Sunday, 19 Jan, 2025

International

Explosion outside Kabul airport kills 13, says Taliban official

A large explosion took place outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan which killed at least 13 people, as the US-led airlift of thousands continued inside the compound. A suspected suicide bomb exploded outside the airport after the United States and allies urged Afghans to leave

India takes dig at Pak over cross-border terrorism

India on Tuesday raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed at the meeting of BRICS representatives responsible for national security and said these groups "enjoy state support" and threaten peace and

Climate change is real; China facing unprepared summer floods

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) – Climate change is making the Chinese summer floods worse which the country is not prepared for. Record-breaking rainfall in the central province of Henan killed more than 300 people last month, while downpours continue to swamp cities in several other

From battlefield to power table: Khalil Haqqani emerges as key player

KABUL, Afghanistan: He has a $5 million bounty on his head and a triumphant smile on his face. The head money marked by the US Treasury Department for Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani has lost much of its significance in the fast-changing circumstances of Afghanistan. Khalil, a scion of the

Normalising ties? Pakistan, India issue diplomatic visas after 28 months

For the first time since a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and India have tried to normalise ties by recommencing the issuance of diplomatic visas to each other. After the 2019 attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Panic grips Kabul airport amid ‘terror’ threat warning

The United States and its allies have urged people to move away from Kabul airport due to the threat of an attack by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group as Western troops hurry to evacuate as many people as possible before an August 31 deadline. In the 11 days since the Taliban swept into

Afghanistan: World Bank halts aid after Taliban takeover

The World Bank has halted funding for projects in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country. It cited concerns over how the Taliban's takeover will impact "the country's development prospects, especially for women". The move comes just days after

China shuts down border with Pakistan after temporary opening, trade hit

Islamabad: China has closed the border and stopped sending cargo vehicles to Pakistan without any reason, days after Beijing had conditionally opened the Khunjerab pass for one side trade, media reports said. In a letter sent to secretary Commerce, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) chief minister

Islamic State may attack UK, US soldiers at Kabul airport: Report

Top UK military officials believe that the Islamic State (IS) can target British and US soldiers helping evacuations at the Kabul airport, Sputnik reported citing The Times' sources on Monday. "We know they would love to get a suicide bomb into the crowd and take out some

Afghan leaders in Islamabad oppose Taliban govt

Political leaders from Afghanistan visiting Pakistan have opposed "the single-party government" in their country, Samaa TV reported. This statement came shortly after the Taliban issued a statement to commemorate Afghanistan 102nd Independence Day. The statement included a

Israel’s killing of Palestinian children

Twelve children have been killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank this year as well as 67 in the May attack on Gaza. Nabi Saleh, Occupied West Bank – “Mama, mama where is Muhammad?” an agitated Omar Tamimi, 3, repeatedly asked his mother. Trying hard not to break

Ukraine, Iran deny hijacking of evacuation plane from Afghanistan

Ukraine and Iran both have denied reports of hijacking of a Ukrainian evacuation plane from Afghanistan, reported The Jerusalem Post. Tehran and Kiev denied hijacking of any Ukrainian evacuation plane in Afghanistan, The Jerusalem Post added. Earlier in the day, Ukraine's deputy

Kamala Harris criticises Beijing intimidation in South China Sea

US Vice President Kamala Harris has hit out at China during a speech made in Singapore on the first leg of a South East Asian tour. Ms Harris accused Beijing of coercion and intimidation in the South China Sea, which has been a regional flashpoint for years. She said the US would

Afghanistan: US under pressure over evacuation deadline

The US is being pressed by allies to delay its withdrawal from Afghanistan to allow more time for evacuating those who want to flee the country, now that it is run by Taliban militants. US troops controlling Kabul airport - the only one in the country functioning - are scheduled to

Armed Revolt Recaptures Afghan Districts From Taliban: Report

Kabul: Taliban terrorists lost control of Afghanistan's Pol-e-Hesar district of northern Baghlan province after they came in conflict with armed uprising on Friday, a media report said. However, local residents claim that two other districts Deh Salah and Qasaan have also been

China weighs how best to bolt the back door to terrorists from Afghanistan

China has stepped up defences on its border with Afghanistan to guard against potential terrorist threats, given the turmoil after Kabul’s sudden fall to the Taliban. But the narrow Afghan-Chinese frontier is not the only entry point, with less reinforced borders between Afghanistan

Taliban's silence on ties with terror groups raises global security concern

Kabul [Afghanistan]: The Taliban have been attempting hard to convince the world that they will sever ties with terror groups like al-Qaeda after they they are back in power in Afghanistan after 20 years and need the world's recognition and approbation, a media report said.

Boris Johnson to press Joe Biden to delay Kabul withdrawal

The UK prime minister is expected to ask US President Joe Biden to keep American forces in Afghanistan beyond 31 August in order to allow evacuation flights to continue. Boris Johnson will make the request at an emergency meeting of world leaders from the G7 countries on Tuesday.

Pakistan: Circular debt doubles despite regular increase in electricity prices

A report from the Pakistan Ministry of Energy showed that circular debt has almost doubled in the last three years in the country despite a regular increase in electricity prices. In the final circular debt report for the fiscal year 2020-21, the ministry reported that debt has reached

Shanghai places hundreds in quarantine after airport COVID-19 cases

Authorities in Shanghai have quarantined hundreds of people in an attempt to halt a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the city after infections were detected in cargo workers at its airport, the municipal government said on Saturday. Some 120 people deemed close contacts of the infected five