karabakh
Middle East
Israel opens embassy in UAE, expanding new relations
A permanent location is under development
UAE grants 10-year golden residency visa to more professionals
The decision aims to attract and retain experts and talented professionals from various fields and scientific disciplines, the report said
Dubai suspends Air India flights for bringing COVID-positive passengers
UAE requires Indian travellers to bring original COVID-negative certificate from RT-PCR test done 96 hours prior to the journey
Little Amal, a puppet, is all set to traverse the world in support of refugees
Little Amal will travel 8,000km, starting from April 2021, crossing many contrasting terrains
US wasted billions on cars, buildings in Afghanistan: Report
The report said that just USD 1.2 billion of the USD 7.8 billion went to pay for buildings and vehicles that were used as intended
America
No change in policy on Jammu and Kashmir, says US
A longstanding goal of US policy in South Asia has been to prevent India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to interstate war
India, US agree to re-establish Homeland Security Dialogue
An initiative of the Obama administration, the first India-US Homeland Security Dialogue was held in May 2011
US Citizenship Bill to help many Indians
Authors of the bill told reporters that the bill establishes a moral and economic imperative and a vision of immigration reform
US terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence
A DHS statement noted the potential for violence from a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors
US will share COVID-19 vaccine if it has surplus: Biden
We are going to start off making sure Americans are taken care of first but we are then going to try to help the rest of the world, he said
Europe
Russia to supply 100 million doses of virus vaccine to Hyderabad-based drug company
Dr Reddy’s, one of India’s top pharmaceutical companies, will carry out Phase III clinical trials of Sputnik V in India, RDIF said
Russia detects first case of H5N8 avian flu in humans
While the highly contagious strain H5N8 is lethal for birds, it had never before been reported to have spread to humans
Boris Johnson to visit India at end of April as part of policy 'tilt'
Johnson had planned an Indian trip in January but was forced to cancel amid a surge of COVID-19 infections at home
Germany halts AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s over clot risks
The cities of Berlin and Munich, as well as Brandenburg state had announced earlier that they were suspending the vaccine for younger people
West sanctions China over Xinjiang abuses, Beijing hits back at EU
Western governments are seeking to hold Beijing accountable for mass detentions of Muslim Uighurs in northwestern China
Africa
Ousted Mali president Keita leaves country as transition talks begin
West African leaders, fearing the coup could set a precedent that would undermine their power, initially insisted Keita be restored to power
Mauritius oil spill: Ship operator to pay $9.4 million to restore marine environment
More than 1,000 tonnes of oil is believed to have leaked from the ship, with the rest siphoned out before it spilled
Zimbabwe investigating deaths of 22 elephants, more expected
Zimbabwe has been facing successive climate-induced droughts in recent years, leaving animals with less water and vegetation for food
UK quarantines travelers from South Africa as one more Covid variant detected
Hancock said the new variant has ‘mutated further’ than the one that recently prompted the British government to tighten restrictions
Somalia names new PM, announces plan for national elections
Somalia had set itself the goal of holding its first fully democratic, one-man one-vote election since 1969
Australia and New Zealand
Australia slams 'heavy-handed' Facebook news blackout
Minister Paul Fletcher had also raised concerns that blocking news media on the popular platform could boost the spread of misinformation
EXPLAINER: What's up between Google, Facebook and Australia?
Google has announced agreements to pay publishers in Australia while Facebook said it blocked users in the country from viewing or sharing
A koala row might topple the government in Australia's New South Wales
The uniquely Australian political stoush comes months after unprecedented bushfires destroyed vast swathes of koala habitat
New Zealand declares climate emergency, promises carbon neutral government by 2025
New Zealand joins 32 other countries including Japan, Canada, France and Britain that have declared a climate emergency
New Zealand sees first case-free day in five weeks
Friday’s report also marked the fourth consecutive day without any cases of community transmission