Argentina: ‘Ground-breaking’ new abortion law crucial to ending gender discrimination – UN experts
Jan 01, 2021, at 08:40 pm
New York: The year drew to a close in Argentina with “a ground-breaking law” that legalizes abortions up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, in a move that independent UN rights experts called on Thursday, “a crucial step in eliminating discrimination against women and girls”.
First Person: Vietnamese man finds ‘true voice’ in gay community
Jan 01, 2021, at 08:23 pm
New York: A Vietnamese man has told the UN he has found his ‘true voice’ in the gay community, despite the discrimination and harassment that LGBT people face in his country
Zhang Zhan arrest: EU targets Chinam, demands her release
Jan 01, 2021, at 08:13 pm
Brussels: The European Union External Action Service (EEAS) on Wednesday demanded Beijing to release free citizen journalist Zhang Zhan who was arrested by Chinese authorities in May.
Canada asks China to maintain transparency in trial of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors
Jan 01, 2021, at 07:50 pm
Ottawa: The Canadian government on Tuesday voiced its concern on the judicial procedures performed by China on 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who were detained in Shenzhen in August while attempting to flee to Taiwan as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed the draconian National Security Law.
Afghan security forces bust Chinese intelligence network, 10 spies arrested
Jan 01, 2021, at 07:40 pm
Kabul: Afghanistan security forces have busted a 10-member Chinese module operating a terror cell in the capital city of Kabul, media reports said on Wednesday.
United Nations, African Union reiterate commitment to Sudan, as joint mission ends operations
Jan 01, 2021, at 03:45 pm
New York: The United Nations Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission have reiterated their commitment to continue to support Sudan consolidate peace as the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping mission in the country’s Darfur region ends its operations on Thursday.
US calls on China to immediately release Jailed Hong Kong activists: Mike Pompeo
Jan 01, 2021, at 03:06 pm
Washington/Sputnik: The United States is urging China to immediately release 10 Hong Kong activists who were sentenced in a Chinese court on charges related to the city's anti-government protests, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday.
Ontario reports third record day in a row of 3,328 new COVID-19 cases, 56 new deaths
Jan 01, 2021, at 03:59 am
Ontario/IBNS: Canada's Ontario city reported for a third record day in a row 3,328 new COVID-19 infections and 56 deaths both well above the previous highs since infections began rising again in Sept, media reports said.
Pierre Cardin to be buried at Paris cemetery: Reports
Jan 01, 2021, at 01:32 am
Paris/Sputnik: French fashion legend Pierre Cardin will be buried at a ceremony attended by close relatives at Montmartre cemetery in Paris, media said Thursday.
Blast in Yemen's Aden airport kills five as new government arrives
Dec 31, 2020, at 12:28 am
Aden/Sputnik: Five people were killed and over 20 injured as a result of a violent explosion that took place on Wednesday in Yemen’s Aden airport as the country’s new government arrived in the city following the inauguration ceremony, local media reported.
Pakistan Minister says Nawaz Sharif's passport to be cancelled on Feb 16
Dec 30, 2020, at 11:08 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan's Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said the passport of former Prime Minister of the country Nawaz Sharif will be cancelled on Feb 16.
Afghan Army Pilot shot dead in Kandahar
Dec 30, 2020, at 10:52 pm
Kabul: An Afghanistan military helicopter pilot was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in PD14 of Kandahar city of Afghanistan on Wednesday, media reports said.
Afghanistan: ISIS finance manager arrested
Dec 30, 2020, at 10:35 pm
Kabul: Afghanistan security forces have arrested six terrorists, including the finance manager of terror group Islamic State, media reports said on Wednesday.
Sixth round of talks between Govt, farmers underway
Dec 30, 2020, at 10:28 pm
New Delhi/UNI: The sixth round of talks between the government and striking farmers began here on Wednesday afternoon to break the deadlock on agriculture reforms even as the farmers stuck to their demand of repealing the three farms laws which they consider hostile.
Singapore: Man who spied in US for China arrested
Dec 30, 2020, at 10:04 pm
Singapore City/UNI: The Internal Security Department (ISD) of Singapore on Wednesday arrested the Singaporean man, Dickson Yeo Jun Wei, who was spying on the United States for China and spent 14 months in a US prison, the ISD said.
Journalist Daniel Pearl murder case: US ‘stands ready’ to try prime accused Omar Shiekh
Dec 30, 2020, at 09:57 pm
Washington: The US Attorney General on Wednesday said his nation 'stands ready' to take custody of Omar Sheikh, the prime accused in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
Pakistan: Death toll due to COVID-19 croisses 10,000
Dec 30, 2020, at 09:50 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan added 55 new deaths due to COVID-19, taking the total death toll due to the disease to cross 10,000-mark.
Argentina becomes first major Latin American to legalise abortion
Dec 30, 2020, at 09:46 pm
Buenos Aires: Millions of women in Argentina will be able to opt for abortion legally, after the Catholic-majority country approved a bill to legalise it on Wednesday.
Nepalese youth protests against Chinese interference in domestic politics
Dec 30, 2020, at 07:20 pm
Kathmandu/IBNS: The Nepalese youth has launched a protest against China for its interference in the internal political matters of Kathmandu.
End arrests of political opponents in Uganda: UN independent experts
Dec 30, 2020, at 04:04 pm
New York: A group of independent UN human rights experts called on Ugandan authorities to end the arrest, detention and judicial harassment of political opponents, civil society leaders and human rights defenders.
Netherlands violates nationality rights: UN rights committee
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:59 pm
New York: The Netherlands has violated a child’s rights by registering children under the category “nationality unknown” as opposed to Stateless – leaving them ineligible to access international protections, the UN Human Rights Committee declared on Tuesday.
Lebanon: UN chief welcomes murder conviction for 1980 blue helmet killings
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:41 pm
New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Lebanon’s decision to bring to justice the man found guilty of killing two UN peacekeepers decades ago.
UN rights expert urges United States to remove sanctions hindering rebuilding in Syria
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:38 pm
New York: A UN independent human rights expert, on Tuesday, called on the United States to remove unilateral sanctions against Syria that may hamper efforts to rebuild the war-torn country’s destroyed civilian infrastructure.
US urges China to release journalist Zhang Zhan
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:34 pm
Washington/UNI: The United States on Tuesday urged the People's Republic of China(PRC) to release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who had documented the initial stages of the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan.
Denmark extends COVID-19 restrictive measures until January 17
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:21 pm
Murmansk/Sputnik: Denmark's restrictive measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being extended until January 17, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference broadcast by Danish media.
Japan tech firms diversify supply chains from China, reveals poll
Dec 30, 2020, at 02:41 pm
Tokyo/UNI: More than 40 percent of Japanese companies which possess sensitive technology linked to security are currently shifting their parts procurement and manufacturing bases from China so as to diversify their supply chains, reveals a survey conducted by Kyodo News agency.
Joe Biden urges US Congress to provide more funds COVID-19 treatment, reopening efforts
Dec 30, 2020, at 02:20 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US President-elect Joe Biden urged Congress to provide additional funds to fund COVID-19 treatment as well as reopening efforts.
UK reports biggest single-day spike of 53,135 COVID cases, 414 deaths
Dec 30, 2020, at 07:37 am
London/UNI: The United Kingdom on Tuesday recorded the highest single-day spike of 53,135 fresh novel coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, while 414 people lost their lives.
Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 jolts Croatia
Dec 30, 2020, at 07:21 am
Zagreb/Sputnik: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked Croatia on Tuesday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.
Ontario reports record-high 2,553 new COVID-19 cases
Dec 30, 2020, at 04:36 am
Ontario/IBNS: A single-day high of 2,553 new cases of COVID-19 was reported by Ontario on Tuesday, with 895 in Toronto, 496 in Peel Region, 147 in Windsor-Essex, 144 in Hamilton, and 142 in York Region bringing the province's seven-day average to 2,236.