Four more Saudi women activists freed pending trial
Riyadh, May 3: Saudi Arabia on Thursday released at least four more detained women activists pending trial, campaigners said, bringing the total number of women provisionally freed to seven. They are among 11 activists, some of whom have accused interrogators of sexual abuse and torture during nearly a year in custody, who are standing trial […]
Christchurch mosque toll rises to 51 after man dies
Wellington, May 3: The death toll from the Christchurch mosque attacks has risen to 51 after a 46-year-old man succumbed to injuries sustained in the March 15 shootings, New Zealand police said Friday. “The man… had been in a critical condition in Christchurch Hospital since the terror attack,” police said, adding that he died late […]
Top Turkish court says journalists’ rights violated: Report
Istanbul, May 3: Turkey’s highest court on Thursday ruled that the authorities had violated the human rights of two journalists critical of President Tayyip Erdogan following an attempted coup in 2016. The Constitutional Court said the right to freedom of expression, freedom and personal security of journalists Kadri Gursel and Murak Aksoy had been violated, […]
Sexual assault increased in US military in 2018: Report
Washington, May 3: Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan called for tougher action against sexual assault in the US military Thursday after an annual Pentagon report said the number of assaults in 2018 had risen from recent years. Sexual assaults reported by Defense Department employees, both men and women, jumped 13 percent last year to 7,623 […]
Massive Afghanistan peace summit ends in Kabul
Kabul: A huge peace meeting aimed at finding an exit from Afghanistan’s war is due to finish Friday in Kabul, with leading politicians expected to announce visions for a much-needed breakthrough. This week’s “loya jirga”, or grand assembly, saw about 3,200 religious and tribal leaders, politicians and representatives gather under tight security to try to […]
New round of US-Taliban talks to start in Doha: Taliban
Kabul, May 1 : A new round of peace talks between the Taliban and the US starts Wednesday in Qatar, an official for the insurgents said, as the foes seek an end of America’s longest war. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP that “the sixth round of talks between Islamic Emirate and the US will […]
New round of US-Taliban talks to start in Doha: Taliban
Kabul: A new round of peace talks between the Taliban and the US starts Wednesday in Qatar, an official for the insurgents said, as the foes seek an end of America’s longest war. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP that “the sixth round of talks between Islamic Emirate and the US will start in Doha […]
End of an era as Japan’s emperor abdicates
Tokyo, Apr 30 : Emperor Akihito of Japan formally stepped down Tuesday, the first abdication for 200 years in the world’s oldest monarchy, as his son Naruhito prepared to take the Chrysanthemum Throne and usher in a new imperial era. In the “Room of Pine” in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, the popular 85-year-old performed the abdication […]
Jihadists kill pastor, four others in Burkina church attack
Ouagadougou, Apr 29 : Gunmen killed four worshippers and a pastor in the first jihadist attack on a church in Burkina Faso, security and local sources said Monday. Sunday’s attack took place in the small northern town of Silgadji near Djibo, the capital of Soum province, and two others were reported missing. “Unidentified armed individuals […]
Floods in Indonesia kill dozens, thousands displaced
Bengkulu (Indonesia), Apr 29 : Floods sparked by torrential rains have killed nearly 40 in Indonesia with a dozen more still missing, officials said Monday, marking the latest calamity for a disaster-prone nation. Landslides and floods are common during the monsoon season between October and April, when rains lash the vast Southeast Asian archipelago. On […]
