Whistleblower Edward Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:24 am
Moscow/Sputnik: Edward Snowden, a fugitive, former CIA contractor who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
UN leaders speak out against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:04 am
New York: Underlining that “diversity is a richness, not a threat”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for greater investment in promoting social cohesion and tackling bigotry in a message on Wednesday to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
UNICEF condemns ‘horrific killings’ of civilians in Niger
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:56 pm
New York: The recent “horrific killings” of dozens of civilians in two villages in western Niger have been condemned in the strongest terms by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Libya arms embargo ‘totally ineffective’: UN expert panel
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:48 pm
New York: An arms embargo imposed on Libya by the Security Council in 2011 remains “totally ineffective” a UN Panel of Experts has said, adding that civilians, including migrants and asylum seekers, continue to suffer widespread rights violations and abuses.
South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:42 pm
New York: Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday.
Fugitive Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:26 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Fugitive Edward Snowden, former CIA contractor, who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
Myanmar: UN rights office ‘deeply disturbed’ over intensifying violence against protesters
Mar 18, 2021, at 09:08 pm
New York: The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday it is “deeply disturbed” that the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Myanmar “continues to intensify”, with a soaring death toll on the streets, increasingly aggressive use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and reports of torture in custody.
Canada's stalled vaccine rollout starts after it falls behind
Mar 18, 2021, at 08:16 pm
Toronto: Last week, Health Canada cleared the fourth Covid-19 vaccine as a part of a national campaign to vaccinate the population. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine joins the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, with a 95% efficacy rate, alongside the Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines.
US to sanction organisations for transactions with 24 or more China, HK officials
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:48 pm
Washington/UNI: The United States will impose sanctions against financial organisations conducting transactions with 24 more Chinese and Hong Kong officials whose actions reduced Hong Kong's autonomy, the US State Department said in a statement.
US stresses alliance with South Korea against 'unprecedented challenges' from North, China
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:43 pm
Seoul/UNI: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday the alliance with South Korea has "never been more important" given the "unprecedented challenges" from North Korea and China, and reaffirmed Washington's security commitment to Seoul.
30 aspiring entrepreneurs to be trained under Innovate Bhutan
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:23 pm
Thirty young, aspiring entrepreneurs will get training under Innovate Bhutan (iBhutan) for seven weeks in social entrepreneurship under the Learn 2 Launch (L2L) programme. The idea is to promote the social entrepreneurship concept in Bhutan with the idea to create a future social business leaders.
38 business projects approved in Bhutan to generate jobs
Mar 17, 2021, at 11:15 pm
With the aim to generate more jobs, about 38 business projects from farming to mediatech to postal services have been approved by the National Credit Guarantee Scheme (NCGS) of the Bhutanese government.
Pakistan government trains gun on Election Commission; seeks resignation
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:53 pm
The Pakistan government has threatened the country’s Election Commission and said if the Chief Election Commissioner, along with other members don’t resign, the government would move court to initiate contempt proceedings.
Pakistan president wants to improve ties with Bangladesh
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:41 pm
Sri Lankan Ports Authority says 'unaware' of Adani’s claim on WCT
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:34 pm
A day after India’s Adani Group claimed that it would acquire a 51 percent stake in West Container Terminal of Colombo port, Sri Lankan Ports Authority (SLPA) has now said they are "unaware" of such claims.
IEA slightly upgrades forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 to 5.5 mbd: Report
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:20 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report on Wednesday slightly upgraded the forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 by 0.1 million barrels a day (mbd) to 5.5 mbd as the global consumption is driven up by cold weather.
COVID-19 surge in Pakistan: Traders reject decision to close business at 6 pm
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:12 pm
Islamabad: Certain sections of Pakistani traders have objected to the country's government's decision to close businesses at 6 pm under new coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, media reports said.
Chinese Coast Guard could harass Taiwan soon, warns expert
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:09 pm
Taipei: Experts believe that China's Coast Guard vessels could soon join People's Liberation Army's warplanes to harass Taiwan, media reports said.
Hong Kong now faces brain drain with large number of educated people planning to shift abroad
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:31 pm
Hong Kong could risk a brain drain in the next five years after a new survey found a quarter of the city’s university-educated under-35s were planning on leaving to work elsewhere, a new chapter which might be seen by the city already troubled by Chinese treatment, media reports said.
UN envoy warns of ‘dramatic’ deterioration in Yemen conflict
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:13 pm
New York: The UN’s top official in Yemen has warned of a “dramatic” deterioration in the country’s ongoing conflict, telling the Security Council on Tuesday that fighting has expanded on several fronts amid the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Gender equality means business, Secretary-General chief tells corporate leaders
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:06 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has urged corporate leaders to achieve gender equality, highlighting the benefits for the private sector and society at large.
Syria’s decade of conflict takes massive toll on women and girls
Mar 17, 2021, at 08:49 pm
New York: This week, Syria marks a grim anniversary: 10 years since the start of the country’s grinding conflict. Today, one decade into the catastrophe, about half the country’s population has been uprooted, with some 12 million people internally displaced or living as refugees.
Myanmar: UN rights office ‘deeply disturbed’ over intensifying violence against protesters
Mar 17, 2021, at 08:37 pm
New York: The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday it is “deeply disturbed” that the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Myanmar “continues to intensify”, with a soaring death toll on the streets, increasingly aggressive use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and reports of torture in custody.
Bangladesh: Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary, golden jubilee of independence celebrations start
Mar 17, 2021, at 03:27 pm
Dhaka: Bangladesh on Wednesday started 10-day celebration of 50 years of its independence and birth anniversary of founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Four children killed, 2 other people injured in Siberia fire: Russian Emergencies Ministry
Mar 17, 2021, at 03:09 pm
Krasnoyarsk/Sputnik: Four children were killed, another child and an adult were injured in a fire in an apartment building in the Russian town of Lesosibirsk, Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Territory, the regional department of the Emergencies Ministry told reporters.
China targeting US West Coast mobilization centers with new weapons, says General
Mar 17, 2021, at 02:48 pm
Washington/Sputnik: China is developing precision weapons to target US military logistical centers on the West Coast and a new generation of hypersonic weapons, Northern Command and North American Defense Command (NORAD) chief General Glen VanHerck told the Senate on Tuesday.
At least 30 civilians killed in militant attack in southwestern Niger: Reports
Mar 17, 2021, at 02:41 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: At least 30 people were killed after armed militants attacked civilians in southwestern Niger, the RFI radio broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing local security sources.
US: Eight killed in shootings at three spas in Atlanta
Mar 17, 2021, at 02:27 pm
Atlanta/UNI: At least 8 people, including four women, were killed in three separate shootings at spas in Atlanta, police said on Tuesday.
No final decision on burqa ban: Sri Lankan foreign minister
Mar 17, 2021, at 04:27 am
Pakistan: Blast rocks Karachi, Rangers personnel dies
Mar 17, 2021, at 12:51 am
Islamabad: A blast rocked Karachi's Orangi Town on Monday which left at least a Pakistani ranger official dead and 10 others, including two Rangers personnel, injured, media reports said on Tuesday.