international

13 Jul

At least 44 killed, 67 injured in coronavirus hospital fire in Iraq

editor0 CommentsHealth, international

As rescuers combed the smoke-charred building in search of more bodies, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held urgent meetings with senior ministers and ordered the suspension and arrest of health and civil defense managers in Nassiriya, his office said in a statement. The manager of the hospital was also suspended and ordered to be arrested, the statement added. Already decimated by war and sanctions, Iraq's healthcare system has struggled to cope with the coronavirus crisis, which has killed 17,592 people and infected more than 1.4 million. "Health crews carried charred bodies out of the burning hospital while many patients were coughing…

13 Jul

B’desh decides to ease lockdown for a week ahead of Eid

editor0 CommentsHealth, international

The Bangladeshi government has decided to ease the ongoing lockdown for a week from Thursday onwards ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Bangladesh’s Press Information Department (PID) made the announcement on Monday night, saying the lockdown restrictions will be eased until July 22 on the occasion of Muslim festival, which will be celebrated on July 21, reports Xinhua news agency. The country’s cabinet division will issue a notification containing details on easing of the restrictions and prohibitions on Tuesday, said the announcement. As part of easing the lockdown measures, the government is very likely to allow public transport services resume on the condition…

10 Jul

YouTuber Karl Rock Barred From Entering India

editor0 CommentsIndia, international

YouTuber Karl Rock, who has been barred from entry in India since last October, had violated the terms of his visa, the Union Home Ministry said today. Married to an Indian, the New Zealand national has been blacklisted by the Centre and he has raised the matter with several authorities, both here and in his home country. Mr Rock's wife, Manisha Malik, meanwhile, has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Centre's alleged "arbitrary and unreasonable" decision, a PTI report has said. She has cited Article 21, which guarantees one the fundamental right to life and dignity, to oppose the…

09 Jul

Saddened: PM Modi offers condolences to Haiti over assassination of President Jovenel Moise

editor0 Commentsinternational, Political

The assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise came as a shock for the world. The President and his wife, Martine Moise were attacked at their private residence by a group of unknown gunmen. The information was shared by the interim Prime minister of Haiti, Claude Joseph. Saddened by the grave incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered condolences to the family of President Moise, his family, and the people of Haiti."Saddened by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine Moise of Haiti. My Condolences to the family of President Moise and the people of…

07 Jul

Afghan Troops Struggle To Replace Americans At Key Bagram Base

editor0 Commentsinternational

After American troops withdrew without notifying them, Afghan soldiers guarding the Bagram Air Base have been left with thousands of Taliban prisoners and a certainty that the enemy will attack.Following the September 11 attacks and the US invasion of Afghanistan, the Americans took control of the base and used it as the launching pad for air strikes against the Taliban and to protect Afghan forces. But the last of the American soldiers quietly left the base last week, effectively completing their withdrawal from Afghanistan and leaving a massive security vacuum that the Afghan military will struggle to fill. The new…

06 Jul

Contact lost with plane in Russia’s Far East, 28 on board: reports

editor0 Commentsinternational

Contact has been lost with a passenger plane carrying 28 people in Russia's Far East, news agencies cited emergency services as saying on Tuesday.The An-26 was flying from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana in the Kamchatka Peninsula when it did not make a scheduled call-in, the Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS agencies quoted local officials as saying. The report said the 28 on board included six crew members and that there were one or two children among the passengers. The plane lost contact with air traffic control while attempting to land, TASS separately cited a source as saying. Russia, once known for…

02 Jul

Protests erupt in Turkey after it quits treaty to prevent violence against women

editor0 Commentsinternational

Thousands of people took to the street on Thursday to denounce Turkey's withdrawal from an international treaty designated to combat violence against women.Large scale demonstration was witnessed after Turkey formally pulled out from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as Istanbul Convention, Al Jazeera reported.Demonstrators clashed with police who fired tear gas in the country's biggest city Istanbul. Women protesters gathered on the Istiklal Avenue, carrying banners and chanting slogans against the government. The police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, preventing them from proceeding toward the iconic…

02 Jul

‘Drone at Indian high commission in Islamabad was trying to capture details of diplomatic event’

editor0 CommentsIndia, international

A drone that was spotted over the Indian High Commission complex in Islamabad last week was allegedly attempting to capture details of a diplomatic event being held at the mission, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. India had lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan foreign office through a note verbale over the security breach at the high commission premises. Confirmed the incident, the ministry of external affairs said that India has taken up the security breach issue with the Pakistani government. According to security officials, it was the first instance of suspected Pakistan-based terrorists deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to…

29 Jun

FOGSI -USAID partnership

editor0 Commentsinternational

In partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) launched the ‘Pankh Initiative’ to generate greater awareness about reproductive health issues among youth. Pankh (wings) aims to create awareness about safe sexual behaviour and proper contraceptive use without stigma or judgment. The Initiative will introduce the ‘Talk Bejhijhak’ (talk without hesitation) campaign to facilitate non-judgemental, technically accurate conversations between FOGSI member physicians across India and youth. The campaign will include an anonymous helpline (1800 258 0001) where trained counsellors can answer questions and help facilitate face-to-face consultations in clinics…

26 Jun

Attack on Pakistan’s army in Balochistan, 5 paramilitary soldiers died

editor0 Commentsinternational

Terrorists ambushed security forces patrolling a remote district in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, killing five of them before fleeing the scene, according to a media report on Friday. Five soldiers of Frontier Corps Balochistan were killed in an exchange of fire with the terrorists, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan armed forces. Four Frontier Corps members were killed immediately, while another died in hospital. No group has immediately claimed responsibility. There has been a surge in assaults on Pakistani security forces in Balochistan in recent months. A search operation is also in progress to…