Despite pandemic, UN continues to fight ‘scourge’ of sexual exploitation abuse
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:54 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, released his annual update on how the Organization is working to stamp out the “scourge” of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) through its zero-tolerance policy, which required special measures this year in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tigray crisis: Children must be protected from harm, urges UNICEF
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:45 pm
New York: The situation for children in Tigray is becoming increasingly serious as the conflict in the northern Ethiopian region continues to escalate, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Centuries-old Nepal’s stupas restored, attract locals back
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:42 pm
Dating back to centuries, some of Nepal’s stupas were in a worn-out state, covered in layers of dust and grime, and slowly cracking. But, now after a makeover, they have found a new life and are bustling with people wanting to worship at them again.
Sri Lankan army chief visits Pakistan
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:29 pm
Sri Lankan Army Chief General Savendra Salwa visited Pakistan and met with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javad Bajwa and President Arif Alvi, reported Dawn. The visit came a month after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan undertook his first two-day official visit to Sri Lanka last month. Pakistan had also extended a $50 million defense credit line to Sri Lanka during that visit.
No ‘fix’ to police violence, without tackling scourge in society, says rights chief
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:09 pm
New York: The Human Rights Council embarked on a discussion over police violence against people of African descent on Friday, with a warning from UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet that “brutality and discrimination against people of African descent continue to occur”.
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:04 pm
New York: Security forces in Myanmar have reportedly occupied more than 60 schools and university campuses across the country, marking a further escalation of the crisis, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. In a statement issued later in the day, the UN Secretary-General condemned the "continuing brutal violence" being directed at peaceful protesters as the death toll mounts.
UN envoy continues efforts to access Myanmar, amidst increasingly brutal crackdown
Mar 20, 2021, at 09:58 pm
New York: The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar continues her work towards engaging with officials in the country nearly two months after the military coup, the global Organization said on Thursday.
Opposition Nepali Congress claims it will form next government
Mar 20, 2021, at 09:46 pm
Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition party in Nepal, has claimed that the party would lead the next government with support from other opposition parties, reported the Himalayan Times.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan tests COVID-19 positive
Mar 20, 2021, at 09:41 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan PM Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, his office confirmed on Saturday.
US, China held 'serious discussions' in morning sessions in Alaska - State Dept.
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:55 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had serious discussions with their Chinese counterparts in a second meeting in the state of Alaska in the morning, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said on Friday.
Bangladesh: $500 million World Bank financing for COVID-19 vaccination for 54 million people
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:42 pm
Washington: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved $500 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Bangladesh vaccinate 54 million people against COVID-19.
COVID-19: Pandemic drives hundreds of Africans out of Guangzhou, says American news channel
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:36 pm
Guangzhou: A large number of Africans, who had settled in China for years and created a generation of mixed-race children as their legacy, are now moved out of Guangzhou, media reports said.
Poll shows Canadians refuse improved relations with China until detained compatriots are freed
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:32 pm
Ottawa: Amid news from Chinese state-affiliated media that the trials of detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor will begin “soon”, their fellow citizens say Sino-Canadian relations cannot improve until the men are released, says an Angus Reid Institute poll.
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:14 pm
Washington: The US has hit out at Chinese and pro-Beijing media outlets over what it called a “disinformation campaign” after they accused coronavirus-infected US consulate staff in Hong Kong of claiming diplomatic immunity to avoid quarantine, adding one more episode of conflict between the two nations, media reports said.
Mob of extremists demolish Ahmadi mosque in Pakistan
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:06 pm
Islamabad: A mob of extremists, with the help of cops, demolished a Ahmadi mosque in Garmola Virkan village of Pakistan's Gujranwala district on Wednesday, a journalist claimed on social media recently.
Pakistan: 'Converted' Hindu girl handed over to police
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:01 pm
Islamabad: A Hindu girl, who has been allegedly converted to Islam and was suspected to be kidnapped recently, has been handed over to the Tangwani police of Kandhkot-Kashmore district by the management of the Bharchundi Sharif shrine in Pakistan, media reports said.
Pakistan: Man held for attempting to attack French Embassy
Mar 20, 2021, at 03:55 pm
Islamabad: A man has been held by police officials as he attempted to attack Pakistan's French embassy, media reports said.
Ontario's Medical experts' grow consensus about its entering third wave of COVID-19
Mar 20, 2021, at 04:25 am
Ontario/IBNS: There has been a growing consensus among medical experts across Ontario, that the province has entered the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Return of Islamic Emirate ‘unacceptable’ in Afghanistan: Moscow declaration
Mar 20, 2021, at 03:25 am
In what came as a clear and stern message to the Afghan insurgent group, the Taliban, a joint statement issued by America, Russia, Pakistan, and China made it clear that the return of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is “unacceptable” to the international community.
Pakistan Aurat March: Bilawal regrets 'misuse' of blasphemy laws to target organisers
Mar 20, 2021, at 12:27 am
Islamabad: PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has regretted the "misuse of blasphemy laws" to target the Aurat March organisers after the rally held in the country recently.
Pakistan, Kuwait push for strong bilateral ties
Mar 20, 2021, at 12:10 am
Kuwait is committed to stronger bilateral ties with Pakistan, said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al Sabah who was on a two-day official visit to Pakistan. During his visit, two countries discussed cooperation in fields of education, trade and investment, and people-to-people contacts.
Trial of Canadian spy suspect detained in China ends without verdict
Mar 20, 2021, at 12:05 am
Moscow/Sputnik: The Chinese court did not deliver a verdict in the Friday trial of a Canadian citizen, Michael Spavor, who was detained on suspicion of espionage, Canadian media reported on Friday.
Pakistan government’s social media crackdown threatens human rights
Mar 19, 2021, at 11:59 pm
The new draconian social media law by the Pakistan government is a clear attempt to control and clamp down on the media in the name of national security, and religious sentiments, and threatens human rights, activists said.
Bill on protection of journalists to be introduced in parliament soon: Pakistani minister
Mar 19, 2021, at 11:50 pm
Pakistan is planning to soon introduce the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2020 in parliament that gives physical and financial protection to the journalists.
Banned Pakistani film wins big at Asian World Film Festival
Mar 19, 2021, at 11:48 pm
Islamabad: Banned and censored back home, Pakistani film Zindagi Tamasha, which has bagged several international awards, bagged Best Film and Best Actor awards at the prestigious Asian World Film Festival.
Nepal's former prime minister Dahal rules out prime minister post for himself
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:29 pm
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former prime minister of Nepal and the leader of the CPN-MC faction, has said he was not eyeing the post of the prime minister and a “political consensus” will decide who will be the next prime minister of the country.
Time to bury past; Pakistan Army chief Bajwa pushes for ‘stable’ Indo-Pak ties
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:23 pm
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javad Bajwa said that the time has come for the two nations (India & Pakistan) to “bury the past and move forward”; the economic potential of the region, he claimed, has remained hostage to the India-Pakistan rivalry.
No winners but fewer losers in global economy from COVID than expected
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:16 pm
New York: The COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted all economies around the world last year, with trillions of dollars of lost earnings, UN trade and development experts UNCTAD said on Thursday, before highlighting how several countries also showed unexpected resilience, too.
Natural disasters occurring three times more often than 50 years ago: new FAO report
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:12 pm
New York: New and unprecedented forms of natural disasters are most heavily felt in the agricultural industry, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.
Rights experts demand Iran release academic ‘nearing death’ in solitary confinement
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:07 pm
United Nations independent human rights experts on Thursday called on Iran to immediately release Iranian-Swedish academic Ahmadreza Djalali, reported to be in a “near death” condition after months of prolonged solitary confinement.