Mount Merapi volcano in Indonesia erupted on Tuesday, sending a 6-km column of ash into the air and triggering the closure of the airport in the nearby city of Solo on the densely populated Java island. Indonesia’s Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation issued a red alert and said the ash cloud was moving north.
The Taliban said they were resuming offensive operations against Afghan security forces, ending the partial truce that preceded the signing of a deal between the insurgents and Washington. It ran for one week ahead of the signing of the historic accord in Doha on Saturday, and continued over the weekend. Under the terms of the deal, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months.
The United States and Taliban leaders have reached a peace deal after 18 years of bloodshed in Afghan war. Both parties praised Pakistan for its role. The United States will begin withdrawing thousands of forces from Afghanistan after signing a peace agreement with Taliban militants aimed at ending America’s longest war.
Following the spread of the deadly coronavirus to other Asian countries, Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended religious visits (Umrah) to the country. It has also banned travelers from the virus-hit countries, including Pakistan. If the situation persists, the Hajj this year could be severely affected. As per details, the Saudi authorities have directed all airlines to inform passengers of the development and await further orders.
United States President Donald Trump is willing to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir again. A day after announcing in India that his relationship with Pakistan is “very good”, Trump reiterated his support to both countries saying that he would “do whatever he can” to help prime ministers Imran Khan and Narendra Modi as his relationship with both “gentlemen” was good.
Saudi Arabia has introduced multiple entry visas for Pakistanis and all other applicants who have a valid UK, US or Schengen visa stamped on their passport. Umrah can also be performed on this visa. The visa will be valid for a year. Visitors, however, aren’t allowed to perform Hajj on it. People can stay for 90 days at a stretch on this visa and enter the Kingdom multiple times.
Trump, while addressing the audience in Ahmedabad, India unintentionally made fun of Tendulkar and Kohli’s names. He said that he is talking to them at a place where people cheer on some of the greatest cricketers in the world. The American President was referring to Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as “Soo-Chin Tendulkar” and “Virot Ko-Lee”.
Muslim men should be profiled at airports as terrorists will “generally be of a Muslim persuasion”, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said in an interview. He added that they are going to be single males travelling on their own… If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero, you can’t say stuff, because it’s racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion.
Prosecutors in Germany arrested a businessman on suspicion of exporting millions of euros in machinery to Russia that could be used for military purposes, in violation of EU sanctions. Customs police detained the suspect, German national Alexander S, in the Bavarian city of Augsburg. He allegedly bypassed checks by listing bogus recipients for his goods and fraudulently obtained the necessary export permits by giving “incorrect information” about how the goods would be used.
Five Pakistani students have been diagnosed with coronavirus in China, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing confirmed on Wednesday. He also said that the Pakistani students were immediately isolated and shifted to a hospital after they showed symptoms of coronavirus and also the government is trying to control the spread of the virus outside China.