Afghanistan faces a budget deficit of 44 billion Afghanis ($501 million) this financial year, the country’s Taliban authorities said on Saturday without clarifying how the gap between expected revenues and planned spending will be met. Announcing the f…
Civilians flee fighting in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley
Scores of civilians have fled fighting in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley after an insurgent group launched an offensive against Taliban forces, residents said Saturday. The Panjshir Valley is famed for being a site of resistance by Afghans against Sovie…
US outrage grows over Abu Akleh killing after funeral attack
Many in the international community, including in the United States, might have been slow or cautious to react to the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as she reported on an Israeli military raid on the occupied West Bank town of Jenin…
‘Do your part’: Lebanese in the US cast their ballots
On a rainy day in South San Francisco on Mother’s Day last week, hundreds of Lebanese came out to vote. They are part of the vast expatriate vote that will help determine who their country’s decision-makers will be. The polling station was an office re…
Israeli beating of Palestinian mourners recalls apartheid: Tutu foundation
Israeli police charging the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is “reminiscent” of violence during apartheid South Africa, the foundation of late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Saturday. “The scenes of members of the Israeli security for…
‘Very likely’ Shireen Abu Akleh killed by Israel: military
Israeli military officials said on Friday that it is “very likely” Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was hit by Israeli fire, local media reported. Eyewitness testimony and footage from the scene have shown that the 51-year-old veteran journalist w…
G7 ‘will never recognise’ borders changed by force by Russia
The Group of Seven industrialised nations said Saturday they would never recognise the borders Russia is trying to shift in its war against Ukraine and pledged enduring support for Kyiv. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 but Kyiv’s forces managed t…
Shireen Abu Akleh killing ‘may constitute a war crime’: UN
The killing of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh earlier this week “could constitute a war crime”, a group of high-profile UN human rights experts said on Friday. The US-Palestinian journalist was “clearly performing her duties as a journalist” whe…
Russia suspends electricity to Finland: Finnish grid operator
Russia suspended electricity supplies to Finland overnight after its energy firm RAO Nordic threatened to cut off supplies over payment arrears, an official for Finland’s grid operator told AFP on Saturday. “It is at zero at the moment, and that starte…
Moscow will respond if NATO moves nuclear forces closer to Russia’s border
Moscow will take adequate precautionary measures if NATO deploys nuclear forces and infrastructure closer to Russia’s border, Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying on Saturday. “It will be necessary to respond…