Nigeria’s big day ruined by violent blasts
Independence day celebrations of Nigeria were marred when two car bomb explosions took place killing eight people and injuring three others.
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U.S. soothes syphilis sufferers with a ‘sorry’
The United States of America issued an apology over an experiment carried out on Guatemalans in which they were infected with sexually transmitted diseases and later treated by antibiotics.
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Japan: No Apology to China for Detaining Trawler Captain
Japan has rejected Beijing’s demands of seeking apology for detaining a Chinese fishing trawler captain who collided his vessel with two Japanese coast guard ships.
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U.S. Troops Still Fighting in Iraq Despite Obama Announcement
U.S. troops are still involved in military operations despite President Barack Obama having declared an end to combat operations on 31 August.
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FARC Top Commander Killed in Colombian Air Raid
The top FARC military commander and head of the rebel group’s strongest unit, the Eastern Bloc, died in a Colombian army air raid.
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10 spectators killed in Iran military parade blast
At least 10 people were killed and 35 others were injured when a bomb exploded in a stadium hosting an Iranian military parade.
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19 hurt in bridge collapse; Fate of Delhi Commonwealth Games hangs in balance
An important footbridge near the Commonwealth Games arena collapsed, injuring at least 19 people.
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Extremists Win Swedish Parliament Seats
The Sweden Democrats party, the far-right political group that opposes immigration and terms Islam as a threat to the country’s national security, has gained 20 seats in the Riksdag (Swedish parliament).
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Afghan elections held amid violence; Marred by fraud and low turnout
Western observers admit the majority of Afghans are disillusioned and disengaged with the process due to the worsening of security situation and corruption in Karzai’s administration.
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Kashmiri Protestors Killed by Indian Security Forces
Police in Indian administered Kashmir have shot dead at least 18 protestors who were taking part in demonstrations against Indian rule and U.S. Quran burning incidents.
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Tajik Security Forces Clash with Taliban Along Border
A clash between Tajik security forces and Taliban has left at least 20 militants and a serviceman dead.
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North Ossetia Struck by Terrorist Attack
A car packed with explosives, metal bars, bolts and ball bearing was detonated by a suicide bomber in a busy market, killing 16 bystanders and injuring more than 100 others.
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Mozambique Restores Subsidies on Wheat in Response to Crisis
President Armando Guebuza Guebuza’s administration announced the withdrawal of decision to end the subsidy on wheat prices that led to the spiraling of bread prices.
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Members of Militant Group Escape in Nigerian Prison Break
Hundreds of people were arrested last year on charges of murder, arson and theft when riots broke out in and around the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri.
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Pakistani Taliban Bomb Police Station
A suicide bomber has struck a police station, killing at least 19 people, including four school children and 11 policemen.
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Karzai Forms Council to Pursue Talks with Taliban
The formation of High Peace Council was announced by the Afghan leader to pursue talks with the Taliban.
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Scores Killed in Terrorist Attack in Quetta
The deadly bombing took place in the business district of the western Pakistani city of Quetta.
Read MoreKarzai: NATO Airstrike Killed Civilians, Parliamentary Candidate
Who: Innocent Afghan civilians. What: Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced at least 10 civilians, including a parliamentary candidate, were killed in a U.S. airstrike in northern Afghanistan. NATO, led by U.S. forces, denied...
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Suicide Bombers Strike Shia Muslims in Lahore
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up amidst a procession of thousands of Shia faithful. At least 25 people died in the blasts and 170 others were injured.
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Israel to Target Iran by Latest Spy Satellite Launch
Israel has sent a surveillance satellite named Ofek 9 into orbit to target Iran’s nuclear program.
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Iran Executes Jundullah Founder Abdul Malik Rigi
Iran hanged the convicted leader of a Sunni Muslim rights group on Sunday for his involvement in deadly attacks on Iranian establishment.
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Al-Qaeda in Yemen Raids Aden Police HQ
Gunmen suspected of being Al-Qaeda members attacked Yemeni police headquarters, killing at least a dozen people and freeing several detainees.
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Turkish Troops Cross Iraqi Border; Clash with Kurdish Separatists
Hundreds of Turkish troops crossed the southern border with Iraq to target the bases of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in response to recent deadly attacks on armed forces.
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Russian Troops Arrive in Kyrgyzstan Amid Anti-Uzbek Riots
Kremlin mobilised its troops to protect military bases in Kyrgyzstan as ethnic riots rage for the third consecutive day. At least 100 people have lost their lives, mostly Uzbeks, whereas more than 1,000 people have sustained injuries in the bloody conflict.
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Kyrgyzstan Ethnic Riots Claim Up To 40 Lives
Violence between Kyrgyz majority and Uzbek minority has claimed the lives of up to 40 people and wounded more than 500 others.
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U.S. Arrests Hundreds of Suspected Drug Peddlers
Officers of the Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration nabbed 429 people and seized nearly 1,360 kg of marijuana, 112 kg of cocaine, $5.8 million in U.S. currency and 141 weapons.
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Allied Troops Suffer Heavy Losses in Taliban Raids
A NATO convoy was attacked on late Tuesday whereas the helicopter attack as well as the deadly roadside bombing took place on Wednesday, 9 June.
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Israel condemned by Eurasian States at Turkey Summit
Member states of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) slammed brutal actions taken by the Israeli forces and termed it as a blatant violation of international law.
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Citizen: Being a Gazan
Gaza has been in the spotlight for the last couple of weeks in connection with the Freedom to Gaza...
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Union Carbide Officials Get 2 Years for 25,000 Deaths in Indian Court Ruling
Over 40 of tonnes of poisonous methyl isocyanate gas leaked out on 2 December, 1984 from the Union Carbide India Limited plant went on to kill over 25,000 people in its aftermath to date.
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Taliban Reject Jirga Peace Talks Offer
Taliban reject any peace talks saying they are already winning the war against the U.S.-led NATO forces. They want foreign forces to leave the country first.
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Israel Violates International Law; Seizes Aid Ship Rachel Corrie
Israeli government violated the international law by raiding Irish-owned MV Rachel Corrie in international waters and seizing humanitarian aid weighing more than 1,200 tonnes.
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Al-Shabab Set to Capture Mogadishu As Heavy Fighting Leaves 30 Dead
The fresh bout of bloodshed started on Thursday when government troops attacked Al-Shabab positions in Kaaran district of Moghadishu. Al-Shabab says it wants to impose Shariah in Somalia.
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We Will Never Forgive Israel: Turkish President
President Abdullah Gul gave the rousing speech on Thursday morning in the wake of the funerals held for the 9 victims of the Israeli massacre of Gaza Freedom Flotilla passengers.
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Karzai Peace Jirga Attacked by Taliban
Taliban attacked the Loya Jirga or grand council attended by 1,500 delegates from all over Afghanistan while Afghan President was making his inaugural speech in Kabul.
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Al-Qaeda Leader Claimed Dead in U.S. Drone Attack
U.S. military claims Mustafa Abu al-Yazid was the chief financial officer of al-Qaeda and personal accountant of Osama bin Laden. He is also named as the financier of September 11, 2001 attacks in 9/11 Commission report.
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Israel attacks Freedom Flotilla, kills 19 aid workers
Israeli commandos attacked people on board Mavi Marmama, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, killing 19 civilians and wounding 80 others. Israel accuses Freedom to Gaza Flotilla, an umbrella of international humanitarian aid groups, of having ties with terrorist organisations and delivering bombs and weapons to Gaza.
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Canadian Commander Sacked in Afghanistan
Canadian military sacks their commander joint task force in Afghanistan, Brigadier General Daniel Menard.
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India Hunts Maoists After Deadly Train Incident
A train crash involving a packed passenger train and a goods train killed at least 115 people while injuring more than 200 others. Indian authorities blamed Maoists for the atrocity.
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80 killed in Pakistan Ahmadi carnage
At least 80 worshippers lost their lives whereas 90 others were wounded in twin suicide attacks on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore, Pakistan
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BP struggles as U.S. oil catastrophe worsens
BP is struggling since the last five weeks to plug the oil spill of about 5,000 barrels (795,000 litres) per day by using several complex containment methods
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Jamaica gang violence claims more lives
At least 50 Jamaicans, including 44 civilians, were killed when law enforcement agencies tried to arrest Christopher “Dudus” Coke, a drug kingpin wanted by the U.S. government
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North Korea Readies Itself for War with Seoul
Seoul blames North Korea for the loss of its 46 sailors in wake of investigations conducted by international observers. North Korea vows retaliation if any action is taken.
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Iran Executes Jundullah Leader
Authorities in Tehran hanged minority Baloch leader Abdul Hamid Rigi. The Baloch leader was accused by Iran of drug dealing, murders, inciting violence and getting aid from U.S. and al-Qaeda.
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Iraqi city hit by deadly blasts
A car bomb in Iraq claimed lives of at least 22 civilians while wounding more than 50 others.
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Pakistan blocks main social networks
Access to popular Internet networks like Facebook, YouTube, Flickr! and Wikipedia has been completely blocked by the government of Pakistan
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Thailand: Protesters Continue to Clash with Military
Thai military stormed into the Red-shirts protest area clashing with anti-government activists, resulting into deaths of at least 10 protestors as well as destruction of dozens of landmark buildings.
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Afghanistan: Suicide Bombing in Kabul
Who? A suspected Taliban suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into an ISAF convoy. What? The...
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Iran Agrees to Nuclear Deal Brokered by Brazil, Turkey
Iran has agreed to transfer 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey within a month in return for higher-enriched nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor.
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Thai Army Clashes with Protesters
Thai army opens fire on the supporters of the Red-shirt opposition movement die in Bangkok killings more than 25 people.
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Sudanese Military Clash with Rebels
Sudanese army has claimed to have killed at least 150 rebels and captured another 72 during an offensive in darfur. JEM militia deny the claim.
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Afghans Protest Deadly NATO Air Raid
Hundreds of angry Afghans torched U.S. flags and effigies of President Barack Obama to vent their rage against U.S. and NATO occupation forces on May 13.
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Shooting in Thailand
Who? Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, the chief military adviser of Thailand’s anti-government Red Shirts movement is carried by protesters.
What? A Thai military officer, supporting the opposition movement against his military leadership orders, gets shot in the head in Bangkok during a protest.
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Balochistan – The other side of the story
I’ve been to the plains of Punjab, the Indus valley, the foothills of Karakorum, the delta of Indus river and the coastal region of Makran. Every region has its attraction and charm but if one asks me honestly, Balochistan is by far the most interesting and fascinating region of Pakistan.
Read MoreChechnya: Land of the Wolves – Part 2
The two wars in Chechnya have brought unprecedented loss of lives on the Chechens with their economy in tatters. There is not a single family in Chechnya that has not suffered terrible loss during the 15 year old conflict. You will not find one single neighborhood that does not bear the scars of the wars.
Read MoreChechnya: Land of the Wolves – Part 1
The two wars in Chechnya have brought unprecedented loss of lives on the Chechens with their economy in tatters. There is not a single family in Chechnya that has not suffered terrible loss during the 15 year old conflict. You will not find one single neighborhood that does not bear the scars of the wars.
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New Day, New Year
Nowroz is one such festival that is celebrated as the festival of life and a new beginning. The word ‘Nowroz’ is a compound of two Persian words, ‘now’ means new, and the word ‘roz’ that can mean both ‘day’ and ‘time’. Literally meaning the ‘new day’, Nowroz is usually translated as ‘new year’.
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Of the Women, By the Women, For the Women
“Pain is no stranger to us women,” she continued philosophically. “It only makes us strong. It makes us victors. It makes us do the things we do in best possible way. We take pain in our roles as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives and give it back with love, affection, respect and comfort.”
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Yemen in focus
Though the only republic in a monarchist Arabian peninsula, Yemen has never seen proper functioning of democratic institutions and has always faced foreign interference that lead to civil strife and collapse of a viable economy.
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Maldives: A Bold and Historic Step for Change
A couple of days ago, the awareness campaign for climate change got a new boost when the government of the Indian Ocean republic of The Maldives held an underwater cabinet session that lasted for around 30 minutes.
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UN Action Heroes
The U.N. General Assembly’s 64th session started on September 23 and lasted for 7 days. More than 120 heads of state attended the session.
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9/11 – Unanswered Questions
Unanswered questions continue to loom over the authenticity of the 9/11 incidents. Will the wheat ever be separated from the chaff and justice will be provided to hundreds of thousands of victims that suffered and are still suffering from the tragic events?
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The Unwinnables – Part 2
What has really happened during these eight years is that the suffering of Afghan people has risen manifold, corruption has gone out of control, inflation has sky rocketed, poppy cultivation has grown to unprecedented heights and the situation of law and order has worsened unimaginably.
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The Unwinnables – Part 1
Adeel is among the thousands of foreigners living and working in Afghanistan who are helping to build the country’s non-existent infrastructure. Over the last 30 years, this central Asian republic has seen nothing but invasions, war, infighting and foreign occupation.
Read MoreBanana Republic
There is an old saying that “bad habits are hard to break”. This saying has been ringing in my ears since I was a kid. My mom, some neighbours, many teachers, a lot of my friends and many other people complained about some...
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Iran at the Intersection
So our mainstream press and the media is rife with reports, some of them based on speculations rather than facts, about the situation in Iran and how it is handled by the authorities in Tehran.
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Debating Hope for the Forgotten
Amal is one of the few Palestinians I came in contact with during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. At that time she was traumatised and her morale was badly shaken by the war. Almost four months later, she seems to have regained her spirits but the recovery seems somehow fragile.
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Caught in the Crossfire
Those taking no part on either side of the conflict between the military and Taliban-allied militants in Pakistan’s Swat region often end made to suffer most.
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Bewildered Baku
On a routine morning rush hour, Elviyya, along with hundreds of other students was heading towards her educational institution, Baku State University, located in central Baku. Students in her university were getting ready for another hectic day of intense lectures and seminars coupled with presentations. The ones who were ‘sick and tired’ of this routine didn’t turn up, bunked their classes and ended up in nearby beautiful parks and cafes. But for the ones who turned up, the day was about to take a different course…
Read More100 Days, 101 Hopes
So change has finally embraced America. The nation that voted Barack Obama into office did so with huge hopes and expectations. The responsibilities and promises that he campaigned to deliver are of historic proportions both in terms of size and implications.
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Pirate, Who?
Somalia is in the news, once again, for all the wrong reasons. And thanks to the ‘Pirates of the Horn of Africa’ there is a flurry of activity everywhere. Take international maritime powers for instance. They are busy drawing plans to beef up security in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean to ward off further attempts of commercial ships getting hijacked despite their heavy presence.
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Japan’s Flower Festival
The following pictures show the awe-inspiring Japanese festival of viewing flowers called Hanami.
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An Elusive Victory in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a country that nature has bestowed many favours upon, yet the people of the country remain under-privileged. An island that can simply be labeled as a tropical paradise, yet burns like hell fuelled by years of bloodshed, infighting and injustices.
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The Shooting Star: Kosovo Under International Rule
Following is the tale of today’s Kosovo and an insight to the challenges this infant nation is facing despite being in international protection for a decade, told by a Kosovar citizen.
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Gaza: Emergence from the Ashes
“We voted for Hamas just like the Americans were fed up with Bush and voted for Obama.”
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The Frontline State
The frontline state of the global war on terror, Pakistan, is a nation that is battling for its existence.
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Who will save Israel from itself?
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is entering its third week. Israel says it has managed to destroy most of the Hamas targets, an ‘achievement’ that came with a price tag of more than 1,000 human lives. Countless other people have sustained minor or serious injuries and thousands of other civilians are without any food, water or shelter.
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Chance for a New Beginning
Bangladesh has a chance for a fresh start after its recent democratic elections. A photo essay of the country’s history.
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