Taliban violence in Badakshan leaves 10 dead
Apr 03, 2020, at 05:34 pm
Kabul, Afghanistan/UNI: A Taliban raid at an Afghan army checkpoint left 10 people dead, Afghan Army spokesperson announced on Friday.
Mockery of justice: Daniel Pearl's father on Pakistan court order on releasing Omar Sheikh
Apr 03, 2020, at 01:03 pm
Washington/IBNS: At a time when the world is fighting against the COVID-19 outbreak, Pakistan is busy letting terrorists go free. This is evident from the fact when a court in Sindh on Thursday commuted the death sentence of Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh- who was convicted 18 years ago for abducting and murdering the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal Daniel Pearl- to seven years, prompting the slain scribe's father call the move a 'mockery of justice'.
'Everyone at risk’ as coronavirus cases tick up among migrants and refugees sheltering in Greece
Apr 03, 2020, at 12:18 pm
New York/IBNS: With 23 migrants at an open accommodation site in central Greece testing positive for COVID-19, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) sounded the alarm on Thursday over conditions in crowded reception centres on five Greek islands where the virus risks taking hold.
COVID-19 crisis ‘unlike any we have dealt with’, as new tragedy looms for Syria
Apr 03, 2020, at 12:15 pm
New York/IBNS: The risk of the COVID-19 pandemic having a devastating impact on war-torn Syria is intensifying, where six million are displaced, living in conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the deadly virus, the Senior Humanitarian Advisor to the UN Special Envoy to Syria warned on Thursday.
India: Migrant workers' plight prompts UN call for ‘domestic solidarity’ in coronavirus battle
Apr 03, 2020, at 12:13 pm
New York/IBNS: Pervasive challenges remain for hundreds-of-thousands of migrant workers in India whose lives were upended by the sudden lockdown across the country, in response to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, said the UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Thursday.
Daniel Pearl: ISI's hand in early release of convict Omar Sheikh suspected
Apr 03, 2020, at 12:05 pm
A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of militant Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh- who was convicted 18 years ago for abducting and murdering the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal- to seven years and now a certain section of the media has hinted at the role played by Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and interior minister Brigadier Ijaz Shah in the episode.
Burkina Faso crisis and COVID-19 concerns highlight pressure on Sahel food security
Apr 03, 2020, at 12:02 pm
New York/IBNS: Food insecurity levels in the Sahel region are “spiralling out of control”, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, as it expressed concerns about the potential impact on humanitarian supply chains because of restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iraqi authorities suspend Reuters' accreditation for 3 months over reports about COVID-19
Apr 03, 2020, at 11:16 am
Cairo/Sputnik/UNI: The Iraqi authorities decided to suspend the accreditation of the Reuters news agency's office for three months after the latter had published an article about the allegedly massive spread of the coronavirus in the country, the national Communications and Media Commission said.
Donald Trump tested negative again for coronavirus, White House confirms
Apr 03, 2020, at 10:58 am
Washington/UNI: US President Donald Trump tested negative again for the coronavirus, White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
China: Shenzhen bans consumption of cat, dog meat
Apr 03, 2020, at 10:52 am
Shenzhen/UNI: Shenzhen is the first city in China to ban the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat after the novel coronavirus outbreak wreaked havoc in the country, infecting about 81,589 people and killing 3,318.
China reported inaccurate COVID-19 figures: Nikki Haley
Apr 03, 2020, at 10:00 am
Washington/IBNS: US politician Nikki Haley on Friday expressed her doubt on the number of deaths and infected people reported by China due to COVID-19 outbreak and said the figures were 'not accurate'.
COVID-19: Dependence on China and discrimination on PoK people deepening crisis in Pakistan
Apr 02, 2020, at 04:59 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: At the time of crisis when Pakistan is still depending on China, its all-weather ally and the epicentre of the COVID-19 disease spread, reports are emerging that PM Imran Khan-led government is still practicing discrimination and not extending help to people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
Pakistan court commutes death sentence of main accused in Daniel Pearl murder case to 7 years
Apr 02, 2020, at 03:23 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of militant Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted 18 years ago for abducting and murdering the South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, to seven years, media reports said.
Indonesia releases over 5,000 inmates to prevent COVID-19 outbreak in prisons
Apr 01, 2020, at 08:07 pm
Jakarta/Xinhua: Indonesia has released 5,556 prisoners in a bid to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading in prisons, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly said on Wednesday.
Apr 01, 2020, at 07:46 pm
Lahore/IBNS: The COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Pakistan and even in such a situation of a humanitarian crisis discrimination allegations surface daily. It seems that the Imran Khan government is following a different policy for minorities and those in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Fight against COVID-19: Nepal Govt now says won't use rapid test kits purchased from China
Apr 01, 2020, at 07:29 pm
Kathmandu/IBNS: Stating that the results obtained from them are unreliable, the Nepal government has said it would not use rapid test kits purchased from China to fight against COVID-19.
Bangladesh records sixth COVID-19 death
Apr 01, 2020, at 04:45 pm
Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh recorded its sixth COVID-19 infected death on Wednesday, media reports said.
Apr 01, 2020, at 01:13 pm
New York/IBNS: With the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, political parties in Afghanistan are being urged to prioritize national interests and come together for peace talks with the Taliban, the UN Deputy Special Representative for the country told a videoconference meeting with Security Council members on Tuesday.
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.
-1585725595.jpg "UN launches COVID-19 plan that could ‘defeat the virus and build a better world’")
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.