An Afghan official says at least nine members of the local police force were killed when another policeman opened fire and shot them at a checkpoint in northern Balkh province, the latest in so-called “insider” attacks in Afghanistan. Mohammadudin Khanjer, a police official in the district of Char Boldak, says one policeman was wounded and three others were missing after ...

Iranian media are reporting that at least 21 people died in a road accident when a bus overturned following a collision with a tanker on a road in central Iran. Tuesday’s report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency says the accident happened late on Monday on the road linking the cities of Kashan and Natanz, about some 250 kilometers, or ...

Russia’s military says one of its aircraft with 14 people on board has disappeared over Syria’s Mediterranean Sea coast. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the Il-20 jet went off radar 35 kilometers (22 miles) away from the coast late Monday as it was returning to the Russian base near the city of Lattakia. The military ...

At least 27 members of the Afghan security forces have been killed in multiple Taliban attacks on checkpoints as well as police and military bases in different parts of the country, according to officials. The attacks on Sunday and Monday in three separate provinces – Farah, Badghis and Baghlan – and the high casualty toll underscore the difficulties government forces ...

The first all-British radar satellite is set to go into orbit on an Indian rocket. Called NovaSAR, it has the ability to take pictures of the surface of the Earth in every kind of weather, day or night.   The spacecraft will assume a number of roles but its designers specifically want to see if it can help monitor suspicious ...

About 15 police personnel have been killed in fierce clashes in two Afghan western provinces, authorities said Monday.   Jamshid Shahabi, spokesman for the Badghis governor, said around 22 Taliban fighters were killed and 16 others were wounded during the gunbattle there, reports AP.    The insurgents issued no statements on these attacks and no group immediately claimed responsibility but ...

An American-French law professor arrested while protesting against the demolition of a Palestinian village in the West Bank says an Israeli court has revoked a deportation order against him.   Frank Romano, who teaches law at the Paris Nanterre University, was released late Sunday on the orders of the Jerusalem magistrates court and spoke in a video posted on social ...

Several dozen people rallied in central Yangon on Sunday against the jailing of two Reuters journalists, lamenting the shrinking space for free expression in Myanmar despite the advent of civilian rule.   Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were sentenced two weeks ago to seven years behind bars under the Official Secrets Act.  The judgement sent shockwaves through ...

Philippine and Chinese authorities say the death toll from a typhoon has risen to at least 69 with dozens missing.   Mangkhut weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning as it moved deeper into southern China, where rain and strong winds were expected to continue through Tuesday.  A Philippine national police report said the death toll as of Monday midday ...

British Steel has announced it is to cut 400 jobs from its worldwide operations.   The company, which employs 5,000 people, said the job losses were part of a “streamlining” process.   Most of the redundancies will be in managerial, professional and administrative roles across its businesses in the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.   The Community trade union ...