The United States was further isolated on Friday over its bid to reimpose international sanctions on Iran, with 13 countries on the 15-member United Nations Security Council expressing their opposition and arguing that Washington’s move is void given it is using a process agreed under a nuclear deal that it quit two years ago.In the 24 hours since US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he triggered a 30-day countdown to a return of UN sanctions on Iran – including an arms embargo – long-time allies the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Belgium as well as China, Russia, Vietnam, Niger,...…The United States was further isolated on Friday over its bid to reimpose international sanctions on Iran, with 13 countries on the 15-member United Nations Security Council expressing their opposition and arguing that Washington’s move is void given it is using a process agreed under a nuclear deal that it quit two years ago.In the 24 hours since US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he triggered a 30-day countdown to a return of UN sanctions on Iran – including an arms embargo – long-time allies the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Belgium as well as China, Russia, Vietnam, Niger,...WW…

In the first ruling of its kind, a judge in has granted two people the right to use cocaine recreationally, the organisation behind the cases said on Tuesday, calling it a “historic step”.The ruling, which must be reviewed by a higher court, allowed the two petitioners to “possess, transport and use cocaine”, but not to sell it, according to Mexico United Against Crime, an organisation devoted to ending the country’s “war on “.The Mexico City court ordered the national health regulator, COFEPRIS, to authorise the petitioners’ cocaine use in personal, recreational doses, the...…In the first ruling of its kind, a judge in has granted two people the right to use cocaine recreationally, the organisation behind the cases said on Tuesday, calling it a “historic step”.The ruling, which must be reviewed by a higher court, allowed the two petitioners to “possess, transport and use cocaine”, but not to sell it, according to Mexico United Against Crime, an organisation devoted to ending the country’s “war on “.The Mexico City court ordered the national health regulator, COFEPRIS, to authorise the petitioners’ cocaine use in personal, recreational doses, the...WW…

Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh government has refused to allow some 500 Rohingya refugees stranded on board two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore, drawing criticism from rights groups.Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the Rohingya refugees, who are believed to have been at sea for weeks, are “not Bangladesh’s responsibility.”“Why you are asking Bangladesh to take those Rohingyas? They are in the deep sea, not even in Bangladesh’s territorial water,” Momen said, adding that there are at least eight coastal countries surrounding the Bay of...…Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh government has refused to allow some 500 Rohingya refugees stranded on board two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore, drawing criticism from rights groups.Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the Rohingya refugees, who are believed to have been at sea for weeks, are “not Bangladesh’s responsibility.”“Why you are asking Bangladesh to take those Rohingyas? They are in the deep sea, not even in Bangladesh’s territorial water,” Momen said, adding that there are at least eight coastal countries surrounding the Bay of...WW…

US authorities have said they are investigating a fire that badly damaged an Islamic centre in Missouri on the first day of Ramadan.The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone connected to the fire which broke out on Friday, coinciding with the start of a holy month for Muslims.Richard Quinn, the special agent in charge of the St Louis Division, announced the reward on Friday, hours after the fire broke out early that morning at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, located about 185km (115 miles) south of St Louis.Twelve to 15 people were evacuated...…US authorities have said they are investigating a fire that badly damaged an Islamic centre in Missouri on the first day of Ramadan.The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone connected to the fire which broke out on Friday, coinciding with the start of a holy month for Muslims.Richard Quinn, the special agent in charge of the St Louis Division, announced the reward on Friday, hours after the fire broke out early that morning at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, located about 185km (115 miles) south of St Louis.Twelve to 15 people were evacuated...WW…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque on Wednesday to kick off the construction of a Hindu temple in the northern city of Ayodhya on a spot where a mosque was demolished nearly 30 years ago, prompting deadly riots nationwide.Modi offered prayers to nine stone blocks with Lord Ram inscribed on it amid chanting of Hindu religious hymns to symbolise the start of construction of the temple, which is expected to take three and a half years to complete.“I am grateful to witness history being made. Crores [millions] of Indians cannot believe that this day has come. The entire...…Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque on Wednesday to kick off the construction of a Hindu temple in the northern city of Ayodhya on a spot where a mosque was demolished nearly 30 years ago, prompting deadly riots nationwide.Modi offered prayers to nine stone blocks with Lord Ram inscribed on it amid chanting of Hindu religious hymns to symbolise the start of construction of the temple, which is expected to take three and a half years to complete.“I am grateful to witness history being made. Crores [millions] of Indians cannot believe that this day has come. The entire...WW…

US President Donald Trump has claimed he has “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of strict physical-distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the novel coronavirus.But governors from both parties were quick to push back, noting they have primary responsibility for ensuring public safety in their states and would decide when it was safe to begin a return to normal operations.Trump would not offer specifics about the source of his asserted power, which he claimed, despite constitutional limitations, was absolute.“When somebody is president of the United...…US President Donald Trump has claimed he has “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of strict physical-distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the novel coronavirus.But governors from both parties were quick to push back, noting they have primary responsibility for ensuring public safety in their states and would decide when it was safe to begin a return to normal operations.Trump would not offer specifics about the source of his asserted power, which he claimed, despite constitutional limitations, was absolute.“When somebody is president of the United...WW…

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has announced a 14-day extension to a lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states to combat the .In a televised address on Monday, Buhari said “it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement” that was set to expire later in the day.Initial 14-day lockdowns in the three areas began on March 30. There are currently 323 confirmed cases of the virus in , with 71 percent of them registered in Lagos and the capital territory of Abuja. Ten people have died so far.“It is a matter of life and death,” Buhari said of the nation’s...…Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has announced a 14-day extension to a lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states to combat the .In a televised address on Monday, Buhari said “it has become necessary to extend the current restriction of movement” that was set to expire later in the day.Initial 14-day lockdowns in the three areas began on March 30. There are currently 323 confirmed cases of the virus in , with 71 percent of them registered in Lagos and the capital territory of Abuja. Ten people have died so far.“It is a matter of life and death,” Buhari said of the nation’s...WW…

A 99-year-old war veteran has raised nearly more than 2 million pounds ($2.5m) for British health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday later this month.Captain, who has used a walking frame to move around since breaking his hip, said he was grateful to the National Health Service (NHS) for the treatment he received and wanted to do something in return.I’m Captain Tom Moore, war veteran, 99 years of age (soon to be 100) and I’m walking for the NHS to raise money for our heroes.— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore)Britain’s...…A 99-year-old war veteran has raised nearly more than 2 million pounds ($2.5m) for British health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday later this month.Captain, who has used a walking frame to move around since breaking his hip, said he was grateful to the National Health Service (NHS) for the treatment he received and wanted to do something in return.I’m Captain Tom Moore, war veteran, 99 years of age (soon to be 100) and I’m walking for the NHS to raise money for our heroes.— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore)Britain’s...WW…

‘s President has rejected the resignation of his interior minister, who had said he would quit after a much-criticised weekend curfew to tackle the which caught millions of people by surprise.“In a process carried out diligently and meticulously, the responsibility for all implementation of the weekend curfew to stem the pandemic falls on me in every respect,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter on Sunday evening.Later on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said that Erdogan had not accepted the resignation.Turkey announced the weekend lockdown late on Friday, but in the brief time...…‘s President has rejected the resignation of his interior minister, who had said he would quit after a much-criticised weekend curfew to tackle the which caught millions of people by surprise.“In a process carried out diligently and meticulously, the responsibility for all implementation of the weekend curfew to stem the pandemic falls on me in every respect,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter on Sunday evening.Later on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said that Erdogan had not accepted the resignation.Turkey announced the weekend lockdown late on Friday, but in the brief time...WW…

200724160508360The Iranian ambassador said in line with provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Iran’s civil aviation organisation contacted Syrian authorities and called for “a prompt and accurate investigation of the incident”.Source: AP…200724160508360The Iranian ambassador said in line with provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Iran’s civil aviation organisation contacted Syrian authorities and called for “a prompt and accurate investigation of the incident”.Source: APWW…