IS claims Kandahar suicide attack that killed at least 60

The Islamic State group yesterday claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on a Shia mosque in the southern Afghan city of
16 October 2021

India fears Taliban fallout in Kashmir

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out his Taliban worries to world leaders this week, Indian forces staged raids and battled Kashmir militants who he fears could be emboldened by the Islamists’ victory in Afghanistan.
16 October 2021

Taliban will announce girls' education plan 'soon', UN says

The Taliban will announce a framework that allows girls to attend school in Afghanistan "soon," a senior United Nations official said, after four weeks in which Afghan boys have been allowed a secondary education but girls have not.
16 October 2021

Myanmar junta says ASEAN summit exclusion due to 'foreign intervention'

A spokesman for Myanmar's military government blamed "foreign intervention" for the rare exclusion of its junta leader from a regional leaders' summit later this month.
16 October 2021

Suicide Blasts in Afghanistan: Another mosque attack kills 41

Suicide bombers attacked a Shia mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar during Friday prayers, witnesses said, killing at least 41 people and injuring scores more.   
15 October 2021

Hunger Index 2021: Bangladesh’s status now ‘moderate’

Bangladesh has been ranked 76th in the Global Hunger Index 2021 among 116 qualifying countries, with a score of 19.1.
15 October 2021

S’pore cancels license of news site critical of govt

A Singaporean news website often critical of the government had its licence canceled yesterday for failing to declare funding sources, with the editor slamming it as “harassment and intimidation” of independent media.
15 October 2021

Death toll from explosion at Shiite mosque in Afghanistan climbs to 41

Suicide bombers attacked a Shiite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar during Friday prayers, witnesses said, killing at least 41 people and injuring scores more.
15 October 2021

Suu Kyi’s lawyer says gag order issued against him

The head lawyer representing Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Friday he had been issued a gag order by authorities in the military-ruled country.
15 October 2021

Afghan operations: suspended by Pakistan Airlines due to Taliban interference

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suspended flights to the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Thursday after what it called heavy handed interference by Taliban authorities, including arbitrary rule changes and intimidation of staff.
14 October 2021

Taliban warn US, EU of refugee wave

Afghanistan’s new Taliban government has warned US and European envoys that continued attempts to pressure them through sanctions will undermine security and could trigger a wave of economic refugees. 
13 October 2021

Don’t get too close to Taiwan

Taiwan’s defence ministry warned China of strong countermeasures yesterday if its forces got too close to the island, as Beijing defended its incursions into Taiwan’s air defence zone as “just” moves to protect peace and stability.
13 October 2021

Countries call for urgent action

More than 100 countries yesterday pledged to put the protection of habitats at the heart of their government decision-making but they stopped short of committing to specific targets to curb mass extinctions.
13 October 2021

AQ Khan: A life story no short of a Bond film

On October 10, Pakistan's "Father of Islamic Bomb" Abdul Qadeer Khan -- popularly known as AQ Khan -- passed away in Islamabad due to Covid-19. Unlike many other great men, Khan left behind a legacy no short of a Bond film.
13 October 2021

At least 28 killed in Nepal bus accident

At least 28 people were killed and more than a dozen injured yesterday after a packed passenger bus plunged off a road in a hilly region in northwestern Nepal, officials said.
12 October 2021

China pledges $233m to global fund

China yesterday pledged to inject $233 million into a new fund to protect biodiversity in developing countries during a key UN conservation summit, despite disagreements among major donors on the initiative.
12 October 2021

Quad navies begin 2nd phase of Malabar exercise in Bay of Bengal

The navies of Quad countries -- the US, India, Japan, and Australia -- began the second phase of a maritime exercise in the Bay of Bengal today as the chief of American naval operations arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit.
12 October 2021

President admits govt failure

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa admitted his government is “not delivering” as shortages persist of food, medicines and other essential items because of a dire foreign exchange squeeze.
11 October 2021

UN Biodiversity chief urges action as key summit on conservation opens in China

A key UN summit tasked with protecting biodiversity opened in China and online yesterday, as countries meet to protect ecosystems and prevent mass extinction weeks before the COP26 climate conference.
11 October 2021

First US-Taliban talks since pullout 'candid and professional'

The United States said on Sunday the first face-to-face meeting between senior US and Taliban officials since the hardline group retook power in Afghanistan was "candid and professional" and that the US side reiterated that the Taliban would be judged on their actions, not just their words.
11 October 2021