International

Taliban Forcing Afghan Women To Marry Terrorists: Report

Taliban Forcing Afghan Women To Marry Terrorists: Report

As the Taliban is gaining ground in Afghanistan by capturing many key cities in the country, the terror group is now forcing women to get married to its terrorists, a media report said on Thursday.Afghans are also witnessing the execution of captured soldiers and unprovoked attacks on civilians by the Taliban in its recent captured areas. Afghans pouring into Kabul and those still in Taliban-held areas say they have witnessed unprovoked attacks on civilians and executions of captured soldiers. In addition, they say, Taliban have demanded that communities turn over unmarried women to become "wives" for their terrorists-a form of…
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Epstein accuser sues Prince Andrew over alleged sexual abuse

Epstein accuser sues Prince Andrew over alleged sexual abuse

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexually abusing a woman at the London home of an associate of Jeffrey Epstein's when she was under 18 over 20 years ago.  Virginia Giuffre on Monday filed a claim in New York, alleging the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein regularly abused her and lent her out to "powerful men" for sex. She alleged the Duke of York sexually abused her at the London home of the convicted sex offender's associate Ghislaine Maxwell when she was under 18 over 20 years ago.  Britain's most senior police officer on Thursday said detectives will re-examine allegations…
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India played constructive role in Afghanistan: Pentagon

India played constructive role in Afghanistan: Pentagon

India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past, the Pentagon acknowledged on Monday. “India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past in terms of training and other infrastructure improvements,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference. “That kind of work, that kind of effort to help Afghanistan maintain stability and good governance is always welcome,” he said when asked about India-US cooperation on Afghanistan. Responding to a question, Kirby said the United States continues to have conversations with Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border…
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After UNSC maritime session, Pak threatens continued militarisation

After UNSC maritime session, Pak threatens continued militarisation

Pakistan has threatened to continue militarising citing what it claimed was a “geo-strategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states”, while mentioning India. After Monday’s high-level meeting on maritime security at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Munir Akram sent a written statement to the Indian Mission to be included in the record of the session. India is the current President of the Council and the meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Akram asserted that “India has nuclearised the Indian Ocean and continues to induct advanced weapons systems and naval delivery platforms” with…
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Rupee snaps 5-day winning streak, drops 11 paise against US dollar

Rupee snaps 5-day winning streak, drops 11 paise against US dollar

Halting its five-session winning run, the rupee on Monday declined by 11 paise to close at 74.26 (provisional) against the US dollar, tracking the firm American currency. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic currency opened at 74.21 against the American currency and slipped further to close at 74.26, registering a decline of 11 paise over its previous close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 74.15 against the US dollar. During the session, the local unit touched an intra-day high of 74.21 and a low of 74.29 against the US currency. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s…
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Covid-19: UK eases travel restrictions for India

Covid-19: UK eases travel restrictions for India

The United Kingdom moved India from its “red” to “amber” list easing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Indians. The Indian passengers traveling to UK no longer need to follow the 10-day institutional quarantine on arrival at Britain if they can furnish their full vaccination certificate. According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) all arrivals from India who have been vaccinated with both the doses can choose to isolate at home. The individuals no longer need to shell out 1, 750 pounds per head for 10 day quarantine at a government-approved facility. Moreover, people vaccinated in UK or…
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Taliban capture northern Afghan city of Kunduz

Taliban capture northern Afghan city of Kunduz

Afghan forces and the Taliban were fighting fiercely Sunday in the centre of Kunduz.The Taliban said Sunday they had captured the key Afghan city of Kunduz, a claim confirmed by an AFP correspondent in the vicinity, as fierce fighting raged in the centre of a second northern capital, Shar-e-pul. officials and residents confirmed, that the insurgents did capture two other provincial capitals in the last 48 hours.The Taliban have taken two provincial capitals since Friday, but Kunduz would be the most significant to fall since the insurgents launched an offensive in May as foreign forces began the final stages of…
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Taliban captures Afghan provincial capital Zaranj

Taliban captures Afghan provincial capital Zaranj

The Taliban has captured an Afghan provincial capital after pleas for reinforcements by local security forces went unheard, in a major blow to the western-backed government. Zaranj, in the south-western province of Nimroz, fell after just three hours of fighting becoming the first provincial capital to be taken by the insurgents who have intensified their nationwide offensive as foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Late on Friday, heavily armed Taliban fighters driving captured Humvees were patrolling the streets of Nimroz, one of the country’s main financial hubs, where Taliban commanders declared an overnight curfew. “Nowhere in…
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Johnson & Johnson applies for Emergency Use Authorization of its single-dose Covid vaccine in India

Johnson & Johnson applies for Emergency Use Authorization of its single-dose Covid vaccine in India

Johnson & Johnson has applied for the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine, said an official statement issued by the US-based pharmaceutical company on Friday. "On August 5, 2021, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd applied for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of its single-dose covid-19 vaccine to the Government of India," read the statement. Johnson & Johnson claimed that its single-shot vaccine, in clinical trials, proved to be 85 per cent effective in preventing severe disease. The vaccine also showed protection against Covid-19 related hospitalisation and death, it said. "The EUA submission is based on topline efficacy and…
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Pakistan Air Force Aircraft Crashes During Training Exercise In Punjab Province

Pakistan Air Force Aircraft Crashes During Training Exercise In Punjab Province

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft crashed on Friday during routine training exercise near Attock area of Punjab province."Both pilots have ejected successfully. No loss of life or property has been reported so far on ground," the PAF said in a statement. It said a Board of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. This is the third such crash reported by the PAF in the last 18 months. In September 2020, a PAF trainer aircraft crashed in the Attock district during a routine flight.That same year in February, a PAF Mirage aircraft crashed near…
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