Lawmaker introduces bill to make Diwali a federal holiday in US
New Delhi/Washington: US lawmaker Grace Meng has introduced a bill in the US Congress to declare Diwali a federal holiday in the US.
World
Taiwan's military reports 33 Chinese warplanes detected around island in last 24 hours
Taipei: The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had detected 33 aircraft and 10 vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the island over the past 24 hours.
Despite ‘slightly’ improved food security in Yemen, hunger stalks millions
New York: The food security situation in Yemen’s government-controlled districts “slightly improved” during the first five months of this year, but acute malnutrition is on the rise, UN agencies warned in a new report released on Friday.
Social media influencer dies after consuming four bottles of ‘Chinese vodka’ during live stream
A Chinese social media influencer has died after he was suspected to have drunk more than four bottles of baijiu, sometimes known as 'Chinese vodka', during a live stream.
Ukraine: UN delivers aid to millions, as civilian suffering continues
New York: Humanitarians reached 5.4 million people in Ukraine with desperately needed aid by April this year, including cash assistance, food, health services, and medicines, the UN said on Friday.
‘Safe digital public square’ never more important, says Türk
New York: Allowing space for everyone to speak up, is critical for a free and fully functioning society said the UN human rights chief on Friday, warning that a safe environment online has never been more essential.
Mexico: Truck with over 170 migrants found
Mexico City: Mexico’s National Institute of Migration (INM) says it has found a truck with 175 migrants, mostly from Central America, in the state of Chiapas.
Brazilian actor Jefferson Machado, who went missing for several months, found dead in a trunk
Brazilian actor Jefferson Machado, who had been missing for nearly five months, was found dead in a trunk in Rio de Janeiro city.
Canadian province Manitoba maintains A+ credit in most recent S&P Global Ratings despite challenging economy
Winnipeg/IBNS: Manitoba has maintained its A+ credit rating in recent International credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings reflecting its commitment to fiscal stability, providing historic support to those affected by a challenging economy, Manitoba's Finance Minister Cliff Cullen announced in a news release.
Canadian singer Celine Dion cancels remaining Courage World Tour shows due to medical condition
Toronto/IBNS: Canadian singer Celine Dion announced Friday that due to an ongoing medical condition, all her remaining Courage World Tour shows have been cancelled and scheduled through to early spring 2024.
Security Council urged to step up on financing for AU peace operations
New York: The UN political affairs chief on Thursday appealed for the Security Council to ensure reliable funding for African Union (AU) efforts towards greater peace and security on the continent.
UN representative alarmed by sexual violence against women and girls in DRC
New York: UN Special Representative, Pramila Patten, expressed her ‘deep concern’ on Thursday over increasing allegations of sexual violence against women and girls being carried out in camps for the internally displaced (IDPs) around Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Arrest of top Rwandan genocide fugitive shows ‘justice will be done’
New York: One of the world’s most wanted genocide fugitives has been arrested after being on the run for more than two decades, the UN tribunal prosecuting war crimes committed in Rwanda announced on Thursday.
Pakistan: Two police personnel die during exchange of fire with terrorists
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: At least two police personnel died during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Khyber police lines in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) area on Friday, media reports said.
African free trade area could spur sustainable growth: UN chief
New York: The robust growth that many African countries experienced before COVID-19 was lost to the pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, highlighting the need to scale up efforts towards a single trade market on the continent.
Ukraine: One dies as missile hits medical clinic in Dnipro
Dnipro: At least one person died and 15 others were hurt as a missile hit a medical clinic in Ukraine's Dnipro city, media reports said.
Unprecedented joint call to shield children on the move from violence
New York: The UN’s top advocate on ending violence against children, joined UN agencies on Wednesday in highlighting the urgent need to protect the rights of young people on the move, amid spiralling crises worldwide.
‘No time to spare’: Israel-Palestine ceasefire holds, but hunger, tensions mount
Swift action is needed to prevent flare ups of Israeli-Palestinian violence and avert a looming food crisis, the top UN official in the Middle East told the Security Council on Wednesday.
UN and partners seek $7 billion to prevent catastrophe in the Horn of Africa
New York: With “crisis atop of crisis” threatening millions in the Horn of Africa, the international community cannot afford to stand idly by, Secretary-General António Guterres said at a pledging event to raise $7 billion for the region, held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday.
Guterres: ‘We can turn the tide’ towards ending colonialism
New York: New ideas must open fresh pathways towards finally ending the era of colonialism and to help advance sustainable development in the world’s 17 remaining colonies, the UN chief said in a video message to the Organization’s decolonization seminar in Bali, Indonesia.
Türk appeals to Sudan’s warring generals; calls out ‘dangerous anti-rights tendencies’ worldwide
The “senseless” fighting in Sudan must stop now, and the warring generals have to insist on zero tolerance for sexual violence among their troops, the UN rights chief said on Wednesday.
Chinese malware hits systems in US’ Guam: Microsoft
New York: The Microsoft and American intelligence agencies have detected a mysterious computer code that has been popping up in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States, The New York Times reported.
China facing large income gap between its rich, poor: Report
Beijing: China is facing a large income gap between its poor and rich, shows the country’s income distribution statistics, according to The Times of Israel.
UK: Car crashes into Downing Street gates, police arrest 1
London/IBNS: A man was arrested by the police after he crashed his car into the gates of the UK Prime Minister's Downing Street office and residence in central London on Thursday, reports said.
Canada: Ontario's Project Foxtrot leads to human trafficking investigation
Toronto/IBNS: A human trafficking investigation by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) allegedly led to four residents facing charges for forcing four victims to pay for their own accommodations in an accused's basement.
Pakistan: Six security personnel killed in attack on Hangu energy plant
Kohat: Six security personnel were killed after more than a dozen militants stormed an oil and gas exploration site in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, reports said.
Pakistan: Class-IV employees in Swat demand 200% pay hike
Swat: Class-IV employees from different parts of Swat in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday demanded a 200 percent hike in their salaries.
US to bar visas to Bangladeshis responsible for undermining election process
Dhaka/UNI: The United States has announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections.
Kazakhstan to host Astana International Forum in June to address key global challenges
Astana/New Delhi: While the international community moves towards an era of increased polarization and geopolitical division, Kazakhstan has launched a new international conference, the Astana International Forum, to join efforts on tackling key global challenges.
US man beaten to death trying to protect his son in school fight
Annapolis (Maryland)/IBNS: A US man Christopher Michael Wright, 43, from Maryland, was beaten to death outside his house as he was trying to protect his children from a group who wanted to finish a school fight.