Feb 18, 2021, at 03:55 am
Colombo/IBNS: Sri Lanka has cancelled the address of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to its Parliament next week, apparently over concerns that he could raise the Kashmir issue in his speech, a media report said.
French lawmakers approve bill to combat 'Islamist separatism'
Feb 17, 2021, at 07:57 pm
Paris: French National Assembly on Tuesday approved a law to fight Islamist extremism and separatism, an attempt believed to be taken to tackle the root causes of jihadist violence.
Secretary-General underscores need for peace and stability in Africa’s Sahel region
Feb 17, 2021, at 07:24 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has underlined his concern for Africa’s Sahel region, where deteriorating security and violence are aggravating an already difficult humanitarian situation that is unfolding amid the COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency.
US President Biden vows repercussions for China over alleged human rights violations
Feb 17, 2021, at 03:59 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US President Joe Biden on Tuesday vowed repercussions for China over alleged human rights violations.
Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi faces new charge as protests continue
Feb 17, 2021, at 03:09 pm
Nay Pyi Taw/UNI: Myanmar's military rulers on Tuesday slapped detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, with a second criminal charge on the day she appeared in court via video link.
Fire at Afghan-Iranian border hits vital humanitarian assistance: UN migration agency
Feb 17, 2021, at 12:58 am
New York: A catastrophic fire on Saturday, at a border between Afghanistan and Iran has damaged an UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) reception centre, stalling services for Afghan migrants returning to their country.
Myanmar: ‘World is watching’, UN Special Envoy urges military to refrain from violence
Feb 17, 2021, at 12:43 am
New York: The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar has called on the country’s military leadership to refrain from violence and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, amid ongoing protests against the military takeover.
North Korea attempted to steal COVID-19 vaccine technology from Pfizer: Reports
Feb 16, 2021, at 10:44 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: North Korea allegedly tried to hack into Pfizer's systems and steal COVID-19 technology and treatment, Yonhap news Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the South Korean intelligence service.
Tokyo lodges protest with Beijing over Chinese ships' entry into Japanese coastal waters
Feb 16, 2021, at 10:35 pm
Tokyo/Sputnik: Tokyo on Tuesday lodged a protest with Beijing after four Chinese ships entered the Japanese coastal waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.
South Korean military detains suspicious man near demilitarized zone: Reports
Feb 16, 2021, at 10:31 pm
Seoul/Sputnik: South Korean military has detained a suspicious man near the demilitarized zone of the inter-Korean border, where civilians are not allowed, the Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, citing South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Afghanistan: Four die in series of attacks in Jalalabad
Feb 16, 2021, at 10:25 pm
Kabul/Sputnik: At least four people died in two separate incidents in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, the capital of the Nangarhar province, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday.
Pakistan government intensifying crackdown on NGOs: Report
Feb 16, 2021, at 06:39 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan PM Imran Khan-led government has intensified crackdown on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the country.
International Development Committee relaunches inquiry into effectiveness of UK aid to Pakistan
Feb 16, 2021, at 06:34 pm
London: The International Development Committee (IDC) has said it has relaunched an inquiry into UK aid to Pakistan.
Kamala Harris discusses COVID-19 pandemic with Macron : White House
Feb 16, 2021, at 03:41 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: US Vice President Kamala Harris has discussed the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and other issues during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said.
Afghanistan: 65 media workers, rights defenders killed since 2018
Feb 16, 2021, at 03:27 pm
Kabul: Sixty-five journalists, media professionals and human rights defenders were killed in Afghanistan between 1 January 2018 and 31 January 2021, with 11 losing their lives since the start of peace negotiations last September, the UN Mission in the country said on Monday.
‘Unacceptable’ violence, intimidation and harassment in Myanmar: UN chief
Feb 16, 2021, at 02:41 pm
New York: An increased use of force and the reported deployment of armoured vehicles to major cities throughout Myanmar have sparked the deep concern of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Chinese coast guard vessels enter Japan's territorial waters
Feb 16, 2021, at 02:35 pm
Tokyo/UNI: Chinese coast guard vessels on Tuesday entered Japan's territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, the Japan Coast Guard said.
Pakistan: Ahmadi doctor shot dead in Peshawar
Feb 16, 2021, at 05:31 am
Peshawar: An Ahmadi doctor has been shot dead by a teen in Bazidkhel area of Pakistan's Peshawar city, media reports said on Monday.
Washington expresses concern over Beijing's interference in WHO's probe on COVID-19 origin
Feb 16, 2021, at 01:32 am
Washington: Targeting China, the US has expressed deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them.
China targets US for accusing Beijing of interfering in WHO’s COVID-19 probe
Feb 16, 2021, at 01:07 am
Washington: China has reacted sharply to the US comments on Beijing interfering in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) probe into the origins of the coronavirus and said Washington is “severely undermining” the crucial world health body.
Beijing's support to military rule: Myanmar witnesses protest outside Chinese consulate
Feb 16, 2021, at 12:48 am
Yangon: Several protesters assembled outside the Chinese consulate in Mandalay to demonstrate against Beijing's support for the military regime, media reports said.
Afghanistan: Taliban abduct 11 members in Herat
Feb 15, 2021, at 10:39 pm
Herat: Suspected Taliban terrorists have abducted 11 workers at the Pashdan Dam in Karokh district of Afghanistan's Herat region on Sunday, media reports said.
Feb 15, 2021, at 10:23 pm
Islamabad: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz attacked the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and said it had nominated individuals for the upcoming Senate elections who were "billionaires with no connection or service to the party".
Afghanistan: 7 ISIS terrorists killed during operation
Feb 15, 2021, at 10:12 pm
Kabul: At least seven ISIS terrorists died during an operation conducted by the National Directorate of Security personnel in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, media reports said on Monday.
Egyptian delegation arriving in Tripoli to participate in resumption of Embassy work
Feb 15, 2021, at 03:11 pm
Doha/Sputnik: An Egyptian delegation will arrive in Libya’s capital on Monday to take part in the resumption of the work of the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli after a six year halt, a spokesperson of the Government of National Accord (GNA) told Sputnik.
Israel to allow 2,000 air travelers to enter every day
Feb 15, 2021, at 02:56 pm
Tel Aviv/Sputnik: Israel's coronavirus cabinet has allowed up to 2,000 foreign air travelers to enter the country every day, the prime minister’s office and the health ministry said Sunday.
Czech Government declares 14-day state of emergency over COVID-19: Reports
Feb 15, 2021, at 02:36 pm
Prague/Sputnik: The Czech cabinet declared a two-week state of emergency at the request of regional authorities due to worsening COVID-19 dynamics in circumvention of parliament's opposition, the Czech Television reported on Sunday.
Myanmar political crisis: Military urged to stop harassing civilians
Feb 15, 2021, at 02:32 pm
Nay Pyi Taw/UNI: Top diplomats of Western nations in Myanmar have called on the nation's military to end arrests of politicians, activists and restrictions on journalists, warning that "the world is watching."
Turkish forces 'neutralize' 48 PKK militants in northern Iraq: Defence Minister
Feb 15, 2021, at 02:56 am
Ankara/Sputnik: The Turkish armed forces have "neutralized" 48 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered by Ankara as a terrorist organization, during an anti-terrorist operation in northern Iraq, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Sunday.
New Zealand imposes 1st COVID-19 lockdown since October amid community transmission
Feb 14, 2021, at 11:28 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: New Zealand is imposing first lockdown restrictions since October on the city of Auckland — its most populous city — for three days after three COVID-19 community cases were reported, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Sunday.