Afghan govt allows girls to enroll in state-owned medical institutes
Kabul, Feb 21 - The Afghan caretaker government has allowed girls graduating from 12th grade to get admission to state-owned medical institutes, the media reported.
As onslaught on Rafah looms, US vetoes Gaza resolution at UNSC
United Nations, Feb 21 - With an Israeli attack looming on Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are huddling, the US on Tuesday vetoed a Security Council opposing "forced displacement" of civilians and calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
In a message from jail, Imran terms Pak polls as ‘mother of all rigging’
Rawalpindi, Feb 20 - Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan said on Tuesday that the PTI chief has termed the February 8 general elections in Pakistan as “mother of all rigging”, a media report said.
China makes biggest-ever cut to mortgage rate to boost housing market
Hong Kong, Feb 20 - China’s central bank has cut its key mortgage reference rate by a record amount, as it ramps up efforts to stem a prolonged property crisis, a media report said.
Australia to double naval warships, largest since World War II
Canberra, Feb 20 - Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy on Tuesday announced the major overhaul in Navy and said the government is committed to more than doubling the size of the nation's naval
UK university slammed for confusing Sikhs with Muslims in social media post
London, Feb 20 - Members of the Sikh community in the UK have slammed the University of Birmingham for confusing them with Muslims in a social media post, saying that "these mistakes should not happen in 2024".
Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya accuses Putin of murder, pledges to continue fight
Moscow, Feb 20 - Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was reported to have collapsed after a walk, has accused Russian President Valadimir Putin of her husband's murder and pledged to continue his work, a media report said.
Biden’s top middle east advisor to visit Israel, Egypt
Tel Aviv, Feb 20 - With the ceasefire mooted by the US, Egypt and Qatar in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel not gaining traction, US President Joe Biden's top advisor is scheduled to reach Israel and Egypt on Wednesday.
Heavy rain hits California with millions under flood alerts
Los Angeles, Feb 20 - New rounds of heavy rain soaked large portions of Southern California, and up to 37 million people are under flood alerts.
Iran’s FM urges UN to prevent Israel’s military offensive on Rafah
Tehran, Feb 20 - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has called on the United Nations to prevent a possible major Israeli offensive on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Brazil recalls ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultations amid diplomatic crisis with Israel
Brasilia, Feb 20 - The Brazilian government has called its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Frederico Meyer, back to the country for consultations after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva voiced harsh criticism of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, in response to the
Consensus reached over Afghanistan issue despite Taliban’s absence: UN chief
Doha, Feb 20 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that international representatives have reached consensus on some key issues concerning Afghanistan after a two-day meeting in Doha, but obstacles remain.
Biden willing to personally discuss Ukraine aid with top House Republican
Washington, Feb 20 - US President Joe Biden has said that he is willing to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson in order to secure the long-awaited passage of a bill that contains funding for the provision of additional arms to Ukraine.
UN warns of worsening hunger in Sudan and beyond amid funding gaps
United Nations, Feb 20 - At least 25 million people across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad are struggling with soaring rates of hunger and malnutrition as the crisis in Sudan sends shockwaves around the region, a UN spokesperson said.
UN rights chief slams UK’s Rwanda bill
Geneva, Feb 20 - The UK's recent legislative moves to facilitate the removal of asylum-seekers to Rwanda run contrary to the basic principles of the rule of law and risk delivering a serious blow to human rights, the UN Human Rights Chief said.
Top US consular official visits missions in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi
New York, Feb 20 - US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Rena Bitter, arrived in India to engage with embassy and consulate colleagues in Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Temperatures in Japan rise to unseasonably high
Tokyo, Feb 20 - Temperatures rose across Japan as warm air flowed in from the south, with daytime highs hitting a record for February at many locations in northern Japan, the weather agency said.
India launches construction of houses for plantation workers in Sri Lanka
Colombo, Feb 19 - India has launched the construction of houses for the Indian origin plantation workers across six different provinces in Sri Lanka.
Services of social media platform X disrupted in Pak for third day
Islamabad, Feb 19 - Services of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, remained disrupted for the third consecutive day in Pakistan on Monday.
Somalia sounds alarm as cholera outbreak surges
Mogadishu, Feb 18 - Somalia said a cholera outbreak is rapidly spreading across the country following intense flooding caused by El Nino rains in late 2023.