Transfer of Rohingya refugees to Bay of Bengal island ‘must be voluntary’: UN refugee agency
Dec 08, 2020, at 04:10 pm
New York: The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), has voiced concerns over the reported relocation of some Rohingya refugees by Bangladeshi authorities, to an island off the country’s coast, in the Bay of Bengal.
Guterres spotlights ‘critical role’ of aviation in pandemic recovery, marking International Day
Dec 08, 2020, at 04:04 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has called for greater support for the aviation sector, badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow it to better weather the global economic crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New COVID-19 spike could hurt US economy’s V-shaped recovery: White House Adviser Kudlow
Dec 08, 2020, at 03:49 pm
Washington/Sputnik: The potential for a V-shaped US economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is being threatened by a resurgence of infections, White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow said on Monday.
Pfizer, Moderna will not attend Trump's 'vaccine summit' : Senior official
Dec 08, 2020, at 03:41 pm
Washington/Sputnik: Pfizer and Moderna, the two major pharmaceutical manufacturers expected to soon receive federal approval for emergency use of their coronavirus vaccines, will not attend President Donald Trump’s vaccine summit in the White House on Tuesday, a senior administration official told reporters.
Joe Biden to nominate Ex-CENTCOM Chief Austin to lead Defense Department: Reports
Dec 08, 2020, at 03:30 pm
Washington/Sputnik: President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate former commander of US Central Command, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, to be his Secretary of Defense, Politico reported citing three people familiar with the matter.
US Judge blocks Donald Trump administration's restrictions on Chinese video app TikTok
Dec 08, 2020, at 03:24 pm
Washington/UNI: A US federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump-led administration from imposing a ban on the video-sharing platform TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Japan to adopt new economic stimulus package worth more than $707 billion: Suga
Dec 08, 2020, at 03:07 pm
Tokyo/Sputnik: Japan will adopt new stimulus measures on Tuesday including a package worth 73.6 trillion yen (over $707 billion) aimed at supporting the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said.
Justin Trudeau confirms delivery of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines by next week
Dec 08, 2020, at 05:25 am
Ottawa/IBNS: Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau on Monday confirmed the receipt of hundreds of thousands of doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by next week, which is awaiting the country's health approval.
PDM leaders vow to hold Lahore public meeting despite Pakistan PM Imran Khan govt's warnings
Dec 08, 2020, at 04:45 am
Islamabad: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders once again challenged Pakistan PM Imran Khan and said they will host the Lahore public meeting on Dec 13 despite the government warning of legal action.
Pakistan: Christian girl shot dead for rejecting marriage proposal sent by Muslim man
Dec 08, 2020, at 04:29 am
Islamabad: A Christian girl was allegedly killed after her parents rejected a marriage proposal sent to her by a Muslim man in Pakistan, media reports said on Monday.
Pope Francis to visit Iraq next year
Dec 08, 2020, at 12:14 am
Rome/Sputnik: Pope Francis will pay an official visit to Iraq from March 5-8, 2021, Vatican press office chief Matteo Bruni said on Monday.
Dec 08, 2020, at 12:04 am
Peshawar: Six COVID-19 infected patients died in a Pakistan hospital after oxygen supply at the medical facility ran out, media reports said on Monday.
EU split over tougher action on Turkey ahead of crucial summit
Dec 07, 2020, at 11:33 pm
Brussels/Sputnik: The European Union is on the fence about sanctioning Ankara over what it sees as Turkish provocations in the Mediterranean, ahead of a crucial summit this week, a Brussels-based news website cited its sources as saying Monday.
Bangladesh: Anti-terrorism unit officials arrest two Hizb ut-Tahrir members
Dec 07, 2020, at 11:03 pm
Dhaka: Bangladesh's anti-terrorism unit officials arrested two suspected members of banned militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir, media reports said on Monday.
Police checking Aeroflot plane at JFK after reports of explosives on board: Embassy
Dec 07, 2020, at 03:13 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: New York police are checking an Aeroflot plane that has arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport from Moscow for explosive devices, a spokesperson of the Russian Embassy in the US told Sputnik.
Iranian military says nuclear Physicist was assassinated by satellite-controlled weapon
Dec 07, 2020, at 02:43 pm
Tehran/Sputnik: The weapon used to assassinate Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was remotely controlled from a satellite, Brig. Gen. Ramazan Sharif, the spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said on Sunday.
Over 100 people detained during Sunday protests in Belarus: Rights group
Dec 07, 2020, at 02:32 pm
Minsk/Sputnik: Belarusian police have detained at least 104 people attending the Sunday anti-government protests across the country, the Viasna human rights center said in a news release.
Drugs worth Rs 2.5 billion from Chinese-controlled Gwadar seized by Sri Lankan officials
Dec 07, 2020, at 01:16 am
Colombo: The Sri Lankan authorities have arrested four people and seized Rs 2.5 billion worth of drugs which originated from Chinese-controlled Gwadar region of Pakistan, media reports said on Sunday.
Seoul cancels new year bell-ringing ceremony amid surge in COVID-19
Dec 07, 2020, at 01:07 am
Seoul/Sputnik: A traditional New Year bell-ring ceremony will be canceled in the South Korean capital of Seoul, as the country has faced yet another spike in COVID-19 cases, a municipal government official said on Sunday.
Will resign instead of giving NRO to opposition: Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Dec 07, 2020, at 12:57 am
Islamabad/UNI: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that he is willing to give up his political office rather than to give an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) to the opposition.
US: Fire breaks out in New York Middle Collegiate Church
Dec 07, 2020, at 12:49 am
Washington/UNI: A fire tore through a 128-year-old church in New York here on Sunday, destroying stained glass windows and causing widespread damage to the structure from the inside.
Gionee lands in trouble: Chinese court says it implanted malware in 21mn phones
Dec 07, 2020, at 12:35 am
Beijing: China’s Judgment Document Network has found smartphone maker Gionee to be guilty of implanting malware in over 20 million smartphones, media reports said.
Action against China: US terminates five programs disguised as “cultural exchanges"
Dec 07, 2020, at 12:28 am
Beijing: The US Department of State on Friday announced its decision to terminate five programs, disguised as “cultural exchanges,” with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Sheikh Hasina upset over the manner Pakistan still treats Bangladesh's founding father Mujibur
Dec 07, 2020, at 12:11 am
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is believed to be upset over the manner Pakistan still treats founding father of Bangladesh and her father Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.
Bangladesh making significant economic recovery from COVID-19: Bhutan PM Tshering
Dec 06, 2020, at 11:01 pm
Dhaka: Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said Bangladesh is making a significant economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
US, UK, other nations mount pressure on China over Uighur torture issue
Dec 06, 2020, at 10:27 pm
Beijing: Several nations across the globe have called on China to respect the human rights of its Uighur Muslim minority.
Tibetan monk arrested by China remains missing
Dec 06, 2020, at 09:50 pm
Dharamshala, India: A Tibetan monk from Ngaba region in Tibet, who was arbitrarily arrested by the local Chinese authorities almost a year and a half ago, continues to remain untraceable, Central Tibetan Administration reported.
US Defense Department fully cooperating with Biden’s transition team : Miller
Dec 06, 2020, at 09:34 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Acting US Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller has reiterated that the Pentagon is fully cooperating with Joe Biden’s transition team, with more defense meetings planned for next week.
Crucial Brexit trade talks to resume on Sunday
Dec 06, 2020, at 09:22 pm
Brussels/UNI: The crucial negotiations to secure a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU will once again resume on Sunday, even the December 31 deadline nears and chances of a no-deal Brexit looms large.
Afghan forces kill 28 Taliban militants in Uruzgan, Kandahar provinces
Dec 06, 2020, at 09:06 pm
Kabul/Sputnik: Afghan forces have killed 28 Taliban insurgents during a series of operations in the provinces of Uruzgan and Kandahar, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said on Sunday.