Kabul, July 28 (IANS) As many as 57 people have been killed and 342 others injured in cross-border armed violence in Afghanistan between April 1 to June 30, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Tuesday. In a report, the UNAMA said airstrikes and ground engagements were the primary causes of civilian harm. It attributed all cross-border civilian casualties recorded during this period to Pakistani security forces.According to the UNAMA’s update on civilian casualtie…

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Hundreds of Pakistani families protested at Karachi Press Club demanding accountability after a surge in paediatric HIV infections allegedly due to unsafe medical practices at government clinics, a new report has said.At least nine children have died and hundreds infected due to HIV infection, the report from Pakistan Observer said, blaming syringe reuse, contaminated vials and unsafe blood transfusions as causes of the disease transmission.The World Health Organization…

Washington, July 28 (IANS) The US has been reconsidering its options to recalibrate its influence and power balance in West Asia after facing serious security credibility issues and Iran’s rise, as Washington is at the losing end of the conflict with Tehran, according to a report. However, the US now faces the question of the region’s strategic autonomy spin and the stance that the Arab allies, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will take, an India Narrative report said.The US has been tryin…

Manila, July 28 (IANS) The Philippines and China have made “strong” protests over an encounter between the vessels of the two countries in South China Sea waters. The protests were exchanged during a meeting between Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers’ meetings on East Asia cooperation in Manila.During the meeting, Lazaro reiterated the Philippines’ strong protest over China’s actions against P…

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Pakistan’s inflation challenge cannot be addressed through interest rate policy alone, as the underlying problem lies in the allocation of credit rather than the expansion of money supply, according to a recent economic analysis comparing the country’s monetary system with China’s.The analysis cited by The Express Tribune argues that while both Pakistan and China have expanded their money supply significantly in recent years, the inflationary outcomes have been vastly d…

Kabul, July 28 (IANS) Afghan police seized 25 kilograms of opium and detained eight suspected drug traffickers and smugglers during separate counter-narcotics operations in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika and Logar provinces, local authorities said Tuesday. Police arrested six suspected drug traffickers in Paktika province after recovering 25 kg of opium during a series of operations, the provincial police office said in a statement.In a separate operation in neighbouring Logar province, security …

Dhaka, July 28 (IANS) Bangladesh is facing a “deep national crisis” of violence against women and girls, with rape, gang rape, attempted rape, murder, suicide, sexual harassment, dowry-related violence and child marriage continuing at alarming levels, local media reported citing a study by a Dhaka-based women’s rights organisation.Addressing a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) presented its latest findings highlighting a disturbing pattern of vi…

Tokyo, July 28 (IANS) A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 jolted southwestern Japan on Tuesday. Japan’s weather agency said tsunami advisories have been issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, local media reported. The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometres at 4:27 p.m. (local time), Japan’s Kyodo News reported, citing the country’s Meteorological Agency.A total of 10 people suffered minor injuries after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck the central Japanese pref…

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) China’s industrial profits climbed 15.1 per cent in June from the previous year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed, pointing to a two‑month slowdown as easing energy costs trimmed the price gains that helped drive a rebound earlier this year, a new report has said.The June deceleration followed a 21.1 per cent gain in May, the first slowdown since November, the report from CNBC said. Industrial profits climbed 18.7 per cent in H1 2026, slightl…

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) There has been a major crackdown on groups calling for a boycott of the elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The Pakistani security forces have primarily targeted the Awami Action Committee (AAC), which has been spearheading the campaign to boycott the ongoing polls, which began on Monday, in the region.Violence was reported in Rawalakot’s Dreik Eighth area where security forces targeted the protesters. As of now, the security forces have reportedly killed 20 …