Nearly 200 soldiers released in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Kiev: Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been freed following the latest prisoner swap, officials from both sides confirmed on Saturday.
World
China strongly opposes US move to shoot down 'unmanned' airship
Beijing/UNI: China expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition towards the US use of force to attack a Chinese civilian 'unmanned' airship, the country's Foreign Ministry said Sunday in a statement.
US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon off Carolina coast
Washington DC/IBNS: The United States Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the country's east coast, the Pentagon said.
Turkish Airlines suspends nearly 240 flights after snowfall alert in Istanbul
Istanbul: Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines said on Saturday that it had canceled 238 flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday due to the snowfall expected in Istanbul.
Biden vows to 'take care of' suspected Chinese spy balloon
Washington: US President Joe Biden has broken his silence about the alleged Chinese spy balloon spotted above the United States earlier this week, pledging to "take care of it."
2 hurt in car explosion in central Kabul: Police
Kabul: At least two people were injured in a car explosion in Kabul's second district on Saturday, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.
Former Pakistan minister says situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deteriorating rapidly
Islamabad: A prominent minister of the former PM Imran Khan-led government has claimed that the security situation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is deteriorating rapidly.
Taliban detains Afghanistan professor who protested ban on women's education
Kabul: Afghanistan's Taliban government has detained a professor who tore up his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees on live TV in protest against a ban on Afghan women’s education in the country.
Peshawar blast investigation: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police take a stand with threat of mass resignation
Peshawar: A memo circulated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police's special branch has revealed that over 100,000 junior ranks are considering resigning en masse if the recent attack on the mosque wasn’t not properly investigated, media reports said.
Pakistan: Punjab Home dept asks Chinese nationals working in province to hire private firms for security
Lahore: Pakistan's Punjab Home Department has directed Chinese nationals, who are living in the province or working with private companies, to hire private security companies of A category for their security, media reports said.
TTP can’t be eliminated without Kabul’s support, says PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry
Islamabad: PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan could not be eliminated without the support of the Afghanistan government.
Stop intel agencies from meddling in politics: Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan asks President Alvi
Islamabad: PTI chief Imran Khan has sought the president's intervention to stop the “brazen interference of intelligence agencies” in politics, media reports said on Saturday.
Bhutan on course of graduating from Least Developed Countries status by June 2023: Reports
Thimpu: Bhutan is on its way to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status by June 2023, media reports said on Saturday.
PTA bans Wikipedia in Pakistan over 'sacrilegious content'
Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned popular website Wikipedia in the country for not “blocking/removing sacrilegious content” within the 48-hour deadline given to the website, media reports said on Saturday.
UN child rights committee lauds Swiss asylum offer to Kurdish family
The UN child rights committee on Friday commended Switzerland for swiftly granting asylum to four Kurdish children and their mother, who faced deportation after fleeing Syria, adding that it showed how controversial decisions could be effectively appealed.
'Hold Quran in your right hand, atom bomb on left': Pak leader's startling solution to economic crisis
Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistan leader has stirred a row with his bizarre solution to the country's economic crisis that has kept the South Asian nation on an edge, media reports said.
UN aid convoys deliver lifesaving relief to Ukraine’s war-ravaged east
New York: Two UN aid convoys have reached communities with acute needs near the contact line in Ukraine’s war-shattered east this week, relief coordinators reported on Friday.
UN rights chief appeals for Israelis and Palestinians to end ‘illogic of escalation’
New York: As violence mounts between Israelis and Palestinians, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called for an end to the “illogic of escalation”, appealing for leaders to urgently work to resolve their decades-long conflict.
Myanmar junta is selling Rakhine's natural gas to China: Reports
Naypyidaw: Myanmar's military junta has been selling Rakhine’s natural gas to China and it has sold over USD 1.43 billion worth of it in 2022, media reports said.
Pakistan: Police detain over 20 Afghan refugees from Islamabad
Islamabad: Pakistani police have detained more than 20 Afghan refugees in Islamabad city on Friday, media reports said.
German police strike against child porn platforms
Berlin: After years of investigations, German police in Bavaria have clamped down on an international child pornography ring and shut down three darknet platforms.
Trump to speak at US Conservative mega-convention in early March
Washington: Former US President Donald Trump will speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, at the beginning of March, the organization announced in a press release.
Finland, Sweden committed to take NATO membership together, PMs say
Stockholm: Finland has reiterated its commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) together with Sweden, visiting Prime Minister Sanna Marin said when she met her Swedish counterpart here on Thursday.
French helicopter carrier to participate in military drills with Japan, India, US: Reports
Paris: France's helicopter carrier Dixmude will participate in military drills in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean alongside ships of the Japanese maritime self-defense forces and the Australian, Indian and US navies, media reported on Friday.
Air raid alert sounded in all regions of Ukraine: Authorities
Kiev: An air raid alert was sounded in all regions of Ukraine, including the capital city Kiev, according to the online map of the Ukrainian Digital Ministry updated on Friday.
NKorea ratifies law on protection of 'state secret': State Media
Pyongyang: North Korea ratified a law on the protection of "state secret" at a plenary meeting oft the its parliament to safeguard national security and develop the socialist system in the country, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.
Canada: Toronto sees coldest temperatures in years with polar vortex descending on Ontario
Toronto/IBNS: After January’s warmer-than-normal temperature, February is off to a frigid start in parts of Ontario due to the polar vortex descending over the province this week and Toronto to see some of the coldest weather in years, Environment Canada reported.
'Sinking' land develops cracks in residential structures in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda
Jammu: After Joshimath in Uttarakhand, as many as 21 structures have developed cracks due to "sinking" of land while the families have been shifted to the safer locations in Thathri tehsil of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Friday.
Pakistan Rupee slides further to touch Rs 276.58 per dollar
Islamabad: The Pakistani Rupee plunged further on Friday to touch Rs 276.58 per dollar in the interbank market, media reports said on Fridayl
Hazara Committee in UK releases report on situation of members in Pakistan
Islamabad: The Hazara community in the UK has recently released a report which revealed the atrocities faced by the community members in Pakistan.