International - The Purbottar

02 Jul

Women in Turkey protest against withdrawal from gender protection treaty

editor0 CommentsInternationalinternational, Women’s safety

Women marched in Istanbul and other cities late Thursday to protest Turkey's formal exit from a European treaty aimed at preventing violence against women, saying the move stripped them of critical protection at a time when femicides are on the rise. Turkey signed the treaty, called the Istanbul Convention, in 2011.In March, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued an unexpected decree announcing Turkey’s intention to withdraw from the treaty, which he and members of his Islamist party have framed as part of a Western plot aimed at harming conservative notions of family and encouraging homosexuality. Ankara’s exit from the treaty took…

01 Jul

9 European Union countries, Switzerland include Covishield in ‘green pass’

editor0 CommentsBreaking News, Covid-19, India, InternationalEuropean

Several European Union countries have cleared the Serum Institute of India's Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, amid travel pass row. According to a PTI report, nine European nations have agreed to accept Covishield for travel to their countries. Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain are among the countries that will allow travel by people who have taken Covishield shots. Besides, Switzerland has also included the drug in 'green pass' amid a row over travel pass to Indians. Separately, Estonia has also confirmed that it will recognise all vaccines authorised by India for the travel of Indians. This comes after India requested…

01 Jul

Covid Delta variant detected in 96 countries: WHO

editor0 CommentsCovid-19, Health, InternationalCovid-19, international, who

The Delta Covid-19 variant has now been detected in 96 countries, 11 more than last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest update. The Delta variant, also referred to as a “double mutant” because it carries two mutations, is 55 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant, initially detected in the UK, and will rapidly become the dominant strain of globally, Xinhua news agency quoted the WHO as saying in the update issued on Wednesday. Africa has reported many new outbreaks of the variant as Tunisia, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria, and Malawi are among the 11 countries…

30 Jun

UEFA EURO 2020 Highlights: England 2-0 Germany in Round of 16 match

editor0 CommentsInternational, SportsEuro 2020, football

Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane struck as England reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship with a 2-0 win over rivals Germany at Wembley on Tuesday. England will play either Sweden or Ukraine, who meet later on Tuesday in Glasgow in the last eight. It was England’s first knockout round victory inside 90 minutes at the Euros and came after midfielder Jack Grealish was introduced in the 69th minute. Six minutes later, after a swift passing move, left wing-back Luke Shaw slipped the ball across the face of the goal for Sterling to slide in. Grealish was the direct provider…

29 Jun

FOGSI and USAID spearhead ‘Pankh Initiative’

editor0 CommentsHealth, InternationalHealth, international

The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the ‘Pankh Initiative’ to generate greater awareness about reproductive health issues among youth. Pankh, which means “wings'' in Hindi, 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…

26 Jun

Five Pakistan paramilitary soldiers killed in attack on security forces in Balochistan

editor0 CommentsInternationalPAKISTAN

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…

25 Jun

Air India plane flies from Amritsar to Dubai with just 1 passenger

editor0 CommentsBusiness, India, InternationalAir india

UAE-based Indian businessman S P Singh Oberoi was pleasantly surprised to have the whole plane to himself when he boarded Air India's flight from Amritsar to Dubai with an economy-class ticket in hand. During the flight, he snapped pictures with the crew members and paced up and down the aircraft multiple times without any hindrance. Air India did not respond to PTI's request for a statement on this matter. Oberoi, who holds a golden visa that allows 10-year long residency in the UAE, was the sole passenger on the national carrier's Dubai-bound three-hour flight that departed from Amritsar around 3.45…

24 Jun

EURO 2020: We did what we had to do, says Portugal coach Santos after draw with France

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalINDIA, international

Portugal coach Fernando Santos has described the dilemma he faced during his side's 2-2 draw Euro 2020 Group F with France on Wednesday but insisted his players went out looking for the win even though they risked being knocked out. The holders were facing a shock exit when Karim Benzema put France 2-1 up as outsiders Hungary were beating Germany. Even when Cristiano Ronaldo equalised with his second penalty, Portugal were one goal away from going out until Leon Goretzka's leveller in Munich, which meant the other game also ended 2-2. Portugal came third in the group to set up…

24 Jun

Hong Kong’s Apple Daily Signs Off In “Painful Farewell”

editor0 CommentsInternationalinternational, journalist

Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, printed its last edition on Thursday after a stormy year in which its tycoon owner and other staff were arrested under a new national security law, and its assets were frozen.The closure of the popular tabloid, which mixes pro-democracy views with celebrity gossip and investigations of those in power, marks the end of an era for media freedom in the Chinese-ruled city, critics say. "Thank you to all readers, subscribers, ad clients and Hong Kongers for 26 years of immense love and support. Here we say goodbye, take care of yourselves," the…

24 Jun

McAfee Antivirus Software Creator Found Dead in Spanish Prison

editor0 CommentsInternationalinternational

John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official told The Associated Press on June 23. Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favour of the 75-year-old tycoon's extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges. Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive him, but the jail’s medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said. The statement didn't identify McAfee by name, but said he was…