Sunday, 19 Jan, 2025

International

North Korea fires missile into waters off Japan

North Korea has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile into waters off the coast of Japan, South Korea's military has said. The launch comes weeks after South Korea unveiled its own such weapon. Pyongyang unveiled a "new" type of submarine-launched missile in

Pedro Sanchez: Spanish PM vows to outlaw prostitution

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged on Sunday to criminalise prostitution in the country. Speaking to supporters at the end of his Socialist Party's three-day congress in Valencia, Mr Sanchez said that the practice "enslaves" women. Prostitution was

Kerala floods: At least 24 killed as rescuers step up efforts

At least 24 people have been killed in floods in southern India after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages. Five children are among the dead. There are fears the death toll could rise further as many people are missing. Several houses were washed

Missionaries With an American Christian Group Kidnapped in Haiti

Seventeen people, including three children, associated with an American Christian aid group were kidnapped on Saturday by a gang in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as they were leaving an orphanage, according to a former field director for the group, Christian Aid Ministries. The former field

British MP murder suspect held under Terrorism Act

The man arrested by police following the killing of the MP Sir David Amess has been named as Ali Harbi Ali. The 25-year-old is being held under the Terrorism Act and officers have until Friday to question him. The BBC understands Mr Ali was referred to the counter-terrorist Prevent

Social distancing at Mecca’s Grand Mosque dropped

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has returned to operating at full capacity, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. On Sunday, floor markings that guide people to social distance in and

Myanmar Junta Chief Excluded From Summit: ASEAN

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Myanmar's junta chief will be excluded from an upcoming ASEAN summit, the group said Saturday, a rare rebuke as concerns rise over the military government's commitment to defusing a bloody crisis. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast

40 killed in Afghanistan mosque suicide attack 

More than 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after blasts tore through a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in the Afghan city of Kandahar. Pictures from inside the Bibi Fatima mosque show shattered windows and bodies lying on the ground, while other worshippers try to help.

British MP Sir David Amess stabbed to death

Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery in Essex. Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack at a church in Leigh-on-Sea. They recovered a knife and are not looking for anyone

Pakistan is facing an existential crisis

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report in August 2021, on the heels of one of the hottest and most devastating summers on record: floods in northern Europe and China, wildfires in the US, and heatwaves everywhere. The report tells us

RED ZONE FILES: Notifying a crisis

It was like a depth charge exploding under the sea. On the surface you heard a faint thud, then a rumble, and finally water erupting into a wild spray reaching the skies. For a good part of the week, Islamabad was gripped by a frenzy not witnessed since, oh, maybe Panama. That is

Taiwan building fire kills 46

A fire tore through an apartment complex in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung early Thursday morning, killing 46 people and leaving 41 injured. According to Kaohsiung’s fire department, a blaze broke out around 3 a.m. in a 13-story building home to around 120 households,

Five dead in Norway bow and arrow attack

Five people have been killed and two more injured in Norway after a man used a bow and arrow to attack them. Police first received word of an attack in the town of Kongsberg, south-west of the capital Oslo, at 18:13 local time (16:13 GMT). A Danish man aged 37 has been arrested on

G20 agrees aid to avert Afghanistan humanitarian crisis

The Group of 20 (G20) has agreed to work together to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, even if it means having to coordinate efforts with the Taliban, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said after hosting an emergency summit. The European Union opened the talks on Tuesday

Pakistan minister blames past rulers for current economic crisis

Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan federal minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has blamed the past governments for the current economic situation in the country and said that the former rulers have ruined the "national economy during their 10 years of misrule". He believed that the

Mental health cases increased in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province due to economic hardships

Kabul [Afghanistan]: Mental health cases have increased in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province due to economic hardships, local media reported citing an official on Sunday. Officials expressed concern that the majority of patients suffering from mental health issues did not go to

Punish those behind Afghan mosque attack, says Iranian Parliament Speaker

Tehran [Iran]: Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iranian Parliament Speaker, condemned the recent attack in a mosque in Afghanistan's Kunduz and asked authorities to punish those behind the tragic incident that killed over 100 people and injured many, a media report said. Qalibaf, while

N Korea's Kim vows to build 'invincible military'

North Korea's leader has vowed to build an "invincible military" in the face of what it says are hostile policies from the United States, report state media. Kim Jong-un added that weapons development was for self-defence, and not to start a war. Mr Kim made the

US concludes first direct talks with Taliban since withdrawal

The first talks between the US and Taliban leaders since the withdrawal of American troops in August have concluded in Doha. The talks in Qatar focused on containing extremist groups, the evacuation of US citizens and humanitarian aid. US officials said that while the group would be

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdullah passes away

The Saudi Royal Court on Sunday announced the death of Prince Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud bin Faisal Al Saud. The funeral prayer will be performed today in Riyadh. Source: Khaleej Times BDST: 2040 HRS, OCT 10, 2021 SMS