Jul 26, 2020, at 12:42 am
With the world still battling COVID-19 outbreak, Pakistan and China have entered a secret three-year deal to expand potential bio-warfare capabilities, including running several research projects related to the deadly agent anthrax, media reports said.
Gunmen kill 6 family members north of Iraq's capital
Jul 25, 2020, at 10:44 pm
Baghdad/Xinhua: Unidentified gunmen shot dead six family members in a village in the Iraqi province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said Saturday.
Jul 25, 2020, at 07:28 pm
Ankara: The conversion of the iconic Hagia Sophia to a mosque is being seen by experts as country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempt to wage a war on Islamophobia.
Children in Nigeria and surrounding countries, continuing to endure ‘horrendous violations’
Jul 25, 2020, at 06:00 pm
New York: Girls and boys in northeast Nigeria are continuing to endure brutal abuse at the hands of Boko Haram, and are also being deeply affected by military operations taking place to counter the terrorist group, despite noteworthy efforts, according the UN chief’s latest report on children and armed conflict.
Human rights office decries disproportionate use of force in US protests
Jul 25, 2020, at 05:58 pm
New York: People taking part in peaceful demonstrations across the United States, and journalists covering these protests, should not be subjected to disproportionate use of force or other violations, the UN human rights office said on Friday.
Zimbabwe: COVID-19 must not be used to stifle freedoms, says UN rights office
Jul 25, 2020, at 05:57 pm
New York: The coronavirus pandemic should not be used as an excuse to clamp down on fundamental freedoms, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) reminded authorities in Zimbabwe on Friday.
Rights experts urge Nigeria to free humanist detained for blasphemy
Jul 25, 2020, at 05:50 pm
New York: Nigerian authorities must immediately release prominent humanist and rights defender Mubarak Bala, who has been detained for more than two months without charge on accusations of blasphemy, a group of independent UN human rights experts said on Friday.
Protect people ‘fleeing war, violence’, UN refugee agency urges Poland
Jul 25, 2020, at 05:49 pm
New York: The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday encouraged Poland to fall in line with its international obligations, and allow asylum seekers access.
4 rockets hit Iraqi military base near capital
Jul 25, 2020, at 05:38 pm
Baghdad/Xinhua: Four "Katyusha rockets" on Friday landed in the military base of Basmaya in southeastern Baghdad without causing casualty, the Iraqi military said.
Turkey: Friday prayers held at Hagia Sofia after 86 years
Jul 25, 2020, at 12:02 am
Istanbul/UNI: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led Friday prayers at the iconic Hagia Sophia mosque for the first time in 86 years after his controversial decision to convert the historic museum into a mosque amid widespread global protests.
Putin, Trump describe COVID-19 as major challenge for all countries - Kremlin
Jul 24, 2020, at 10:21 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, noted in a recent phone call that the current pandemic was a significant challenge for all countries, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, adding that Putin assured Trump that that epidemiological situation in Moscow was positive.
Vietnam bans wild animal trade, imports to confront illegal bushmeat traffic - State Media
Jul 24, 2020, at 10:19 pm
Bangkok/Sputnik: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a directive banning imports of wild animal meat to the country, as well as closing all markets and sites selling such products in order to fight bushmeat trafficking, the Vietnamese government's news portal reported on Friday.
'Temporary Basic Income' could slow COVID surge, provide lifeline for world’s poorest
Jul 24, 2020, at 03:37 pm
The immediate introduction of a Temporary Basic Income for the world’s poorest people could slow the current surge in COVID-19 and enable close to three billion people to stay at home, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report released on Thursday.
COVID-19 provides opportunity to resolve conflicts, address weaknesses across Arab region: UN chief
Jul 24, 2020, at 03:22 pm
New York: While all Arab states are facing difficulties in responding to COVID-19, the pandemic can also provide an opportunity to resolve long-standing conflicts and address structural weaknesses across the region, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday.
Iran urged to release rights activist with COVID-19 symptoms ‘before it is too late’
Jul 23, 2020, at 06:30 pm
New York: A group of independent UN human rights experts has called for Iran to urgently release an activist who reportedly is ill with COVID-19 symptoms “before it is too late”.
Rights experts call on Tanzania to end ‘crackdown’ on civic space
Jul 23, 2020, at 06:20 pm
New York: Tanzania should allow peaceful gatherings to take place ahead of elections in October and step back from “draconian” laws, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Wednesday.
Canada: Uyghur victims narrate about Chinese atrocities to House of Commons
Jul 23, 2020, at 05:33 pm
Ottawa: The House of Commons of Canada on Monday discussed the human rights situation of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang province where the experts discussed the threats faced by the people belonging to the minority community in the country.
Jul 23, 2020, at 04:58 pm
Beijing: In what can be seen as an aggressive stance taken by China to destroy religious tolerance in the country, authorities have directed some Christians to smash the crosses on their churches and remove images of Jesus from their homes, media reports said.
Beijing calls on US to abolish 'revolting' decision to close Chinese consulate in Houston
Jul 22, 2020, at 10:25 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: China is calling on the United States to immediately abolish the decision to close China's Consulate General in the city of Houston, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said on Wednesday.
Israel-Palestine: Breakdown in cooperation over COVID, now putting lives at risk
Jul 22, 2020, at 03:43 pm
Cooperation between Israelis and the Palestinians at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic is breaking down, putting human lives at risk as the economy goes into meltdown and the threat of Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank lingers, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process says.
Ethiopia urged to allow peaceful demonstrations, investigate protestor deaths
Jul 22, 2020, at 03:38 pm
Independent UN human rights experts are urging the Ethiopian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations, in a new appeal for investigations into the deaths of people protesting the recent killing of a popular singer and activist from the Oromo ethnic group.
Harness multilateralism’s power to urgently advance women’s rights amid COVID recovery
Jul 22, 2020, at 03:34 pm
With essential resources for women’s health being diverted to emergency COVID-19 response around the world, Governments, civil society leaders, CEOs and academic experts gathered virtually on Tuesday, to explore ways to accelerate the achievement of landmark targets set 25 years ago for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
COVID-19 scapegoating triggers fresh displacement in Yemen, warns migration agency
Jul 22, 2020, at 03:15 pm
New York: COVID-19 fears have prompted fresh displacement in war-torn Yemen, and forced many of those on the move to sell what little they have to survive, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Amid COVID-19 scare, Nobel Prize banquet to be cancelled for first time since 1956: Report
Jul 22, 2020, at 05:43 am
Stockholm/IBNS: The Nobel Prize banquet might be cancelled this year for the first time in over half a century amidst a continuous peak in the coronavirus cases globally, media reports said on Tuesday.
Chinese companies forcing Uyghur population to produce face masks
Jul 22, 2020, at 04:52 am
An investigation conducted by an American newspaper has unveiled that Chinese companies are using Uyghur Muslims to produce protective gears needed to fight COVID-19 which include masks.
Toronto witnesses protest against Chinese communist regime
Jul 22, 2020, at 04:38 am
Toronto: A large number of people in Canadian city of Toronto recently staged a protest against the Communist Chinese regime outside the Chinese consulate.
China slams Britain for suspending extradition pact with Hong Kong
Jul 21, 2020, at 09:35 pm
Beijing/UNI: China on Tuesday came down heavily on Britain for its decision to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.
New social contract needed to combat ‘inequality pandemic’: Guterres
Jul 21, 2020, at 03:47 pm
New York: As the coronavirus outbreak continues to rage around the world, the UN chief urged everyone on Monday to take up a new social contract to combat the “inequality pandemic”, at a UN event marking the weekend’s observance of Nelson Mandela Day.
Young innovators vying for top UN environmental prize
Jul 21, 2020, at 03:33 pm
New York: Thirty-five young people with innovative ideas for tackling challenges such as protecting indigenous Amazonian land through adventure travel, converting harmful emissions into valuable commodities in the United States, and generating electricity from water in Nigeria, have been named as regional finalists for one of the UN’s most prestigious environmental awards.
Two Brazilian ministers test positive for COVID-19
Jul 21, 2020, at 03:23 pm
Brasilia/Xinhua: Two members of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's cabinet said they had contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Monday.