Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order
BEIJING: Apple, said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms’, WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns. Telegram and Signal – two other foreign messaging apps – were also removed from the store on Friday, according to app […]
Stroll quickest in China GP practice after small track-side fire
SHANGHAI: Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was quickest in first and only practice for the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with championship leader Max Verstappen third. Canadian Stroll took advantage of a rapidly quickening track at the end of the 60-minute session and some upgrades to his car to record a […]
Israel’s Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits
DUBAI/ JERUSALEM: Israel’s apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet had initially approved plans for […]
‘Shoe heist’ shocks parliament
ISLAMABAD: The hallowed halls of parliament found itself embroiled in a bizarre incident on Friday as thieves slipped past security, leaving officials and journalists in a barefoot bind. Security personnel were left scratching their heads when shoes mysteriously vanished from the parliament premises, sparking a flurry of concern. Upon learning of the incident, National Assembly […]
Chinese scientists use gut bacteria to prevent mosquito-borne diseases
BEIJING: Chinese scientists have developed a more natural strategy to prevent mosquito-borne diseases by changing insects’ gut microbes, which might be used as an alternative to controversial experiments that see genetically-modified mosquitoes released in Florida. Mosquito-borne viruses, such as dengue and Zika, cause several potentially fatal human viral infections. Dengue viruses infect approximately 390 million […]
Man City suffer Haaland injury scare
LONDON: Pep Guardiola has revealed Erling Haaland could miss Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday. Haaland was substituted before the start of extra time in City’s Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Guardiola said after the penalty shoot-out loss that the Norway striker asked to […]
Analysts dub Zardari’s address in Parliament as ‘academic’
KARACHI: Experts have dubbed President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent address to Parliament as “academic”, urging the government to translate rhetoric into tangible actions for political reconciliation and the cessation of polarization. They contend that the prevailing political tumult only serves to bolster the incumbent regime; once anarchy subsides, so too will their grip on power. […]
Iranian president’s visit on track despite regional tensions
ISLAMABAD: Despite simmering tensions in the region, the visit of the Iranian President is on track and there is no change in the schedule, officials familiar with the development said on Friday. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Pakistan starting on April 22. He will also travel to Lahore […]