16 new ministers took oath

16 new ministers to the cabinet of National Unity Government who received a vote of confidence from the parliament on Saturday took oath today. The oath was given to them by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in presidential palace in Kabul. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and other...

China, Pakistan Reaffirm Support for Afghan Peace Process

While on a state visit to Pakistan this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged Islamabad to ramp up its counterterrorism efforts in the region, including in regard to its role as a facilitator in the peace process between Afghanistan and the Taliban. "China highly appreciates Pakistan's...

US, allies oppose Iran-Afghanistan cooperation: Leader

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the US and certain regional countries oppose cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan. “Of course, the Americans and some countries in the region are not familiar with Afghanistan’s potentialities and do not favor empathy...

Iran must always be prepared for defense: Leader

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has condemned the “shameless” military threats against the Islamic Republic, saying the country must always be ready to defend itself. Ayatollah Khamenei made the comments in a Sunday address to a group of senior Army commanders...

Iran, Afghanistan sign memorandums to improve cooperation

Iran and Afghanistan have signed two memorandums of understanding to improve cooperation in different sectors. The documents were inked between the two countries’ foreign ministries and also between Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and Afghan Ministry of Higher...

MPs Approve All 16 Nominees, Leaving Only Defense Open

The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday approved all 16 cabinet nominees who were introduced by the government in the second round of voting – since the establishment of National Unity Government (NUG) seven months ago. This comes after the first round of voting on 28 January...

Ghani Visits Badakhshan A Week After Insurgents Attack Military Posts

President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday visited the insurgent-hit north-eastern province of Badakshan – a full week after the well planned attack took place against Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, which resulted in 28 being killed. Ghani visited Fayzabad, the capital of the province and held...

Iran showcases domestically-developed defense achievements

Iran has put on display different defense achievements, including its version of the missile S-300 system, developed by local experts. During Saturday parades by select units from Iran’s Armed Forces on the occasion of National Army Day, the domestically-manufactured Bavar-373...

Four Saudi troops killed in clashes with Yemen tribesmen

At least four Saudi forces have been killed and 20 others wounded in border clashes with armed Yemeni tribesmen in southern Saudi Arabia, Yemeni media say. The skirmishes happened in the Dhahran region on Saturday morning, with the number of casualties expected to rise, Yemen-based Arabic-language...

Tehran, Canberra concerned over ISIL: Iran FM

The Iranian foreign minister has reiterated Tehran’s misgivings over acts of terrorism and extremism in the Middle East region. In a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Saturday, Mohammad Javad Zarif highlighted that both...

Attack on civilians in Yemen to bring disgrace to aggressors: Rouhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has warned against hatching plots in the region, saying the military aggression against civilians in Yemen will bring disgrace to the aggressors. Addressing a special ceremony to mark National Army Day in Tehran on Saturday, President Rouhani added that...

UN Condemns Deadly Jalalabad Blast That Killed 33

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the suicide attack that took place on Saturday near the New Kabul Bank in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, that killed at least 33 people and injured more than 100, including civilians.  "The continuing use of suicide attacks...

Ayatollah Khamenei calls for end to aggression against Yemen

  Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says a halt to the military aggression against Yemen and foreign meddling in the country is the only solution to the crisis plaguing the Arabian Peninsula state. The Leader made the remarks in a meeting...

Indian police kill 20 suspected red sandalwood smugglers

Police in India's Andhra Pradesh state say they have killed at least 20 suspected red sandalwood smugglers. The shooting came when loggers attacked police and forestry officials near the holy town of Tirupati, police said. Police are accused of excessive force. Most of the suspected smugglers were...

Female Afghan activists face rising violence: Amnesty

Human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) has warned about escalating violence, including threats, sexual assaults and assassinations, facing female Afghan activists. In a report released Tuesday, the rights group said the Afghan government and the international community...

Turkey eager to buy more Iran gas

Turkey has expressed willingness to buy more natural gas from Iran should Tehran lower the price, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says. “We purchase 90-95 percent of Iran’s exported natural gas. The most expensive natural gas that we import is from Iran. If this price were lowered,...

World condemns Saudi aggression against Yemen

Thousands of people have staged demonstrations in different countries in protest against the ongoing Saudi military aggression against members of the Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen.  Scores of Iranian protesters took part in a rally in the capital Tehran following Friday prayers,...

No Decision Made in NSC to Support Saudi Arabia in Yemen: Mohaqiq

Second deputy chief executive, Mohammad Mohaqiq, states that Afghanistan's support for Saudi Arabia's involvement in Yemen crises was in contradiction to the decision they made in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. "We did not have such a decision in the National Security Council....

Farkhunda Buried, Ghani Appoints Fact-Finding Team

The funeral of 27-year-old woman was held Sunday in Kabul, burying Farkhunda, a female teacher of Holy Quran who was brutally killed and burnt by a mob on the accusation of burning Islam�s sacred book. Hundreds of people including the MPs, women�s rights activists, religious scholars and journalists...

Leader: Removal of sanctions should be part of any nuclear deal

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says removal of anti-Iran sanctions should be part and parcel of any possible nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 countries, and should not come as a late result of those talks. Addressing the nation at a speech delivered...

Ghani and Abdullah Leaves for Washington

President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdulla left Kabul for the United States on Saturday night, president's office said in a statement. ‎The National Unity Government (NUG) leaders would meet the U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Congress members, the...

Kabul cleric under fire for endorsing murder and burning of woman

An Afghan cleric Maulavi Ayaz Niazi has been under for publicly endorsing the brutal murder and burning of a woman over alleged burning of holy Quran. Maulavi Niazi endorsed the murder of 27-year-old Farkhunda while speaking among the participants of Friday prayers and a day after she was lynched...

Iran, US kick off 5th day of nuclear talks in Lausanne

Iran and the United States have kicked off the fifth day of intensive talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne in an attempt to bridge differences on the outstanding issues pertaining to Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks on Thursday are led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif...

Iran mass produces long-range anti-ship Qadir cruise missile

Iran has started the mass production of a domestically-manufactured anti-warship cruise missile dubbed Qadir. The mass production of the long-range missile was launched by the Defense Ministry's Aerospace Industries Organization in a ceremony on Saturday attended by Defense Minister...

Germany�s top court overturns headscarf ban for teachers

Germany's highest court has reversed its initial 2003 ban on headscarves for teachers, saying the restriction violates religious freedom.  On Friday, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled as unconstitutional a law preventing teachers from wearing headscarves in some German states while...

President Ghani to visit Saudi Arabia today

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is scheduled to be leaving to Saudi Arabi today. Ajmal Abedi, spokesman for the president has confirmed to Khaama Press the scheduled visit of the President. This is the third visit of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to Saudi Arabia after the formation of the National...

Iran anti-terror assistance to Iraq unconditional: Iraqi commander

The commander of the Iraqi volunteer forces has hailed Iran’s assistance to the Arab country in the fight against ISIL Takfiri terrorist group. In a Friday interview near the embattled Iraqi city of Tikrit in the northern province of Salahuddin, Hadi al-Ameri praised Iran’s supports for...

Myanmar ferry sinks, killing 21 with dozens missing

At least 21 people have been killed and 50 others are missing after huge waves capsized a crowded double-decker ferry in northwestern Myanmar, officials say. The Aung Tagun 3 ferry was carrying more than 200 people when it sank near the town of Myebon in Rakhine state late Friday, the Ministry of Information...

US envoy to South Korea attacked in Seoul

US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert has suffered injuries following an attack by an armed assailant in the capital city of Seoul. According to the YTN news channel, Lippert was attacked while he was on his way to a breakfast meeting in the Sejong Cultural Institute in central Seoul on Thursday. The...

Afghan woman to receive the �International Women of Courage� award

Captain Nilofar Rahmani, the first female fixed-wing Afghan Air Force pilot in the history of Afghanistan, is among the recipients of the “International Women of Courage” award given annually by the U.S State Department. Ms. Rahmani will be among the ten women receiving this award by...