Economic sanctions should be lifted to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by COVID-19 – UN rights expert

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:53 pm

New York/IBNS: As the world exhibits new bonds of solidarity in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it is a matter of “humanitarian and practical urgency to lift unilateral economic sanctions immediately,” to prevent hunger crises in pandemic-hit countries, a UN human rights expert, said on Tuesday. 

UN appeals to all Somalis to ‘come together’ in fight against COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:52 pm

New York/IBNS: Like most countries in the world, Somalia is facing the unparalleled challenge of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations system in the country noted on Tuesday, calling on its citizens to “unite” in stemming the spread.

UN launches COVID-19 plan that could ‘defeat the virus and build a better world’

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:49 pm

New York/IBNS: The UN chief launched on Tuesday a new plan to counter the potentially devastating socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on everyone to “act together to lessen the blow to people”.

Thailand reports 127 new COVID-19 cases, 1,651 in total

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:47 pm

Bangkok/Xinhua/UNI:  Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday reported 127 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,651.

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Latvia approaches 400

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:44 pm

Riga/Sputnik/UNI:  The number of cases of the coronavirus in Latvia has increased by 22 over the past 24 hours, which brings the total toll of those infected to 398, the Latvian Center for Disease Prevention and Control said on Tuesday.

Chinese mainland sees local COVID-19 cases dwindled to under 1,500

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:42 pm

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: The confirmed cases of indigenously-transmitted novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Chinese mainland has decreased to below 1,500, with 510 patients suffering from severe symptoms, said Mi Feng, the spokesperson for the National Health Commission, Tuesday.

Qatar distributes 10 mln USD to Gaza's poor families to fight COVID-19 epidemic

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:42 pm

Gaza/Xinhua/UNI: Qatar on Tuesday started distributing 10 million U.S. dollars to 100,000 poor families in the Gaza Strip to help them fight COVID-19 epidemic.

Bangladesh COVID-19 cases rises to 51

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:40 pm

Dhaka/UNI:  Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Bangladesh rose to 51 as the country on Tuesday recorded two more infections.

Coronavirus cases in France reach 52,128, death toll at 3,523

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:36 pm

Paris, Mar 31 (Xinhua) The coronavirus cases in France have reached 52,128, with a death toll of 3,523, General Director of Health Jerome Salomon announced on Tuesday at a daily briefing.

S Africa records 1,353 coronavirus cases with 5 deaths

Apr 01, 2020, at 12:30 pm

Cape Town/Xinhua/UNI: South Africa has recorded 27 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,353.

Harry, Meghan relocate to California after stepping down as senior royals

Apr 01, 2020, at 11:41 am

California/UNI:  British royal family members Prince Harry and wife Meghan Merkel have reportedly kicked start their new life and relocated to sunny California in the United States after formally stepping down as senior royals on March 31.

US headed for 'painful' two weeks: Donald Trump on COIVID-19 situation

Apr 01, 2020, at 09:52 am

Washington/IBNS/Xinhua/UNI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday alerted his nation that the countrymen should brace for "painful" weeks ahead.

Thailand to shut down Phuket airport for 20 days amid COVID-19 outbreak

Mar 31, 2020, at 07:33 pm

Bangkok/Xinhua/UNI: Thailand's Phuket International Airport will be shut from April 10 to 30 after Phuket Province sealed its entry points by land and sea amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Thai authorities announced on Tuesday.

‘Immediate nationwide ceasefire’ needed for all-out effort to counter COVID-19 in Syria

Mar 31, 2020, at 04:47 pm

New York/IBNS: Syria is at “high risk” of being unable to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Monday, reiterating calls for a “complete, immediate nationwide ceasefire” to enable an all-out-effort to counter the march of the new coronavirus.

Release inmates in Yemen to avert nationwide coronavirus outbreak, experts urge

Mar 31, 2020, at 04:30 pm

New York/IBNS: An international panel of human rights experts called today for the immediate release of political prisoners and detainees in war-ravaged Yemen to help avert a nationwide outbreak of COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases come down in Italy despite rising death count: Report

Mar 31, 2020, at 03:50 pm

Rome/IBNS: Amid a growing death rate, the coronavirus spread in Italy is slowing as the country has started recording fewer COVID-19 cases, a media report said.

Russia registers 500 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours

Mar 31, 2020, at 03:47 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Russia has registered 500 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, which brings the total number of cases in the country to 2,337, the country's operational headquarters for preventing the spread of coronavirus said in a statement on Tuesday.

Vietnam to close border gates with Laos, Cambodia to prevent spread of COVID-19

Mar 31, 2020, at 03:46 pm

Hanoi/Xinhua/UNI: Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it will close its border gates and border crossings with Laos and Cambodia starting from Wednesday in an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

UN helps Pacific prepare for COVID-19 pandemic, warns that children are ‘hidden victims’

Mar 31, 2020, at 01:43 pm

New York/IBNS: United Nations agencies are working together to provide vital support to Pacific Island countries as they rally to combat COVID-19 outbreaks across the region.

China's GDP growth to decline to 2.3 pc in baseline scenario in 2020, warns World Bank

Mar 31, 2020, at 01:43 pm

Washington/Sputnik/UNI/IBNS: China's GDP growth is expected to decline to 2.3 per cent in the baseline scenario in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Bank said in a report.

Nepal: Chinese defy COVID-19 lockdown, clash with locals in Lamjung

Mar 31, 2020, at 01:37 pm

Lamjung/IBNS: Several Chinese construction workers in Nepal, who broke lockdown norms implemented by the government due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Himalayan nation, on Tuesday clashed with locals in Lamjung district after they were asked not to break rules bringing construction materials to the village, media reports said.

COVID-19 stoking xenophobia, hate and exclusion, minority rights expert warns

Mar 31, 2020, at 01:22 pm

Combatting the COVID-19 pandemic must also include stamping out what one independent human rights expert has called the “darker sides” of the disease: verbal and physical attacks against Chinese and other minority communities, and excluding them from access to healthcare.

Covid-19: Hindus, Christians denied food supplies in Pakistan

Mar 31, 2020, at 01:13 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: The world is unitedly trying to beat the COVID-19 outbreak and the disease has even extended its killer arms in Pakistan but for the administration in the South Asian nation religious discrimination still remains a top priority with reports emerging that Hindus were denied food supplies by the authority which they said were meant for the Muslims, media reports said.

S.Korea to begin new school year with online classes from April 9

Mar 31, 2020, at 12:20 pm

Seoul/Xinhua/UNI: South Korea decided Tuesday to begin this year's new school year with online classes from April 9 in a gradual manner amid lingering concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Taliban prisoner release postponed: Afghan National Security Council Spokesman

Mar 31, 2020, at 12:15 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI:  The release of Taliban prisoners, expected to begin Tuesday, has been delayed, Afghan National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said.

China's GDP growth to decline to 2.3 pc in baseline scenario in 2020: World Bank

Mar 31, 2020, at 12:14 pm

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: China's GDP growth is expected to decline to 2.3 per cent in the baseline scenario in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Bank said in a report.

Amid COVID 19 outbreak, Van Gogh's painting Spring Garden stolen from Dutch museum

Mar 31, 2020, at 10:46 am

Laren/IBNS: An iconic painting- Spring Garden- by Van Gogh has been stolen from a museum in Dutch town of Laren which was shuttered in the wake of coronavirus spread.

Baloch journalist goes missing in Sweden, Baloch National Movement doubts ISI's role

Mar 30, 2020, at 07:47 pm

Upsalla/IBNS: Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch, who had fled Pakistan for life in 2012 and has been living in self-exile for several years, has gone missing from Swedish city Upsalla for nearly a month now, media reports said.

Imran Khan government's slow approach exposed as COVID 19 grips Pakistan

Mar 30, 2020, at 07:32 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistani government is failing to implement proper measures to curb the spread of the deadly disease and with clerics refusing to close their mosques, the situation of COVID-19 outbreak in the South Asian country is escalating further every day.

COVID-19: Bangladesh reports one more Coronavirus infection case in past 23 hours

Mar 30, 2020, at 06:59 pm

Dhaka/UNI: One more person has been infected with coronavirus or COVID-19 in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours, officials said on Monday.