Muezzins issuing high-decibel calls to prayer have long been part of Saudi identity, but a crackdown on mosque loudspeakers is among contentious reforms seeking to shake off the Muslim kingdom’s austere image.

The Taliban yesterday said they remain committed to peace talks but insisted that a “genuine Islamic system” in Afghanistan was the only way to end the war and ensure rights -- including for women.

Renewed battles between government forces and Huthi rebels over the strategic city of Marib in northern Yemen have left 47 dead, including 16 pro-government forces, military sources said Saturday.

The Russian ambassador in Washington flew back yesterday to the United States saying he hoped to build “equal and pragmatic” ties after a US-Russia summit in Geneva aimed at reducing tensions.

When microorganisms – such as bacteria or viruses – infect us, our immune system jumps into action. It’s highly trained to sense and eliminate infections and clear up any damage caused by them.

1377 - King Edward III died after ruling England for 50 years; he was succeeded by his grandson, Richard II.

India may be hit by a third wave of Covid-19 far sooner than predicted because people are ignoring guidelines, the Times of India cited Dr Randeep Guleria, director at the state-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences, as saying.

Hardliner Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi’s victory on Saturday in a presidential election drew starkly opposed reactions, with Russia hailing a sign of greater regional stability but some condemning it as a farce.

The colourful former speaker of Britain’s House of Commons John Bercow said he has left the Conservatives to join the opposition Labour Party, launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Britain recorded 9,284 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday and six new deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test.

Civil society groups have called for the international community to redouble pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation.

Hong Kong's strategy to strengthen the city's global financial hub status is through greater integration with mainland China, now that Beijing has helped restore "stability" in the city, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Sunday.

Israel condemned on Sunday the election of hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi as Iranian president, saying world powers should not negotiate a new nuclear deal with his regime.

When Libyan security forces rescued her earlier this year, the young Somali woman thought it would be the end of her suffering. For more than two years, she had been imprisoned and sexually abused by human traffickers notorious for extorting, torturing and assaulting migrants like her trying to reach Europe.

The Taliban said on Sunday they were committed to peace talks, adding they wanted an "Islamic system" in Afghanistan that would make provisions for women's rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules.

Marine Le Pen’s far right party is riding high on her tough-on-security, stop-immigration message as French voters start choosing regional leaders Sunday in an election that’s seen as a dress rehearsal for next year’s presidential vote.

Across the Asia-Pacific, where several countries have witnessed alarming new Covid-19 outbreaks in recent weeks and governments have been forced to reimpose harsh anti-virus restrictions, people are gazing in envy at those on the other side of the globe.

India -- along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal -- abstained from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution on Myanmar, saying the resolution was "tabled hastily, and is not conducive to aiding joint efforts toward strengthening the democratic process” in that country.

Britain's airlines and holiday companies are planning a "day of action" on Wednesday to ramp up pressure on the government to ease travel restrictions, with just weeks to go before the start of the peak summer season.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief yesterday told Lebanon’s leaders they were to blame for the country’s political and economic crisis and some could face sanctions if they continue to obstruct steps to form a new government and implement reform.