Pakistan: Five terrorists running Al-Qaeda’s media cell arrested

Dec 27, 2019, at 04:30 pm

Islamabad/IBNS:  A joint operation conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and an intelligence agency in Pakistan led to the arrest of five terrorists who were suspected to be running Al-Qaeda's media cell in Gujranwal area in the nation, media reports said on Friday.

Fire breaks out at Bangladesh plastic factory

Dec 27, 2019, at 03:52 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: A fire broke out at a plastic factory in Bangladesh's  Hazaribagh area on Friday, media reports said.

American University of Afghanistan may close next year

Dec 27, 2019, at 03:20 pm

Kabul/IBNS: The American University of Afghanistan is planning to shut down next year, media reports said.

Plane crash in Kazakhstan kills 14, 35 injured

Dec 27, 2019, at 12:34 pm

Nur-Sultan/UNI: A Bek Air plane crashed near Kazakhstan's biggest city Almaty shortly after taking off, killing at least 14 people, living 35 injured on Friday, the government said.

French Foreign Ministry Condemns Recent Deadly Terrorist Attacks in Northern Burkina Faso

Dec 27, 2019, at 10:38 am

Paris/Sputnik/UNI: Paris strongly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso’s northern province of Soum that claimed dozens of lives and wishes soon recovery to all those injured, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Sydney's drinking water supply under threat from bushfires

Dec 27, 2019, at 10:34 am

Sydney/Xinhua/UNI Authorities have raised concerns about severe bushfires near Sydney's main drinking water catchment, suggesting that a build of ash could soon contaminate the precious resource.

UN refugee agency welcomes move to register all births in Kazakhstan

Dec 27, 2019, at 10:26 am

New York/IBNS: The decision to ensure that all babies born in Kazakhstan are registered at birth and issued birth certificates has been welcomed by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Ending war only ‘real hope’ for prosperous Afghanistan: UN mission chief

Dec 27, 2019, at 10:09 am

New York/IBNS: Only by ending the war in Afghanistan can there be “real hope” for a prosperous future for the country, the top UN official there said on Thursday.

Independent UN rights experts raise alarm over ‘incommunicado detention’ of Chinese scholar

Dec 27, 2019, at 10:03 am

New York/IBNS: Independent United Nations human rights experts expressed apprehension on Thursday over the “incommunicado detention” of a Uyghur Muslim academic who has reportedly been sentenced to death.

Seven people died in Bek air plane crash in Almaty – Kazakhstan's Ministry of Industry

Dec 27, 2019, at 09:25 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: A plane of the Bek Air airline crashed on Friday near the airport of the Kazakh city of Almaty, leaving seven people dead, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development said.

Taliban release activists abducted in Western Afghanistan 2 days ago - Peace Movement

Dec 27, 2019, at 08:45 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The Taliban have released 27 peace activists after holding them captive for nearly two days, a spokesman for the People’s Peace Movement said in a video statement on Thursday, posted by Afghanistan’s ToloNews broadcaster.

Six servicemen killed in car bomb blast in northern Afghanistan : reports

Dec 26, 2019, at 06:40 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Six servicemen were killed on Thursday after a car filled with explosives detonated near a military base in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, media reported, citing the Afghan Defense Ministry.

Russian companies interested in working with Iran regardless of US sanctions: trade envoy

Dec 26, 2019, at 06:31 pm

Tehran/Sputnik: Russian companies are interested in working with Iran on various projects in such sectors of the economy as energy, agriculture, automobile manufacturing and many others despite the punitive US sanctions against Tehran, Rustam Zhiganshin, Russia’s trade representative in Iran, told Sputnik.

Measles death toll in Samoa rises to 81

Dec 26, 2019, at 06:09 pm

Suva/Xinhua: The Samoan government confirmed one more death in the island nation's measles epidemic on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 81 since the measles outbreak started in mid-October.

Violent attack in Burkina Faso leaves dozens of women dead, draws censure of UN chief

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:43 am

New York/IBNS: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has “strongly" condemned an attack carried out yesterday by unidentified gunmen in northern Burkina Faso.

UN chief offers the world wishes for ‘peace and a blessed New Year’

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:41 am

New York/IBNS: While visiting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres extended wishes for a peaceful Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Three people injured as masked gunmen opened fire in France’s Besancon: reports

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:37 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Unknown masked gunmen opened fire in the French city of Besancon, leaving three people injured, French media reported.

3 hospitalized, 250 displaced following U.S. hotel fire

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:35 am

Washington/Xinhua/UNI: A fire devastated a hotel in the U.S. state of Minnesota leaving three people hospitalized and around 250 people displaced.

11 soldiers killed in Burkina Faso attack

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:33 am

Ouagadougou/Xinhua/UNI: At least 11 soldiers were killed after a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a military detachment in center-north Burkina Faso a security source told Xinhua.

U.S. military eyes information warfare to defend 2020 elections: report

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:28 am

Washington/Xinhua/UNI: The U.S. military cyber unit is developing information warfare tactics targeting Russian officials if Moscow interferes with the U.S. elections next year, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

A girl shot on Christmas day in Chicago

Dec 26, 2019, at 09:24 am

Chicago/Xinhua/UNI: A 7-year-old girl was shot on Christmas day, when she was watching television in the living room of a multifamily building on Chicago's Southwest Side.

Pope Francis prays for peace in world’s conflict zones in annual Christmas message

Dec 25, 2019, at 09:04 pm

Vatican City/Sputnik: Pope Francis called for peace in the world’s conflict hot spots and an end to children’s suffering across the globe on Wednesday during his annual "Urbi et Orbi" Christmas Day message delivered at the Vatican.

Shahid Afridi first requests Imran Khan to speak on Uyghur issue, then deletes tweet

Dec 25, 2019, at 06:39 pm

Islamabad: Pakistan's former cricket captain Shahid Afridi recently tweeted and urged country's Prime Minister Imran Khan to “speak up” for Uyghur Muslims in China and requested the Chinese government to give “humane” and “just” treatment to Muslims.  However, he surprisingly deleted the tweet later.

Dhaka: Police arrest mosque imam for sexually abusing minor

Dec 25, 2019, at 04:54 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Police arrested a mosque imam for allegedly sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka, media reports said.

Pakistan rejects US step of placing it on list of countries violating religious freedoms

Dec 25, 2019, at 04:53 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: The Pakistan Foreign Office on Tuesday rejected the US step of placing it on a list of countries violating religious freedoms.

Afghanistan: Suspected Taliban members abduct 27 peace activists

Dec 25, 2019, at 04:46 pm

Kabul/IBNS: Suspected members of Taliban group have kidnapped peace activists in Afghanistan, media reports said on Wednesday.

Uighur: Top Muslim preacher urges Islamic nations to start boycotting Chinese products

Dec 25, 2019, at 10:47 am

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/IBNS: Keeping in mind the treatment given to ethnic Uighurs, an influential Muslim preacher has asked the Islamic countries to start the process of boycotting Chinese products.

Turkish President claims Saudi pressured Pakistan to skip Kuala Lumpur Summit

Dec 25, 2019, at 10:35 am

Ankara/IBNS:  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week claimed that Pakistan was forced to withdraw from a gathering of leaders from many Islamic nations in Malaysia after Saudi Arabia had issued economic threats on it.

Six-year-old finds note in X-mas card written by alleged Chinese prisoner; Beijing denies

Dec 25, 2019, at 10:30 am

Beijing: A Chinese factory has landed itself in a controversy after a message from workers was found inside a Tesco charity Christmas card by a six-year-old girl, hinting that it used forced labour to make it.

Russian military warns of increasing threat of terrorists using drones for attacks

Dec 25, 2019, at 10:09 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The threat of terrorists using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in attacks can soon grow in Syria and any other country, the chief of the Russian air defense forces, Lt. Gen. Alexander Leonov, said.