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Children have been among those killed by landmines and other “explosive remnants of war (ERW)” that litter the Palestinian territories, the United Nations reported today. As many as 1.9 million people are at risk of exposure to ERW in the Gaza Strip, the whole of which is a danger zone, …

Life is unlikely to return to normal even when the tightest coronavirus restrictions are lifted, and social distancing measures could be in place for the rest of this year and beyond, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday. Britain’s Westminster government has been under pressure to outline its plans …

In Iraq, the World Health Organization has called on the government to continue to tighten its preventive measures against the coronavirus. The representative of the organization, Adham Ismail, said in a statement today, Thursday, that “the first day of lifting the partial ban was not good indicators, regarding adherence to …

Wafiq al-Samarrai, former chief of Iraqi general military intelligence, in a Facebook post seriously criticized US’ cruel sanctions against Iran, saying despite unilateral sanctions, Iran in its new progress could launch its military satellite into the earth’s orbit. He added that the US should change the game rules in the …

The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council on Thursday announced that more than 20,000 detainees had been released so far as part of measures to curb the novel coronavirus outbreak. The council’s statement said that this decision came “in line with the decisions of the [Iraqi] Crisis Cell regarding reducing the risks …

In a reversal of prevailing COVID-19 wisdom, a French study appears to show smokers are less at risk from the virus, affirming the results of an earlier Chinese study. The data aren’t conclusive – but they’re certainly surprising. Nicotine may protect smokers against the coronavirus, according to a paper published …

If the big European football leagues can’t get their league back up and running by June, they could be forced to finish the season using PLAYOFFS, according to reports. UK newspaper the Daily Mail reports that UEFA has issued guidelines to clubs and leagues across the continent in a bid …

Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Thursday to show endurance and discipline to get through the coronavirus pandemic that is “still at the beginning”, and called for a bigger European Union budget to support economic recovery in the bloc. Merkel is worried that Germans are relaxing their social distancing efforts …

A further 4.4 million Americans sought unemployment benefits last week as the economic toll from the coronavirus pandemic continued to mount. The new applications brought the total number of jobless claims since mid-March to 26.4 million. That amounts to more than 15% of the US workforce. However, the most recent …

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has downplayed a recent US anti-Iran rhetoric, warning that the Islamic Republic will target American vessels if they were to threaten the safety of the country’s vessels or warships. #Iran #IRGC commander Gen. Salami says Iranian naval forces have been …

Saudi Arabia is reportedly withholding the bodies of at least 90 activists, among them critics of the construction of a controversial megacity project on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast. The Arabic-language Mirat al-Jazeera news website reported on Tuesday that the Riyadh regime refuses to hand over the bodies of the …

Observing social distancing guidelines amid a virus outbreak, dozens of Lebanese people have taken to the streets across Beirut and other cities in their cars to protest rising poverty and economic woes. The car convoys formed across the capital, the northwestern city of Tripoli, and the southwestern city of Sidon …

Amnesty International has written to the Premier League saying it “risks becoming a patsy” unless it takes a serious look at Saudi Arabia’s human rights record before sanctioning Newcastle United’s £300m takeover by an alliance in which the country’s sovereign wealth fund would hold an 80% controlling stake. Saudi’s Public …

Amid mounting tension, an Australian frigate has joined US warships in the South China Sea, near water suspected of being a Chinese ship drilling for oil. And regional security sources said today, Wednesday, that an Australian frigate joined the American warships located near the place where the Chinese government exploration …

American scientists have proven the failure of a drug called “hydroxychloroquine” in the treatment of corona virus. The researchers analyzed data for 368 patients who took “hydroxychloroquine”, with or without an antibiotic, to treat a number of bacterial infections, according to Associated Press. The research showed the death of 28 …

Wildfires have been ravaging the marshes of the Biebrza National Park in northeastern Poland, home to moose, beavers and unique wetland birds, since Sunday, as the country faces the severest drought in decades. Hundreds of firefighters are tackling the blaze, which has spread to around 6,000 hectares. The area of …

An Iraqi lawmaker says the Arab country’s parliament will hold a vote of confidence on prime minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government next week. “Kadhimi will submit an official request to hold a confidence vote session within the next two days,” Fadel Al-Fatlawi, a member of the Fatah (Conquest) Alliance said on …

Militants have killed 52 villagers in northern Mozambique who refused to be recruited to their ranks. The massacre took place on April 7 in the village of Xitaxi in the Muidumbe district of Cabo Delgado Province, home to multi-billion-dollar gas projects led by foreign companies such as Total. “The young …

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully launched and placed the country’s first military satellite into the orbit. The elite force fired the satellite — dubbed Nour (Light)-1 — aboard Qased (Carrier) satellite carrier during an operation that was staged in Dasht-e Kavir, Iran’s sprawling central desert, on Wednesday, …

US oil prices plunged into negative territory for the first time ever on Monday, meaning producers are willing to pay buyers to take crude off their hands. The price of America’s most closely watched oil benchmark crashed to as low as minus $40 a barrel, but how could this happen …