Russia accuses US embassy of publishing Navalny supporters' 'protest routes'
- The embassy had distributed a "demonstration alert" to US citizens in Russia recommending they avoid protests. The embassy said Saturday it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression."
AFP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 09:29 PM IST
Russia on Saturday accused the US embassy in Moscow of publishing routes of planned demonstrations in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and demanded an explanation from American diplomats.
"Yesterday the US embassy in Moscow published 'protest routes' in Russian cities and tossed around information about a 'march on the Kremlin,'" foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.
"US colleagues will have to explain themselves," she added.
The embassy had distributed a "demonstration alert" to US citizens in Russia recommending they avoid protests in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities.
Police on Saturday detained over 1,300 protesters, including Navalny's wife, according to protest monitor OVD Info, as tens of thousands took to the streets to denounce President Vladimir Putin's rule.
The US embassy in Moscow said Saturday it was following the rallies, adding that Washington supported "the right of all people to peaceful protest, freedom of expression."
"Steps being taken by Russian authorities are suppressing those rights," embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross said on Twitter.
New UK post-study graduate route to open for Indian students in July
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 09:02 PM IST
- The UK has also extended concessions for students unable to travel to the UK after getting admission to British educational institutions because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was done due to the continuing disruption in international travel.
Wider Image: The man who saves forgotten cats in Fukushima's nuclear zone
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:54 PM IST
The 57-year-old, a small construction business owner in his former life, says his decision to stay as 160,000 other people evacuated the area was spurred in part by the shock of finding dead pets in abandoned houses he helped demolish.
French President Macron could still squeeze in a pension reform: Le Maire
Bloomberg
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:56 PM IST
- According to Le Maire, a pension reform to address the financial imbalances in the country’s system is still possible before voters head to the polls in April 2022.
Thai military denies involvement in network removed by Facebook
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:42 PM IST
- Marking the first time it had taken down Thai accounts alleged to be linked to the government, Facebook said on Wednesday it had removed a Thailand-based network that included 77 accounts, 72 pages and 18 groups on Facebook and 18 accounts on Instagram, citing "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".
Singapore won’t allow new diesel cars and cabs from 2025
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:39 PM IST
About 2.9% of passenger cars in Singapore run on diesel, while the proportion is as high as 41.5% for taxis, according to Land Transport Authority figures. Most goods vehicles and buses in the city-state run on diesel and won’t be affected by the new rule, announced Thursday by the government.
UN report says 17% of food wasted at consumer level
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:38 PM IST
The report, produced jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WRAP, also found that consumer waste was broadly similar in rich and poor countries.
India calls on Canada to ensure safety of Indo-Canadians
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:35 PM IST
This communication comes in the wake of reports of threat and intimidation against Indo-Canadians by pro-Khalistani elements in the country
New Zealand police charge man after threat against mosques attacked in 2019
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:28 PM IST
Police said an online threat was made this week on the 4chan website against the Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre.
EU wants employers to report pay levels to fix gender gap
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:27 PM IST
- Even though the gender pay gap across the 27-nation bloc has been reduced to 14% for people doing exactly the same work, the European Commission wants to eliminate the disparity by imposing specific rules to make pay levels public.
US jobless claims tick up to 745,000 as layoffs remain high
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:25 PM IST
- 4.3 million Americans are receiving traditional state unemployment benefits. Counting supplemental federal unemployment programs that were established to soften the economic damage from the virus, an estimated 18 million people are collecting some form of jobless aid.
Boris Johnson gives up ‘late-night cheese’ to lose 14 pounds
Posted by Kunal Gaurav | Bloomberg, London
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:23 PM IST
In a video posted on Instagram, Johnson said he had lost “quite a lot” of weight by eating fewer carbohydrates and going for early-morning runs.
GOP state lawmakers seek to nullify federal gun limits
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:16 PM IST
Legislation in at least a dozen states seeks to nullify any new restrictions, such as ammunition limits or a ban on certain types of weapons. Some bills would make it a crime for local police officers to enforce federal gun laws.
Strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake shakes New Zealand, tsunami warning issued
Reuters, Wellington
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 08:26 PM IST
Tsunami waves were possible within 300 km (180 miles) of the quake's epicentre, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
China's parliament to discuss Hong Kong electoral reform
Posted by Harshit Sabarwal | AFP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 07:38 PM IST
Official news agency Xinhua said the National People's Congress (NPC) would deliberate a draft decision on "improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".
Gunmen kill 7 workers, bomb kills doctor: Afghan official
AP, Kabul
PUBLISHED ON MAR 04, 2021 07:30 PM IST
- In Thursday's bombing in Jalalabad, the female doctor was killed while on her way to work at the provincial hospital's maternity ward.