Bangabandhu was like a gem that everyone loved to see: Sheikh Rehana
Mar 19, 2021, at 05:44 pm
Dhaka: Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday narrated several anecdotes from 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's personal and political life when she said her father was like a 'gem' that everyone loved to see.
Pakistan: School student found dead in Peshawar police lock-up
Mar 19, 2021, at 05:20 pm
Peshawar: A school student was found dead in a lock-up of the West Cantonment Police Station in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Sunday, media reports said.
Mar 19, 2021, at 05:09 pm
A defence and strategic policy think tank has said Chinese Communist Party (CCP) diplomatic accounts, Chinese state media, pro-CCP influencers and patriotic trolls are targeting the UK public broadcaster, the BBC, in a coordinated information operation.
COVID-19: Main French book fair canceled for 2nd year
Mar 19, 2021, at 03:54 pm
Paris/UNI: France’s biggest book fair Livre Paris will not take place for a second year in a row due to persisting COVID-19 concerns, the organizers said.
First session of Chinese-US talks in Alaska come to end
Mar 19, 2021, at 03:45 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: The first session of the Chinese-US talks in Alaska has come to an end, with the Chinese delegation having already left the negotiating room, China’s media reported on Friday.
Sentencing of Toronto van attacker put over until end of may: Spokesperson
Mar 19, 2021, at 03:16 pm
Toronto/Sputnik: The sentencing of the perpetrator of the deadly 2018 Toronto van attack has been put over until May 31, an Attorney General Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.
Russia recalls envoy over Joe Biden's killer comment on Putin
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:47 am
Moscow/UNI/IBNS: The Russian government announced on Thursday that it has decided to recall its ambassador to the United States for consultations, as relations between the two countries hit a new low after US President Joe Biden's comments on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pakistan witnessing spike in COVID-19 cases, 3495 new incidents recorded in past 24 hours
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:34 am
Islamabad: Pakistan's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Thursday expressed concern on the country's Covid-19 disease trend and mortalities, adding that almost all major cities have crossed 5 per cent positivity.
Secretary-General appoints Jean Arnault as his personal envoy on Afghanistan
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:25 am
New York: The United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday announced the appointment of seasoned mediator Jean Arnault as his new Personal Envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues, reflecting the Organization’s continued commitment to the peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict in the country.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:24 am
Moscow/Sputnik: Edward Snowden, a fugitive, former CIA contractor who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
UN leaders speak out against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:04 am
New York: Underlining that “diversity is a richness, not a threat”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for greater investment in promoting social cohesion and tackling bigotry in a message on Wednesday to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
UNICEF condemns ‘horrific killings’ of civilians in Niger
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:56 pm
New York: The recent “horrific killings” of dozens of civilians in two villages in western Niger have been condemned in the strongest terms by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Libya arms embargo ‘totally ineffective’: UN expert panel
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:48 pm
New York: An arms embargo imposed on Libya by the Security Council in 2011 remains “totally ineffective” a UN Panel of Experts has said, adding that civilians, including migrants and asylum seekers, continue to suffer widespread rights violations and abuses.
South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:42 pm
New York: Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday.
Fugitive Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:26 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Fugitive Edward Snowden, former CIA contractor, who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
Myanmar: UN rights office ‘deeply disturbed’ over intensifying violence against protesters
Mar 18, 2021, at 09:08 pm
New York: The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday it is “deeply disturbed” that the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Myanmar “continues to intensify”, with a soaring death toll on the streets, increasingly aggressive use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and reports of torture in custody.
Canada's stalled vaccine rollout starts after it falls behind
Mar 18, 2021, at 08:16 pm
Toronto: Last week, Health Canada cleared the fourth Covid-19 vaccine as a part of a national campaign to vaccinate the population. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine joins the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, with a 95% efficacy rate, alongside the Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines.
US to sanction organisations for transactions with 24 or more China, HK officials
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:48 pm
Washington/UNI: The United States will impose sanctions against financial organisations conducting transactions with 24 more Chinese and Hong Kong officials whose actions reduced Hong Kong's autonomy, the US State Department said in a statement.
US stresses alliance with South Korea against 'unprecedented challenges' from North, China
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:43 pm
Seoul/UNI: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday the alliance with South Korea has "never been more important" given the "unprecedented challenges" from North Korea and China, and reaffirmed Washington's security commitment to Seoul.
30 aspiring entrepreneurs to be trained under Innovate Bhutan
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:23 pm
Thirty young, aspiring entrepreneurs will get training under Innovate Bhutan (iBhutan) for seven weeks in social entrepreneurship under the Learn 2 Launch (L2L) programme. The idea is to promote the social entrepreneurship concept in Bhutan with the idea to create a future social business leaders.
38 business projects approved in Bhutan to generate jobs
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:15 pm
With the aim to generate more jobs, about 38 business projects from farming to mediatech to postal services have been approved by the National Credit Guarantee Scheme (NCGS) of the Bhutanese government.
Pakistan government trains gun on Election Commission; seeks resignation
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:53 pm
The Pakistan government has threatened the country’s Election Commission and said if the Chief Election Commissioner, along with other members don’t resign, the government would move court to initiate contempt proceedings.
Pakistan president wants to improve ties with Bangladesh
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:41 pm
Sri Lankan Ports Authority says 'unaware' of Adani’s claim on WCT
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:34 pm
A day after India’s Adani Group claimed that it would acquire a 51 percent stake in West Container Terminal of Colombo port, Sri Lankan Ports Authority (SLPA) has now said they are "unaware" of such claims.
IEA slightly upgrades forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 to 5.5 mbd: Report
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:20 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report on Wednesday slightly upgraded the forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 by 0.1 million barrels a day (mbd) to 5.5 mbd as the global consumption is driven up by cold weather.
COVID-19 surge in Pakistan: Traders reject decision to close business at 6 pm
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:12 pm
Islamabad: Certain sections of Pakistani traders have objected to the country's government's decision to close businesses at 6 pm under new coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, media reports said.
Chinese Coast Guard could harass Taiwan soon, warns expert
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:09 pm
Taipei: Experts believe that China's Coast Guard vessels could soon join People's Liberation Army's warplanes to harass Taiwan, media reports said.
Hong Kong now faces brain drain with large number of educated people planning to shift abroad
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:31 pm
Hong Kong could risk a brain drain in the next five years after a new survey found a quarter of the city’s university-educated under-35s were planning on leaving to work elsewhere, a new chapter which might be seen by the city already troubled by Chinese treatment, media reports said.
UN envoy warns of ‘dramatic’ deterioration in Yemen conflict
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:13 pm
New York: The UN’s top official in Yemen has warned of a “dramatic” deterioration in the country’s ongoing conflict, telling the Security Council on Tuesday that fighting has expanded on several fronts amid the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Gender equality means business, Secretary-General chief tells corporate leaders
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:06 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has urged corporate leaders to achieve gender equality, highlighting the benefits for the private sector and society at large.