PM Shehbaz condoles with Acting Afghan PM on loss of lives in earthquake

ISLAMABAD, Jun 23 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Acting Prime Minister of the Interim Afghan Government, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund on Thursday to express solidarity with him in the wake of devastating earthquake in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister conveyed […]

New Yorkers slam ‘stupid’ gun ruling, Republicans hail decision

New York, June 23 (AFP/APP): From the streets of New York to the corridors of Congress, Americans expressed both outrage and delight at the Supreme Court’s striking down of a gun law Thursday, reflecting the country’s bitter divide. New York’s governor Kathy Hochul said the […]

Sri Lanka parliament shuts early after petrol runs out

Colombo, June 23 (AFP/APP):Sri Lanka’s parliament has cancelled its remaining sittings for the week to save fuel, officials said Thursday, with a disastrous economic crisis rapidly depleting the island nation’s already scarce petrol supplies. A foreign currency shortage has prevented the import of food, oil […]

Dubai urges use of smart apps to order Eid sacrifices

Dubai, June 23 (AFP/APP): Veterinarians are called in to inspect the sheep at an abattoir ahead of one of Islam’s major holidays in Dubai, where the municipality is encouraging residents to use smart apps to order the sacrificial animals. Muslims during Eid Al Azha, which […]

Frustrated Balkans warn Ukraine over EU ‘illusions’

Brussels, June 23 (AFP/APP):Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday hailed Ukraine potentially joining his country as a candidate for European Union membership but warned against any unreasonable hopes for a speedy process. “North Macedonia is a candidate for 17 years if I have not […]

NGOs urge UN to pick ‘courageous’ rights chief

Geneva, June 22 (AFP/APP):Rights groups appealed Wednesday for the next UN rights chief to be appointed through a swift, open process, calling for a “courageous” nominee to stand up to powerful countries. More than 60 non-governmental organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the […]

Heartbreak and shock at Afghan quake hospital

Sharan, Afghanistan, June 22 (AFP/APP): Bibi Hawa’s face is distorted by tears as she tries to grasp her predicament from a hospital bed in Sharan, capital of Afghanistan’s Paktika province. At least a dozen members of her family were among over 1,000 people killed by […]

Remains of independence hero Lumumba arrive in his DR Congo home region

Tshumbe, DR Congo, June 22 (AFP/APP): The coffin of slain Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba returned to his home region on Wednesday for an emotionally charged tour and burial, more than six decades after his assassination. A plane took Lumumba’s mortal remains — a tooth […]