New Zealand decides to ban TikTok on devices linked to parliament
Wellington: New Zealand has decided to ban the Chinese conglomerate-owned popular social media app TikTok on all devices with access to its parliament by the end of this month.
World
Cocaine trafficking surges following COVID-19-related slowdown
New York: Routed through new hubs and expanded criminal networks, cocaine trafficking has made a dramatic comeback following an initial slowdown caused by the emergence of COVID-19, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Thursday in a hard-hitting new report.
US man cuts out woman's heart, cooks it for his family and then kills them; now faces life sentence
A US man, who had cut the heart out of a woman and stabbed two others to death, has been sentenced to life in prison in the US state of Oklahoma, media reports said on Friday.
Governments must do more to protect human rights defenders: Expert
New York: Officials in many countries “vilify and target” human rights defenders instead of recognizing the crucial work they do to help build fairer societies, a UN-appointed independent expert said on Wednesday.
Diplomacy in Yemen reaches new pitch following year of relative calm, Security Council hears
New York: With the holy month of Ramadan fast approaching, warring parties in Yemen must build on relative calm across the country and the April 2022 truce – which is largely holding, despite its official lapse in October – to negotiate a nationwide ceasefire and address the dire humanitarian needs there, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.
UN officials call for durable solution to end the war in Syria
New York: Three senior UN officials underscored the need for a political solution to end the war in Syria, in statements marking the 12th anniversary of the conflict on Wednesday.
Urgent investment needed to improve conditions for key workers: ILO
New York: Essential workers who kept families, societies and economies going while the world was on COVID lockdown, need better pay and conditions urgently, if countries are to future-proof themselves from the next global crisis, UN labour experts said on Wednesday.
Eighteen months after ban, classroom doors in Afghanistan must open for Secondary School girls: Save the Children
As schools across Afghanistan prepare for the new academic year next week, secondary school-aged girls must be allowed to go back to the classroom after an 18-month ban on their education, Save the Children said.
Iranian border guards kill 11 Afghanistan refugees: Reports
Tehran: Iranian guards have killed at least eleven Afghan nationals in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran, media reports said.
Newfoundland and Labrador families receive $10 per day for childcare
Clarenville/ IBNS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Andrew Furey, jointly announced that N&L families are now benefitting from $10-a-day regulated childcare, and are now saving an estimated $6,300 per year for each child in care, a news release has said.
North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan: Reports
Pyongyang/Tokyo/UNI: North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing the South Korean military.
Kate Middleton had to undergo fertility test before marrying Prince William: Reports
In a surprising revelation, Kate Middleton had to undergo a fertility test to marry Prince William in 2011, media reports said.
US willing to cooperate with Pak over IMF deal: US Ambassador to Pakistan
Islamabad: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome wished for a deal between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assuring Washington's willingness to support the country in its efforts to resume a stalled $6.5 billion bailout programme.
'US ignores flight-restricted status of Black sea coastal areas': Russian Foreign Minister
Moscow/IBNS/UNI: The United States ignores the fact that after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, the Black Sea coastal areas have a flight-restricted status, so the drone incident looks like a provocation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Canada: Bill 96 implementation may see a decline in Quebec English-language college courses
Montreal/IBNS: Quebec‘s new French-language law (Bill-96) may reportedly see a cut in the province's English-language colleges.
Imran Khan wears gas mask as he steps out as cops withdraw after court halt on arrest
Lahore/IBNS: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was seen wearing a gas mask minutes after security forces withdrew from around his home on Wednesday.
Severe floods in Turkey leave 5 dead, several others missing: Reports
Ankara/UNI: Massive floods caused by ongoing torrential rains have left five people killed and several others missing in the quake-hit Turkish provinces of Sanliurfa and Adiyaman, media reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan is in a 'perfect storm' of crises: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari
Islamabad: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday said his nation is currently facing a "perfect storm" of crises as the country is fighting against worsening political, economic and security issues.
Pakistan: Customs intelligence team raids BOL News head office in Karachi
Karachi: Pakistan's Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation in Karachi recently carried out a raid at the head office of BOL News in compliance with court orders, media reports said.
Thimphu to host 'Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition' in May
Thimpu: The eighth edition of the Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition will be held in the capital city of Thimpu in May.
French pension reform aimed at keeping taxes low, says Government
Paris: The pension reform in France is being carried out to balance the country's pension financial system without raising taxes, government spokesman Olivier Veran said on Wednesday.
Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering discusses issues related to green and renewable energy sector as he meets German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Berlin: Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering, who is currently visiting Germany, has met top leaders of the country which include President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Too many nations failing to investigate torture cases, UN expert says
New York: States must be “primary responders” in torture cases, to end impunity and bring justice on behalf of victims, a UN independent expert told the Human Rights Council on Tuesday.
Imran Khan gets temporary relief: Lahore High Court stops police operation at Zaman Park till 10 am tomorrow
Lahore: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday directed police to stop operation at Zaman Park residence of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan till 10 am on Thursday, giving a temporary relief to the PTI chief who is facing arrest in connectin with Toshakhana case.
Counter-terrorism 'rhetoric' used to justify rise of surveillance technology: human rights expert
New York: Some countries and private companies are using “counter-terrorism and security rhetoric” to justify a major increase in the deployment and use of cutting-edge surveillance technology, with no regulation, and at an “enormous cost” to human rights, said an independent UN expert on Tuesday.
UN deputy chief warns of faltering progress towards SDGs
New York: Multiple interconnected global crises are putting achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk - both in the Arab region and the rest of the world, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned on Tuesday.
Think local, says new FAO report, pointing towards ‘hunger-free and healthy’ Europe, Central Asia
New York: Eight UN agencies on Tuesday published a new report aimed at helping countries address chronic food insecurity and nutrition crises across Europe and Central Asia, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.
More than half of all Syrians going hungry: WFP
New York: More than half of the population in Syria is facing hunger as the country grapples with 12 years of war and recent devastating earthquakes, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Tuesday.
In Lebanon, UN deputy chief explores first-hand, challenges facing children and persons with special needs
New York: During a visit to a center for street children in Beirut, Lebanon, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said: “Children should be allowed to be children. They should enjoy their rights to education, to health, to safe environment and to not feeling the pressures of an adult at a child’s age.”
Real intent is to abduct and assassinate, tweets Imran Khan as Zaman Park stalemate continues
Islamabad: Pakistani politician Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that the real intention of the Pakistani police was to 'abduct and assassinate' him and the plan to 'arrest' was nothing but a mere 'drama'.