UNITED NATIONS: The past 12 months marked a “formidable” year for suppression of human rights, with world leaders ignoring violations in Sudan and Gaza, and against marginalized groups like the Uighurs, a monitor said Friday. In its world report for 2024 Human Rights Watch singled out
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for an immediate end to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi on shipping in the Red Sea, adopting a resolution which received four abstentions including those from Russia and China. The resolution also called on the Houthis to
LONDON: The UK government on Thursday announced plans for what it said was the country's "biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years to bolster its energy independence and meet carbon emission targets. The Civil Nuclear Roadmap includes exploring the construction of a major new power
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The United Nations’ top court opens hearings Thursday into South Africa’s allegation that Israel’s war with Hamas amounts to genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel strongly denies. South Africa is initially asking the International Court of Justice to order an immediate suspension
BEIJING/TAIPEI: China and Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), warned on Thursday of the danger Taiwan's ruling party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te could pose to peace if he wins the election this weekend. Taiwan will hold a pivotal presidential and parliamentary election, which is being
MALE: Maldives and China signed 20 agreements, including one on accelerating cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a statement issued by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s office. The agreements mark a “significant step in bilateral relations” between the two countries, read the statement. The Belt
MADINA MUNAWARA: In a rare diplomacy, a non-Muslim Indian delegation has been given access to the holy city of Madina Munawara in Saudi Arabia. The non-Muslim Indian delegation, led by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani, reached Saudi Arabia to pay
FLORIDA: A privately built moon lander, the Peregrine, designed by space robotics firm Astrobotic, encountered a technical problem jeopardising the prospect of the first US soft lunar landing since 1972. Launched on the maiden flight of the Vulcan rocket, a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin,
ECUADOR: Ecuador's most wanted criminal, leader of the Los Choneros criminal group, Jose Adolfo Macias, fled from jail where he was serving his sentence for drug trafficking and murder. Known by his alias Fito, Macias was imprisoned in 2011 and given a 34-year sentence, as reported
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, tackling conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine in his yearly address to diplomats, said on Monday that “indiscriminately striking” civilians is a war crime because it violates international humanitarian law. Francis, 87, made his comments in a 45-minute address to Vatican-accredited