Ukraine: Blasts reported in Zaporizhzhia
Kyiv: Explosions were heard in the Kyiv-controlled parts of the region of Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Saturday, Ukrainian media report.
World
World entering a ‘humanitarian doom loop’, warns UN food aid official
New York: Russia has not offered any free grain to the UN food relief agency so far, and its policy of buying supplies from Ukraine has been based on its competitive price and quality, a senior WFP official said on Friday.
Germany: Three people shot dead
Berlin: A man broke into two apartment buildings near Augsburg in Germany’s Bavaria, killing three people, the Bild newspaper reports citing law enforcement.
UN missions battle old and emerging threats, to protect civilians
New York: Heads of UN peacekeeping forces on Thursday highlighted the work of ‘blue helmets’ in some of the most challenging environments, protecting those in need not only from war and terror but also increasingly from natural disasters and disinformation.
Melting glacier leads to recovery of German mountain climber's body who went missing 37 years ago
Melting of ice is leading to the recovery of things that are long thought to be lost and now a body of a German mountain climber, who went missing 37 years ago while hiking along a glacier near Switzerland’s iconic Matterhorn, has been recovered.
UN pledges to ‘remain engaged and committed’ amid Niger coup
New York: Humanitarian operations, development support and peace programmes in Niger continue in the wake of the military coup this week, the top UN official in the country said on Friday in a briefing to journalists in New York.
OHCHR condemns executions in Kuwait and Singapore, pushes for global ban
Five prisoners were executed in Kuwait and two in Singapore this week, including the first Singaporean woman to be executed in nearly 20 years, prompting the UN human rights office (OHCHR) to issue a renewed condemnation of the death penalty, urging all Member States to end its use.
Russia urged to free opposition leader Kara-Murza amid failing health
An independent UN human rights expert on Friday appealed for Russia to immediately release detained journalist and prominent opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, whose life is at risk due to deteriorating health.
UNHCR urges solidarity with Burkina Faso’s victims of extremist violence
Civilians fleeing attacks by extremist groups in Burkina Faso must be allowed to shelter in neighbouring countries and not sent back, amid a spike in violence and horrifying rights abuses, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
The Pakistan Connection: High Court rejects bail plea in drug smuggling case
In a gripping legal battle that exposes the darker underbelly of cross-border crimes, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a firm stand against the delivery of contraband and arms through clandestine drone networks from across the Pakistan border.
Colombia: Death toll from avalanche rises to 29
Bogota/UNI: The death toll from the avalanche in the Colombian municipality of Quetame has gone up to 29, regional fire authorities inform.
Four defence personnel missing after helicopter crashes in Australia
Queensland: At least four people are missing after a military helicopter crashed off the coast of Queensland in Australia, media reports said on Saturday.
Body of missing cryptocurrency billionaire influencer found chopped up inside suitcase in Argentina
Buenos Aires/IBNS: Cryptocurrency influencer, Fernando Perez Algaba, who had been missing for more than a week in Argentina, was found dead on Wednesday.
Eligible Canadians to receive newly enhanced workers benefit today
Toronto/IBNS: As part of the newly enhanced Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), eligible Canadians will reportedly receive their first automatic advance payments on Friday from the revenue agency.
Pakistan: Locals protest against forced disappearances in Quetta
Locals in the Quetta region of Pakistan on Thursday demonstrated in front of the Press Club against forced disappearances.
Pakistan: Flood hits hundreds of villages in Punjab
Lahore: Low to medium-level flooding in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Indus rivers has left hundreds of villages in various areas of Pakistan submerged under water, media reports said on Friday.
Senator Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das criticises attack on Hindu community in Pakistan
Hindu Senator Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das has criticised the recent attacks on the people of the community in the country.
Pakistan: FBR freezes PIA accounts over non-payment of taxes
Islamabad: All bank accounts of Pakistan national carrier Pakistan International Airline (PIA) have been frozen by the country's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over non-payment of taxes, media reports said.
New Economic and Social Council leadership takes the helm
New York: The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which oversees sustainable development across the UN, elected its new President on Thursday, marking the start of its new session.
‘Urgent steps’ needed to end surge in violence across West Bank
New York: Insecurity and violence increased rapidly in the occupied West Bank over the last month, punctuated by one of the most intensive Israeli military operations in nearly two decades, the Security Council heard on Thursday.
Niger: UN chief demands president’s immediate and unconditional release
New York: The UN Secretary-General on Thursday demanded the release of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum “immediately and unconditionally”, as military officers continue to hold the democratically-elected leader captive after declaring a coup.
On 70th anniversary of Korean armistice, Guterres calls for renewed dialogue
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday highlighted the need for a “surge in diplomacy” in the Korean Peninsula, urging the two nations to resume talks towards a lasting peace.
Transforming food systems, key to get SDGs back on track: Mohammed
New York: The UN on Wednesday launched an initiative for accelerated transformation in food systems, with the Deputy Secretary-General highlighting key objectives to help get the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.
Ukraine: ‘Latest attacks signal a calamitous turn’, Security Council hears
The recent wave of devastating Russian attacks targeting Odesa and other key Ukrainian port cities marks a “calamitous turn” in the 17-month war, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Guterres condemns apparent coup attempt in Niger
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned an attempted power grab in the West African nation of Niger, following reports that the democratically elected president is being held by some of his own guards inside his official residence.
The UN’s milestone operation to salvage Yemen’s stricken oil tanker: Key questions answered
New York: After nearly two years of “political groundwork, fundraising, and project development”, in the words of UN chief António Guterres, the UN-led operation to avert environmental disaster in the Red Sea off the Yemeni coast is fully underway.
Cambodia: UN rights chief regrets ‘severely restricted’ poll and opposition clampdown
The UN human rights chief on Wednesday lamented the severe electoral clampdown by the Cambodian Government during the weekend vote, including restrictions on opposition parties, NGOs and media.
Singapore: Authorities execute first woman convict in nearly two decades for drug trafficking
Singapore authorities on Friday executed a woman for attempting to traffic an ounce of heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said.
Wang Shaojun, bodyguard to China’s top leaders, died due to unknown illness: Reports
Lieutenant General Wang Shaojun, former head of the Central Security Bureau, died in Beijing on July 26 due to undisclosed illness, media reports said.
Nigeria: EFCC Arrests 13 Chinese nationals over alleged mining activities
Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 13 Chinese people on charges of bordering on illegal mining activities in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria.