Five Chinese nationals were arrested for chatting about Huawei sales to Iran: Reports

Apr 28, 2020, at 07:34 pm

Beijing/IBNS: China allegedly detained five of its citizens over their private chats on a social media platform on  the technology giant Huawei's sales to Iran, media reports said.

Two people injured in suicide blast in Iraq’s Kirkuk – Security office

Apr 28, 2020, at 07:28 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Two people were injured when a terrorist blew himself up on Tuesday in front of the country’s intelligence service in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, the Alsumaria broadcaster reported, citing the information security office.

North Korea's Kim continues work despite rumors of health problems - Russian Lawmaker

Apr 28, 2020, at 07:20 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has been out of public view since April 12, keeps working, the head of the Russian lower house's group for relations with the North Korean parliament told Sputnik on Tuesday, citing a representative of the North Korean Embassy in Russia.

Pakistani Senator tests positive for COVID-19

Apr 28, 2020, at 06:57 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistani Senator has tested positive for COVID-19, media reports said on Tuesday.

Many Pakistani expats slam Imran Khan govt over COVID-19, refuse funds

Apr 28, 2020, at 05:46 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: The Pakistani expatriate community residing in the United Kingdom has rejected PM Imran Khan's appeal for funds needed to combat COVID-19 and alleged the government is "stealing from the poor by cutting their salaries and benefiting the rich", media reports said.

Protect workers during and after lockdowns, urges UN labour agency

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:51 pm

New York/IBNS: Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged States to take action to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplace.

Afghanistan: Civilian casualties down, but hundreds still killed, despite US-Taliban deal

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:49 pm

New York/IBNS: In the first quarter of 2020, the number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan fell by nearly a third from the same period a year earlier, representing the lowest first quarter figure since 2012, according to a UN report released on Monday.

Yemen needs cooperation between parties more than ever, says top UN negotiator

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:25 pm

New York/IBNS: The needs of Yemen’s people should be put first, ahead of actions that risk escalating the already dire situation inside the war-shattered country, UN Special Envoy for the war-weary country, Martin Griffiths, said on Monday.

COVID-19: New women-led UN initiative aims to save lives and protect livelihoods

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:20 pm

New York/IBNS: Against the backdrop of the unprecedented global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the deputy UN chief briefed journalists on Monday about a new women-led initiative that mobilizes support to save lives and protect livelihoods. 

Tap youth talent to tackle COVID-19 crisis and beyond, UN chief tells Security Council

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:07 pm

New York/IBNS: Even amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries must do more to harness the talents of young people to address the crisis and its aftermath, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Monday during a videoconference meeting to review the five years since its adoption of a landmark resolution on youth, peace and security.

‘Toxic lockdown culture’ of repressive coronavirus measures hits most vulnerable

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:05 pm

New York/IBNS: Disturbing details have emerged from dozens of countries that a “toxic lockdown culture” against the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted drastically on society’s most vulnerable members, the UN human rights Office (OHCHR) said on Monday. The development follows UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call last week for States not to use the COVID crisis as a pretext for repressive measures, in which he urged Governments to recognize that the threat was the “virus, not people”.

Pentagon unveils UFO videos

Apr 28, 2020, at 01:00 pm

Washington/IBNS:  The Pentagon has surely left the world shocked by releasing three declassified videos which shows US navy pilots encountering what appear to be unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Guatemala extends coronavirus-related restrictions, including curfew, until May 4

Apr 28, 2020, at 12:15 pm

Buenos Aires/Sputnik/UNI: The Guatemalan authorities extended the disaster regime due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including curfew, until May 4, the country's government said.

China sends medical team to Kuwait

Apr 28, 2020, at 11:59 am

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: The Chinese government has decided to send a team of medical experts to Kuwait to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Tuesday.

Taliban kill 7 members of Afghan public uprising forces in Takhar province

Apr 27, 2020, at 07:10 pm

Kabul,/Sputnik:At least seven members of Afghanistan’s public uprising forces, which operate under the Ministry of Interior Affairs, were killed on Monday in the northern province of Takhar during a Taliban attack, an witnesses said.

Thousands rally in protest of dire living conditions in Lebanon amid coronavirus outbreak

Apr 27, 2020, at 07:01 pm

Beirut/Xinhua: Thousands of Lebanese people on Monday took to the streets across the country to protest against dire living conditions, TV channel MTV reported.

Schools, colleges will remain closed till COVID-19 outbreak continues: Hasina

Apr 27, 2020, at 04:43 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said all schools and educational institutes will remain closed in the nation till COVID-19 fades away.

France sees COVID-19 deaths up by 242 to 22,856, lowest daily increase in a week

Apr 27, 2020, at 03:17 pm

Paris/Xinhua/UNI: France saw COVID-19 deaths rose by 242 to 22,856 as of Sunday, the lowest daily increase this week, bringing relief to the health system of the country which is planning to lift the lockdown on May 11, data from the Health Ministry showed.

Face masks to become mandatory in some public places in Mexico - Mexico City Mayor

Apr 27, 2020, at 03:11 pm

Mexico City/Sputnik/UNI: The wearing of face masks will be made mandatory in some public places in Mexico starting from Monday, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced amid the spread of COVID-19.

British PM Boris Johnson could modify COVID-19 restrictions before May 7 deadline

Apr 27, 2020, at 03:05 pm

London/UNI: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could ease the coronavirus restrictions in the country this week, before the May 7 lockdown deadline.

RwandAir cuts salaries to reduce expenditure amid COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 27, 2020, at 03:04 pm

KigaliI/Xinhua/UNI: Rwanda's national flag carrier RwandAir on Sunday said it had resolved to reduce employees' salaries as part of measures to reduce expenditure, due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaza to reopen restaurants amid strict measures against COVID-19

Apr 27, 2020, at 03:02 pm

Gaza/Xinhua/UNI:  Restaurants in the Gaza Strip will reopen during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, while precautionary measures will be taken to protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic, said Gaza authorities on Sunday.

Fresh Israeli missile strikes kill 3 civilians in Syria

Apr 27, 2020, at 02:56 pm

Damascus/Xinhua/UNI: Three civilians were killed and four others wounded on Monday during fresh Israeli missile strikes in the countryside of Syria's capital Damascus, state news agency SANA reported.

Australia to "significantly expand" COVID-19 testing: official

Apr 27, 2020, at 02:03 pm

Canberra/Xinhua/UNI: Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has flagged an expansion of the nation's COVID-19 testing regime.

COVID-19: Malpractice in distribution of relief reported from Gilgit-Baltistan

Apr 27, 2020, at 01:35 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Political parties in Gilgit-Baltistan region are blaming each other for alleged malpractices in the region over distribution of relief material to the poor and people staying in quarantine in the current COVID-19 outbreak scenario.

World Sindhi Congress condemns abduction, conversion of two minor Hindu girls in Pakistan

Apr 27, 2020, at 12:55 pm

London/Islamabad/IBNS: The World Sindhi Congress (WSC), a human rights education and advocacy organizations for Sindh, has condemned the alleged abduction and forceful conversion of two minor Hindu girls to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province, media reports said.

Pakistan International Airlines passengers protest violation of social distancing during flight

Apr 27, 2020, at 12:44 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan's national carrier Pakistan International Airlines recently earned the wrath of passengers when people found the airline not maintaining social distancing norms, which are needed to be maintained at this time of COVID-19 outbreak, while operating one of their international flights, media reports said.

Kim Jong Un is 'alive and well': South Korea

Apr 27, 2020, at 10:49 am

Washington/IBNS: South Korea on Monday said North Korea leader Kim Jong Un is "alive and well."

Afghanistan: Terrorists destroy transmission tower in Kabul, electric supply hit

Apr 27, 2020, at 10:33 am

Kabul/IBNS: Electric supply to the Afghanistan capital was disrupted after suspected terrorists destroyed a transmission tower in Kabul, media reports said.

Afghan police arrest suspect in connection with shooting: gov't

Apr 26, 2020, at 10:22 pm

Kabul/Xinhua/UNI: One suspect had been arrested in connection with a shooting that killed seven member of a family and injured two others in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province, the Afghan Interior Ministry said Sunday.