HONG KONG (AFP) – World powers slammed Hong Kong’s closely scrutinised legislature vote on Monday, saying Beijing-imposed procedures that cut directly elected seats and limited who could run had degraded democracy in the Chinese colony. In reaction to massive and frequently deadly democratic rallies two years ago, China oversaw aRead More →

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) – The death toll from the fiercest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has risen to 208, making it one of the country’s worst storms in recent years, according to the national police. Typhoon Rai wreaked havoc on the archipelago’s southern and central areas, leaving atRead More →

KABUL (AFP) – Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said on Saturday that they will begin issuing passports in Kabul, offering those who feel intimidated living under Islamist rule hope. Thousands of Afghans have sought for fresh travel papers in order to flee a deepening economic and humanitarian catastrophe characterised by the UNRead More →

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The 17th emergency session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers will be convened today (Sunday) to focus on Afghanistan’s deteriorating humanitarian situation. The meeting will begin with a remark by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who will chair the event. TheRead More →

MOSCOW (AFP) – On Friday, Russia’s media regulator ordered that YouTube unlock a German-language channel of Russian official broadcaster RT, calling the action “destructive” censorship. After eliminating the network’s German stations RT DE and Der Fehlende Part earlier this year, YouTube banned a new RT channel on Thursday. RT, formerlyRead More →

CEBU (AFP) – The fiercest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has killed at least 12 people, according to the disaster service, as the storm rushed through the island uprooting trees, collapsing electricity lines, and flooding communities. More than 300,000 people evacuated their homes and coastal resorts when TyphoonRead More →

SLAMABAD (Webdesk) – Tomorrow, Pakistan will host the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad (Sunday). The Session is being held at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which serves as the OIC Summit Chair. Pakistan appreciated the invitation andRead More →