Explosion in north Afghanistan kills at least 10, injures 40

Explosion in north Afghanistan kills at least 10, injures 40

Kabul: A powerful explosion in a Shiite Muslim mosque in northern Afghanistan on Thursday killed at least 10 worshippers and injured another 40, according to a hospital official. Ghawsuddin Anwari, head of the main hospital in northern Mazar-e-Sharif, where the explosion occurred, said the dead and wounded were brought in ambulances and private cars. The […]

Ukraine demands humanitarian corridor for Mariupol holdout

Ukraine demands humanitarian corridor for Mariupol holdout

KYIV: A senior Ukrainian official is demanding that the Russian military open a humanitarian corridor from the Azovstal steel plant, the last Ukrainian stronghold in the strategic port city of Mariupol. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Thursday on the messaging app Telegram that “there are about 1,000 civilians and 500 wounded soldiers there. They […]

China’s Xi proposes ‘global security initiative’, without giving details

China and Russia have grown increasingly close, and China has refused to condemn Russia’s Feb. 24 attack on Ukraine BOAO( CHINA): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday proposed a “global security initiative” that upholds the principle of “indivisible security”, a concept also endorsed by Russia, although he gave no details of how it would be […]

Lanka’s Opposition proposes constitutional amendment to end presidential system

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main Opposition SJB on Thursday presented a constitutional amendment bill that among other provisions seeks to abolish the presidential system of governance, in existence in the country since 1978, and replace it with a system that reinforces constitutional democracy. The move by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) party came in the backdrop […]

34 per cent of Pakistan’s population lives on just rs 588 a day income: World Bank

34 per cent of Pakistan’s population lives on just rs 588 a day income: World Bank

ISLAMABAD: Around 34 per cent of Pakistan’s population lives on just USD 3.2 or Rs 588 a day income, the World Bank has said as the cash-strapped country’s new Finance Minister Miftah Isamil faces uphill tasks of containing rising inflation and navigating through one of the worst external sector crisis. The Pakistan Development Update – […]

Israeli ultra-nationalists to march in Jerusalem despite ban

Israeli ultra-nationalists to march in Jerusalem despite ban

Jerusalem: A group of Israeli ultra-nationalists said it is determined to go ahead with a flag-waving march around predominantly Palestinian areas of Jerusalem’s Old City later Wednesday, brushing aside a police ban of an event that served as one of the triggers of last year’s Israel-Gaza war. Israeli police said a large number of officers […]

Need to address serious energy security concern: India amid rising food, energy costs due to Ukraine conflict

United Nations: With food and energy costs spiralling, especially for many developing countries in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has for the first time told the UN Security Council that energy security is a “serious concern and needs to be addressed through cooperative efforts. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador R […]

UN to debate move to limit veto power of Security Council permanent members

UN to debate move to limit veto power of Security Council permanent members

UNITED NATIONS: Liechtenstein is to convene the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to debate a draft resolution — backed by Washington — requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto. An old idea aimed at making Security Council permanent members cut back use of their veto powers, […]

Sitharaman assures Lankan counterpart of all possible assistance from India

Sitharaman assures Lankan counterpart of all possible assistance from India

Washington: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has met her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry here and assured him that as a close friend and good neighbour, India will try to extend all possible cooperation and assistance to the island nation amidst its worst economic crisis. Sri Lanka, which is on the brink of bankruptcy, is grappling […]

Tehran warns Israel of military action for ‘tiniest move’ against Iran

Tehran warns Israel of military action for ‘tiniest move’ against Iran

TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Monday warned that Israel will be targeted by his country’s armed forces if it makes “the tiniest move” against Iran. He spoke as talks stalled in Vienna over a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Tehran says are used for peaceful purposes. Israel opposes a deal, saying it […]