Moscow 16 June 2017 (TAS) Russian President Vladimir Putin, "being the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, receives reports from the Defense Ministry on a regular basis," Kremlin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said, answering a question on whether the leader of the Islamic State (IS, terror organization outlawed in Russia) Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been...

Doha AlJazeera News 16 June 2017 (0340 PM) The cutting of diplomatic ties, closure of air, land and sea and the restrictions placed on Qatar are "worse than the Berlin Wall", according to the chairman of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC). Speaking in Geneva on Friday, Ali Bin Smaikh al-Marri called on the UN...

Philippines 15 June 2017 (AlJazeera News) A Philippines politician said residents fleeing besieged Marawi City have seen about 100 dead bodies in an area where the army and ISIL-linked fighters have clashed in the last three weeks. Zia Alonto Adiong, a local politician who is helping with relief efforts in Marawi, told reporters on Thursday...

The United States and Qatar have signed a deal for the purchase of F-15 fighter jets with an initial cost of $12bn, as the US administration attempts to navigate an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Gulf. The aircraft purchase was completed by Qatari Minister of Defence Khalid Al Attiyah and his US counterpart Jim Mattis...

ICC Cricket.com 15 June 2017 India will meet Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, a dream match-up that few could have expected when the two sides met to kick off their campaigns. With India stomping over Bangladesh in a nine-wicket win in the second semi-final on Thursday, that match-up of rivals has become...

Geneva 15 June 2016 Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, today met with Rashid Khalikov, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Partnerships with the Middle East and Central Asia at OCHA, at the United Nations Offices in Geneva. Both discussed the humanitarian and legal challenges resulting from the...

Lahore 14 June 2017 (Daily Dawn) Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif will be appearing at 1100 AM (Pakistan local time) before a Joint Investigating Team probing family investments outside & inside Pakistan as per reported in Panamaleaks. It is to note that Pakistani Prime Minister name is not included in the Panamaleak, however, his...

Bacolod City, Philippines 14 June 2017 (0559 PM) (PNA/USATODAY) The undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippines met with leaders of the Muslim community in this city to discuss cooperation to ensure protection of Bacolod from terror threats. Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo Jr., in a report Wednesday following...

14 June 2017 Fox News U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and his aides have been shot at baseball practice in Virginia, Fox News confirms. It is understood about 50-100 shots were fired in the incident. Scalise's security detail also shot, CNN reported. The extent of Scalise's injuries are unknown but it is understood at...

Cardiff, UK 14 June 2017 (BBC Sport) England's Champions Trophy hopes were ended by an eight-wicket semi-final thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in Cardiff. England struggled on a slow pitch against some brilliant Pakistan bowling and fielding, mustering only 211. Fakhar Zaman's 57 launched Pakistan's chase, while Azhar Ali made 76 as victory was...