Category: International

Isamabad-based Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education has been announced as one of the two laureates of the 2023 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education. According to a statement issued on Thursday, the Prize’s international jury recognised the school as an outstanding model of a locally-led initiative that effectively raises awareness of girls and women’s right to education. The Prize honours the outstanding contributions of individuals, institutions and organisations to advance girls’ and women’s education, and showcases successful projects promoting best practices in the field. The award is a diploma…

A massive explosion has been reported near Tashkent Airport, the capital of Uzbekistan in Thursday’s wee hours. The blast, which was felt more than 30 kilometers away, has raised considerable concerns among authorities and the public. The explosion is believed to have originated at a customs warehouse close to the airport. Although details surrounding the incident remain limited at this time, the event has sparked widespread concern and garnered immediate attention. Eyewitnesses, as cited by the news website Nova24, described the explosion as having caused a column of flames and smoke…

A devastating fire at a wedding hall in Iraq’s northern Nineveh province has claimed the lives of over 100 people and left approximately 150 individuals injured, as reported by state media.  The horrific incident unfolded as fireworks were lit during the celebration at a large events hall in the northeastern region. The aftermath of the tragedy saw civil defence teams tirelessly searching the charred remains of the building for survivors, their efforts stretching into the early hours of Wednesday.  Deputy Governor of Nineveh, Hassan al-Allaq, confirmed that at least 113…

Young Americans, often hailed as the tech-savvy generation, are finding themselves in the crosshairs of a growing online scam epidemic.  A recent study conducted by Deloitte has sounded the alarm, revealing that Generation Z, aged between 14 and 26, is more than three times as likely to be ensnared by online scams than their Baby Boomer grandparents, those aged between 58 and 76. In a digital age where our lives are intertwined with the internet, the study’s findings revealed that familiarity with technology doesn’t necessarily equate to online safety. Among…

A baby, as old as 6 months, was saved from dying after it was nearly eaten alive by over 50 rat bites on his forehead, cheek, thigh, nose and hands, at a home in Evansville, Indiana, prompting legal action against the parents and an aunt over their negligence. A local media WFIE reported that the boy was covered in blood as he was facing down in his bassinet on September 13. He was so severely injured by the rat bites that his left ring finger, among other body parts, had an exposed…

Eli Cohen, the foreign minister for Israel, revealed Friday that he anticipates “six or seven” Islamic countries to sign a normalisation agreement with Tel Aviv, as soon as Saudi Arabia joins other countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan in the Abraham Accords. “Six or seven nations from Africa and Asia will join the peace deal with the Saudis,” Cohen said during an interview with Israel’s KAN News on Friday. “I’m telling you, I have met with several officials from Muslim nations with which Israel does not share formal ties,” Israel’s…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appealed to India to cooperate with Canada in the investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist.  Canada has accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing, which took place near Vancouver in June.  Blinken stressed the importance of accountability and allowing the investigation to run its course during a press briefing at the UN General Assembly. “We want to see accountability. And it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” Blinken said, underscoring…

Tropical Storm Ophelia is making its presence felt off the East Coast, with the latest data from Hurricane Hunters indicating increased strength.  As North Carolina and parts of the mid-Atlantic gear up for a damp and blustery weekend, the storm’s landfall looms on the horizon. With maximum sustained winds reaching 70 mph and higher gusts, Ophelia is poised to affect areas well beyond its centre, unleashing several inches of rainfall as it tracks up the coastline. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for portions of eastern North…