Tedros highlights complex challenges posed by COVID-19 resurgence, following easing of lockdowns
May 12, 2020, at 02:52 pm
New York/IBNS: The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in South Korea, China and Germany following the lifting of stay-at-home restrictions demonstrates the complexity of easing these measures, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.
UN officials call for release of detained Palestinian children amid pandemic
May 12, 2020, at 01:32 pm
New York/IBNS: Three senior United Nations officials in the Middle East are calling for the release of Palestinian children from Israeli-run prisons and detentions centres, saying they are at particular risk of COVID-19 infection.
No guarantee of COVID-19 vaccine: British PM
May 12, 2020, at 01:01 pm
London/UNI: A COVID-19 vaccine is by no means guaranteed, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
UN peacekeepers killed in improvised explosive attack in Mali
May 12, 2020, at 12:10 pm
New York/IBNS: Three UN peacekeepers from Chad were killed in northern Mali on Sunday when their convoy hit a roadside bomb near Aguelhok, in the restive Kidal region. The improvised device also seriously injured four others who are now receiving medical care, the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in a statement.
Egypt reports 346 new COVID-19 cases as tally nears 10,000
May 12, 2020, at 12:08 pm
Cairo/Xinhua/UNI: Egypt on Monday reported 346 new COVID-19 infections, as the tally of coronavirus infections in the country nears 10,000.
COVID-19 tally in Russian armed forces rises to 1,689
May 12, 2020, at 12:04 pm
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: A total of 1,689 Russian servicemen, as well as 1,224 students of military academies, have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the epidemic, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Amid COVID-19 outbreak, China starts trial of digital currency
May 11, 2020, at 04:11 pm
Beijing/IBNS: Amid financial meltdown globally due to COVID-19 outbreak, China's central bank—People's Bank of China (PBoC)— recently introduced the trial of a homegrown digital currency across four cities, media reports said.
Singapore reports 876 new COVID-19 cases
May 11, 2020, at 04:07 pm
Singapore/Xinhua/UNI: Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 876 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 23,336.
Thailand registers 6 new COVID-19 cases over past 24 hours : Authorities
May 11, 2020, at 04:04 pm
Bangkok/Sputnik/UNI: Thailand's southern provinces have recorded six new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of those infected to 3,015, Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the national coronavirus response center, said on Monday.
3 UN peacekeepers killed, 4 injured in Mali
May 11, 2020, at 12:05 pm
Bamako/Xinhua/UNI: The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) confirmed Sunday evening that three of its peacekeepers were killed during a routine patrol by improvised explosive devices (IED) near Aguelhok in northern Mali.
High-Risk Zone Declared in Northeastern China Due to New COVID-19 Cluster - Authorities
May 11, 2020, at 10:39 am
Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: The Chinese city of Shulan in the northeastern Jilin province has been declared a high-risk zone after 11 people got infected with the novel coronavirus, the provincial authorities said on Sunday.
Chinese official admits health system weaknesses amid COVID-19 outbreak
May 10, 2020, at 11:01 pm
Beijing/IBNS: In a rare admission, a top Chinese official has admitted that the COVID-19 outbreak exposed weaknesses in the country's public health system.
Ensure city poor and vulnerable are fed, amidst lockdown hunger risk, urges UN
May 10, 2020, at 06:39 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN food agency, FAO, warns that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food. In Latin America, cities are finding ways to keep food supplies flowing, despite the current restrictions on movement and supplies.
COVID-19 cases in Indonesia surpass 14,000
May 10, 2020, at 04:35 pm
Jakarta/Xinhua: The Indonesian government announced 387 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections in the archipelagic country to 14,032.
Philippines reports 184 new COVID-19 cases, total at 10,794
May 10, 2020, at 04:28 pm
Manila/Xinhua: The Philippines reported 184 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 10,794.
Chinese mainland reports 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases
May 10, 2020, at 08:48 am
Beijing/Xinhua: Chinese health authority said Sunday that it received a report of 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Saturday, of which two were imported cases reported in Shanghai.
COVID-19 death toll in Brazil surpasses 10,000: Health Ministry
May 10, 2020, at 08:37 am
Buenos Aires/Sputnik: Brazil recorded 730 coronavirus fatalities in the past 24 hours with the country’s total death toll now standing at over 10,000 according to the Health Ministry.
Two civilian planes hit in rocket strike at Tripoli airport - GNA
May 09, 2020, at 08:38 pm
Cairo/Sputnik: Two civilian jetliners in Libya were damaged in Saturday shelling of a Tripoli airport by forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar, the UN-backed administration said.
Seven Taliban militants killed as heroin lab busted in eastern Afghanistan - Authorities
May 09, 2020, at 08:02 pm
Kabul/Sputnik: Afghan security forces have busted a clandestine drug lab run by the Taliban in the eastern Paktia province, killing seven militants and arresting three others, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.
UN rights office concerned over migrant boat pushbacks in the Mediterranean
May 09, 2020, at 03:38 pm
New York/IBNS: Restrictions against humanitarians who rescue migrant boats in the central Mediterranean are putting lives at risk and must be lifted immediately, the UN human rights office said on Friday.
-1589018798.jpg "Syria violence ‘a ticking time-bomb that must not be ignored’: UN human rights chief")
Syria violence ‘a ticking time-bomb that must not be ignored’: UN human rights chief
May 09, 2020, at 03:36 pm
New York/IBNS: As civilian casualties mount across Syria and human rights violations continue unabated, the UN rights chief expressed serious concern on Friday that some parties to the conflict, including ISIL terrorist fighters, may be using the COVID-19 pandemic as “an opportunity to regroup and inflict violence on the population”.
-1589018723.jpg "UN chief appeals for global action against coronavirus-fueled hate speech")
UN chief appeals for global action against coronavirus-fueled hate speech
May 09, 2020, at 03:35 pm
New York/IBNS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for concerted global action to quash the “tsunami” of hate speech that has risen alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.
China to back WHO investigation of Covid-19
May 08, 2020, at 07:51 pm
Beijing/UNI: China says it supports World Health Organisation's efforts to investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, but rejects any “presumption of guilt” after the global body said it was talking to Beijing about sending another delegation to the country.
Australian leaders irked by China's threat to Island Nation's economy
May 08, 2020, at 05:53 pm
Melbourne/IBNS: Australia and China exchanged barbs in recent times after the Island nation demanded an investigation into the origins of coronavirus as well as a review of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Chinese hacking group is targeting governments across Asia, says security firm Check Point
May 08, 2020, at 05:44 pm
Beijing/IBNS: When the world is busy combating COVID-19, a Chinese hacking group has been conducting “ongoing” espionage operations on foreign governments across Asia, a security firm said.
Chinese company donates 250,000 face masks to Chicago city
May 08, 2020, at 03:38 pm
Chicago/Xinhua/UNI: A Chinese company on Thursday donated 250,000 face masks and 30,000 face shields to the central U.S. city of Chicago to assist its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa records more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases
May 08, 2020, at 03:36 pm
Cape Town/Xinhua/UNI: South Africa confirmed 424 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 8,232.
Iraq: Guterres welcomes new Prime Minister, calls for ‘meaningful’ reforms
May 08, 2020, at 12:12 pm
New York/IBNS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Special Representative in Iraq, welcomed the long-delayed formation of a new Government in Baghdad on Thursday and called for meaningful reforms to be put into place to better the lives of the Iraqi people and strengthen democratic institutions.
-1588918880.jpg "African artists take creative approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic")
African artists take creative approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic
May 08, 2020, at 11:51 am
New York/IBNS: Top artists from across Africa and throughout the African Diaspora have joined forces with the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, to save lives and counter misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Migrants stranded ‘all over the world’ and at risk from coronavirus
May 08, 2020, at 11:33 am
New York/IBNS: Thousands of migrants have been stranded “all over the world” where they face a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection, the head of UN migration agency, IOM, said on Thursday.