Smartphones banned from schools in Afghanistan

A ban on smartphones in schools issued by Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan came into force, students and teachers confirmed to AFP yesterday, over concerns of “focus” and “Islamic law”.
18 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Iranians in Iraq report shortages back home

Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, staples that have become increasingly hard to get back home.
18 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Delete WhatsApp from your phones

WhatsApp said it was “concerned” that its services would be blocked in Iran after a state broadcaster urged the public to delete the messaging app, saying it was sharing data with arch-rival Israel.
18 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Use of US bunker-buster bomb looms over Iran conflict

A powerful American bunker-busting bomb is the only weapon capable of destroying Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities, making it President Donald Trump’s weapon of choice if he chooses to militarily back Israel.
18 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Israeli attacks kill 140 in Gaza in 24 hours, medics say, as focus shifts to Iran

At least 40 of the total number killed in the past day died as a result of Israeli gunfire and airstrikes
18 June 2025, 13:54 PM

Pakistan’s army chief to meet Trump at the White House

The meeting will be closed to the press
18 June 2025, 07:12 AM

All new Facebook videos to be classified as Reels soon, Meta says

Meta said it will gradually roll out these changes globally
18 June 2025, 03:48 AM

India, Canada return ambassadors as Carney, Modi look past spat

"The relationship between India and Canada is very important in many ways," Modi said
18 June 2025, 02:44 AM

‘Spectacular’ Viking burial site found in Denmark

In an accidental find, a 10th-century burial site believed to have belonged to a Viking noble family has been discovered in northern Denmark, packed with a “spectacular” trove of ancient objects, a museum announced yesterday.
17 June 2025, 18:27 PM

French ex-PM Fillon given suspended sentence

Former French prime minister Francois Fillon was yesterday given a four-year suspended prison sentence over a fake jobs scandal that wrecked his 2017 presidential bid.
17 June 2025, 18:00 PM

India regulator asks Air India for training data of pilots

India’s aviation safety watchdog has asked Air India for the training records of the pilots and dispatcher for the plane that crashed last week as part of its investigation into the incident that killed at least 271 people, government memos showed.
17 June 2025, 18:00 PM

24 rescued as oil tankers collide off UAE

Twenty-four crew have been rescued after two oil tankers collided off the UAE, sparking at least one fire, the United Arab Emirates coastguard and a shipping company said yesterday.
17 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Is the world close to a nuke radiation incident?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to launch strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities has sparked concerns among sections of the global community, atomic energy regulators and experts on the risks of nuclear contamination.
17 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Ships collide off UAE coast near Strait of Hormuz, sources say

Ambrey said the cause of the incident, which took place 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, was not security-related.
17 June 2025, 07:18 AM

Trump to leave G7 summit early due to Middle East situation

Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron says
17 June 2025, 03:06 AM

Britain appoints first female head of MI6

Britain yesterday named Blaise Metreweli, a career intelligence officer, as the first female head of the Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6.
16 June 2025, 20:30 PM

US has cancelled planned talks on embassies: Russia

Russia yesterday said that the United States had cancelled a fresh round of talks on normalising the operations of their embassies.
16 June 2025, 18:44 PM

Vietnam death toll from Typhoon Wutip rises to seven

The death toll in Vietnam from heavy rains and flooding caused by Typhoon Wutip has risen to seven, authorities said yesterday.
16 June 2025, 18:44 PM

UN scales back global aid plan

The United Nations said yesterday it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans because of the “deepest funding cuts ever” -- leaving tens of millions of people facing dire straits.
16 June 2025, 18:42 PM

Israeli gunfire kills 40 across Gaza

Israeli fire killed at least 40 people, half of them near an aid distribution site operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation yesterday, the territory’s health ministry said, as UN officials denounced Israeli-backed aid delivery methods.
16 June 2025, 18:04 PM