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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over 2,000 sent to put out forest fire in China's Sichuan

Mar 30, 2020, at 04:43 pm

Chengdu/Xinhua/UNI:  Over 2,000 people were dispatched to put out a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, a local fire department said.

Chinese yuan weakens to 7.0447 against USD Monday

Mar 30, 2020, at 04:40 pm

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 20 pips to 7.0447 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

Passenger train derails in China, zero casualties

Mar 30, 2020, at 04:38 pm

Beijing/UNI: A passenger train on Monday derailed in central China's Hunan Province due to landslide that was triggered due to heavy rains in the region, however, so far no death was reported.

UNGA president supports UN $2bln COVID-19 response plan

Mar 30, 2020, at 04:31 pm

United Nations/Sputnik/UNI:  The United Nations' $2 billion appeal to fight the coronavirus in some of the most vulnerable countries is a "good, timely call," UNGA President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande told Sputnik.