Nairobi, July 28 (IANS) The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned on Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of people across Africa have been trafficked by criminal networks and forced into online fraud operations that generate billions of dollars in illicit profits annually.IOM said human trafficking networks are increasingly targeting job seekers across East, Horn and Southern Africa, forcing victims into illegal activities amid reports that nationals from Kenya, Ethiopia and neigh…

Kathmandu, July 28 (IANS) A centuries-old Buddhist heritage complex in Lalitpur district in the Kathmandu Valley has been restored with India’s post-earthquake reconstruction assistance, the Indian Embassy said.Nepal’s lawmaker Jagdish Kharel, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava jointly inaugurated the restored Shree Gusthal Mahavihar and the Agam of Prathamshree Mahavihar at Guita Tole in Lalitpur on Tuesday.The restoration proje…

Addis Ababa, July 28 (IANS) African leaders have raised alarm over the resumption of the Middle East conflict, which they said is driving a severe economic and security crisis in Africa through energy shocks, supply disruptions, and soaring prices.The remark was made during the 49th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.Speaking at the event, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the AU Commission, said Africa is bea…

Islamabad, July 28 (IANS) With the unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) claiming dozens of lives, several videos surfaced on social media Tuesday showing Pakistani security personnel openly firing on civilians in Mirpur city and later loading bodies in their vehicles. Posted on various social media handles, including that of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the videos showed the brutality of Pakistani forces as locals ran to save themselves. Videos shared on X showed bodies lying on…

Athens, July 28 (IANS) India’s Ambassador to Greece, Ravi Shankar, on Tuesday met Lt. Gen. Demosthenes Grigoriadis, Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff and discussed the ongoing initiatives of cooperation between the two Air Forces.According to the Indian Embassy in Greece, India’s participation in INIOCHOS – a major annual multinational air combat training exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force – and Greece’s participation in Tarang Shakti – the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) largest bie…

Islamabad, July 28 (IANS) The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the cycle of violence and a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the reported deaths and injuries.At least 20 people were killed and dozens critically injured during the Long March organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), amid an escalating crackdown by Pakistani authorities on protesters in the region. Unofficial repor…

Dhaka, July 28 (IANS) Bangladesh is grappling with a deepening drug crisis, with an estimated 8.2 million people using narcotics across the country. Drugs ranging from yaba to heroin are reportedly being smuggled through at least 105 border points across 18 districts, with Dhaka emerging as the country’s main hub for illicit drug distribution and consumption, a report has stated.From land border routes to coastal and riverine corridors, traffickers rely on multiple channels to smuggle drugs in…

London, July 28 (IANS) The recent killing of a 20-year-old woman, Khalida Chandio, in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province reflects a wider pattern of violence against women accused of bringing “dishonour” to families, a report has stated. Citing the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the women’s rights organisation Sindh Suhai Sath, it said at least 112 women fell victim to “honour” killings in Sindh between 1 January and 20 June this year.The police figures cited by HRCP reco…

Dhaka, July 28 (IANS) As Bangladesh grapples with a worsening gas crisis, the disruption has extended far beyond household kitchens, paralysing public transport across Dhaka as hundreds of CNG-powered buses, auto-rickshaws and ride-sharing vehicles spend hours waiting for fuel, leaving commuters stranded and increasing transport costs, local media reported.Commuters on major corridors in Dhaka such as Rampura, Badda, Airport Road, Banasree and Mirpur faced hours-long delays on Monday, with fewer…

Quetta, July 28 (IANS) At least four civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, a leading human rights organisation said on Tuesday.Paank, the Baloch National Movement’s Human Rights Department, revealed that 19 -year-old labourer Saeed Ahmed was subjected to enforced disappearance from Nigar area in Surab district on July 12 by Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel.Additionally, 25-year-old police personnel Sanaullah Baloch an…