INTERNATIONAL

The brutal killing of fourteen Hazara Shias in Afghanistan's Daykundi and Ghor border regions has sparked widespread reactions both domestically and internationally. On Thursday, September 12, these individuals were tragically killed by ISIS gunmen, an extremist Sunni group notorious for targeting minorities. Human rights organizations, political parties, and civil activists have condemned the attack, describing it as part of an ongoing "genocide of the Hazaras" and a crime against humanity. The victims' bodies were laid to rest on Friday, September 13. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, strongly condemned the attack and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians in Afghanistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) echoed t...

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced a plan to ban children from using social media. The Prime Minister stated that the government will introduce legislation in 2024 to enforce a minimum age for access to social media and other relevant digital platforms, reports Xinhua news agency. “We know social media is causing social harm, and it is taking kids away from real friends and real experiences,” he said in a statement. He said that the legislation would be informed by engagement with the states and territories, but his preference is to set the minimum age at 16 years. According to a poll conducted by state broadcaster the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in August, 61 per cent of Australians supported restricting social media access to those younge...

At least 61 Palestinians have been killed, and 162 others injured in the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Saturday. The ongoing conflict has raised the death toll to 40,939, with 94,616 people injured since the outbreak of war on October 7 of the previous year. Al Jazeera reported that overnight attacks targeted the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including members of the same family, after a residential tower was struck. Another Israeli airstrike hit a school turned shelter, killing eight people, half of whom belonged to one family. Between September 2 and 5, 110 Palestinians were killed, and 230 others were injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

The planet has just experienced its hottest summer on record for the second consecutive year, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing climate crisis. According to new data from Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service, the summer of 2024, which spanned June to August in the Northern Hemisphere, was the hottest since global records began in 1940. This period saw temperatures 0.69 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991 to 2020 average, surpassing last year’s previous record by a slim margin of 0.03 degrees Celsius. The persistent rise in global temperatures is largely driven by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, which continue to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This summer’s extreme heat has had devastating effects around the world, leading t...

Concerns about smartphone microphones eavesdropping on conversations have gained fresh traction with recent revelations. A new analysis uncovers that a major marketing firm, Cox Media Group (CMG), which partners with industry giants like Google and Facebook, has admitted to using smartphone microphones to record user conversations. This data is then leveraged to deliver targeted advertisements, according to a report by 404 Media and the New York Post. CMG, a prominent player in radio and television news, disclosed in a presentation to investors that it employs a technology called "Active Listening." This artificial intelligence-driven program captures conversations in real-time. By merging this voice data with behavioral insights, CMG claims advertisers can more effectively reach pot...

Saad al-Jabri, a former high-ranking Saudi intelligence official now exiled in Canada, has accused Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of forging his father's signature to launch Saudi Arabia's ongoing war in Yemen. In an interview with the BBC and a statement to the Associated Press, al-Jabri claimed that the crown prince, who was then the defense minister, signed the war decree without King Salman's knowledge. Al-Jabri, who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Saudi government, alleges that the crown prince has orchestrated an assassination plot against him. His two children remain imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, which he believes is an attempt to force his return to the country. According to al-Jabri, the original military strategy, coordinated with the Obama administration, f...

Since the departure of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a notable increase in anti-Muslim sentiment in India, with heightened calls for revenge linked to alleged attacks by revolutionary students against Hindus in Bangladesh. Just three days after Hasina's exit, Hindu extremists, led by Daksh Chaudhary of the far-right Hindu Raksha Dal, attacked Rohingya refugee camps in Delhi. Footage of the incident shows extremists hurling slurs and shouting: "They are all Bangladeshis. Go away from here. Our sisters are being raped in Bangladesh, and these people are living in our country! Expel them." On the same day, members of Hindu Raksha Dal also targeted slum dwellers, accusing them of being Bangladeshis. The attackers used sticks to beat residents and set ...

India has extended support to Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, as she seeks refuge following her abrupt departure from Dhaka. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed an all-party meeting on Tuesday that Hasina, who arrived in Ghaziabad, is currently in a state of shock. The Indian government is allowing her time to recover before discussing various issues, including her future plans. During the meeting, attended by leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Jaishankar stated that New Delhi has been in contact with Bangladesh's army chief to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students currently in Bangladesh. He also addressed concerns raised by Gandhi regarding potential foreign involvement in the unrest, noting that the government is closely monitoring t...

Massive revolt is underway in Bangladesh with notable events occurring across the country, news reports appearing in media said. The recent resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 has paved the way for a transitional period marked by significant developments. In Sherpur District, a proactive group successfully liberated more than 500 inmates from the district jail, showcasing a dynamic shift in the region. Protesters have been actively participating in the streets of Dhaka and other cities, demonstrating a strong commitment to their cause. Following the resignation of the Prime Minister, the Bangladesh Army has temporarily assumed control, urging citizens to maintain peace and order. An interim government is expected to be established shortly to facilitate sm...

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly fled the country amid deadly protests over a special job quota and landed in Agartala, Tripura, India, on Monday. According to news agency AFP, Hasina and her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, departed from Bangabhaban around 2:30 PM on a military helicopter and reached a safe location in Agartala. Local media reports confirm that Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her position as Prime Minister. In response to the escalating crisis, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed Hasina’s departure and announced that an interim government will soon be formed with the participation of all political parties. “After holding fruitful discussions with all political parties, we have decided to establish an interim gover...