12-10-2021 BAGHDAD: Iraq says it has captured the jihadist group Islamic State’s financial chief in an operation outside its borders. Sami Jasim al-Jaburi was arrested in a “complex external operation” by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service; Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi tweeted, without specifying a location. He added that Jasim, also …

11-10-2021 Bureau Report NEW DELHI/ BEIJING: Talks broke down, once again, between Indian and Chinese military authorities Sunday with the two countries blaming each other as they remained locked in a standoff in a high-altitude area. On Sunday, commanders met for the 13th time, with Indian officials emphasizing that the …

11-10-2021 Bureau Report SYDNEY: Australia’s largest city, Sydney, has emerged from COVID lockdown after almost four months, with locals celebrating a range of new freedoms. People queued for pubs and shops that opened at midnight on Monday. Many others have been enjoying anticipated reunions with relatives and friends. Household visits …

11-10-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies DOHA/ KABUL/ ISLAMABAD: Senior Taliban representatives have said they had “positive” discussions with a delegation from the United States in the Qatari capital Doha, and have begun a meeting with the European Union representatives. It was the first face-to-face meeting between …

11-10-2021 Bureau Report MELBOURNE: New drama is in full swing across Melbourne while on the other areas of the country, the investors, planners and organizers particularly jokers and state characters in the name of modern but economical and cheaper prices in different sectors after dozens of success and unsuccessful “launching …

11-10-2021 GUATEMALA CITY: Police in Guatemala have rescued 126 migrants who were abandoned inside a shipping container at the side of a road. They were found at dawn between the towns of Nueva Concepción and Cocales after locals reported hearing screams inside the trailer. Authorities believe they were abandoned by …

10-10-2021 MOSCOW: Sixteen people were killed after an aircraft carrying parachutists crashed in central Russia on Sunday, the emergencies ministry said. The L-410 plane carrying 22 people crashed around 9:23am local time (0623 GMT) during a flight over the republic of Tatarstan, the ministry said on its Telegram channel. “Six …

10-10-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program, has died at 85. The Pakistani atomic scientist, hailed as a national hero for making his country the world’s first Islamic nuclear power but regarded by the West …

10-10-2021 BAGHDAD: Iraqis headed to the polls for an early election billed as a concession to anti-government protests but one expected to be boycotted by many voters who distrust official promises of reform. Polls opened at 7:00am (04:00 GMT) on Sunday but few voters turned up early at one polling …

10-10-2021 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies KABUL/ WASHINGTON/ ISLAMABAD: A U.S. delegation will meet with senior Taliban representatives in Doha on Saturday and Sunday in their first face-to-face meeting at a senior level since Washington pulled its troops from Afghanistan and the hardline group took over the …