UN chief appeals to ‘common humanity’ across all faiths, in tackling the coronavirus
May 13, 2020, at 12:59 pm
New York/IBNS: Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, the UN chief said on Tuesday during an online meeting with religious leaders on the important role they can play, in limiting the damage caused by COVID-19.
Political will ‘fundamental’ to realizing a more just and prosperous Iraq: UN envoy
May 13, 2020, at 12:49 pm
New York/IBNS: Despite compounding crises that include the COVID-19 pandemic and plummeting oil revenues, a more prosperous and inclusive Iraq can be achieved provided the political will is there, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council during a virtual meeting held on Tuesday.
Chad’s storytellers take COVID prevention messages off the grid
May 13, 2020, at 12:41 pm
New York/IBNS: Traditional storytellers in Chad, known as troubadours, are taking life-saving messages to remote communities in the Sahelian country, as the Government steps up its efforts with the support of the UN to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korea's employment reduces 476,000 in April over COVID-19
May 13, 2020, at 10:31 am
Seoul/Xinhua/UNI: South Korea's employment reduced 476,000 in April from a year earlier as companies encouraged employees to go on an unpaid leave or be laid off amid the COVID-19 outbreak, statistical office data showed Wednesday.
Belgium registers 53,779 COVID-19 cases, death toll at 8,761
May 12, 2020, at 06:52 pm
Brussels/Xinhua: Belgium has recorded 330 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, pushing the total to 53,779 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a statement by the public health institute Sciensano released Tuesday.
Indonesian govt slams abuse of its fishermen on Chinese boats leaving three dead
May 12, 2020, at 05:33 pm
Jakarta: The Indonesian government has condemned the 'inhuman' treatment given to its nationals by a Chinese fishing company that allegedly kept Indonesian fishermen as virtual slaves, media reports said. The incident reportedly left three Indonesian citizens dead.
Tedros highlights complex challenges posed by COVID-19 resurgence, following easing of lockdowns
May 12, 2020, at 02:52 pm
New York/IBNS: The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in South Korea, China and Germany following the lifting of stay-at-home restrictions demonstrates the complexity of easing these measures, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.
UN officials call for release of detained Palestinian children amid pandemic
May 12, 2020, at 01:32 pm
New York/IBNS: Three senior United Nations officials in the Middle East are calling for the release of Palestinian children from Israeli-run prisons and detentions centres, saying they are at particular risk of COVID-19 infection.
No guarantee of COVID-19 vaccine: British PM
May 12, 2020, at 01:01 pm
London/UNI: A COVID-19 vaccine is by no means guaranteed, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
UN peacekeepers killed in improvised explosive attack in Mali
May 12, 2020, at 12:10 pm
New York/IBNS: Three UN peacekeepers from Chad were killed in northern Mali on Sunday when their convoy hit a roadside bomb near Aguelhok, in the restive Kidal region. The improvised device also seriously injured four others who are now receiving medical care, the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in a statement.
Egypt reports 346 new COVID-19 cases as tally nears 10,000
May 12, 2020, at 12:08 pm
Cairo/Xinhua/UNI: Egypt on Monday reported 346 new COVID-19 infections, as the tally of coronavirus infections in the country nears 10,000.
COVID-19 tally in Russian armed forces rises to 1,689
May 12, 2020, at 12:04 pm
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: A total of 1,689 Russian servicemen, as well as 1,224 students of military academies, have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the epidemic, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Amid COVID-19 outbreak, China starts trial of digital currency
May 11, 2020, at 04:11 pm
Beijing/IBNS: Amid financial meltdown globally due to COVID-19 outbreak, China's central bank—People's Bank of China (PBoC)— recently introduced the trial of a homegrown digital currency across four cities, media reports said.
Singapore reports 876 new COVID-19 cases
May 11, 2020, at 04:07 pm
Singapore/Xinhua/UNI: Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 876 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 23,336.
Thailand registers 6 new COVID-19 cases over past 24 hours : Authorities
May 11, 2020, at 04:04 pm
Bangkok/Sputnik/UNI: Thailand's southern provinces have recorded six new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of those infected to 3,015, Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the national coronavirus response center, said on Monday.
3 UN peacekeepers killed, 4 injured in Mali
May 11, 2020, at 12:05 pm
Bamako/Xinhua/UNI: The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) confirmed Sunday evening that three of its peacekeepers were killed during a routine patrol by improvised explosive devices (IED) near Aguelhok in northern Mali.
High-Risk Zone Declared in Northeastern China Due to New COVID-19 Cluster - Authorities
May 11, 2020, at 10:39 am
Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: The Chinese city of Shulan in the northeastern Jilin province has been declared a high-risk zone after 11 people got infected with the novel coronavirus, the provincial authorities said on Sunday.
Chinese official admits health system weaknesses amid COVID-19 outbreak
May 10, 2020, at 11:01 pm
Beijing/IBNS: In a rare admission, a top Chinese official has admitted that the COVID-19 outbreak exposed weaknesses in the country's public health system.
Ensure city poor and vulnerable are fed, amidst lockdown hunger risk, urges UN
May 10, 2020, at 06:39 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN food agency, FAO, warns that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food. In Latin America, cities are finding ways to keep food supplies flowing, despite the current restrictions on movement and supplies.
COVID-19 cases in Indonesia surpass 14,000
May 10, 2020, at 04:35 pm
Jakarta/Xinhua: The Indonesian government announced 387 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections in the archipelagic country to 14,032.
Philippines reports 184 new COVID-19 cases, total at 10,794
May 10, 2020, at 04:28 pm
Manila/Xinhua: The Philippines reported 184 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 10,794.
Chinese mainland reports 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases
May 10, 2020, at 08:48 am
Beijing/Xinhua: Chinese health authority said Sunday that it received a report of 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Saturday, of which two were imported cases reported in Shanghai.
COVID-19 death toll in Brazil surpasses 10,000: Health Ministry
May 10, 2020, at 08:37 am
Buenos Aires/Sputnik: Brazil recorded 730 coronavirus fatalities in the past 24 hours with the country’s total death toll now standing at over 10,000 according to the Health Ministry.
Two civilian planes hit in rocket strike at Tripoli airport - GNA
May 09, 2020, at 08:38 pm
Cairo/Sputnik: Two civilian jetliners in Libya were damaged in Saturday shelling of a Tripoli airport by forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar, the UN-backed administration said.
Seven Taliban militants killed as heroin lab busted in eastern Afghanistan - Authorities
May 09, 2020, at 08:02 pm
Kabul/Sputnik: Afghan security forces have busted a clandestine drug lab run by the Taliban in the eastern Paktia province, killing seven militants and arresting three others, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.
UN rights office concerned over migrant boat pushbacks in the Mediterranean
May 09, 2020, at 03:38 pm
New York/IBNS: Restrictions against humanitarians who rescue migrant boats in the central Mediterranean are putting lives at risk and must be lifted immediately, the UN human rights office said on Friday.
-1589018798.jpg "Syria violence ‘a ticking time-bomb that must not be ignored’: UN human rights chief")
Syria violence ‘a ticking time-bomb that must not be ignored’: UN human rights chief
May 09, 2020, at 03:36 pm
New York/IBNS: As civilian casualties mount across Syria and human rights violations continue unabated, the UN rights chief expressed serious concern on Friday that some parties to the conflict, including ISIL terrorist fighters, may be using the COVID-19 pandemic as “an opportunity to regroup and inflict violence on the population”.
-1589018723.jpg "UN chief appeals for global action against coronavirus-fueled hate speech")
UN chief appeals for global action against coronavirus-fueled hate speech
May 09, 2020, at 03:35 pm
New York/IBNS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for concerted global action to quash the “tsunami” of hate speech that has risen alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.
China to back WHO investigation of Covid-19
May 08, 2020, at 07:51 pm
Beijing/UNI: China says it supports World Health Organisation's efforts to investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, but rejects any “presumption of guilt” after the global body said it was talking to Beijing about sending another delegation to the country.
Australian leaders irked by China's threat to Island Nation's economy
May 08, 2020, at 05:53 pm
Melbourne/IBNS: Australia and China exchanged barbs in recent times after the Island nation demanded an investigation into the origins of coronavirus as well as a review of the World Health Organisation (WHO).