Monday, 17 Mar, 2025

International

US could slow Afghanistan withdrawal amid Taliban gains

The US military has said it could slow down its withdrawal from Afghanistan in light of recent battlefield victories by the Taliban. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the deadline for a full withdrawal by 11 September was still in place, but the pace may change. Pentagon officials

Imran Khan causes stir over Afghanistan, Xinjiang remarks

Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan has created a stir over comments he made about US operations in Afghanistan and China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims. In an interview with Axios HBO, Imran Khan categorically stated that he would not allow the US to use Pakistan as a base for

Iran election: Hardliner Raisi set to win in first round

Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi is to be Iran's next president after a partial vote count gave him an unassailable lead. He beat three other candidates in a poll in which several contenders were barred from standing. Mr Raisi is Iran's top judge and holds ultra-conservative views.

UN calls to end of arms sales to Myanmar 

The UN has issued a rare call to halt to arms sales to Myanmar in response to this year's violent military coup. The General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the military junta, which overthrew the country's elected government in February. The UN also called for the

Plane crash kills 7 in Russia

At least seven people have been killed 13 people were injured after a twin-engine Let L-410 aircraft crashed in southwestern Siberia, Russia's state-affiliated media RT News says. Reports suggest 20 people were on board the plane when it was forced to make an emergency landing in

Biden, Putin agree to talks on arms control, cybersecurity 

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold talks on arms control and to return their respective ambassadors to their posts, after a summit in Geneva that highlighted their deep discord on human rights, cyberattacks, election interference and Ukraine.

Israel launches air raids on Gaza, first since truce with Hamas

Israel has launched air raids on the Gaza Strip after Palestinian groups in the besieged enclave sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel. The raids early on Wednesday come less than a month after Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza in May and followed a march in occupied

I reject PTIMF budget: Bilawal Bhutto slams Imran Khan govt

Pakistan's key opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently criticised PM Imran Khan government's budget and said the decision to impose nearly Rs 375 billion worth of taxes on the masses is an "injustice." The PPP Chairman further slammed the government and said

Biden seeks ‘predictable, stable’ Russia relations in Putin meet

United States President Joe Biden will cap off his European tour – his first foreign trip – with a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The highly anticipated summit, which the US began pursuing in April – days before announcing

Beijing accuses Nato of exaggerating China threat

China has accused Nato of slandering its peaceful development after alliance leaders warned about "systemic challenges" coming from Beijing. China's actions, including expanding its nuclear arsenal, threatened "rules-based international order", Nato said. It

Biden pushes G7 leaders to call out China on forced labour in Xinjiang

US President Joe Biden is pushing world leaders to call out China over allegations of forced labour in Xinjiang as the Group of Seven (G7) leaders prepare to unveil a global infrastructure plan meant to compete with Beijing. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Biden will join

China: Chemical Leak in Guizhou Province, 8 Dead, 3 Injured

As many as eight people died and three others got injured in a chemical leak in China's Guizhou province, local authorities informed on Saturday. The incident took place in the capital of southwest province at 12:12 am on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Police in capital

Ziona Chana: Head of 'world's largest family' dies 

A 76-year-old man believed to be the head of the world's largest family has died in India's Mizoram state. Ziona Chana, the head of a religious sect that practiced polygamy, died on Sunday, leaving behind 38 wives, 89 children and 36 grandchildren. The news was confirmed by

Israel's new PM Naftali Bennett promises to unite nation

Israel's new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has vowed to unite the nation frayed by four elections in two years of political stalemate. He said his government would "work for the sake of all the people", adding that the priorities would be reforms in education, health and

Pak diplomats in Geneva face rights abuse charges

The Swissinfo reported that Pakistani officials misused the legitimation card, a special card that diplomats give to their employees and that is issued by the Swiss mission. The officials forced them to agree to work more than 10 hours a week without any compensation Pakistani embassy

G7 summit: Spending plan to rival China adopted

G7 leaders seeking to rival China have adopted a plan to support lower- and middle-income countries in building better infrastructure. President Joe Biden said he wanted the US-backed Build Back Better World (B3W) plan to be a higher-quality alternative to a similar Chinese programme.

Hong Kong to start censoring films on national security grounds

Hong Kong: In yet another assault on the democratic ethos of Hong Kong, new government guidelines have been enforced to allow city authorities to censor films on the basis of safeguarding national security. The censorship rules announced on Friday allow censors to pull films they deem

National Equality Party protests outside Pak high commission in London against arrest of political workers, activists

London: National Equality Party Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan and Ladakh (NEP JKGBL) on Thursday held a protest outside the Pakistani High Commission here against the imprisonment of political workers and human rights activists in Pakistani Occupied Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

China again slammed by US Secretary over lack of transparency over COVID-19 origins

Once again China is slammed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday for the lack of transparency on the origins of the coronavirus, as global pressure mounts for a fresh probe in Wuhan. “What we’ve seen, more than unfortunately, from the PRC (People’s

Chinese activist who reviled human rights condition in country, put behind the bars

Beijing, China: Wang Aizhong, a Chinese veteran activist was arrested last month for writing his mind out on twitter. He wrote about the condition of human rights in the country. Whereas he was accused under charges of ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’. The veteran