WASHINGTON:, (DNA) – President Donald Trump is likely to announce next week that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a senior administration official said on Friday, a move that would upend decades of American policy and possibly inflame tensions in the Middle East. Trump could make the controversial declaration in a speech on Wednesday though he is also expected to again delay his campaign promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. The senior official and two other government sources said final decisions had not yet been made.

PARIS: (DNA) – Muslims could make up over 11 percent of Europe’s population in the coming decades, compared with just under 5 percent currently, if legal migration levels are maintained, a report by a US-based think tank said Thursday. The Pew Research Center, in a study entitled “Europe’s Growing Muslim Population” issued three projections based on different migration scenarios — zero arrivals, “medium” flows and “high” migration. It showed that even if all migration into Europe stopped immediately, the Muslim population of the 28-member European Union plus Norway and Switzerland would rise to 7.4 percent from 4.9 percent in 2016.

JAKARTA, (DNA) – Seven people in Indonesia were hospitalised after rinsing their hands in acid, police said Tuesday as they hunted for the self-styled sorcerer who promised the men it would make them invincible. The bizarre ritual last week left the men, residents of the Rawa Kopi village just outside the capital Jakarta, with serious burns on their hands, authorities said. A mystery man named Didi, who moved into the village several months ago, claimed he was a master of traditional magic — known as Debus — which is supposed to protect a person from physical injury. The self-proclaimed magician offered free lessons and promised to make the unlucky men invincible.

TEHRAN, NOV 27 (DNA) – Iran and Turkey signed a deal on Sunday with Qatar aimed at boosting commercial ties with the Gulf state which is under blockade by its Arab neighbours, Iranian state television said. Erdogan pledges military support for Qatar on Doha visit The broadcaster’s website said the agreement provides for the creation of a “joint working group to facilitate the transit of goods between the three countries”. It also said the three nations aimed to tackle “obstacles to sending goods from Iran and Turkey to Qatar”.

SHANGHAI, (DNA) – A major explosion hit China’s megaport city of Ningbo on Sunday, killing at least two people, injuring dozens and wrecking buildings, state media and local authorities said. The Ningbo government said on a social media account that the blast occurred in a “vacant lot” but it did not provide details about what may have caused it. Local authorities said two people died, two were seriously injured and an unidentified number were being treated for injuries in the major port city. State media said more than 30 people were hospitalised, reporting the explosion had taken place in a demolished factory at around 9:00 am (0100 GMT).