Turkish vote clears Finland's path to NATO membership
Apr 01, 2023, at 04:49 am
The Turkish parliament Thursday gave its unanimous approval of Finland's entry into NATO, thereby enabling Helsinki to become a member of the military alliance. However, this decision leaves Sweden excluded from joining.
Increasing availability of non-alcoholic drinks may reduce amount of alcohol purchased online: Study
Mar 31, 2023, at 09:56 pm
New York: Increasing the proportion of non-alcoholic drinks on sale in online supermarkets could reduce the amount of alcohol people purchase, suggests a study published today led by researchers at the University of Cambridge.
Greater protection needed for Palestinians amid rising violence, annexation threat
Mar 31, 2023, at 08:21 pm
New York: The international community must take firm and principled action to protect the human rights and dignity of Palestinians, amid mounting violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the threat of even further annexation, an independent UN-appointed rights expert said on Thursday.
Women in peacekeeping: UN Fund calls for new ideas and investment
Mar 31, 2023, at 08:17 pm
New York: The UN’s Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) launched a fresh call for funding proposals on Thursday, aimed at improving opportunities for uniformed women to serve in peacekeeping operations, and better serve vulnerable communities worldwide.
New network aims to save migrant lives in the Americas
Mar 31, 2023, at 07:03 pm
New York: A new UN-backed network aims to drive action to save migrant lives in the Americas, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.
General Assembly votes to seek World Court’s opinion, in quest for ‘bolder’ climate action
Mar 31, 2023, at 06:54 pm
New York: The UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution on Wednesday.
UN rights experts condemn Uganda’s ‘egregious’ anti-LGBT legislation
Mar 31, 2023, at 06:50 pm
New York: Making homosexuality punishable by death is an egregious violation of human rights, independent UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts said on Wednesday, urging Uganda’s president to veto new laws approved by parliament this month, which further criminalise people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), and those who defend them.
Australians warned of looming Covid waves, encouraged to take booster dose
Mar 31, 2023, at 02:58 pm
Canberra: Australia's top doctor has warned the country to prepare for new waves of COVID-19 in the lead-up to winter.
Turkish parliament ratifies Finland's NATO membership protocol: Deputy Speaker
Mar 31, 2023, at 02:46 pm
Istanbul: The Grand National Assembly of Turkey ratified the protocol on Finland's membership in NATO, Deputy Speaker Haydar Akar said.
Elon Musk overtakes Barack Obama to become the most-followed individual on Twitter
Mar 31, 2023, at 05:37 am
Washington/IBNS: Following his controversial acquisition of Twitter five months ago, Elon Musk has now overtaken former US President Barack Obama to become the most followed account on the social media platform.
UN chief calls for new tool to find 100,000 ‘disappeared’ Syrians
Mar 29, 2023, at 10:21 pm
New York: Top UN officials called for creating a new institution to help locate tens of thousands of missing Syrians and bring peace to their families, as the General Assembly debated on Tuesday the human rights situation in the country.
Mexico: Guterres calls for ‘thorough investigation’ into deadly migrant centre fire
Mar 29, 2023, at 10:11 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of at least 39 migrants in a fire at a processing centre on the border between Mexico and the United States.
UN underlines support for Africa’s fight against terrorism
Mar 29, 2023, at 10:06 pm
New York: Although no region is immune to terrorism, the situation in Africa is especially concerning, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, underlining UN support to countries striving to “end this scourge.”
ILO calls for fresh support as job losses grip post-quake Türkiye and Syria
Mar 29, 2023, at 09:54 pm
New York: Urgent support is needed to prevent a slide into poverty and an increase in child labour and hand-to-mouth jobs, following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria in February, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday in new assessment reports.
El Salvador urged to uphold human rights amid state of emergency
Mar 29, 2023, at 08:15 pm
New York: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Tuesday expressed concern over mass detentions and other measures implemented during the state of emergency in El Salvador, now in effect for a year.
DPR Korea: Truth, justice needed amid ‘tragic’ legacy of enforced disappearances
Mar 29, 2023, at 08:05 pm
New York: “Tragic” accounts of State-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) require action from the country’s authorities, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said on Tuesday.
Greece: Two Pakistani nationals arrested for plotting attack on Israelis, Jews in Athens
Mar 29, 2023, at 06:20 pm
Athens: Greek police have arrested two Pakistani nationals who were allegedly plotting mass-casualty terrorist attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in the country, media reports said.
Report says AI may impact 300 million jobs
Mar 29, 2023, at 02:39 pm
Washington: A report released by investment bank Goldman Sachs has revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may replace 300 million full-time jobs.
6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Japan today
Mar 29, 2023, at 05:21 am
Aomori/Japan: The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that a 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Aomori in northern Japan on Tuesday.
Lisbon: Knife attack leaves two dead at Muslim Centre
Mar 28, 2023, at 11:09 pm
Lisbon: At least two people were stabbed to death at a Muslim centre in Lisbon city of Portugal, media reports said on Tuesday.
Cosmic crops poised for harvest on Earth
Mar 28, 2023, at 10:44 pm
New York: UN food and atomic energy agencies are readying to reap the rewards of a ground-breaking ‘astrobotany’ investigation, announcing on Monday that seeds sent to space in 2022 are now poised to return to Earth.
UK food inflation hits record high of 17.5 pc
Mar 28, 2023, at 10:41 pm
London: Food price inflation in the United Kingdom has hit a record high of 17.5 percent, which could increase the average annual household grocery bills by 837 pounds ($1,029), UK data analytics and consulting company Kantar said on Tuesday.
Dismantling racism today starts by understanding slavery’s ‘horrific’ past
Mar 28, 2023, at 10:29 pm
Education is the “most powerful weapon” in the world’s arsenal to combat the brutal legacy of racism playing out today, the UN chief said on Monday, as the General Assembly met to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Japan: Hokkaido prefecture to cull over 500,000 chickens due to new bird flu outbreak
Mar 28, 2023, at 10:25 pm
Tokyo: More than 500,000 chickens will be culled in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido due to a new outbreak of bird flu, the local administration said on Tuesday.
Punjab couple shot dead in Manila: Report
Mar 28, 2023, at 10:06 pm
Phagwara: A Manila (Philippines)-based man, originally from Goraya, and his wife were shot dead by an unidentified armed assailant in their Manila house on intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, a delayed report said here on Tuesday.
Libya: Crimes against humanity committed since 2016 – rights probe
Mar 28, 2023, at 07:01 pm
New York: UN-appointed independent human rights investigators on Monday said there are grounds to believe that Libyan authorities and armed militia groups have been responsible for “a wide array” of war crimes, and crimes against humanity in recent years.
Disney begins laying off 7,000 employees: Reports
Mar 28, 2023, at 02:54 pm
New York: Disney CEO Bob Iger on Monday said the company will start laying off staff starting this week.
Saudi Arabia: 20 Umrah pilgrims killed in bus mishap
Mar 28, 2023, at 02:42 pm
At least 20 Umrah pilgrims died and 29 others were hurt in a bus mishap in Saudi Arabia on Monday, media reports said.
Vatican prepares to launch Pope Francis' message of hope into space via Spei Satelles
Mar 28, 2023, at 06:08 am
Vatican/IBNS: A message of faith and hope, originally delivered by Pope Francis during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, will be transmitted into space, the Vatican announced on Monday.
North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles towards East Sea
Mar 27, 2023, at 02:39 pm
Pyongyang: North Korea on Monday fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) toward the East Sea on Monday, media reports said.