HUBEI, 14 June 2021, (TON): A powerful blast took place at about 6:30 am local time on Sunday, in which at least 12 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a residential area in the Zhangwan district of Shiyan city in Hubei province, trapping a large number of people.

Sources said at least 12 people were killed and more than 100 others injured after a gas explosion tore through a residential community in central China. 39 people injured in explosion are serious injuries, and have been rushed to hospitals. 

RIYADH, 13 June 2021, (TON): State media reported that Saudi Arabia announced it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual Haj.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency “the Haj ministry said this year's pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims.”

It said that the pilgrimage, scheduled to be held at the end of July, would be limited to those who have been vaccinated and are below 65 years of age with no chronic illnesses.

It will be the second year in a row that the kingdom hosts a downscaled Haj amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Only up to 10,000 Muslims took part in last year, a far cry from the 2.5 million who participated in the five-day annual pilgrimage in 2019.

In a relaxation of coronavirus curbs last October, Saudi Arabia opened the Grand Mosque for prayers for the first time in seven months and partially resumed the all-year-round Umrah pilgrimage.

The limit on Umrah pilgrims is 20,000 a day, with a total of 60,000 worshippers allowed to perform daily prayers at the mosque.

BEIJING, 13 June 2021, (TON): China has passed a new legislation that bans “defamation” of military personnel. The legislation, which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Thursday, states that no organisation or individual may in any way slander or derogate the honour of servicemen, nor may they insult or slander the reputation of members of the armed forces.

The new legislation also bans the desecration of plaques in honour of military personnel. Prosecutors can file public interest litigation in cases of defamation of military personnel and the infringement on their legitimate rights and interests that have seriously affected their performance of duties and missions and damaged the public interests of society, according to the new law.   

WEST BANK, 13 JUne 2021, (TON): Israeli police say a private security guard at a checkpoint near Jerusalem shot and killed a Palestinian woman on Saturday who was allegedly in possession of a knife.

The police said in a statement that the guard at the Qalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem saw the woman with a knife and immediately shot her dead.

Several amateur videos captured by Palestinians at the crossing showed the woman lying on the ground at the Israeli side of the crossing. Police later identified her a 28-year old Palestinian woman.

Qalandia is the main crossing point for Palestinian residents of the West Bank entering Israel and is operated by Israeli police.

TEXAS, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Saturday, shooting in downtown Austin injured nine people, Texas officials said.   

Multiple victims have injuries, police tweeted.

The Austin-Travis County EMS said in a series of tweets that at least 12 patients had received treatment or been transported to local hospitals.

However, no clear report of the cause of the shooting. Police announced no suspects.

WASHINGTON, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Friday, Press Sec. Jen Psaki announced that on 15 July the U.S. President Joe Biden will be hosting the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House.

Psaki stated, "Chancellor Merkel's visit will affirm the deep bilateral ties between the United States and Germany."

She added, "The leaders will discuss their commitment to close cooperation on a range of common challenges, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the threat of climate change, and promoting economic prosperity and international security based on our shared democratic values."

On Friday, the announcement was made after the U.S. President Biden met with Merkel in Britain at the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Friday.

BEIJING, 12 June, 2021(TON): On Friday, a call for continuous efforts to improve the scientific and technological capability was made by the Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He.

The remarks came while addressing a ceremony marking the releasing of the first batch of images taken by the country's first Mars rover Zhurong.

Liu spoke highly of the complete success of the Tianwen-1 mission, called for courage in further sci-tech exploration and facilitating breakthroughs and advancements in technologies, thus achieving self reliance in the field.

BEIJING, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Friday, measures to develop the multimodal transport were discussed by the political advisors during a consultation session in the capital.

The session was held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

The meeting was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

During the meeting, it was stressed on the implementation of the measures concerning multimodal transport in the 14th Five-year Plan.

The advisors also urged more work to optimize the country's transport management system, suggesting different means of transport should be planned, developed, and managed in a coordinated, unified manner.

DAKAR, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Friday, hundreds demonstrated at Place de la Nation in the capital, demanding release of several detainees arrested in March.

Mass protests and riots erupted over rape allegations in March against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, at least 13 were killed in the demonstrations.

The protest was organized by the Movement for the Defense of Democracy (M2D) and scheduled another rally on 23 June.

Sonko, leader of the Pastef party. told the crowd, “The state of grace is over!"

"May Macky Sall be ready," he warned the president. Sonko is seen as a potential challenger to Sall in the 2024 election.

Moreover, the leader also urged the release of the detainees.

RAMALLAH, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Friday, during the row between the protestors and the Israeli troops in W. Bank, a Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli fire.

The Health Ministry identified the deceased as 15 years old Mohammed Hamayel.

According to the ministry, six protesters were wounded during the violence in the village of Beita near the city of Nablus.

The Palestinian media reported that Israeli troops fired live rounds, tear gas and rubber-coated steel pellets at the demonstrators, while, there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.