Syria: UN relief chief appeals for renewal of lifesaving cross-border aid operation
May 20, 2020, at 12:44 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN’s top aid official has urged the Security Council to renew a mechanism that provides lifesaving assistance to millions of desperate people in northwest Syria, through cross-border deliveries from Turkey.
'Alarming’ military build-up underway in Libya, as COVID-19 heightens insecurity
May 20, 2020, at 12:44 pm
New York/IBNS: The civil war in Libya is in danger of intensifying as foreign intervention grows and the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic adds to a deepening sense of insecurity, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Coordination essential to beat coronavirus, keep development goals on track
May 20, 2020, at 12:38 pm
New York/IBNS: As the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc across the world – with the most vulnerable suffering the most – the UN chief said on Tuesday that the task of eradicating poverty and achieving the development goals “has never been more challenging, more urgent and more necessary”.
Post-pandemic ‘green shift’ in transport could create up to 15 million jobs
May 20, 2020, at 12:37 pm
New York/IBNS: Transforming the transport sector to be more environmentally-friendly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, could create up to 15 million new jobs worldwide and help countries move to greener, healthier economies, according to a UN-backed report published on Tuesday.
Building a cinematic bond with refugees, in a time of crisis
May 20, 2020, at 12:36 pm
New York/IBNS: A Brazilian filmmaker is hoping that the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic will generate more empathy and solidarity towards others, including refugees, an optimistic position also held by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the South American country.
May 20, 2020, at 10:31 am
Washington/IBNS: New purchasing power parities (PPPs) for reference year 2017 that adjust for differences in the cost of living across economies were released today by the International Comparison Program (ICP).
China bracing for another COVID-19 wave: Authority put Shulan under Wuhan-like lockdown
May 19, 2020, at 05:50 pm
Beijing/IBNS: It seems that China is still struggling to cope up with the COVID-19 scenario as Wuhan like lockdown has been imposed in north-eastern city of Shulan where an outbreak of the deadly virus has been reported.
US state department condemns Taiwan’s exclusion from World Health Assembly
May 19, 2020, at 04:13 pm
Washington/UNI: The US State Department has expressed its disappointment at Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Assembly calling it a politically motivated decision.
Four nurses at Seoul hospital contract COVID-19 triggering fears of new cluster
May 19, 2020, at 04:06 pm
Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: Four nurses from Samsung Medical Center in Seoul have tested positive for COVID-19, triggering fears of a new cluster of infection in South Korea’s capital, national media reported on Tuesday, citing authorities.
Australia records 100th COVID-19 death
May 19, 2020, at 04:05 pm
Canberra/Xinhua/UNI: Australia has recorded its 100th COVID-19 death on Tuesday when authorities confirmed that a 93-year-old female resident of the Newmarch House aged care facility in Western Sydney became the 100th COVID-19 death in Australia, 19th from Newmarch House.
Covid-19 crisis closes 90 percent of museums globally, UNESCO plans for reopenings
May 19, 2020, at 12:34 pm
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc globally, museums have not been spared, the UN cultural agency said on Monday, International Museum Day, revealing that nearly 90 per cent of the treasured cultural institutions have had to close their doors, while almost 13 per cent are under serious threat of never reopening.
Renewed trust and cooperation could finally ‘unlock progress’ toward peace in Syria – UN envoy
May 19, 2020, at 12:31 pm
Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally “unlock progress”, putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.
Renewed trust and cooperation could finally ‘unlock progress’ toward peace in Syria – UN envoy
May 19, 2020, at 12:16 pm
Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally “unlock progress”, putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.
Trump says chose not to make statement to WHO today, will do so in 'near future'
May 19, 2020, at 11:27 am
Washington/Sputnik: US President Donald Trump said he has decided not to give any statement to the World Health Organization today and will make a statement soon.
COVID-19 wake-up call for all nations: UN chief Antonio GuterresÂ
May 18, 2020, at 06:10 pm
Geneva/Xinhua/UNI: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge of our age and it must be a wake-up call for all nations.
Man accidentally appears naked during Zoom call with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
May 18, 2020, at 11:45 am
Rio de Janeiro/IBNS: In an embarrassing situation created during a video conference with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro via Zoom, a man forgot to switch off his feed ending up showing his naked body to the participants.
Turkey confirms 1,368 new COVID-19 cases, 149,435 in total
May 18, 2020, at 11:38 am
Ankara/Xinhua/UNI: Turkey on Sunday confirmed 1,368 new COVID-19 cases and 44 more deaths in the past 24 hours, according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
AU forces kill 3 al-Shabab militants in foiled attack in Somalia
May 18, 2020, at 11:19 am
Mogadishu/Xinhua/UNI: The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said its forces on Saturday killed three al-Shabab terrorists and wounded several others in a foiled attack on Jubaland security forces in the southern region.
Libya extends curfew to fight COVID-19
May 18, 2020, at 11:16 am
Tripoli/Xinhua/UNI: The UN-backed government of Libya has extended for 10 more days starting from Monday the curfew that has been in place to contain COVID-19.
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Chinese specialists to visit Israel to investigate Ambassador's death
May 18, 2020, at 11:06 am
Tel Aviv/UNI: China will send a team of specialists to Israel on Monday to investigate the unexpected death of its ambassador to Tel Aviv, Du Wei, local media reported.
Unite against hate and violence targeting LGBTI people: UN officials
May 17, 2020, at 11:02 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for people everywhere to support the right to live free and equal, in line with his message for the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, observed on Sunday.
UN welcomes arrest of top suspect in Rwanda genocide
May 17, 2020, at 10:58 pm
New York/IBNS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the arrest on Saturday of one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, his Spokesperson said in a statement.
Chinese ambassador to Israel found dead in Tel Aviv
May 17, 2020, at 08:04 pm
Tel Aviv/IBNS: Chinese ambassador to Israel Du Wei was found dead in his Herzliya home in the northern part of the city on Sunday morning, said media reports.
Zoom Down: Several users say they are facing problem with video and audio output
May 17, 2020, at 05:25 pm
San Jose/IBNS: Popular video chat app Zoom is down as several users reported facing problems with video and audio output during their online meeting sessions on Sunday, media reports said.
Blame game wrong, harmful remedy to COVID-19: Chinese ambassador
May 17, 2020, at 05:11 pm
Dublin/ Xinhua: Blame game is a wrong and harmful remedy to COVID-19 and can lead people to nowhere in the fight against the global pandemic, Chinese ambassador to Ireland He Xiangdong said here Saturday.
Kenya to continue anti-doping tests for Olympic team despite virus threat
May 17, 2020, at 08:38 am
Nairobi/Xinhua: Kenya has set aside 17 million shillings (170,000 US dollars) towards the fight against doping for the national team preparing for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.
Two killed, 8 injured in east China factory blast
May 16, 2020, at 03:55 pm
Nanjing/Xinhua/UNI: Two people are dead and eight injured after a blast in a factory in the city of Danyang, eastern China's Jiangsu Province, local authorities said Saturday.
China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases
May 16, 2020, at 02:49 pm
Wuhan/Xinhua/UNI: No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province Friday, the provincial health commission said Saturday.
COVID-19 shows crucial role of the UN, says next General Assembly President
May 16, 2020, at 01:02 pm
New York/IBNS:The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ‘crucial role’ of the UN and its agencies, according to the veteran Turkish diplomat and parliamentarian who, as the only candidate for the top job, is slated to lead the historic 75th session of the General Assembly which begins in September.
Remote and rural communities could be hit hardest by Covid-19: Study
May 16, 2020, at 12:56 pm
New York/IBNS: Death rates from Covid-19 could be between 50% and 80% higher in rural communities and remote small towns, according to a new study by experts at the University of St Andrews.