Australia witnesses recession for first time in nearly 3 decades
Sep 02, 2020, at 04:00 pm
Canberra/UNI: Australian Gross Domestic Product has fallen 7.0 percent in the June quarter, the largest quarterly fall on record, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday.
Deal to reduce recent Gaza tensions will aid fight against COVID-19
Sep 02, 2020, at 03:54 pm
New York: The top UN official in the Middle East has hailed an agreement to reduce the latest tensions in and around Gaza amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attacks on journalists are attacks on all civil society: UN rights chief
Sep 02, 2020, at 03:48 pm
UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has urged all countries to do more to protect journalists, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, as their work helps save lives.
Belarus must stop torturing protesters and prevent enforced disappearances
Sep 02, 2020, at 03:42 pm
New York: Independent UN human rights experts on Tuesday called on Belarus to stop torturing detainees and bring to justice police officers who have reportedly humiliated and beaten protestors in their custody, as mass demonstrations over the disputed 9 August presidential election continue for a fourth week.
Beirut facing acute environmental crisis, warns UN energy specialist
Sep 02, 2020, at 03:38 pm
New York: Contamination from hazardous chemicals, landfill sites at capacity, and water pollution, are among the most urgent challenges faced by the Lebanese authorities and UN teams tackling the huge task of clearing up Beirut, following the massive explosion in the city’s port on 4 August.
US to provide military assistance if China attacks in South China Sea, warns Philippines Minister
Sep 02, 2020, at 05:12 am
Manila: Giving a strong message to China, the Philippines have made it clear that it would turn to the US for military help during ongoing flare-ups between Manila and Beijing on the issue of conflict related to the South China Sea.
New Japanese opposition party to vote on leader, name on September 10 - Reports
Sep 01, 2020, at 09:40 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Japan’s newest opposition political party, made up of members from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), will hold a vote on September 10 to decide its leader and name, lawmakers told domestic media on Tuesday.
Japan sending 3rd disaster relief team to Mauritius to help eliminate oil spill - Ministry
Sep 01, 2020, at 09:29 pm
Tokyo/Sputnik: The Japanese Environment Ministry announced on Tuesday that the third disaster relief team would leave for Mauritius soon to help the island nation clean up the oil that leaked from Japan's distressed Wakashio cargo ship in the Indian Ocean last month.
Over 50,000 people in Japan left jobless due to COVID-19 - Government
Sep 01, 2020, at 09:26 pm
Tokyo, Sep 1 (Sputnik) More than 50,000 people in Japan have lost their jobs temporarily or completely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data published on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Turkish Interior Ministry says detained 'emir' of IS terrorist group
Sep 01, 2020, at 09:02 pm
Ankara/Sputnik: An "emir" of the Islamic State terrorist organization (banned in Russia) was detained in Turkey, the country's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Tuesday.
Car bomb blast in northern Iraq kills woman, injures 3 security personnel – Official Media
Sep 01, 2020, at 08:57 pm
Baghdad/Sputnik: A woman was killed and three security officers were injured in the result of a car bomb explosion at a checkpoint in northern Iraq, the country’s official Security Media Cell said on Tuesday.
Kickstarting economies without COVID-19 plan, ‘a recipe for disaster’: Tedros
Sep 01, 2020, at 03:56 pm
New York: Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, countries want to “get their economies going again”, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, advising on the measures that governments, communities and individuals should take, to do so safely.
Generations of progress for women and girls could be lost to COVID pandemic, UN chief warns
Sep 01, 2020, at 03:49 pm
New York: Highlighting the disproportionate and devastating socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on women and girls globally, The UN chief António Guterres called on Monday for a major push to prevent “years, even generations” worth of progress on women’s empowerment, from being lost to the pandemic.
Urgent solution needed to address fuel woes in war-torn Yemen
Sep 01, 2020, at 03:44 pm
New York: The UN Special Envoy for Yemen has called on all parties to urgently work together with his Office, in order to find a solution that ensures people in the country can access basic fuel supplies, amid major shortages in areas controlled by the Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah.
China launches anti-subsidy probe on wine imports from Australia
Aug 31, 2020, at 08:44 pm
Beijing/Xinhua: China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday announced its decision to launch an anti-subsidy probe on wine imports from Australia.
Two rockets fall near Baghdad Airport, no casualties during incident - Reports
Aug 31, 2020, at 04:45 pm
Doha/Sputnik: There were no casualties after two rockets fell in close proximity to the Baghdad airport on Sunday evening, Iraq’s Al-Sumaria broadcaster reported, citing the country’s armed forces.
Berlin Police say 33 officers hurt during protests against virus restrictions
Aug 31, 2020, at 04:38 pm
Berlin/Sputnik: The German police said 33 officers were injured during massive demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions in Berlin on Saturday.
Benjamn Netanyahu says Israel has secret talks with Arab, Muslim leaders
Aug 31, 2020, at 04:15 pm
Jerusalem/Xinhua: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel has secret talks with several Arab countries to normalize their relations, a day before Israel's first commercial flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Egyptian army says 77 terrorists killed in North Sinai
Aug 31, 2020, at 03:44 pm
Cairo/Xinhua: The Egyptian army announced on Sunday that its forces have recently killed 77 terrorists in the country's restive North Sinai Province.
London: Tibetans and Uyghurs hold anti-China protest outside UN office
Aug 31, 2020, at 04:31 am
London: Tibetan and Uyghur community members in the UK organized a ‘Black Day’ protest outside the United Nations office in London on Saturday, media reports said.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary to join race to succeed Abe as party leader - Reports
Aug 31, 2020, at 03:45 am
Tokyo/Sputnik: Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Yoshihide Suga will join the race to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who will also become the country's next prime minister, the Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday, citing a source familiar with the matter.
France investigates senior military officer suspected spying for Russia
Aug 31, 2020, at 03:39 am
Paris/Sputnik: An investigation has been launched into a senior French military officer over a "security breach," French Defense Minister Florence Parly told Europe 1 radio broadcaster on Sunday amid reports the officer had passed classified information to Russia.
Norway: Clashes break out at far right rally
Aug 31, 2020, at 03:35 am
Oslo/UNI: Tension gripped the Norwegian capital after a clash broke out between two groups at an anti-community rally on late Saturday forcing authorities to step in and end the event early, local media reports said on Sunday.
Belarusian security forces detain 125 protesters in Minsk by 13:00 GMT
Aug 31, 2020, at 03:14 am
Minsk/Sputnik: Belarusian security forces deployed special equipment and arrested 125 people during an ongoing anti-government protest in Minsk by 13:00 GMT on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry said.
Aug 30, 2020, at 05:20 am
Stockholm/UNI: Riots broke out in the Sweden city of Malmo, following burning of some objectionable material by the members of a far-right Danish party, police said on Saturday.
New killings after Jacob Blake shooting reveal chronic problems still to be overcome in US
Aug 29, 2020, at 10:25 pm
New York: Disturbing video footage purportedly showing a teenager involved in a deadly shooting in the US state of Wisconsin is evidence that far stricter gun control measures are needed, the UN human rights office, OHCHR said on Friday.
New guidelines aim to dismantle barriers blocking people with disabilities from access to justice
Aug 29, 2020, at 10:01 pm
New York: The first-ever guidelines on access to justice for people with disabilities are an “indispensable contribution” towards ensuring justice for all, UN human rights experts said on Friday.
Feels bad about resignation of Shinzo Abe: Donald Trump
Aug 29, 2020, at 09:53 pm
Washington/UNI: US President Donald Trump has expressed sadness over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision to leave his post due to deteriorating health
Aug 29, 2020, at 08:21 pm
Stockholm: Stones were pelted at policemen as about 300 agitators set fire to tyres while protesting anti-Islam activities in Sweden's Malmo.
US govt 'strongly objects' to Turkish President Erdogan hosting Hamas leaders
Aug 29, 2020, at 03:07 am
Washington: The United States has strongly objected to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul on Aug 22.