Author: Starvision News Desk

New Delhi, August 15 (IANS) The speed at which Afghanistan fell to the Taliban on this day two years ago exposed the faulty intelligence of both the US and Pakistani intelligence communities.It was not just the Kabul fall where Pakistan’s assessment went wrong, Islamabad could not foresee the dangers of the Taliban’s return to power and the ensuing threats to its security, The Express Tribune reported.Pakistan at the time of Taliban’s victory thought it would help the country.The first and foremost expectation of Pakistan was that the Taliban would deal with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.Two years on,…

New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, greeted India on Tuesday on the occasion of the nation’s 77th Independence Day.In a tweet in Hindi, the French leader said: “Hearty congratulations to the people of India on Independence Day. A month ago in Paris, my friend (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and I set new Indo-French ambitions for 2047, the centenary year of India’s independence. India can count on France as a reliable friend and partner, always.”He also shared a short video which showed Modi’s visit to France in July.Macron…

Moscow, Aug 15 (IANS) At least 27 people, including three children, were killed and 127 others injured following an explosion at a petrol pump in Russian’s Dagestan region, officials said on Tuesday.”As of 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the tragedy in Makhachkala killed 27 people and left 102 injured,” the state-run TASS News Agency quoted Sergey Mekilov, head of the Dagestan region, as sayingEfforts continue to clear the rubble and search for potential survivors. Search-and-rescue dog teams are working at the site. In addition, the Emergencies Ministry’s Il-76 aircraft has departed from Moscow’s Zhukovsky Airport to airlift the injured to hospitals.The…

Srinagar, Aug 15 (IANS) J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday that the dividends of peace and development are becoming visible in the UT through the change in the mindset of the common citizen.Addressing an impressive, largely attended function to mark the 77th Independence Day, Sinha said at Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the main I-Day function in Kashmir, on Tuesday, “An era of peace and development has dawned on J&K.“This is visible in the change of mindset of the common citizen who has been pro-actively contributing towards peace and development in the UT.“The days of hartals and shutdowns…

Addis Ababa, Aug 15 (IANS) The Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) has ratified a six-month state of emergency in the conflict-hit Amhara region where a suspected airstrike killed 26 people over the weekend.In its extraordinary session late Monday night, the HoPR, or lower house of Parliament, examined and ratified the rule following Ethiopian Council of Ministers’ announcement of a state of emergency on August 4, pending endorsement by the HoPR, reports Xinhua news agency.While explaining the necessity of the rule to members of the parliament, Chief Government Whip Tesfaye Beljige said that the armed illegal activities in Amhara have…

Kabul, Aug 15 (IANS) It is now two years since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, during which time it has imposed the most comprehensive, systematic and unparalleled assault on the rights of women and girls, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said on Tuesday.Through over 50 edicts, orders and restrictions, the Taliban have left no aspect of women’s lives untouched, no freedom spared.They have created a system founded on the mass oppression of women that is rightly and widely considered gender apartheid.“UN Women’s work in Afghanistan is anchored in our relationship with Afghan women. I have repeatedly heard directly…

Chennai , Aug 15 (IANS) Tamil Nadu has reported no fresh case of Covid-19 on Monday. There are however two active Covid-19 cases in the state as of now.The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in Tamil Nadu is zero per cent after 324 people were tested in 24 hours.The total number of infections in the state stood at 36,10,633 since Covid-19 was first detected.No deaths were reported due to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.The number of deaths due to Covid in the state stood at 38,081 since the pandemic outbreak.–IANSaal/prw

New York, Aug 15 (IANS) Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, who is leading a delegation to India on Independence Day, has been honored in the US with a Democracy Award for outstanding achievement for the category of “Life in Congress”-Workplace Environment.The category highlights offices that have established both formal policies and informal cultures that enhance the work-life fit and professional development of their staff. Presented by the Congressional Management Foundation, this is Khanna’s second Democracy Award, with his office winning the same honour in the “Constituent Service” category in 2019. “It’s an honour to receive this award for best workplace environment…

Rome, Aug 15 (IANS) The northern Italian town of Bardonecchia experienced landslides forcing the evacuation of more than 120 people from their homes and causing significant structural damage.Of the people that were evacuated on Monday, six were trapped in a camper van that was swept away by floodwaters, reports Xinhua news agency.Five people were initially reported missing, but later located. Several people were brought to a nearby hospital, but none were seriously injured.The deluge that started late Sunday and lasted into Monday was unexpected, after heavy rain forced the normally tranquil Merdovine River to suddenly burst its banks and flood…

Washington, Aug 15 (IANS) The US will provide an additional package of military equipment to Ukraine worth $200 million, days after the White House requested further funding from Congress to bolster Kiev in its ongoing war with Russia.In a statement on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that items in the latest package include air defence munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment, reports Xinhua news agency.In a press release containing a detailed list of equipment to be sent to Ukraine, the Pentagon said this is the 44th tranche of equipment for Ukraine that’s going to be…