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.

Canadians fear more tragedies in indigenous kids' tale

Toronto (IANS) Canadians fear there could be more graves of indigenous children after the discovery of the remains of 215 kids from the grounds of a former native school.

The discovery of the remains at the former Indian residential school…

Iranian navy vessel catches fire, sinks in Gulf of Oman

Tehran (IANS) Iran's large navy ship Kharg caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Following the spread of the fire on the vessel, the crew safely disembarked, the…

Russia updates national security strategy to address new threats

Moscow (IANS) Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that the country's national security strategy is being renewed aimed at addressing new threats.

"Political and economic pressure is being used to contain Russia,…

NATO Ministers to debate on reform, Afghanistan

Brussels (IANS) The Foreign and Defence Ministers of the 30 NATO countries will hold two video conferences on Tuesday ahead of a summit later this month, with work to draw up a leaders' communique already under way.

Set to dominate the…

UN slams closure of oppn TV stations in Ukraine

United Nations (IANS) The UN has slammed the closure of three TV stations belonging to the pro-Russian opposition in Ukraine.

The decision was unjustified, disproportionate and contrary to international human rights standards, the UN mission…

Ryanair plane diverted to Berlin over potential threat

Berlin (IANS) In yet another flight diversion incident involving Ryanair, the Irish airline on Monday announced that a Poland-bound plane made an unscheduled landing in Berlin due to information received about a possible security threat on board.