Kerala to increase RT-PCR tests amid virus spread

Kerala, which is struggling with rising COVID-19 infections and deaths, is planning to increase RT-PCR tests following criticism against its focus on less accurate antigen assays.

COVID-19 concerns loom as festival season begins

India recorded 45,083 new cases of coronavirus; India extends international flight ban until Sept.30; Bharat Biotech scouts international virus vaccine partners

Worst is over, UAE's virus handling emulative: VP

Cabinet to ensure quality of medical items; Abu Dhabi mandates booster shot for Sinopharm recipients; Sheikha Manal to head UAE Gender Balance Council; India stops international flights till September 30.

Djokovic chases calendar-year Grand Slam at US Open

Not since Rod Laver in 1969 has the feat been achieved and the chance at tennis history has fuelled Djokovic’s fire to finish the 2021 sweep. The 34-year-old has not dropped a Grand Slam match this year, beating Medvedev in the Australian Open final, Tsitsipas in the French Open final and Berrettini in the Wimbledon final

Anya Taylor-Joy reunites with ‘The Witch' director Robert Eggers

Specifically, precisely, what actress Anya Taylor-Joy wants to communicate is that her happiest place on earth is a movie set where she’s covered in grime

Mohammed meets Qatar Emir, Iran foreign minister

Mohammed holds talks with Kuwaiti PM; conference discusses security, political, economic issues; there will be no foothold for terrorism in Iraq: Kadhimi; ‘Iran and Saudi Arabia continue dialogue.’

Vio repeats Rio feat as McFadden wins 8th medal at Paralympics

Fencing icon Beatrice “Bebe” Vio successfully defended her women’s Paralympic gold on Saturday as US wheelchair racing legend Tatyana McFadden won her 18th Paralympic medal.

UK gets ready for mass COVID-19 vaccination programme for kids

Children, aged between 12 and 15, to get jabs next month; Russia’s coronavirus deaths hit new high in July; Delta variant poses twice the risk of hospitalisation, shows study

Renowned Venice film fest returns with another blockbuster lineup

Even the Princess Di biopic, ‘Spencer,’ promises to be more than the usual fawning royal mush, as it comes from Chilean director Pablo Larrain

Afghan crisis to dent Biden, GOP's future prospects

Leaving Afghanistan had become a popular position in both parties in recent years, but Republican lawmakers who have embraced the idea of ending “forever wars” have been anxious to distinguish that position from Biden’s execution of it

Pakistan's side on Afghan border is secure, says army

Armed forces anticipated the way the situation was going to unfold and moved troops to important border crossings to ensure control: Iftikhar; authorities ask hotels to prepare for evacuees

UAE leaders extol role of women in building nation

85% of employees in Sheikh Mohammed’s office are women; AD CP gives directive to name street after Sheikha Fatima; societies thriving with women at the helm, say UAE diplomats

Queen Elizabeth to attend climate talks

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) which is due to be hosted in Glasgow in November, organisers said on Friday.

India asks 2 states to consider night curfew as virus cases rise

India has administered more than 611 million vaccine doses; over half of Indian adults had first vaccine dose; schools to partially resume in Delhi from Sept. 1

India approves trials for first homegrown mRNA virus shot

‘It is a matter of great pride that country’s first mRNA-based vaccine is found to be safe, and DCGI has approved Phase 2/3 trial. We are confident that this will be an important vaccine for both India and the world’

Vaccination must for domestic and international air travellers

Umar says incoming international passengers, as well as those flying domestically or abroad, would not be allowed to avail the facility from Sep.30 unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Qayed leads UAE team at opening ceremony of Tokyo Paralympics

Despite a year-long pandemic delay, the Tokyo Paralympics games opened on Tuesday with howling guitars and neon-streaked performers, with athletes poised to challenge stereotypes and break records.

NZ Delta outbreak spreading rapidly as virus cases jump

NZ records its highest increase in cases, as officials warned this current outbreak of highly infectious Delta variant of the virus was like dealing with a whole new virus

Cruella de Vil character is real fun and exciting: Emma Stone

Talking about how she bagged the role, Stone said: ‘I met with the folks at Disney. They were playing around with the idea of an origin story of Cruella de Vil and wanted to know if I would be interested’

Expo 2020 To Take Visitors On An Absorbing Musical Adventure

The vibrant performers have been carefully selected to appeal to the diverse community of music lovers of all ages, nationalities

Henri Hurls Rain As System Settles Atop Northeast

The slow-rolling system named Henri is taking its time drenching the Northeast with rain, lingering early on Monday atop a region made swampy by the storm’s relentless downpour.

Stick To Pullout Deadline, Taliban Warn Americans

If US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations... there would be consequences, say Taliban; Ardern appreciates UAE’s role in speeding up evacuation; no cabinet talk till last US soldier leaves Afghanistan: Taliban.

Third Covid Wave Could Peak Around Late Oct: MHA Panel

Report underlines that the paediatric facilities like doctors, ventilators and ambulances are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected

UK Warns COVID-19 Travel Test Providers Over Pricing

Government said it had warned dozens of domestic private medical testing companies over ‘misleading prices’ for virus travel tests, following a review of costs and standards

Pop sensation Selena Gomez doesn't think she'll ever quit making music

Singer Selena Gomez had earlier shared that she might retire from music to focus her life more on her acting and producing work

OIC urges reconciliation; G7 to discuss Afghanistan

Biden, Spanish premier thank UAE for helping evacuation from Afghanistan; Taliban beat back crowd at Kabul airport after 7 are crushed to death; Taliban blame US for airport chaos.

Iran's daily COVID-19 deaths set new record as curbs lifted

Ministry says the deaths of 684 people in the past 24 hours bring the total number of fatalities to 102,038; Israel launches COVID-19 antibody tests for children as young as three

Film industry cheers TN decision to reopen theatres

Kollywood cheered the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday for allowing reopening of cinema halls from Sept.1, though with only 50% capacity of audience.

Filipino icon Pacquiao hints at retirement after losing to Ugas

Ater an unimpressive performance on his return from the longest layoff of his quarter-century in professional boxing, Pacquiao says he hasn’t decided whether he will fight again

GM expands Chevy Bolt EV recall for fire risk, will take $1 billion hit

General Motors (GM) Co said it would take a hit of $1 billion to expand the recall of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EV) due to the risk of fires from the high-voltage battery pack - a blow for the largest US automaker as it seeks to ramp up EV sales.