International News

Astronaut Scott Kelly to retire in April

  • MIAMI, March 12, (APP/AFP): Astronaut Scott Kelly will retire from NASA next month, after spending nearly a year in space and setting a record for the most cumulative days in space of any American, the US space agency said. Kelly, a former Navy pilot who joined NASA in 1996, will leave the agency April 1. […]

  • UN calls for Syria elections in 18 months

    BEIRUT, March 12, (APP/AFP): The UN envoy for Syria called Friday for elections in the war-ravaged country in 18 months, as the opposition announced it will attend fresh peace talks next week. But in a worrying development ahead of the negotiations, government raids were reported to have killed seven civilians in Syria’s second city, Aleppo, […]

  • Improved water and sanitation best answer to Zika virus, say UN experts

    UNITED NATIONS, Mar 12 (APP): Improving water and sanitation services may be the best answer to addressing the outbreak of the Zika virus, according to United Nations human rights experts, who stress that such critical factors should not be in the shadow of hi-tech solutions being considered. “We can engineer sterile mosquitos or use sophisticated […]

  • Obama still undecided on Supreme Court pick

    AUSTIN, March 12, (APP/AFP): The White House said Friday that President Barack Obama has not yet picked his nominee to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. “The process of reviewing information about potential nominees continues,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, amid speculation that the appointment may come soon. Obama’s candidate would tilt the […]

  • Security Council endorses steps to combat sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers

    UNITED NATIONS, Mar 12 (APP): The United Nations Security Council has endorsed special measures recommended by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers. Through a resolution adopted on Friday by a vote of 14 in favour, with one abstention (Egypt), the Council specifically endorsed the decision of the […]

  • Obama woos tech community amid Apple battle

    AUSTIN, March 12, (APP/AFP): President Barack Obama on Friday addressed SXSW — the technology world’s Davos and Woodstock rolled into one — making a recruitment pitch to America’s whizkids, even as the government is embroiled in a high-profile battle with Apple. Obama traveled to Austin, Texas, to urge programers and other tech entrepeneurs to enlist […]