Review ‘disproportionate and unwarranted’ measures, rights experts urge Cambodia
Apr 14, 2021, at 03:52 pm
New York: United Nations independent human rights experts on Monday called for the review of new legal and administrative measures adopted by the Government of Cambodia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which they said appear to be “disproportionate and unwarranted”.
Bipartisan US bill would grant priority refugee status to China's Uyghurs: Lawmakers
Apr 14, 2021, at 03:39 pm
Washington/Sputnik: China’s Uyghur minority subject to government repression would become eligible for prioritized US refugee status under legislation introduced by Senators Marco Rubio and Chris Coons.
Reconciliation center says terrorists shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone 22 times
Apr 14, 2021, at 03:30 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Rear Adm. Alexander Karpov, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said at a briefing that the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) had shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone 22 times over the past 24 hours.
Austrian Health Minister Anschober announces resignation over health issues
Apr 13, 2021, at 11:20 pm
Vienna/Sputnik: Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober announced on Tuesday his intention to step down from the ministerial post due to health problems and exhaustion from combating the coronavirus pandemic.
Canadian Intelligence alleges China, Russia of 'Cold War' level of espionage, foreign interference
Apr 13, 2021, at 10:06 pm
Ottawa/UNI: A fresh report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) pointed to an unprecedented surge in espionage activities, especially by Russia and China, toward the North American country, similar to that during the Cold War era.
COVID complicates efforts to shut down drug traffickers, boost development
Apr 13, 2021, at 04:45 pm
New York: The growing complexities of the world drug problem are hampering efforts to achieve sustainable development by the end of the decade: a situation which the COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday.
‘Reasonable grounds’ to believe Syrian military helicopter deployed chemical weapon: OPCW
Apr 13, 2021, at 04:37 pm
New York: A report released on Monday by the body dedicated to freeing the world of chemical weapons, concludes that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that a Syrian military helicopter carried out a chemical attack on the town of Saraqib, in 2018.
UK armed forces bill would limit war crimes accountability: UN rights chief
Apr 13, 2021, at 04:24 pm
New York: Legislation under consideration in the UK regarding armed forces personnel could limit accountability for war crimes if it is passed in its current form, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday.
Guterres calls for ‘paradigm shift’ to recover from COVID setbacks
Apr 13, 2021, at 04:09 pm
New York: A “paradigm shift” aligning the private sector with the global goals is needed to address the challenges of the future, including those triggered by COVID-19, the UN chief said on Monday, addressing the Financing for Development (FfD) Forum.
Air Canada, Ottawa strike $4.68bln financial aid deal
Apr 13, 2021, at 02:43 pm
Toronto/Sputnik: Air Canada and the federal government have struck a deal that will see the country’s flag carrier be given access of up to $4.68 billion in liquidity through a federal COVID-19 stimulus program for large businesses, the airliner said.
Prince Harry arrives in UK for Prince Philip’s funeral
Apr 12, 2021, at 02:58 pm
London/Sputnik: Prince Harry is back in the United Kingdom to attend the funeral of his late grandfather, Prince Philip, the People magazine reports.
Boris Johnson opts out of Prince Philip’s funeral amid Covid-19 restrictions: Downing Street
Apr 11, 2021, at 02:52 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not attend Prince Philip’s funeral later this month in order to make room for as many family members as possible, amid strict coronavirus regulations, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Prince Philip’s funeral to take place on Apr 17 : Reports
Apr 11, 2021, at 07:25 am
London/UNI: Prince Philip’s funeral will take place on April 17 in Windsor, reported Britain's national broadcaster BBC on Saturday, citing the Buckingham Palace.
Protests in Australia against deaths of indigenous people in jails : Reports
Apr 11, 2021, at 07:19 am
Canberra/UNI: Hundreds of Australians on Saturday took to the streets calling for justice and change over the "horrific" number of indigenous people dying in local prisons every year.
Data of 500 million LinkedIn users leaked: Report
Apr 10, 2021, at 11:06 pm
New Delhi/UNI: After Facebook, the data of 500 million LinkedIn users have been leaked online.
Japan reduced Chinese interceptions by over 200 last year
Apr 09, 2021, at 10:33 pm
Tokyo/UNI: Japan said the number of incidents where its fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Chinese aircraft decreased by over 200 in the fiscal year 2020, the Japanese Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Friday.
Prince Philip dies, announces Buckingham Palace
Apr 09, 2021, at 10:27 pm
London: Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, has died, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday.
Migrants left stranded and without assistance by COVID-19 lockdowns
Apr 09, 2021, at 05:14 pm
New York: Travel restrictions during the COVID pandemic have been particularly hard on refugees and migrants who move out of necessity, stranding millions from home, the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Thursday.
Ethiopia: Amidst hostilities in Tigray, humanitarian situation remains ‘dire’
Apr 09, 2021, at 05:06 pm
New York: The humanitarian situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, remains “dire”, the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday.
New Zealand suspends entry of travellers from India amid surge in Covid-19 cases
Apr 08, 2021, at 05:35 pm
Auckland/IBNS: In a measure to check the rise in Covid-19 cases within its borders, New Zealand has temporarily suspended the entry of travellers including its own citizens from India, which is witnessing a massive surge in infections.
Counter hate-driven movements, Guterres urges, reflecting on Rwandan genocide
Apr 07, 2021, at 10:48 pm
New York: As the world marks the grim anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the massacre were also killed, the United Nations Secretary-General called for concerted efforts to defeat hate-driven movements to prevent history from repeating itself.
Sudan: Fighting in West Darfur triggers rising death toll
Apr 07, 2021, at 10:32 pm
New York: Days of tribal clashes in Sudan’s West Darfur have left scores dead and thousands fleeing their homes, the UN envoy to the country said on Tuesday.
‘Political, security, human rights and humanitarian challenges’ plague Mali
Apr 07, 2021, at 09:35 pm
New York: With a deteriorating security situation in central and northern Mali, the UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Tuesday that ‘blue helmets’, the Malian Defence and Security Forces, continue to suffer repeated attacks and significant losses, while some large towns “live under constant threat from armed groups”.
Hassan Rouhani confirms Iran's readiness to comply with nuclear deal if US lifts sanctions
Apr 07, 2021, at 08:45 pm
Tehran/Sputnik: Iran is ready to resume compliance with obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action if all US sanctions are lifted, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.
Guterres highlights power of sport for inclusive, sustainable future
Apr 07, 2021, at 03:56 pm
New York: The United Nations Secretary-General on Tuesday urged everyone involved in the sport sector to help advance climate action, combat discrimination and prejudice, and ensure that global sporting events leave a positive legacy.
Ukraine aspiring to join NATO for many years, up to alliance to decide
Apr 07, 2021, at 07:18 am
Washington/Sputnik: Ukraine has aspired to join NATO for many years but it is up to the alliance to decide whether it will accept the country, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia makes Covid-19 vaccination must for pilgrimage to Mecca
Apr 07, 2021, at 07:01 am
Riyadh/IBNS: The Saudi government has made immunisation compulsory for those willing to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and offer prayers at the Grand mosque.
Iraqi Security Service obtains data on IS leader in Anbar Desert
Apr 07, 2021, at 05:05 am
Baghdad/Sputnik: Iraq has "crucial" intelligence about the current leader of the Islamic State terrorist organization (IS, banned in Russia), Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, a spokesman for the country's counter-terrorism service, Sabah al-Numan, told Sputnik on Tuesday, adding that the service makes constant surveillance of his activities in the country's western desert areas.
Women abducted in South Sudan released, hundreds remain missing
Apr 06, 2021, at 05:31 pm
New York: Fifty-eight women and children of more than 600 who were abducted last year during vicious intercommunal fighting in South Sudan, have been reunited with their families, the UN Spokesperson told reporters on Monday.
Timor-Leste: UN agencies support response in wake of deadly floods
Apr 06, 2021, at 05:24 pm
New York: United Nations agencies in Timor-Leste are supporting response efforts, as floods and landslides left widespread damage across the country, including in the capital, Dili.