Middle East: Positive steps needed to restore calm
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:27 pm
New York: The deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, took centre stage at the Security Council on Tuesday as the UN Special Coordinator for the peace process in the region, expressed his “continued concern” over recent developments.
Thousands head home voluntarily from Zambia to DR Congo
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:23 pm
New York: Nearly 5,000 refugees who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) four years ago, are opting to head home voluntarily from Zambia over the coming months, with the first 100 people setting out on Tuesday.
Sudan protests: Security forces in spotlight over sexual violence allegations
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:17 pm
New York: In Sudan, reports of serious sexual violence and the use of live ammunition against protesters at the weekend must be investigated immediately, the UN rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
End ‘appalling’ Belarus-Poland border crisis, UN rights office urges
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:12 pm
New York: Belarus and Poland must resolve the migrant and refugee crisis at their mutual border, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, describing the on-going situation as “appalling”.
UN proposing paying Taliban almost $6mln for protection in Afghanistan: Reports
Dec 22, 2021, at 02:34 pm
United Nations/UNI/Sputnik: The United Nations is proposing paying the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorist activities) almost $6 million to subsidize the wages of its fighters who are guarding United Nations facilities, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Avijit Roy killing in Bangladesh: $ 5m US award announced for info
Dec 22, 2021, at 12:23 am
Dhaka/UNI: The US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information on an attack in Dhaka that killed American citizen Avijit Roy and seriously injured his wife Rafida Bonya Ahmed.
Hostage taker in Paris arrested: French Minister
Dec 21, 2021, at 10:36 pm
Paris/UNI/Sputnik: An armed man, who held two women hostage in Paris has been arrested and no one was injured, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Tuesday.
Pakistan: Imran Khan blames 'mistakes' for election defeat
Dec 21, 2021, at 10:28 pm
Islamabad/UNI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said "mistakes" regarding selection of candidates led to the shock defeat of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, with a pro-Taliban party making major gains.
Pakistan Railways incur loss of Rs 1.19 trillion
Dec 21, 2021, at 10:21 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan's railways incurred a deficit of Rs 46 billion and losses of 1.19 trillion this year, a published report said on Tuesday.
Afghanistan: Taliban destroys Pakistan’s barbed-wire erected on Durand Line
Dec 21, 2021, at 09:09 pm
Kabul: The Taliban government in Afghanistan recently destroyed the barbed wire erected by Pakistani forces on Durand Line in Nangarhar province, media reports said.
Man held in Karachi for vandalizing Hindu temple
Dec 21, 2021, at 08:59 pm
Karachi: Police arrested a man in Pakistan's Karachi city for allegedly vandalizing a Hindu temple in the Eidgah area of the city on Monday, media reports said.
South Sudan: Senior UN official condemns killing of humanitarian worker
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:37 pm
New York: The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan has strongly condemned the killing of a UN-contracted aid worker on Sunday, that also left another injured, after the convoy they were travelling in came under attack.
Lives on the line as UN and partners launch 2022 humanitarian plan for Somalia
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:32 pm
New York: Roughly 7.7 million people in Somalia will need assistance and protection in 2022, a 30 per cent rise in just one year, the UN and partners said on Monday, launching a nearly $1.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the country.
UN humanitarians aid Philippines response to Super Typhoon Rai
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:28 pm
New York: Reports of “utter devastation” caused by Super Typhoon Rai have continued to come in from the Philippines, where the UN is helping respond to urgent needs.
Canada registers first single-day increase of over 10,000 COVID-19 cases
Dec 21, 2021, at 03:44 pm
Ottawa/UNI/Xinhua: Canada reported 10,621 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the first increase of over 10,000 cases in a single day since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in February 2020.
White House staff member, who contacted Joe Biden Dec 17, tests positive for COVID-19: Psaki
Dec 21, 2021, at 02:37 pm
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: A White House employee who contacted US President Joe Biden on December 17 has tested positive for COVID-19, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Afghan children with heart diseases failing to get treatment due to lack of funds
Dec 21, 2021, at 03:22 am
Kabul/IBNS: The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) said the treatment of children in Afghanistan with congenital heart defects — either at domestic medical centers or abroad — has been suspended for the last four months due to a lack of funds.
Pakistan: Three cops held for killing passer-by in Karachi
Dec 21, 2021, at 02:53 am
Karachi, Pakistan/IBNS: Three policemen were arrested after they allegedly killed a passer-by in the Korangi area of Pakistan's Karachi city, according to local media reports.
Pakistan: Man arrested on charge of blasphemy in Taxila
Dec 21, 2021, at 02:46 am
Taxila, Pakistan/IBNS: Pakistan police have arrested a man in Taxila for allegedly making disparaging remarks against a companion of the Holy Prophet, media reports said.
Pakistan: Gas crisis continues in Rawalpindi
Dec 21, 2021, at 01:08 am
Rawalpindi, Pakistan/IBNS: A large number of people in Pakistan's Rawalpindi city are braving severe cold weather without gas as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has completely failed to control the gas crisis in the region.
Pakistan: ANP mayoral candidate shot dead in Dera Ismail Khan
Dec 21, 2021, at 12:42 am
Islamabad/IBNS: A leader of Pakistan's Awami National Party (ANP), who was contesting in the Dera Ismail Khan city's mayoral elections, was shot dead on Saturday, media reports said.
Afghanistan: Majority of Herat residents are now hit by poverty
Dec 21, 2021, at 12:28 am
Herat, Afghanistan/IBNS: A large number of people in Herat province in western Afghanistan are now hit by poverty, media reports said on Monday.
Pakistan authorities try to refill Katas Raj Temple pond to cover up its deplorable condition
Dec 21, 2021, at 12:02 am
Islamabad/IBNS: The Pakistan government is trying to hide the deplorable condition of the Hindu temples in the country and as a part of it, authorities have started refilling of the empty pond at the ancient Katas Raj Temple.
Bangladesh community members protest in Washington DC for recognition of 1971 genocide
Dec 20, 2021, at 11:45 pm
Washignton, DC: The Bangladesh community in Washington DC Metro Region recently held a demonstration outside the White House demanding recognition of genocide perpetrated by the Pakistani Army in 1971.
Pakistan: Minister escapes unhurt in gun attack
Dec 20, 2021, at 11:31 pm
Islamabad: Pakistani Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz remained unhurt in a gun attack in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, the country's information and broadcasting minister said.
Stop interfering in Afghanistan's affairs, ex-President Hamid Karzai chides Imran Khan
Dec 20, 2021, at 09:37 pm
Kabul/UNI: Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Monday lashed out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for his remarks at the OIC session, and asked him not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Pakistan: Three terrorists killed during Peshawar operation
Dec 20, 2021, at 09:27 pm
Peshawar: Pakistan security forces killed three terrorists during an operation Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday, media reports said.
Two Chinese ships enter Japan's waters
Dec 20, 2021, at 09:02 pm
Tokyo/UNI/Sputnik: Two Chinese patrol ships entered on Monday Japan's territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China, media reports said.
Afghanistan economy in ‘freefall’, threatening to take entire population with it
Dec 20, 2021, at 03:05 pm
New York: Afghanistan’s economy is in “free fall”, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told a special meeting on Sunday, warning that if decisive and compassionate action is not taken immediately, it may “pull the entire population with it”.
Doha led to collapse of Ashraf Ghani govt: Ex-Official
Dec 20, 2021, at 04:40 am
Kabul: Hamdullah Mohib, the former national security advisor for ex-president Ashraf Ghani, has said the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal in February 2020 paved the way for the fall of Afghanistan into the Taliban’s hands.