Child vaccination rates in Lebanon have dropped by more than 30 percent, compounding a health crisis marked by drug shortages and an exodus of trained professionals, the United Nations said on Wednesday. “The critical drop in vaccination rates has left…
IS calls for attacks on Europe and Israel amid Ukraine war
The Islamic State group announced a new “global offensive” and called on supporters to strike Israel and Europe amid distractions on the war in Ukraine. Abu-Omar al-Muhajir, the spokesperson for the group, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was an “oppo…
India targets Muslim businesses despite Supreme Court order
Indian authorities continued to bulldoze Muslim properties in New Delhi on Wednesday, hours after the Supreme Court ordered a halt to the planned levellings, as a local government ordered restrictions on mosque loudspeakers. India’s Supreme Court on We…
3 women found shot dead in Syria’s Al-Hol camp
Three women were found shot dead earlier this week at a refugee camp in northeastern Syria housing the families and relatives of Islamic State group [IS] members. The bodies of the three women were found at dawn on Monday in Al-Hol camp, one of the lar…
Erdogan says Iraq backs Turkey’s push against Kurdish rebels
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said the central government in Baghdad supported Turkey’s latest offensive against outlawed Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. The Turkish leader’s comments came a day after Iraq summoned Turkey’s am…
Sinjar residents fear escalation after Iraqi army-YBS fight
Residents in Sinjar are concerned about further instability after the Iraqi army clashed with a Yazidi militia believed to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Monday, with many fearing that this skirmish might be linked to Turkey’s …
Pakistan seeks revival of IMF programme by ‘belt-tightening’
Pakistan will need to cut expenditures and development funds to try and revive an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Wednesday. “We will seek revival of the IMF programme, and we will, God willing, do be…
UK court formally issues order to extradite Assange to US
A UK court on Wednesday issued a formal order to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face trial over the publication of secret files relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The decision now rests with British Home Secr…
Al-Aqsa: UAE airlines pull out of Israel ‘Independence Day’
Two UAE airlines have pulled out of an air show marking Israel’s ‘Independence Day’ amid repeated Israeli attacks in occupied East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. UAE flag carrier Etihad and budget airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will no longer be joining in on…
Blinken urges Israel, Palestine to ‘end cycle of violence’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Tuesday to “end the cycle of violence” after a series of Israeli attacks on Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan. In separate calls with Palestinian president Mahmou…