Condemnation over new attack on Nigeria school, ‘more than 300’ girls missing
Feb 27, 2021, at 07:07 pm
New York: An attack on a secondary school in northwest Nigeria on Friday in which several hundred girls are still missing, has been strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General, and UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
Relief programmes hit by ongoing crisis in Myanmar, UN humanitarian office says
Feb 27, 2021, at 06:53 pm
New York: The political unrest in Myanmar has impacted the ability of humanitarians to respond to the needs of vulnerable communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country’s conflict-affected areas, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday.
Experts to discuss human rights abuse issue in Tibet, East Turkistan, HK on Feb 28
Feb 27, 2021, at 03:58 pm
London: Human rights and advocacy group Global Alliance For Tibet and Persecuted Minorities will organize an online panel discussion on February 28 to highlight the ongoing human right abuses in Tibet, East Turkistan and Hong Kong.
Myanmar Military suspends visas, prolongs entry ban until April: Reports
Feb 27, 2021, at 03:25 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The military-controlled foreign ministry in Myanmar has suspended all visas and prolonged the entry ban for travelers until the end of March, media said Friday.
Joe Biden says US to unveil 'significant changes' to Saudi policy over Khashoggi murder
Feb 27, 2021, at 03:05 pm
Washington/Sputnik: President Joe Biden in an interview said his administration will announce more significant changes on US policy toward Saudi Arabia following the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Health Canada approves AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, to receive 500,000 doses by March-end
Feb 27, 2021, at 04:30 am
Ottawa/IBNS: Health Canada has approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca on Friday morning after reviewing two-dose vaccines for safety and efficacy since October, Health Canada reported.
Dutch officials seize heroin in container of Himalaya salt from Pakistan
Feb 27, 2021, at 12:24 am
The Hague: The Durch customs officials have seized the largest heroin haul ever found in one bust in the country when they discovered 1,500 kg of heroin in the port city of Rotterdam recently, media reports said on Friday.
Financial transparency, 'sound governance and accountability’ essential to reach Global Goals
Feb 26, 2021, at 09:36 pm
New York: Financial integrity is “paramount to the success of the 2030 Agenda”, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Thursday, launching a new report that offers a blueprint to address a range of obstacles, particularly surrounding illicit finance flows.
Belarus human rights situation deteriorating further, warns UN rights chief
Feb 26, 2021, at 09:18 pm
New York: A “systematic crackdown” against dissent in Belarus is continuing, months since the country’s disputed presidential election last year, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has told the Human Rights Council.
UN agencies begin registering asylum seekers at US-Mexico border
Feb 26, 2021, at 08:57 pm
New York: UN agencies have begun preparing individuals and families at the Matamoros informal camp, near the United States-Mexico border, for entry into the US, following the termination of a policy that forced asylum seekers to wait for immigration hearings in Mexico.
Mother of terrorism victim works to ‘turn the page’ on violent extremism
Feb 26, 2021, at 08:48 pm
New York: A Moroccan-French woman whose son was killed in a terrorist attack nearly a decade ago, has been commended for her powerful activism countering youth radicalization, and her efforts to replace the desolation of loss with ‘a prayer of love’.
EU diplomats slam China over its Hong Kong treatment
Feb 26, 2021, at 08:41 pm
Brussels: The European Union has targeted China's political crackdown on Hong Kong on Monday, media reports said on Friday.
US carries out airstrikes in Syria on Iran-backed militias after Prez Biden nod
Feb 26, 2021, at 08:33 pm
Washington DC: Following orders from US President Joe Biden, the US Military carried out airstrikes 'against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria', a Pentagon release said.
US offers to support Australian move to tackle China's 'human rights abuses' in Xinjiang
Feb 26, 2021, at 05:19 pm
The Biden administration says it will talk with the Morrison government about tackling China’s “human and labour rights abuses”, as the United States offered qualified support for a new Australian bill to ban imports from the Xinjiang region, reports The Guardian.
Hong Kong now plans to make politicians swear oath of loyalty to Beijing: Report
Feb 26, 2021, at 05:14 pm
Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s government has announced electoral changes requiring office-holders to pledge and maintain an oath of loyalty to Hong Kong and Beijing, a move which hints further on China's domination over the region, media reports said.
Indo-China border clash: Chinese authorities arrest six for online posts
Feb 26, 2021, at 05:07 pm
Beijing: Chinese authorities have arrested six people for their alleged online comments that cast doubt on Beijing's official account of a deadly border clash with India last year.
Beijing's power loans triggering a debt trap for Islamabad
Feb 26, 2021, at 04:50 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan is emerging as the new nation which is struggling to repay Chinese loans extended under the Belt and Road Initiative, media reports said.
Joe Biden, King Salman discuss ending Yemen War, Saudi Arabia’s Defense: White House
Feb 26, 2021, at 03:02 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in a phone conversation discussed ending the conflict in Yemen and Washington’s commitment to back Riyadh in defending its territory, the White House said in a statement.
Pakistan: Blast hits Khuzdar, four labourers hurt
Feb 26, 2021, at 02:31 pm
Khuzdar: A bomb blast in Pakistan's Khuzdar region on Thursday left at least four labourers injured, media reports said.
US must treat China as rival, trade partner: Trade representative nominee
Feb 26, 2021, at 02:12 pm
Washington/Sputnik: The United States needs to think of China as a rival, trade partner and outsized player while at the same time cooperating with Beijing to address global challenges, President Joe Biden’s nominee for US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said during her Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday.
UK imposes further sanctions on Myanmar’s top military
Feb 26, 2021, at 06:37 am
London/Sputnik: The UK has sanctioned another six military top-ranking officers of the Myanmar army, including Commander in Chief General Min Aung Hlaing, for alleged human rights violations following the February 1 coup against President Win Myint and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, the UK Foreign Office announced on Thursday.
FATF retains Pakistan in 'grey list', gives June deadline to implement action plan
Feb 26, 2021, at 06:15 am
Islamabad:Pakistan has once again been retained in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 'grey list', giving the south Asian nation yet another jolt on Thursday.
Ontario sees rise in active infections of COVID-19 cases for 1st time in weeks
Feb 26, 2021, at 05:00 am
Ontario/IBNS: Canada's Ontario reported an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections for the first time in more than six weeks with another 1,138 fresh cases compared to the last three days' infections of 1,117; 10,071; and 10,050 respectively.
Canada's top defense Admiral Art McDonald voluntarily steps aside amidst investigation
Feb 26, 2021, at 04:56 am
Ottawa/IBNS: With just over two years into the job, Admiral Art McDonald, Canada's new top military commander has voluntarily stepped aside amid investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service due to unspecified allegations levelled against him.
Successful Olympic Games in 2022 could validate China's authoritarian system: Expert
Feb 26, 2021, at 04:12 am
Edinburg: A geo-politics expert has said he feels hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics could help China revamp their image from a world factory to a world power.
China: Teacher shares her 'horrific' experience of Uyghur detention camp
Feb 26, 2021, at 03:43 am
Beijing: Qelbinur Sidik, who was assigned the task of teaching at a Chinese government-run detention center in Xinjiang, has said she has witnessed 'horrific tragedy' in the centres.
Expert feels Uighur movement seems to have lost momentum under Chinese repression
Feb 26, 2021, at 03:35 am
Beijing: A human rights expert has said he feels the Uighur movement seems to have lost momentum under Chinese repression while it made global campaigns pronounced.
Pakistan govt's plan to commercialize COVID vaccine triggers row
Feb 26, 2021, at 03:09 am
Islamabad: Pakistan's health experts have expressed concern over the government's decision to allow some private companies to import coronavirus vaccines as they fear the step might make the vaccines to be sold at commercial rates.
'Insulting' deceased soldiers during Galwan clash: Chinese police detain blogger Qiu Ziming
Feb 26, 2021, at 02:27 am
Beijing: The Chinese police have detained a blogger over his social media posts that authorities say demeaned military casualties of a border clash with India, media reports said.
Cambodia: COVID-19 outbreak hits Chinese community
Feb 26, 2021, at 02:19 am
Phnom Penh: A COVID-19 outbreak incident has been reported among Chinese expat community members in Cambodia, media reports said on Monday.