Amid COVID-19 crisis, China's GDP falls by 6.8 pc year-on-year in Q1 2020

Apr 17, 2020, at 10:11 am

Beijing/UNI: The China's GDP has fallen by 6.8 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)-- a deputy-cabinet level agency of the country said on Friday.

Australian city Wagga Wagga moves to sever ties with sister city in China

Apr 16, 2020, at 04:30 pm

Sydney/IBNS: In what can be seen as a step taken by the international community to start the process of social distancing against Beijing, the place from where the lethal COVID-19 disease first originated, the Australian city of Wagga Wagga has moved to formally sever ties with its sister city in China, media reports said.

Former M16 head Robert John Sawers targets China, WHO over COVID-19 outbreak

Apr 16, 2020, at 04:17 pm

London/IBNS:  The former head of the United Kingdom's foreign intelligence service has targeted China and the World Health Organization over the COVID-19 outbreak and said both should bear responsibility for a flawed response to the disease that has now reached nearly all corners of the globe.

Even during COVID-19, art ‘brings us closer together than ever’ – UN cultural agency

Apr 16, 2020, at 01:52 pm

New York/IBNS: With billions of people either in lockdown or on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic, this first celebration of World Art Day is a timely reminder that “art has the power to unite and connect in times of crisis”, the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Wednesday.

COVID-19: UK MPs to summon China-owned firm's executives over security issues, reports BBC

Apr 15, 2020, at 06:03 pm

London/IBNS: British MPs might summon a leading UK-based firm, which has a Chinese connection, to answer questions related to security concerns, media reports said.

Colombia: Security Council hears of ‘epidemic of violence’ against civil society and ex-combatants

Apr 15, 2020, at 01:25 pm

While political actors in Colombia are uniting to confront COVID-19, they must also work together to fight “the epidemic of violence” against civil society leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, the head of the UN mission in the country said on Tuesday during a Security Council meeting held by videoconference.

Hatred going viral in ‘dangerous epidemic of misinformation’ during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 15, 2020, at 12:51 pm

New York/IBNS: As the world battles the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and people are searching for clear facts and answers to questions, that could help save countless lives, “a dangerous epidemic of misinformation” is also spreading, the United Nations chief warned on Tuesday.

COVID-19: Major relief airlift will reach ‘most vulnerable’ African nations

Apr 15, 2020, at 12:46 pm

New York/IBNS: The first of the UN’s “Solidarity Flights” carrying urgently needed medical equipment to Africa, has arrived in Addis Ababa, agencies said on Tuesday.

Hong Kong launches website to promote national security education

Apr 15, 2020, at 12:39 pm

Hong Kong/Xinhua/UNI: China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) launched a website to promote national security education on Wednesday, which marks the fifth National Security Education Day.

Japanese gov't to begin cash handouts to households in May due to COVID-19

Apr 14, 2020, at 07:51 pm

Tokyo/Xinhua: The Japanese government on Tuesday laid out its plan to provide cash handouts to households whose income has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak will begin in May.

COVID-19: Israel registers 282 new cases over past 24 hours

Apr 14, 2020, at 03:22 pm

Moscow/UNI: Israel has registered 282 more Coronavirus cases over the past day, bringing the total number of those infected to 11,868, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

COVID-19 isolation threatens life-saving vaccinations for millions of children globally

Apr 14, 2020, at 01:47 pm

New York/IBNS: As countries around the world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 117 million children risk missing out on measles vaccines, two UN agencies warned in Geneva on Tuesday.

Testing, tracing, and when to lift restrictions: WHO’s latest advice

Apr 14, 2020, at 01:46 pm

New York/IBNS: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), outlined his agency’s latest advice to countries on Monday in a statement, stressing that a mix of social distancing, testing, contact tracing and isolation, will be crucial to further curb the spread of the new coronavirus already devastating much of the globe.

During this coronavirus pandemic, ‘fake news’ is putting lives at risk: UNESCO

Apr 14, 2020, at 01:45 pm

New York/IBNS: Unreliable and false information is spreading around the world to such an extent, that some commentators are now referring to the new avalanche of misinformation that’s accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic as a ‘disinfodemic’.

Detained children at ‘grave risk’ of contracting COVID-19 – UNICEF chief

Apr 14, 2020, at 01:44 pm

New York/IBNS: Hundreds of thousands of children in detention around the world are at “grave risk” of contracting COVID-19, the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, calling for their urgent release.

Xi Jinping govt faces diplomatic crisis after reports of mistreatment of Africans in China surfaces

Apr 13, 2020, at 11:08 pm

Beijing/IBNS: China is facing a major diplomatic crisis in Africa as several nations have now voiced their concerns amid reports that African nationals are facing COVID-19 related racial discrimination in the East Asian country.

Sailor from USS Theodore Roosevelt dies of COVID-19

Apr 13, 2020, at 08:18 pm

Washington/Sputnik: A sailor from the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has died of COVID-19, the US Navy said in a statement on Monday.

Experts believe Gilgit-Baltistan, PoK are turning into COVID-19 epicentres, blame Imran Khan govt

Apr 13, 2020, at 08:03 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Experts are claiming that Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are fast emerging into COVID-19 hotbeds of the country and even the PM Imran Khan-led government is slowly turning blind eye to the suffering of the people in the region.

Spanish leader slams China for misinformation regarding COVID-19

Apr 13, 2020, at 07:30 pm

Beijing/IBNS:  A senior Spanish member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chairman of the Conservatives Group, Herman Tertsch, has hammered China for spreading misinformation regarding COVID-19 outbreak which has claimed lives across the globe in recent times.

Saudi-led coalition accuses Yemen's Houthis of violating cease-fire

Apr 13, 2020, at 12:07 pm

Riyadh//Xinhua/UNI: Saudi-led coalition involved in a war in Yemen accused on Sunday the Houthis militia in Yemen of violating the cease-fire, Al Akhbariya local TV reported.

387 new COVID-19 cases reported in UAE, 4,123 in total

Apr 13, 2020, at 11:53 am

Dubai/Xinhua/UNI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday announced 387 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 4,123.

Italy Records Lowest Daily COVID-19 Death Toll in 3 Weeks - Official

Apr 13, 2020, at 11:51 am

Rome/ Sputnik/UNI: Italy has recorded 431 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, which is the smallest overnight increase in the country in three weeks, Angelo Borrelli, the head of the National Civil Protection Department, said on Sunday, adding that the total number of COVID-19 fatalities stood at 19,899.

UN ready to support Pacific countries devastated by Tropical Cyclone Harold

Apr 13, 2020, at 10:24 am

New YorK/IBNS: The United Nations stands ready to support four Pacific island nations devastated by the passing of Tropical Cyclone Harold last week.

Africans nationals facing widespread harassment in China in the wake of Covid-19: Reports

Apr 12, 2020, at 10:47 pm

Wuhan/IBNS: After emerging as the epicentre of the COVID-19 disease, reports are now emerging that African students and expatriates in China are facing evictions from their homes and are being mistreated over fears they might spread the novel coronavirus.

UN chief calls on religious leaders to unite in the fight against COVID-19

Apr 12, 2020, at 09:38 pm

New York/IBNS: Religious leaders of all faiths are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to join forces and work for peace around the world and focus on the common battle to defeat COVID-19.

COVID-19: British PM Boris Johnson discharged from hospital

Apr 12, 2020, at 06:36 pm

London/IBNS: Recovering from COVID-19, British PM Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital on Sunday, media reports said.

Canada: Indian students in lockdown in Greater Toronto Area find saviour in Liaison College

Apr 11, 2020, at 02:04 pm

Brampton, Ontario/IBNS: The shutdown of the Colleges, Universities in Greater Toronto Area due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to lots of uncertainty among international students. Many students lost their daily jobs due to the lockdown situation, as it is well known that many of them meet their daily requirements with temporary part time jobs.

China toughens crackdown on cybercrime

Apr 11, 2020, at 12:25 pm

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: China launched a crackdown on cybercrime as it has seen a rapid spread of online fraud, rumormongering and infringements of individual privacy, among other offenses.

Italian PM extends national coronavirus lockdown

Apr 11, 2020, at 12:15 pm

Rome, April 11 (Xinhua) Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday announced the decision to extend the national coronavirus quarantine until at least May 3.

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea rises by 30 to 10,480: KCDC

Apr 11, 2020, at 12:11 pm

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI:  The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Korea has risen by 30 to 10,480 over the past day, the Health Ministry's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on Saturday.