London-based Kashmiri author Mirza Waheed has boycotted the screening of the film adaptation of his novel, “The Collaborator,” in an Israeli settlement. Waheed criticized the Tamuz Shomron Film Festival’s ties to Israeli cultural institutions, accusing them of complicity in Palestinian oppression. In an article for online outlet “Literary Hub,...
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – The head of Pakistan’s Islamic council on Monday declared the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) “against national security and character assassination” as un-Islamic amid reports that the software may be banned in the South Asian nation. “Whether it is a registered VPN or unregistered, if it...
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh will ask India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile since August after fleeing a student-led uprising, the head of the country’s interim government said Sunday. Muhammad Yunus made the remarks in a televised address to the nation marking his first 100 days in [...
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – The transitional government in Bangladesh extended the judicial powers of the army for another 60 days as the operation against crimes continues, the Ministry of Public Administration said Saturday. The order was issued Friday, it said, adding that army commissioned officers, the air force and navy forces have be...
ISTANBUL (AA) – A team of President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a list of former and current senior US military officers directly involved in the “disrespectful” withdrawal from Afghanistan to determine whether they could face court martial. Trump’s team is exploring the possibility of forming a commission to investi...
ANKARA (AA) – Cities across India and Pakistan are struggling with dense smog that has worsened air quality, with authorities declaring a “health crisis” in the latter’s Punjab province. In Pakistan, despite aggressive steps by the Punjab government to curb the hazardous smog blanketing Lahore and surrounding areas over the p...
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – At least seven people, including two army personnel, were killed and three others injured in explosions in southwest Pakistan, the military said Thursday. Two army personnel, including a major, were killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated during a security operation in the Harnai district of sout...
ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the developed countries to fulfill their financial commitments made during the COP27 and COP 28. Addressing the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, Sharif said that financial support should be grant based for developing countries. “I str...
ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistani police on Tuesday said they arrested a policeman who was behind the deadliest attack on police in northwestern Peshawar city in 2023, in which over 100 people were killed and 250 others injured. Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said police constable Muhammad Wali ...
In a bid to create a level-playing field for Shariah-based banking, a new draft law in Bangladesh will prohibit conventional banks from offering Islamic banking services. Under the proposed Islami Bank Company Act-2024, banks that wish to provide Shariah-compliant banking must either form a subsidiary or adjust their business model. Currently,...
