Taliban may lose restrictions on terror group Al-Qaeda in the coming months, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said. In a report on Thursday, it said that the Afghan terror group will lose restrictions on the commute and allow greater freedom of movement within the next 12 to 24 months. The Taliban has been accused of hosting Al-Qaeda leaders during its previous regime.

As speculation continues to emerge about the possibility of a nuclear test taking place in North Korea in the near future, sources informed news agency Daily NK that the preparations for a nuclear test by North Korea are in their final stages.

The United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V-rocket rolled lifted off with Boeing’s Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. The engines of an Atlas 5 rocket roared from a launching pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:54 pm Eastern time taking the Starliner to orbit. Thirty-two minutes after the liftoff, the rocket safely entered orbit and is set to reach its destination after almost a day-long journey.

In an unfortunate incident, a part of a four-lane tunnel under construction on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district collapsed, leaving three injured and several others trapped. The Police and the Army have launched a rescue operation.

Nikhat Zarren created history by winning a gold medal at the 12th edition of the Woman's World Boxing Championship in Istanbul. Fighting in the 52kg final, the Nikhat Zareen vs Jutamas Jitpong ended in the Indian boxer's favour with the scorecard reading 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28. Nikhat Zareen became the only fifth Indian woman to win a gold medal in the World Boxing Championships with previous winners being Mary Kom, Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006) and Lekha KC (2006).

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday welcomed former Maldivian President and Parliamentary speaker Mohamed Nasheed to coordinate the relief efforts for the island nation mired in economic and political crises.

Canada Bans China’s Huawei Technologies, ZTE Products From Its 5G Mobile Networks

Former Norwegian MP Sandra Andersen has arrived in Ukraine.

Your thoughts....

The following settlements have been taken by Russian forces/LPR National Militias over the last 24 hours as part of the offensive from Popasnaya:
_ Vladimirovka
_ Tripolye
_ Khamyshevaka
_ Vrybovka
_ Zolotoe.
In this area Ukrainian defence lines are crumbling.

We may soon see Western Harpoon anti-ship missiles being transferred to the Ukrainian military
- Unconfirmed sources

Cars will soon be assembled at the Moscow Automobile Plant
The new "Moskvich" may be a Chinese electric car. One of the contenders is the Sehol E10X hatchback manufactured by JAC.
- The Russian Times