Press freedom critical to countering COVID-19 ‘pandemic of misinformation’: UN chief
May 05, 2020, at 11:44 am
New York/IBNS: Journalists are key to countering the “dangerous outbreak of misinformation” accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday during a virtual dialogue on promoting press freedom amid the global crisis.
Ukraine's Tymoshenko declares $5.5Mln as compensation from US for 'Political Repression'
May 04, 2020, at 07:14 pm
Kiev/Sputnik: - Ukraine's former Prime Minister and current leader of Fatherland party Yulia Tymoshenko received some 148 million hryvnia ($5.5 million) from the United States as a compensation for "political repression" she allegedly suffered back in 2011-2014, according to her income declaration published on the country's Unified State Register of Declarations.
Armed men kill 9 Syrian policemen in southern Syria
May 04, 2020, at 07:01 pm
Damascus/Xinhua: Unknown armed men killed nine Syrian policemen in the country's southern province of Daraa on Monday, a war monitor reported.
Car crash kills 5, injures 6 in central Azerbaijan
May 04, 2020, at 06:54 pm
Baku/Xinhua: Five people, including two children, were killed and six others injured in a crash involving two passenger cars in the central Azerbaijani district of Kurdamir on Monday, the country's emergency authorities said.
Four dead, 1 injured in Philippine clashes between gov't military, terrorist groups
May 04, 2020, at 03:56 pm
Manila/Xinhua/UNI: Two soldiers and two suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists had been killed in two separate clashes in the southern Philippines, the military reported on Monday.
-1588576683.jpg "France, Britain to trial COVID-19 tracing apps next week")
France, Britain to trial COVID-19 tracing apps next week
May 04, 2020, at 12:48 pm
Paris/Xinhua/UNI: France will test its "StopCOVID" contact tracing app in the week of May 11 when the country starts to ease lockdown measures, Minister for Digital Affairs Cedric O said on Sunday.
Five Eyes intelligence accuses China of Corona cover-up
May 03, 2020, at 04:27 pm
Canberra/UNI/IBNS: "Five Eyes", which is an intelligence alliance of five countries - United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand- has accused China of willfully concealing information about the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
Boris Johnson names his newborn after doctors who saved him from COVID-19
May 03, 2020, at 02:51 pm
London/UNI: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds have decided to name their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson as a tribute to the baby's grandfathers and the doctors, who treated the Prime Minister, after he tested positive for Novel Coronavirus.
Russia's Mishustin still under medical supervision over COVID-19 diagnosis, works remotely
May 03, 2020, at 02:39 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, feels good and continues to work remotely under medical supervision, his spokesman said Sunday.
Daniel Pearl murder case: Journo's parents challenge convicts' acquittal in Pak SC
May 03, 2020, at 12:09 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: The parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl have filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Pakistan seeking overturning of the ruling that freed the four convicted men involved in his killing, media reports said.
COVID-19 death toll in France rises by 166 to 24,760: Health Ministry
May 03, 2020, at 10:04 am
Paris/Sputnik: The number of coronavirus-related deaths in France reached 24,760 on Saturday after another 166 patients died of COVID-19, the country Health Ministry said.
China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases for 29 consecutive days
May 03, 2020, at 09:57 am
Wuhan/Xinhua: No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province, the provincial health commission said on Sunday.
US threatens to retaliate if Taliban doesn't stop violence
May 03, 2020, at 08:50 am
Kabul/UNI: The United States threatened Taliban and other conflict parties in Afghanistan with retaliatory actions if the militants do not reduce the scale of violence in the war-torn country.
-1588475293.jpg "Glad to see Kim Jong Un 'back and well': Donald Trump")
Glad to see Kim Jong Un 'back and well': Donald Trump
May 03, 2020, at 08:38 am
Washington/IBNS: United States President Donald Trump has said he is glad to see North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 'back and well.'
Magnitude 5.8 quake occurs near Crete: Seismologists
May 03, 2020, at 08:30 am
Athens/Sputnik: A magnitude 5.8 earthquake has occurred near the Greek island of Crete, 78.9 miles south of its capital Heraklion, according to the seismological laboratory of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Syrian Forces Demine 4.9 Acres of Land Over Past 24 Hours - Russian Defense Ministry
May 03, 2020, at 08:15 am
MOSCOW/Sputnik: Syrian military engineers have diffused 60 explosive devices over the past 24 hours, thereby demining 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of territory, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides said on Saturday.
Mongolia reports one more COVID-19 case
May 02, 2020, at 05:27 pm
Ulan Bator/Xinhua: Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) on Saturday reported one newly confirmed COVID-19 case, taking the tally of all confirmed cases in the country to 39.
Iran-Turkey bilateral trade declines by 70 pct in 3 months
May 02, 2020, at 05:25 pm
Tehran/Xinhua/UNI: Iran's trade with Turkey reached 645.44 million U.S. dollars in value during the first three months of the current year, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.
COVID-19: Philippines reports 156 new cases
May 02, 2020, at 05:11 pm
Manila/Xinhua/UNI: The Philippines on Saturday reported 156 new COVID-19 cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 8,928.
Russia: Construction Minister now tests positive for COVID-19
May 02, 2020, at 05:04 pm
Moscow/UNI: Construction, Housing and Utilities Minister of Russia Vladimir Yakushev and his deputy Dmitry Volkov have tested positive for COVID-19.
Millions of missing airmiles: How the UN civil aviation agency is helping airlines take off again
May 02, 2020, at 01:41 pm
New York/IBNS: In normal times, the world’s airlines would be carrying nearly 2 billion international passengers this year. That’s 5.7 million a day. But with the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the planet, these are not normal times. In its latest analysis of the economic impact of novel coronavirus on global commercial aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) warns of a potential overall reduction of 872 million to just over 1.3 billion international passengers – if signs of recovery emerge in late May.
‘Rights and dignity’ of older people must be respected during COVID-19 and beyond
May 02, 2020, at 01:30 pm
New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 fatality rate for people over 80-years-old, is five times the global average, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday, launching a new policy initiative to address this and many other challenges faced by the elderly, during and after the biggest public health crisis to hit the world in a century.
May 02, 2020, at 01:27 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General is calling for greater protection of journalists who are providing the “antidote” to what he has characterized as a pandemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.
Vaccine bottlenecks from COVID lockdown put children’s lives at stake: UNICEF
May 02, 2020, at 01:24 pm
New York/IBNS: Help is needed urgently to distribute vaccines worldwide amid dramatic shortages because of COVID-19 restrictions, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. It has warned that youngsters’ lives “are at stake” owing to the dramatic decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
Canada: Ontario allowing select businesses to reopen with strict safety measures
May 02, 2020, at 01:21 pm
Ottawa/IBNS: The Ontario government has granted permission to some workplaces to reopen on May 4 provided they follow strict public health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, media reports said.
China firmly opposes US support for Taiwan's participation in UN
May 02, 2020, at 01:13 pm
United Nations/Xinhua/UNI: The US UN mission has gravely interfered with China's internal affairs by openly supporting Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, said a spokesperson of the permanent mission of China to the UN.
Shanghai launches first centralized tax refund point for overseas tourists
May 02, 2020, at 01:04 pm
Shanghai/Xinhua: Shanghai launched its first centralized tax refund point in a central commercial district on Friday, offering better tax refund service for overseas travelers.
US servicemen shoot dead Syrian civilian in Deir Ez-Zor Province: Reports
May 02, 2020, at 11:07 am
Beirut/Sputnik/UNI: US servicemen have shot dead a Syrian civilian, who drove a car in the province of Deir ez-Zor, Syria's state media reported.
Ending all specualtion on his health, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance
May 02, 2020, at 10:14 am
Seoul/IBNS: Ending all speculation over his health, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance, media reports said.
Number of COVID-19 cases in Serbia exceeds 9,200, death toll up to 185
May 01, 2020, at 08:19 pm
Belgrade/Sputnik: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Serbia has increased by 196 to 9,205 in the past 24 hours, and the death toll has risen by six to 185 people, the Health Ministry said on Friday.