France plans to allow return to workplace once a week as part of COVID-19 lockdown relief
Dec 16, 2020, at 10:16 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: France expects to allow employees to go back to their workplaces one day per week starting January 7 under the coronavirus lockdown relief strategy, Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Wednesday.
Australia formally requests WTO probe into China's 80% tariff on barley
Dec 16, 2020, at 10:03 pm
Canberra/Sputnik: Australia has formally asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to launch an investigation into China's 80% tariff on barley after attempts to privately resolve the issue failed, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said on Wednesday.
EU parliament approves extra $57.9bln package to help states mitigate COVID consequences
Dec 16, 2020, at 09:52 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The European Parliament on Wednesday approved the REACT-EU proposal to provide additional 47.5 billion euros ($57.9 billion) to EU member states to help them cope with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
Don't use religion as a political tool: Sheikh Hasina on Victory Day
Dec 16, 2020, at 06:08 pm
Dhaka: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has urged people of the country not to use religion as a political tool.
Bangladesh government extends Mujib Borsho celebration till Dec 16, 2021
Dec 16, 2020, at 04:09 pm
Dhaka: The Bangladesh government has extended the Mujib Borsho or Mujib Year, which marks the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, till Dec 16, 2021.
UN documents 375 killings in Colombia in 2020, urges Government action
Dec 16, 2020, at 04:03 pm
New York: The United Nations has recorded the deaths of 255 people in 66 massacres in Colombia this year, as well as the killing of 120 human rights defenders, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Tuesday.
Niger: UN gravely concerned for safety of refugees, following Boko Haram attack
Dec 16, 2020, at 03:57 pm
New York: The United Nations voiced grave concern on Tuesday for the safety of thousands of refugees and internally displaced in the wake of a deadly attack on Toumour, a town in southeastern Niger’s Diffa region, near the border with Nigeria.
Put me out of a job: UN refugee chief’s challenge to world leaders
Dec 16, 2020, at 03:44 pm
New York: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has challenged world leaders to put him “out of a job” by addressing the root causes that drive millions to flee their homes due to war and insecurity.
Afghanistan: IED blast leaves Kabul Deputy Governor killed
Dec 16, 2020, at 02:53 pm
Kabul: An IED blast in Afghanistan capital Kabul city left Mahbubullah Muhibbi, deputy governor of the city, and his secretary killed, media reports said on Wednesday.
US population projected to exceed 332 mln by April 2021: Census Bureau
Dec 16, 2020, at 02:44 pm
Washington/Sputnik: The population of the United States is expected to reach 332.5 million by April next year, US Census Bureau said in a statement.
Eight EU countries agree on start date of COVID-19 vaccination: Italian Health Ministry
Dec 16, 2020, at 02:27 pm
Rome/Sputnik: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland have agreed on a start date of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the Italian Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
Slavery will never be history as long as we turn a blind eye to China: Noted columnist warns
Dec 16, 2020, at 03:55 am
A noted journalist feels that slavery will never be history as long as the world turns a blind eye to China.
Qaumi Watan Party leader slams Imran Khan govt over treatment towards Pakhtuns
Dec 16, 2020, at 03:39 am
Islamabad: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) provincial head Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao has slammed the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government as it could not provide relief to people.
Dec 16, 2020, at 03:32 am
Lahore: The Lahore Police have registered a case against key PML-N leaders and workers, including Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for holding the PDM rally at Minar-i-Pakistan in the Pakistani city on Sunday in violation of government orders and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the coronavirus, media reports said.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh statue vandalised in Lahore: ISI-Khalistanis rift emerges
Dec 16, 2020, at 02:57 am
Islamabad: The vandalization of a statue of Sikh icon Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore city of Pakistan not only triggered condemnation from a section of the society but also brought to fore a rift between the Pak spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pak-sponsored Khalistanis.
‘Generation disrupted’ lays out plan to take on coronavirus through major youth mobilization
Dec 15, 2020, at 11:15 pm
New York: A new ground-breaking global youth initiative was launched on Monday to invest in and scale up youth-led solutions and engagement, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
First glimmer of hope in decades for Black Sea and Mediterranean fish stocks
Dec 15, 2020, at 11:11 pm
New York:The number of fish stocks subject to overexploitation in the Mediterranean and Black Sea has fallen for the first time in decades, offering some hope that a dangerous decline can be turned around, according to a report published on Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
UN human rights chief ‘appalled’ at Iran execution, questions trial process and verdict
Dec 15, 2020, at 11:09 pm
New York: Iran’s decision to hang media activist Ruhollah Zam on Saturday was an appalling violation of human rights that followed a deeply flawed trial process, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement on Monday.
Avert ‘dire consequences’ for women's health, UNFPA urges in appeal to prevent maternal deaths
Dec 15, 2020, at 11:06 pm
New York: The UN agency dedicated to improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide (UNFPA) appealed on Monday for $2.5 billion by 2030 to help avert potential “dire consequences” surrounding pregnancies and maternal deaths.
ILO study finds migrants earn much less than locals, and the gap is widening
Dec 15, 2020, at 11:02 pm
New York: The gap between wages paid to migrant and national workers is big and growing, and may widen further because of the pandemic, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said in a report published on Monday.
UN chief calls for immediate release of abducted children in Nigeria
Dec 15, 2020, at 03:02 pm
New York: The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of hundreds of boys, believed abducted by suspected bandits, after an attack on their school in northwest Nigeria.
Dec 15, 2020, at 02:17 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US President-elect Joe Biden said in a speech, after the Electoral College secured his election victory, that President Donald Trump has refused to respect the will of the US public and the law by contesting the results.
Toronto to receive Ontario's 1st doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine today
Dec 15, 2020, at 05:21 am
Ontario/IBNS: Toronto will receive the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, said retired general Rick Hillier, the head of the province's vaccine distribution task force.
British MP apologises for tweet supporting pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice
Dec 15, 2020, at 03:29 am
Islamabad: British MP Taiwo Owatemi has apologised for her tweet where she supported the banned Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Slain Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has a 'life insurance' policy in Pakistan: Report
Dec 15, 2020, at 03:21 am
Islamabad: Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour,who was killed in a US drone attack in 2016, had purchased a ‘life insurance’ policy from a private company in Pakistan using a fake identity, media reports said.
Bangabandhu statue: Joy feels Hifazat-e Islam is playing the role of 1971's Jamaat-e-Islami
Dec 15, 2020, at 02:28 am
Dhaka: Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy , ICT Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has said that by opposing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue, hardline group Hifazat-e Islam is playing the role the Jamaat-e-Islami did during the 1971 Liberation War.
Nawaz Sharif slams Imran Khan,Pakistan Army during PDM rally
Dec 15, 2020, at 01:29 am
Lahore: Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan and the country's army as he addressed the crowd via video link during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)'s Lahore rally on Sunday.
Pakistan: 25 hurt in Rawalpindi blast, 3 arrested
Dec 15, 2020, at 01:11 am
Rawalpindi: The total number of injured following a blast in Pakistan's Rawalpindi city has now touched 25, media reports said on Monday.
Several Google services down right now in worldwide outrage
Dec 14, 2020, at 11:32 pm
New York: Google users across the globe are seemingly finding trouble using the various services provided by the IT giant.
Afghanistan: Taliban terrorists kill local imam
Dec 14, 2020, at 09:48 pm
Kabul: Suspected Taliban terrorists shot dead an Imam in Lash Juwayn district of Afghanistan's Farah region on Monday, media reports said.