UN to restart negotiations for Security Council reform on Jan 25

United Nations (IANS) The stalled negotiations for reforming the Security Council will restart on January 25, General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said on Friday.

He said that during the four months since he took over, he held negotiations…

Experts raise doubts on data behind China growth story

New Delhi (IANS) Even as China featured among the few countries that managed to post a healthy growth in 2020 notwithstanding the severe economic and health impact of the coronavirus pandemic, several economists have questioned the veracity of the…

Iran fires torpedoes from homemade submarine for 1st time

Tehran (IANS) The Iranian naval force fired torpedoes from the home-made Fateh(Conqueror)-class submarine, as well as cruise missiles from the seashore and vessels on the second day of a large-scale drill in the country's southern waters.

Chinese Covid vax found 50.4 percent effective in Brazil trials

Sao Paulo (IANS) A leading Chinese Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Sinovac Biotech, has been found to be 50.4 per cent effective in Brazilian clinical trials, researchers have found.

According to the latest results released by researchers, it…

Ex-S.Korean President's 20-year prison sentence upheld

Seoul (IANS) South Korea's top court on Thursday upheld former President Park Geun-hye's a 20-year prison sentence at a retrial of the corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of the former head of state.

The Supreme Court sentenced…

Iran starts research to upgrade fuel for Tehran research reactor

Tehran (IANS) Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organisations, said that the country has started research and development to upgrade fuel for its Tehran Research Reactor, a state…

Pak hosting 2nd trilateral meet with Turkey, Azerbaijan

Islamabad (IANS) Pakistan is hosting the second Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan trilateral meeting here on Wednesday to discuss global and regional issues.

The Pakistan Foreign office said "the three sides would also explore possibilities of deepening…

Cuba condemns US for adding it to terrorism blacklist

Havana (IANS) Cuba condemns its inclusion in a US list of countries that sponsor terrorism, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said.

Cuba condemns the US-announced "hypocritical and cynical designation" of the country as "a state sponsoring…

Sri Lanka needs India's help to bridge growing ethnic rift

Colombo (IANS) The destruction of a war memorial in Jaffna University, followed by a decision to restore it, has yet again exposed the uneasy relationship between ethnic communities, and the need for Sri Lanka to heal from within.

On January…

Sudan appeals AU to play bigger role in Nile dam talks

Khartoum (IANS) Sudan has reiterated its adherence to the necessity of giving the African Union (AU) experts a bigger role in the negotiations on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river.

Chairman of Sudan's…