Two judges on India’s top court on Thursday differed over a ban on the wearing of the hijab, a headscarf used by Muslim women, in educational institutions and referred the sensitive issue to a larger bench of three or more judges to settle. Justices He…
One Afghan woman’s tortured account of Taliban imprisonment
“The Taliban’s white flags marked the beginning of our dark days,” utters Tamana Paryani. The calendar showed January 19, 2022, and it was around 8 pm Kabul time. I had the phone in my hand when I received a message. I opened it in a hurry as the event…
Israel, Lebanon deal ‘reduces chance of war with Hezbollah’
Israel’s agreement with foe Lebanon to demarcate their maritime border makes conflict with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah less likely, the Israeli premier said Wednesday, after his cabinet voiced support for the deal. Prime Minister Yair Lapi…
Rockets target Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan, operations not affected
At least eight Katyusha rockets were fired at the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Wednesday, but the attack did not result in casualties or affect the operations, sources said. The rockets fell in the vicinity of the field, security an…
Iraq MPs in new bid to elect president, end deadlock
Lawmakers in crisis-hit Iraq are set to meet Thursday for their fourth attempt this year to elect a new state president and break political gridlock that has sparked protests and deadly violence. Over a year since its last general elections, Iraq is ye…
OPEC oil cuts: Good for Trump, a heavy cost to Ukrainians
As the missiles rained down on the citizens of Kyiv, former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev gloated how this was just ‘the first episode’, a portent of what is to come. The Kremlin is going to try and break civilian morale in Ukraine with attacks on pow…
Iran: Gunfire at protests over Mahsa Amini’s death
Gunshots were fired as Iranian security forces confronted protests on Wednesday over Mahsa Amini’s death in a crackdown that rights groups say has already cost at least 108 lives with many children among the dead. The chants of protesters were interrup…
Ex-wife of Dubai ruler’s nephew ‘trapped’ in UAE: report
Zeynab Javadli, the ex-wife of a member of Dubai’s royal family, has pubished an emotional video appealing for help and saying that she has been ‘trapped’ in the UAE since her 2019 divorce, the BBC has reported. Javadli, a former gymnast from Azerbaija…
UK government says no spending cuts, no reverse on tax cuts
The UK’s new government said on Wednesday it would not reverse its vast tax cuts or reduce public spending as it sought to stand firm in the face of yet more turmoil in financial markets and concerns over its change in economic policy. British financia…
Hundreds of Syrian IDPs flee camps amid inter-rebel fighting
Hundreds of Syrian displaced families have fled their camps in Syria’s rebel-held northwest amid fierce fighting between two opposition groups. Clashes have broken out in the area of Afrin between the hardline Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel…