Leading rights groups pull up ASEAN on Myanmar

Kolkata (IANS) The ASEANs continuous engagement with the brutal and illegitimate Myanmar military junta, while refusing to hold dialogues with the true representatives of the people, is an affront to its own five-point consensus, rights groups said…

US-Iran nuclear deal cause of concern: Israel counter-terror chief

New Delhi/Jerusalem (IANS) Israel on Monday said that it is concerned about the billions of dollars that could go to terror organisation Hamas if the US lifts its sanctions on Iran.

In a special virtual exchange with the Indian media, Nevo…

Biden reinvigorates tariff war against India with retaliation to digital tax

New York (IANS) The US tariff war against India has been reinvigorated by President Joe Biden threatening to increase import duties on a range of imports, from prawns and Basmati rice to furniture and jewellery, in retaliation against New Delhi imposing…

NATO warns Russia, Belarus against threatening allies

Brussels (IANS) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday warned Russia and Belarus against threatening the alliance's allies, following the forced landing of a passenger plane within the European Union (EU0 by Belarusian authorities.

Phuket to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors

Bangkok (IANS) As Thailand continues to battle its third and worst wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities have said that the country's largest resort island Phuket remained on track to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors from July 1.

Belarusian airlines banned from EU airspace after journo's arrest

Brussels (IANS) Starting from Saturday, Belarusian air carriers' will be banned from flying over the European Union (EU) airspace and also using runways in response to the forced diversion of a Ryanair flight and detention of a dissident journalist…

World Bank, IMF urge action on Covid vax access

Washington (IANS) The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have called on countries anticipating excess Covid-19 vaccine supplies in the coming months to release their surplus doses as soon as possible to developing nations.

Biden expands ban on Chinese surveillance firms doing biz in US

Washington (IANS) Expanding a Donald Trump-era ban on Chinese surveillance companies with alleged ties to the military, US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that increases the number of restricted Chinese firms from 48 to 59.

The…

S'pore lauds 'historic' EU-ASEAN air travel agreement

Singapore (IANS) The Singapore government on Friday said that the finalisation of an air transport and travel deal between the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) is "a historic achievement".

The ASEAN-EU…

S'pore planning probe into burnt ship off SL coast

Singapore (IANS) Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) on Thursday announced that it aims to launch a probe into the burnt X Press Pearl container in the waters off the coast of Sri Lanka, as it threatens of a environmental disaster.