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 …

Dhaka, July 28 (IANS) As violence against minorities continues unabated across Bangladesh, a leading minority human rights organisation documented at least 257 incidents of communal violence across the country during the first half of this year, resulting in 44 deaths.In its latest findings, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organisation working against religious discrimination, said that the 257 incidents included 40 cases that claimed 44 lives; 5 incidents o…

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) The debate surrounding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become trapped between two extremes. One side portrays it as a transformational success that modernised Pakistan’s infrastructure and the other treats it as the source of many of the country’s current economic difficulties. Both perspectives miss the larger lesson, according to a new report.While China has invested around $62 billion in the CPEC to build big infrastructure projects like power pla…

Ottawa, July 28 (IANS) India and Canada have agreed to enhance defence cooperation, with discussions focusing on maritime collaboration, defence capacity-building and training during a meeting between India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, and Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, the Indian High Commission said on Tuesday. Discussions focused on strengthening maritime cooperation, advancing defence capacity-building and training, and deepening India-Canada defen…

Islamabad, July 28 (IANS) 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.The death toll is expected to rise, with several of those injured reported to be in critical condition.Sharing the details in a post on X on Tuesday, JAAC said, “The Long March caravans have reached Rawalakot city. Acc…

Washington, July 28 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has credited his tariff policies with reviving General Motors and bringing automobile production back to the United States, saying the company was enjoying its strongest year.Trump made the remarks on Monday during a visit to the GM Milford Proving Ground in Michigan. He toured the facility with General Motors CEO Mary Barra and company President Mark Reuss.“They’ve come a long way. It’s amazing what tariffs will do for General Motors, and w…