Bhutan on course of graduating from Least Developed Countries status by June 2023: Reports
Thimpu: Bhutan is on its way to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status by June 2023, media reports said on Saturday.
World
PTA bans Wikipedia in Pakistan over 'sacrilegious content'
Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned popular website Wikipedia in the country for not “blocking/removing sacrilegious content” within the 48-hour deadline given to the website, media reports said on Saturday.
UN child rights committee lauds Swiss asylum offer to Kurdish family
The UN child rights committee on Friday commended Switzerland for swiftly granting asylum to four Kurdish children and their mother, who faced deportation after fleeing Syria, adding that it showed how controversial decisions could be effectively appealed.
'Hold Quran in your right hand, atom bomb on left': Pak leader's startling solution to economic crisis
Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistan leader has stirred a row with his bizarre solution to the country's economic crisis that has kept the South Asian nation on an edge, media reports said.
UN aid convoys deliver lifesaving relief to Ukraine’s war-ravaged east
New York: Two UN aid convoys have reached communities with acute needs near the contact line in Ukraine’s war-shattered east this week, relief coordinators reported on Friday.
UN rights chief appeals for Israelis and Palestinians to end ‘illogic of escalation’
New York: As violence mounts between Israelis and Palestinians, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called for an end to the “illogic of escalation”, appealing for leaders to urgently work to resolve their decades-long conflict.
Myanmar junta is selling Rakhine's natural gas to China: Reports
Naypyidaw: Myanmar's military junta has been selling Rakhine’s natural gas to China and it has sold over USD 1.43 billion worth of it in 2022, media reports said.
Pakistan: Police detain over 20 Afghan refugees from Islamabad
Islamabad: Pakistani police have detained more than 20 Afghan refugees in Islamabad city on Friday, media reports said.
German police strike against child porn platforms
Berlin: After years of investigations, German police in Bavaria have clamped down on an international child pornography ring and shut down three darknet platforms.
Trump to speak at US Conservative mega-convention in early March
Washington: Former US President Donald Trump will speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, at the beginning of March, the organization announced in a press release.
Finland, Sweden committed to take NATO membership together, PMs say
Stockholm: Finland has reiterated its commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) together with Sweden, visiting Prime Minister Sanna Marin said when she met her Swedish counterpart here on Thursday.
French helicopter carrier to participate in military drills with Japan, India, US: Reports
Paris: France's helicopter carrier Dixmude will participate in military drills in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean alongside ships of the Japanese maritime self-defense forces and the Australian, Indian and US navies, media reported on Friday.
Air raid alert sounded in all regions of Ukraine: Authorities
Kiev: An air raid alert was sounded in all regions of Ukraine, including the capital city Kiev, according to the online map of the Ukrainian Digital Ministry updated on Friday.
NKorea ratifies law on protection of 'state secret': State Media
Pyongyang: North Korea ratified a law on the protection of "state secret" at a plenary meeting oft the its parliament to safeguard national security and develop the socialist system in the country, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.
Canada: Toronto sees coldest temperatures in years with polar vortex descending on Ontario
Toronto/IBNS: After January’s warmer-than-normal temperature, February is off to a frigid start in parts of Ontario due to the polar vortex descending over the province this week and Toronto to see some of the coldest weather in years, Environment Canada reported.
'Sinking' land develops cracks in residential structures in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda
Jammu: After Joshimath in Uttarakhand, as many as 21 structures have developed cracks due to "sinking" of land while the families have been shifted to the safer locations in Thathri tehsil of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Friday.
Pakistan Rupee slides further to touch Rs 276.58 per dollar
Islamabad: The Pakistani Rupee plunged further on Friday to touch Rs 276.58 per dollar in the interbank market, media reports said on Fridayl
Hazara Committee in UK releases report on situation of members in Pakistan
Islamabad: The Hazara community in the UK has recently released a report which revealed the atrocities faced by the community members in Pakistan.
Pakistan: Two terrorists killed during exchange of fire with security forces
Lahore: At least two terrorists were killed by security forces in Pakistan's North Waziristan District during an exchange of fire on Friday, media reports said.
US, Pakistan officials fear looming food crisis
Islamabad: US and Pakistani officials have said a potential food crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the ever-rising inflation, and the devaluation of rupee “is a real concern in Pakistan”.
Pakistan: Police stage demonstration against rising terrorism in KP
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Wednesday protested against the rising terrorism in the province, media reports said.
Nigeria: UN genocide expert warns against worsening security situation
New York: The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide on Thursday voiced concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, while urging the authorities to ensure counter-terrorism operations are conducted in line with international human rights and humanitarian law.
Pakistan: Officers at Secretariat announce strike from Feb 6
Peshawar: Officers at the Pakistani secretariat recently announced they will observe a pen-down strike from Feb 6 against what they said discrimination in grant of the executive allowance.
Ethiopia: Northern aid access improving but some areas still hard to reach
New York: UN humanitarians on Thursday reported that aid access in the north is continuing to improve with aid operations expanding following last November’s ceasefire agreement, but some civilians in the battle-scarred region “remain hard to reach.”
After US, now Canada confirms sighting of suspected spy balloon
Toronto: The Canadian government on Friday confirmed sighting a suspected spy balloon and said it was tracking its movement.
Iraq must seize ‘brief window of opportunity’ to turn tide of instability
New York: Iraq’s political class must urgently seize the current brief window of opportunity to break chronic cycles of instability, the UN Special Representative told the Security Council on Thursday.
Pakistan ranks 140th in Corruption Perception Index
Islamabad: Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday issued its 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report on global corruption where it found that the shared rule of Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan government is more than before.
Spain: Rights experts call for probe into claim Catalan leaders were spied on
New York: Three independent UN-appointed human rights experts on Thursday demanded that the Spanish Government thoroughly investigate an alleged spying operation against leaders and activists from the Catalonia region, in the wake of a failed bid for independence six years ago.
Resolution of ‘racism’ complaint brought by Qatar against UAE and Saudi Arabia
New York: A UN body investigating discrimination complaints lodged by Qatar against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia concluded its work following the resolution of these disputes, according to an announcement on Thursday.
Pope Francis in DR Congo: WFP highlights Africa’s biggest hunger crisis
New York: As crowds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) thronged on Thursday to hear Pope Francis’s message of hope and solidarity on day three of his official visit to Central Africa, UN humanitarians warned that aid agencies face growing demands and shrinking funds in DRC - Africa’s biggest hunger crisis.