World
90 killed in Pakistan mosque suicide bombing
The number of fatalities rose as rescue teams retrieved more bodies from the debris of the mosque in the predawn hours of Tuesday
Imran Khan to contest all 33 parliamentary seats in upcoming bypolls
On Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that bypolls to 33 seats of the National Assembly will held on March 16
40 killed in southwest Pakistan bus crash
The bus was reportedly carrying 48 passengers when it hit a pillar on the bridge and careened off course earlier on Sunday
Palestinian gunman kills 7 near Jerusalem synagogue
The attack came a day after an Israeli military raid killed nine Palestinians in the West Bank
Neighbours
State of emergency declared in Sri Lanka ahead of July 20 presidential election
The government gazette dated July 17 imposing a state of emergency in the troubled nation was issued on Monday morning
'Have learnt our lesson': Pak PM Sharif calls for talks with India
Pakistan PM says his country does not want to waste resources on bombs and ammunition
US ready to provide Pakistan with funds to enhance border security: Foreign Minister
Pak Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto met various top policymakers in Washington and chaired the Ministerial Conference of the G-77 and China
Beds run out at Beijing hospital as Covid brings more sick
The Chuiyangliu hospital in the city's east was packed with newly arrived patients on Thursday
China to reopen borders, scrap quarantine for international travellers from Jan 8
Previously passengers coming from abroad had to mandatorily stay in over two weeks of quarantine in government accommodations
Asia
Wear all-covering burqa, Taliban tells Afghan women
Women have also been ordered to visit parks in the capital on separate days from men
Kim vows North Korea to have world's most powerful nuclear force
Kim exhorted the scientists and workers to 'expand and bolster up the nuclear war deterrent of the country at an exceptionally rapid speed'
Fire kills 9 Indians in Maldives capital
Maldivian political parties have criticised conditions for foreign workers
Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan, defying China threats
Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years
Middle East
Israeli PM tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of India visit
Bennett is paying the visit to India from April 3-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
UAE intercepts Yemen rebel missile in third week of attacks
The defence ministry of the UAE said it responded to the attack by destroying the missile launch site in Yemen's northern Al-Jawf region
'Terrorist groups' enjoy freedom in Afghanistan: UN experts
The Islamic State's strength in Afghan has risen from an estimated 2,200 to near 4,000 following the release of several thousand prisoners
Iran will not discard hijab rules, says top official
Iran and India to jointly fight smuggling operatives
Iran holds mass funeral for '80s war dead amid nuclear talks
This week, hard-liners have been pumping out photos and slogans on Twitter to show solidarity with the recovered Iranian war dead
America
Pick Modi and Pope to broker peace between Russia, Ukraine, says Mexico
Mexico says the Security Council has failed, peace can only be achieved through dialogue
US media rocked by massive job cuts amid economic gloom
Vox Media, owner of the Vox and The Verge websites, New York Magazine and its online platforms, announced it was letting go 7 % of its staff
Seven dead in new California shooting as police probe dance hall killings
The latest bloodshed to hit Asian Americans in California occurred at two farms around Half Moon Bay, a coastal community near San Francisco
Europe
Every 11 minutes, a woman killed by an intimate partner or family member: UN chief
Guterres' remarks come in the backdrop of the recent Shraddha Walker murder case that has shocked India with its brutal details
Russia launches another major missile attack on Ukraine
Local authorities on social media reported explosions in the capital, Kyiv, southern Kryvyi Rih and northeastern Kharkiv
New UK prime minister to be announced on September 5
Nominations will officially open and close on Tuesday, with a new PM set to be installed when parliament returns from the summer break
Africa
WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa
The latest variant is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far
South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa
The move will help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid a recent surge of cases
South Africa lifts curfew as Omicron wave subsides
Infections dropped by almost 30% last week compared to the preceding seven days while hospital admissions also declined in eight provinces
WHO probing Indian cough syrup after 66 children die in Gambia
WHO cautioned the contaminated medications may have been distributed outside of the West African country, with global exposure 'possible'
South African anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Tutu dies aged 90
In his final years, he regretted that his dream of a 'Rainbow Nation' had yet to come true
Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels her wedding due to Omicron surge
New Zealanders are set to face new COVID-19 restrictions after nine cases of the omicron variant were detected in a single family
Australia’s most populous state reports first omicron death
The fatal case was identified as a man in his 80s who was infected at an aged care facility in western Sydney
Australia adds Covaxin to list of 'recognised' COVID-19 vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration after an assessment and approval process
New Zealand extends lockdown in virus-hit Auckland
New Zealand imposed a national lockdown on August 17 when the first case of Delta variant was found in the community
Modi: India's G-20 Presidency will be inclusive, ambitious and decisive
India would focus on bridging digital gap, says PM