Islamabad rejects Pentagon claim of access to Pak airbases after withdrawal from Af

Islamabad (IANS) After the Pentagon official claimed that Pakistan has allowed the US to use its airspace and ground routes as part of its Afghanistan campaign, a debate is underway in Islamabad regarding giving such an access to the US.

Pakistan…

Thai state-owned firm funds Myanmar military enterprises

Kolkata (IANS) Thailands majority state-owned oil and gas company, PTT, is partnering with military-linked companies to expand its engagement in Myanmar, a corporate source in a Burmese hydrocarbon company disclosed to IANS.

This expansion…

Blinken in Israel for talks to support ceasefire

Tel Aviv (IANS) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday to consolidate the ceasefire between the Jewish state and Hamas which was reached after an 11-day bloodshed in an around the Gaza Strip.

He is due to meet Prime…

100 Afghan security officials arrested over negligence of duty

Kabul (IANS) Around 100 security officials in Afghanistan have been arrested over negligence of their duties after the Taliban attacked the capital of Laghman province, officials said on Monday.

The militants were able to break through the…

Uproar, opposition in Nepal after Oli dissolves Parliament

Kathmandu (IANS) Nepal Prime Minister KP Olis decision to dissolve Parliament has led to controversy, uproar and opposition in the Himalayan nation.

On the recommendation of Oli's Cabinet, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Friday midnight…

Main agreement reached to revive nuke deal: Rouhani

Tehran (IANS) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the "main agreement" to revive the 2015 nuclear deal has already been reached in the Vienna talks, and Tehran's counterparts have agreed on the need to lift "all main sanctions".

"The…

Israel says Blinken to visit 'soon' as ceasefire holds

Tel Aviv (IANS) Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit the region in the coming days, as an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire to halt 11 days of bloody fighting between the Jewish state and Hamas was…

Both ruling and oppn parties stake claim to form govt in Nepal

Kathmandu (IANS) Amid high-drama at Nepal Presidents office on Friday evening, both the ruling and opposition parties staked claim to form the new government in the Himalayan nation.

After both Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and opposition…

Russian Parliament House endorses bill to quit Open Skies Treaty

Moscow (IANS) The Russian State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, unanimously approved a bill on the country's withdrawal from the arms-control Treaty on Open Skies.

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said on Wednesday that while…

Aid ship carrying migrants sent around Sicily to dock

Rome (IANS) Italy has instructed the aid ship Sea-Eye 4, with over 400 migrants on board, to dock in the Sicilian town of Pozzallo, even though the vessel was headed for Palermo at the other end of the Mediterranean island.

The German operating…