One in 130 females living in modern-day slavery: UN

Even as it remains true that modern-day slavery has an effect on everyone, females across the world account for around 71% of all victims, according to a report by the United Nations.

UK to impose further COVID-19 restrictions amid rising anger

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Monday impose a tiered system of further restrictions on parts of England as the COVID-19 outbreak accelerates, though anger is rising at the cost of the stringent curtailment of freedoms.

Supreme Court nominee Barrett faces Senate test

The US Senate will start confirmation hearings on Monday for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump despite opposition from the Democrats, who appear largely powerless to block the move before the November 3 election.

India coronavirus cases cross 7 million

India’s coronavirus cases surged past seven million on Sunday, taking it ever closer to overtaking the United States as the world’s most infected country.

US COVID-19 cases hit two-month high, 10 states report record increases

New cases of COVID-19 in the United States hit a two-month high on Friday with over 58,000 infections of the coronavirus reported and hospitalizations in the Midwest at record levels for a fifth day in a row, according to a Reuters analysis.

China joins COVAX initiative for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

China said on Friday it has joined a global COVID-19 vaccine initiative co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the biggest economy to date to pledge support to help buy and distribute the shots fairly.

Fight against hunger earns WFP Nobel Peace prize 2020

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Programme on Friday for feeding millions of people from Yemen to North Korea, with the coronavirus pandemic pushing millions more into hunger.

Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala, S. Korea’s Yoo in run-off to lead WTO

The World Trade Organization is set to have its first female leader after Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee made it through Thursday to the final run-off.

Harris, Pence clash over Trump’s coronavirus record

Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris clashed over the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic during their debate on Wednesday, as the White House struggled to contain an outbreak that has infected President Donald Trump and dozens of others.

Hundreds arrested as Indonesians protest against new investment bill

Hundreds of people were arrested in Jakarta Thursday as tens of thousands protested across Indonesia for a third day against a controversial new law that critics say will harm labour rights and the environment.

Germany fears worse to come after ‘alarming’ coronavirus case jump

Germany recorded more than 4,000 new coronavirus cases during the past day, sounding alarm bells in the country as top health officials warned on Thursday of a second wave that could be much more severe than what has already come.

Capitalism has failed in the pandemic: Pope Francis

Pope Francis said on Sunday that the COVID-19 pandemic was the latest crisis to prove that market forces alone and “trickle-down” economic policies had failed to produce the social benefits their proponents claim.

Azeris and Armenians say civilian areas attacked, NATO seeks ceasefire

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Monday of attacking civilian areas on the ninth day of the deadliest fighting in the South Caucasus region for more than 25 years.

Britain’s coronavirus cases rise sharply to record level

Britain reported 12,872 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, a record daily figure for the country, with the government blaming the jump on a reporting delay and saying the numbers in coming days would include additional cases.

Capital of disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region attacked by rockets

Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh said on Sunday that civilian targets in the disputed region’s capital were attacked by rockets fired by the Azerbaijani military.

Trump says ‘real test’ ahead

President Donald Trump tweeted thanks to his supporters on Sunday from the hospital where he is being treated for COVID-19, after a series of contradictory messages from the White House caused widespread confusion about his health.

Trump and Melania

President Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid-19, upending the already tense US election, but was described by his doctor on Friday as feeling “well” and able to perform his duties while quarantining.

Lebanon, Israel announce talks on disputed borders

Lebanon and Israel said Thursday they will hold US-brokered negotiations on their disputed land and maritime borders, in what Washington hailed as a “historic” agreement between two sides technically still at war.

Poland’s daily virus cases exceed 2,000 for first time

Poland’s daily coronavirus cases topped 2,000 for the first time on Friday, the latest record in a surge in infections that has raised the possibility that tougher restrictions will be introduced in the country.

Defiant Navalny accuses Putin over poisoning

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning on Thursday, as he vowed to return to Russia to press on with his opposition campaign.

Pompeo denied audience with Pope

The Vatican said on Wednesday it had denied a request from Mike Pompeo for an audience with Pope Francis, and accused the Secretary of State of trying to drag the Catholic Church into the U.S. presidential election by denouncing its relations with China.

Rahul Gandhi detained on way to Hathras

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, his sister and party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were detained by the police on their way to Hathras to meet the family of the 19-year-old Dalit girl - who died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, a fortnight after she was allegedly gang-raped in her village.

Biden faces down raging Trump, telling him to ‘shut up’

Democrat Joe Biden told a raging President Donald Trump to “shut up” in an opening debate that turned almost immediately into a shouting match 35 days ahead of the most tense US election in recent memory.

Crown Prince Nawaf al-Ahmed Al Sabah sworn in as Kuwait’s new ruler

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Nawaf al-Ahmed Al Sabah on Wednesday was sworn in as the Gulf state’s new ruler after the death of his older half-brother, Emir Sabah al-Ahmed Al Sabah.

Belgium gets new government and premier

Flemish liberal Alexander De Croo will be the new Belgian Prime Minister at the head of a seven-party government, he announced with his coalition partner Paul Magnette on Wednesday.

Global coronavirus deaths rise above ‘mind-numbing’ million

The global coronavirus death toll rose past a million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, a grim statistic in a pandemic that has devastated the global economy, overloaded health systems and changed the way people live.

Amnesty suspends India work due to govt ‘witch hunt’

Amnesty International said Tuesday it has suspended its Indian operations after its bank accounts were frozen in what it called a government “witch-hunt” against rights groups.

India’s vaccine capacity will help ‘all humanity’: Modi

India as the world’s biggest vaccine maker will use its resources “for all humanity” in the battle against coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the United Nations on Saturday.

Trump-Biden debate, US will finally see its choice

The volatile US presidential election enters a fierce new stage this week when Donald Trump and Joe Biden hold their first debate -- a television spectacle finally allowing Americans to witness the two antagonists head to head.

Bollywood superstar Padukone summoned in drugs probe

Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has been summoned for questioning as part of an escalating drugs probe into the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Indian police said late Wednesday.