World

WASHINGTON – The United States has officially moved to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) as its national COVID-19 case count approaches 3 million with more than 130,000 deaths. On Tuesday, Congress received formal notification of President Donald Trump’s decision, Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez, a senior member of the …

LONDON – The collapse in Britain’s labor market slowed slightly last month, according to a survey conducted Wednesday by the Confederation of Recruitment and Employment (REC) body warning that a “labor crisis” is underway. The figures from REC and KPMG accountants underscore the challenge facing Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, before …

ISLAMABAD – The concession agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan Hydroelectric Project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was signed, a step forward for project implementation, according to China Gezhouba Group. The signing of the agreement between China Gezhouba Group, the project investor, and the Pakistani side was witnessed …

WASHINGTON – The White House expects the next COVID-19 aid bill to cost around $1 trillion and wants Congress to pass the legislation in the first week of August, a senior aide to the U.S. vice president Mike Pence said Wednesday. “A big boost has been put into the system …

ANKARA – Turkey tested the Russian-made S-400 air defence system on US-made F-16 aircraft during a drill in November 2019, Russian state media TASS reported Wednesday. The use of the S-400 against the F-16s was already reported last year. The new details from the Russian media seem to consolidate the …

NEW YORK – The global reluctance to prevent viral outbreaks would continue to claim lives and disrupt the economy, a report warned, recommending a set of actions necessary to control epidemics in the future. The researchers suggested implementing the “One Health” concept of ensuring good human and animal health for …

ISLAMABAD – India has exploited the coronavirus crisis to advance its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir further, said Pakistan’s top diplomat, urging the UN Security Council to end aggression and atrocities against the people of Kashmir. “The Council must denounce India’s illegal actions in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and take …

BERLIN – Germany’s interior minister on Tuesday called on his European Union colleagues to agree on a better and fairer solution for the distribution of rescued migrants as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said before a video conference with his EU counterparts that all European …

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the government had taken steps to improve capital markets and currency fluctuations. Rouhani said that exporters’ supply of foreign exchange to the market could control fluctuations. He promised that the government would sue those who have refused to supply foreign …

PYONGYANG – North Korea reiterated on Tuesday that it would not hold a dialogue with the United States, criticizing South Korea for “meddling” in its affairs. In a statement issued by the Central Korean News Agency, Kwon Jong Gun, director-general of United States affairs at the Foreign Ministry, said: “Speaking …