Syria: ‘Gulf of mistrust’, complex realities, prevent political progress
Jun 26, 2021, at 10:06 pm
Progress towards resolving Syria’s decade-long war is unlikely, given the ‘gulf of mistrust’ among parties and complexity of conditions on the ground, the chief UN mediator for the country told the Security Council on Friday, as he urged delegates to unite around elements of resolution 2254 (2015) and called for a new international dialogue to achieve a breakthrough.
Jun 26, 2021, at 09:17 pm
London: The Balochi National Movement recently protested infront of UK PM Boris Johnson's residence here as the enforced disappearance of Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch completed 12 years recently.
US to retain several hundred troops in Afghanistan post-withdrawal: Report
Jun 26, 2021, at 03:43 pm
Washignton: The United States will retain at least 650 troops in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of its forces from the country for the protection of diplomats in Kabul, reported the American newswire Associated Press. This comes after the Taliban, the main Afghan insurgent group, swept across several districts in the country’s northern part, creating further panic about the sustainability of the embattled Afghan government and forces.
Syria’s last cross-border aid lifeline must stay open, insist UN humanitarians
Jun 26, 2021, at 03:11 pm
New York: The imminent closure of the last cross-border aid lifeline to northwest Syria must be postponed beyond the 10 July deadline, UN humanitarians said on Friday, noting that no cross-line supplies had reached Idlib from Damascus, in 11 months.
George Floyd death: Ex- police officer Derek Chauvin sentenced to over 22 years in prison
Jun 26, 2021, at 03:02 pm
Washington: American police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, has been sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison.
Democracy at risk in Nepal, says leader of opposition
Jun 26, 2021, at 02:51 pm
Kathmandu: The dissolution of the House of Representatives of parliament has put democracy at risk in Nepal, said Nepal's former prime minister and leader of opposition Sher Bahadur Deuba, whose claim to form the government was rejected by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on 22 May. Last month, Bhandari had dissolved the lower house of parliament despite getting support letters from a majority of MPs.
Prevention, only ‘sustainable solution’ to conflict, deputy UN chief tells Nigerian law students
Jun 26, 2021, at 02:47 pm
New York: Speaking in Nigeria, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has emphasized the importance of prevention as “the only real, sustainable solution” to resolving the challenges thrown up by conflict.
Driving electric vehicle becomes easier in Bhutan; 21 charging stations installed
Jun 26, 2021, at 02:37 pm
A total of 21 electric vehicles (EV) charging stations were installed in six districts of Bhutan, making driving of electric vehicles drive even easier now, one of the first countries in South Asia to show such environmental advancement in combating pollution. Eleven fast chargers and 10 semi-fast chargers have been made operational in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Chukha, and Haa districts.
Forced labour evidenced in solar industries attached to China's questionable Xinjiang region
Jun 26, 2021, at 05:40 am
Beijing: Uyghurs are currently working at a silicon factory in China’s northwestern desert where the temperature even soars to more than 2,000 degrees.
China prepares for security threat as US troops exit war-ravaged Afghanistan
Jun 26, 2021, at 05:06 am
China is feeling concerned that the exit of American troops from Afghanistan might create a security vacuum in the war-ravaged nation and pose a threat to its Belt and Road Initiative.
Activists from 21 nations ask China to end financing Bangladesh coal power project
Jun 26, 2021, at 04:54 am
Activists from 21 countries have shot a letter to China and asked the nation to end the financing of a coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh.
Pakistan, Iran discuss Afghanistan peace issue
Jun 26, 2021, at 04:49 am
Islamabad: Top Pakistani and Iranian diplomats on Thursday discussed the issue of peace in Afghanistan, media reports said.
One-third of Pakistan's budget is consumed by interest payments
Jun 26, 2021, at 04:41 am
Islamabad: Pakistan's fiscal condition seems to be in trouble as it was revealed recently that interest payments consume one-third of the country's budget.
Panorama India to present India Day 2021 celebrations with historical drive-thru parade on Aug 15
Jun 26, 2021, at 02:35 am
Mississauga/IBNS: With the support of the Consulate General of India, Toronto, and presented by ICICI Bank Canada's Indian@Heart Club in partnership with Tourism Mississauga, Panorama India announced a historic event India Day Drive-Thru Parade 2021 to be held on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Australia: Parts of Sydney put under lockdown amid COVID-19 Delta variant infection surge
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:56 pm
Sydney: Several regions in Australia's Sydney city, including Bond beach, will be under lockdown as COVID-19 cases started to surge in recent times, media reports said on Friday.
Afghanistan: Government ready to arm, support civilians willing to fight Taliban
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:47 pm
Kabul: The Afghanistan government has said it might arm and support civilians who are willing to fight against the Taliban, media reports said.
Pakistan: Terrorist attack leaves five FC soldiers dead
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:32 pm
Quetta: At least five Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers died in Pakistan's Sibi district as terrorists attacked them on Friday, media reports said.
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:28 pm
Islamabad: Several Pakistani cities are witnessing disruption in flour supply following a strike by Flour Mills Association due to proposed taxes by the country's government.
UN pushes for lasting ceasefire, more humanitarian deliveries in Gaza
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:19 pm
New York: The cessation of hostilities negotiated last month between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, remains “very fragile”, the UN envoy there told the Security Council on Thursday.
Governments must protect those who help torture victims, say human rights experts
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:09 pm
New York: Top UN rights experts appealed on Thursday for all governments to ensure that victims of torture receive the rehabilitation services they need, along with guarantees that those who help them do not suffer reprisals.
Drug use test: 50 percent cops in Pakistan's Kasur test positive
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:06 pm
Kasur: As many as 24 policemen, who were selected for a drug test, in Pakistan's Kasur district have tested positive, media reports said on Friday.
DR Congo: Grave consequences for children witnessing ‘appalling violence’, UNICEF reports
Jun 25, 2021, at 10:48 pm
New York: The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, appealed on Thursday for urgent resources to support thousands of people who have fled armed violence in two small towns in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past two months.
Nepal president appoints 20 to constitutional bodies under controversial ordinance
Jun 25, 2021, at 10:45 pm
Kathmandu: Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday appointed 20 people to eleven constitutional commissions under a controversial ordinance that has remained challenged in the country’s Supreme Court for the last six months.
Pakistan: Another suspect behind Lahore blast arrested
Jun 25, 2021, at 10:35 pm
Lahore: Pakistan's Law enforcement authorities (LEAs) have arrested a person from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Friday, who is suspected to be involved in the Johar Town bomb blast in Lahore.
Pakistan: Balochistan police reject to arrest opposition MPAs
Jun 25, 2021, at 09:52 pm
Quetta: The Balochistan Police have refused to arrest opposition leaders even after sixteen of them surrendered at the Quetta’s Bijli Road Police Station in connection with an FIR registered against them, media reports said on Friday.
Pakistan: Balochistan Minister Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind resigns
Jun 25, 2021, at 09:45 pm
Sindh: Balochistan Education Minister and parliamentary party leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind on Wednesday anbnounced his resignation and said he does not want to remain in the Cabnet any further.
COVID pandemic fuelling major increase in drug use worldwide: UN report
Jun 25, 2021, at 04:07 pm
New York: Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year of unprecedented upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, up by 22 per cent from 2010. That’s among the key findings of the latest annual report released on Thursday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which also provides an overview of global drug markets, as well as their impact on people’s health and livelihoods.
UN chief urges European Parliament to support COVID vaccines for all
Jun 25, 2021, at 03:56 pm
New York: The European Union (EU) must use its leverage to ensure people everywhere have access to COVID-19 vaccines, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.
Bangladesh: Chinese worker of Padma Bridge Project goes missing
Jun 25, 2021, at 02:47 pm
Beijing: A Chinese man, who was working in the Padma Bridge Project in Bangladesh, has been missing for the past two days, media reports said.
UK govt updates green, red travel lists of countries effective June 30
Jun 25, 2021, at 02:30 pm
London/Sputnik: UK transport minister Grant Shapps announced on Thursday changes to the "green" and "red" lists of countries depending on the risk of COVID-19 exposure, effective June 30.