JERUSALEM — Twenty-two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson or incitement to arson, security officials said on Friday, as Israel continued to battle its worst wildfires in years. The fires, which began on Tuesday, have erupted throughout the country, blazing through parched forests, incinerating scores of homes and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. Two prisons ...

The authorities in Germany have rejected the asylum application of a Syrian family who named their newborn baby girl Angela Merkl in honour of the country’s chancellor for her open door policy, it has been reported. (Photo WEB.DE) The couple, Mamon Al-Hamza and Tema Al-Hamza, arrived in Germany last year and their daughter was born in December last year. In ...

German chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a press conference at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party headquarters. -AFP German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her party Sunday she will seek re-election next year, a move likely to be welcomed in many capitals as a sign of stability following poll triumphs for Brexit and Donald Trump. After months of feverish speculation, Merkel announced ...

BERLIN: The cabinet of Germany has approved to keep 980 soldiers in Afghanistan until the end of next year to support the Afghan forces as part of the NATO-led Resolute (RS) mission, it has been reported. The decision by Chancellor Agela Merkel’s cabinet comes days after a deadly attack hit the German consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif city, the provincial capital of ...

DELHI: The Indian government will re-introduce all currency note denominations with new designs and feature, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said on Thursday. The government sprang a surprise on Tuesday by withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, causing an upheaval with millions of people holding cash savings hurled into uncertainty. But the case will be different for smaller denominations, ...

BERLIN –  German authorities arrested five men Tuesday on allegations they aided the Islamic State group in Germany by recruiting members and providing financial and logistical help. The federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the men were arrested on suspicion of supporting a terrorist organization. The arrests were made in a series of raids in the western state ...

GLASGOW: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday unveiled plans for a new independence referendum in case her demands for more autonomy and for Scotland to stay in Europe’s single market are not met. Sturgeon said she would publish a draft referendum bill next week, accusing the British government of pushing for a “hard Brexit” and stirring up “xenophobia” with ...

HINDUSTAN TIMES: Indian home minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday India will never incite an attack against any other country but won’t hold back either, if provoked. On the second day of his visit to Barmer to review security at the India-Pakistan border, Singh held a meeting with BSF officials. Singh reached Munabao check post around 11.35am where he inspected ...

NEW DELHI: In its strongest display of displeasure against Pakistan after the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir, India has pulled out of the November Saarc summit in Pakistan, effectively leading to the cancellation of the eight-nation meet in Islamabad. Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Dhaka too boycotted the meet. New Delhi has of late been making a series of moves to ...

HELSINKI: Around 15,000 people marched in central Helsinki on Saturday to protest against rising racism and violent right-wing extremism, police said, following the recent death of a man allegedly attacked by a neo-Nazi leader. Helsinki police tweeted that around 15,000 people were taking part in the protest, while thousands attended other demonstrations around the country, including Prime Minister Juha Sipila ...