International News

Security alert prompts Eiffel Tower evacuation

PARIS: A security alert Saturday prompted the evacuation of three floors of the Eiffel Tower in central Paris, France most emblematic symbol which drew 6.2 million visitors last year.
SETE, the body which runs the site, said bomb disposal experts as well as police were scouring the area, including a restaurant located on one of the floors.
"It is a usual procedure in this kind of situation which however is rare," a spokeswoman said.

India proposes sweeping overhaul of British-era criminal laws

NEW DELHI: India government unveiled new punishments for mob lynchings and crimes against women on Friday in a proposal for the country biggest criminal justice overhaul since the British colonial era.
India Penal Code and other statutes governing the police and courts were introduced in the 19th century, while the country was governed by the British crown.
Sweeping changes to the laws would remove archaic references to the British monarchy and other "signs of our slavery", home minister Amit Shah told parliament Friday.
"These laws were made to strengthen the colonial rule, to protect colonial rulers, and the intention was to punish and not give justice," he told lawmakers while introducing bills for the reforms.
"We are going to change this and the spirit of these new laws will be to protect the constitutional rights of our citizens."
New provisions in the laws would impose the death penalty on perpetrators of mob lynchings and minimum sentences of 20 years for gang rape.

Indian opposition stages walkout during Modi address

NEW DELHI: Indian opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was replying to a debate on the no-confidence motion, complaining that there was no reference to Manipur in the first 90 minutes of his speech. Opposition MPs were seen chanting Manipur, Manipur during the prime minister reply as they urged him to speak on the ethnic violence in the northeastern state.

Saudi embassy in Iran resumes work after seven years: state media

TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia embassy in Tehran has resumed operations, state media in Iran reported Wednesday, following a thaw in ties seven years after the mission was closed.
Shiite-dominated Iran and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies following a China-brokered deal announced in March.
The long-time regional rivals severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
"The embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Islamic Republic of Iran has officially commenced its activities" and has been operating since Sunday, the official news agency IRNA said, quoting an "informed source" at Iran foreign ministry.