Women presenters on Afghanistan’s leading news channels went on air on Sunday with their faces covered, a day after defying a Taliban order to conceal their appearance on television. Since seizing power last year, the Taliban have imposed a slew of res…
Saudi airline hails first flight with all-female crew
A Saudi airline completed the country’s first flight with an all-female crew on Thursday, the Saudi civil aviation authority announced on Saturday, framing the flight as a milestone for women’s empowerment in the conservative kingdom. Flyadeal, a budge…
Algeria denies, refuses mediation to end Morocco crisis
Algeria on Saturday denied any third-party mediation to help end the diplomatic crisis with Morocco, refusing that any take place to ease tensions with its western neighbour. Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said the crisis between Algiers and…
US, Japan, Aus., India to seek to curb China illegal fishing
The US, Japan, Australia, and India will unveil a maritime initiative at the Quad summit in Tokyo to curb illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing a US official. The report said that the maritime initiative …
US Afghanistan envoy presses Taliban FM on women’s rights
The US special envoy on Afghanistan met with the Taliban’s chief diplomat on Saturday and stressed international opposition to the group’s treatment of women and girls. Since seizing power again last year, the Taliban have imposed a slew of restriction…
Iran agrees to revive Oman gas pipeline project: state media
Iran’s oil minister has agreed to revive a long-stalled project to lay an undersea pipeline to carry gas to Oman, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday. Iran sits on one of the world’s largest gas reserves, which Oman has been eyeing …
Australia: Albanese claims election victory for Labor
Centre-left leader Anthony Albanese claimed victory in Australia’s general election on Saturday as voters angered by climate inaction pulled the plug on a decade of conservative rule. “The Australian people have voted for change” said the 59-year-old L…
Ukraine: Kharkiv readies to fight new Russian assault
New trenches, concrete blocks, sandbags and numerous checkpoints appear to be everywhere around Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv, which has pushed back one Russian assault and is preparing to defend against another. A pink stuffed toy marks the entranc…
Russia: Time to stop aid from Turkey to rebel-held Idlib
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador says he sees no reason to continue humanitarian aid deliveries from Turkey to rebel-held Idlib province in Syria, accusing the West and UN of insufficient efforts to deliver aid from Damascus and failing to finance “early …
Russia to ‘study’ swapping Ukraine prisoners for Putin ally
Russia will consider exchanging prisoners from Ukraine’s Azov battalion for Viktor Medvedchuk, a wealthy Ukrainian businessman close to President Vladimir Putin, a Russian negotiator said on Saturday. “We are going to study the possibility,” said Leoni…