United Nations, May 20 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday urged all parties concerned in Malawi to ensure “peaceful and inclusive” elections, as the country’s first tripartite elections are to be held on schedule from May 20-24. The secretary-general “urges all candidates, political parties, and state institutions to ensure that the polls are peaceful and inclusive”, […]
Bangkok, May 20 (IANS) Thailand was declared being under martial law Tuesday in the face of a looming street chaos in the Thai capital. Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha declared martial rule at 03. 00 a.m. Tuesday with immediate effect throughout the country. “Mass gatherings by varied groups of people and recent street violence in which […]
Geneva, May 20 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed deep concern over the worldwide increase in childhood obesity. At the 67th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, the concern was highlighted by WHO’s Director-General Margaret Chan, Xinhua reported. The WHO annual assembly grouped more than 3,000 delegates from 194 member states at the UN […]
Brussels, May 20 (IANS) Officials from the European Union(EU) and Russia met in Berlin Monday to help in preparing the ground for a second trilateral meeting between the EU, Russia and Ukraine, an EU statement said. European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger met Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak to discuss issues relating to security of gas supply […]
Paris, May 20 (IANS) French President Francois Hollande Monday reiterated Paris’ support for Malian authorities to restore order and stability after a wave of violence escalated in northern Mali, the president office said in a statement. During a phone conversation with his Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Hollande asked that “all truth must be unveiled over […]
Oslo, May 20 (IANS) Norway has decided to give 372 million Norwegian kroner (about $63 million) as emergency aid to South Sudan, a media report said Monday. Expressing his concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said that there is a real danger of famine and the international community […]
Cairo, May 20 (IANS) An Egyptian court sentenced a supporter of ex-president Mohamed Morsi to death and 18 to life imprisonment for committing violence and murder while protesting against Morsi’s removal last year, state media reported. The case dates back to July 5 last year, two days after Morsi’s military ouster, when a group of pro-Morsi […]
Jerusalem, May 20 (IANS) Members of the Israeli parliament will elect a new president June 10, Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced Monday. The announcement marks the beginning of the race to replace current president Shimon Peres, whose tenure will expire July 27 after seven years since 2007, Xinhua reported. In Israel, the post of president is […]
Tripoli, May 20 (IANS) A day after the parliament compound was attacked by a militant group, loyal to a retired general, the Libyan parliament speaker Monday ordered a pro-government militia to safeguard the capital city. In a letter to “Libya’s Central Shield”, a militia group from Misrata, General National Congress President and parliament speaker Nouri Abu […]
Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) A Chinese tourist was kidnapped in Pakistan while he was travelling from Lahore to Balochistan, a media report said Tuesday. Hong Xu Dong was kidnapped Monday from Darban area of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn online reported. Security forces have recovered Dong’s belongings from the kidnapping spot and have launched […]