Soldiers help deliver baby in Rome square
Rome, Oct 13 (IANS/AKI) Two soldiers on duty in a central Rome square helped a woman give birth when she went into labour while trying to reach a nearby hospital on foot, reports said. The…
International
Toddler among 129 migrants rescued in Mediterranean
Catania (Italy), Oct 13 (IANS/AKI) A toddler was among 129 migrants who reached the Sicilian port of Catania after being rescued in the Mediterranean, Italian coastguard reported on Wednesday. The migrants are mainly form Senegal…
US Fed closer to interest rate hike
Washington, Oct 13 (IANS) US Federal Reserve was closer to moving up interest rate, minutes of the Fed’s latest monetary policy meeting showed on Wednesday. “Several (Federal Open Market Committee) members judged that it would…
IOC president calls for ‘stronger’ WADA
Paris, Oct 13 (IANS) International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach called on the member states of the European forum to join forces for anti-doping. Regarding the recent row between the IOC and the World…
Renzi attacks ‘unacceptable’ EU budget rules
Rome, Oct 12 (IANS/AKI) Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Wednesday slammed the European Union’s “bureaucratic” budget rules, saying it was “unacceptable” for countries to have to stick to these rigidly. “How can country like ours…
Renzi urges budget cuts for EU states who shun refugees
Rome, Oct 12 (IANS/AKI) European Union states who fail to take in their fair share of refugees should be dealt cuts to their funding from the bloc’s budget, Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday….
Pope Francis makes fresh appeal for peace in Syria
Rome, Oct 12 (IANS/AKI) Pope Francis on Wednesday made a fresh appeal to end to Syria’s “inhuman” and “cruel” conflict, starting with an immediate ceasefire. “I want to emphasise and reiterate my solidarity with all…
Roberto Cavalli slashes 200 jobs worldwide
Milan (Italy), Oct 12 (IANS/AKI) The Roberto Cavalli fashion house announced Wednesday it is cutting 200 out of 672 jobs globally, closing some stores and its Milan offices and relocating to a manufacturing district near…
Pakistan doctors fail to attend conference, ‘didn’t apply for visas’
New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) A delegation of doctors from Pakistan, expected to participate in a global conference on Head and Neck cancer in the city, could not attend the event as the Union Home…
UN Human Rights chief calls Trump ‘dangerous’
United Nations, Oct 12 (IANS) The UN human rights chief has warned that, if Republican party nominee Donald Trump is elected to be the next US President, he would be “dangerous from an international point…
Sri Lanka approves new anti-terrorism law draft
Colombo, Oct 12 (IANS) Affirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to human rights, the country’s cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft of a new counter-terrorism law to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act. A committee, chaired…
Green groups call for deal to cut down super pollutants
By Vishal Gulati Kigali (Rwanda), Oct 12 (IANS) Environmental groups on Wednesday urged world leaders to come together for an ambitious deal to cut down heat-trapping super pollutants like hydrofluorocarbons and reaffirm their Paris commitment…
China important factor in determining climate benefits: CSE
By Vishal Gulati Kigali (Rwanda), Oct 12 (IANS) China is the single most important factor in determining climate benefits with the phasing out of heat-trapping organic compounds — hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — and replacing them with…
Leung wins Hong Kong Legislative Council presidential election
Hong Kong, Oct 12 (IANS) Pro-establishment lawmaker Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen won the Hong Kong Legislative Council presidential election on Wednesday during a dramatic session that saw a heated dispute over his nationality. Pro-democracy lawmakers tore…
Sri Lanka progresses to end child marriages: UN
Colombo, Oct 12 (IANS) While Sri Lanka has made substantial progress in addressing child marriage and teenage pregnancy, some girls in the south Asian nation are still being deprived of a carefree childhood and the…
India will gain by leadership role in Montreal Protocol changes: US advocacy group
By Vishal Gulati Kigali (Rwanda), Oct 12 (IANS) India will gain substantially from progressive participation in achieving a strong amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which can spur its domestic market growth, a US-based environmental advocacy…
Philippines president to visit China
Beijing, Oct 12 (IANS) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will pay a state visit to China from October 18 to 21 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said…
30 refugees to return from India, says Sri Lanka
Colombo, Oct 12 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday said 30 Sri Lankan refugees in south India will return home next week. The Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs said…
Tokyo blackout leaves 350,000 houses without power
Tokyo, Oct 12 (IANS) A fire at a power facility triggered a huge blackout on Wednesday in Tokyo, leaving 350,000 households and several government buildings without electricity and halting trains during rush hour. The Tokyo…
Xi’s visit to usher in new era in bilateral cooperation: Hasina
Dhaka, Oct 12 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping would usher in “a new era of intensive cooperation” in trade, investment and other…