Pakistan Religious Affairs Minister opposes inclusion of Ahmadis in minority commission
May 02, 2020, at 03:36 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan's Religious Affairs Ministry has decided to approach the federal cabinet seeking a review of a decision that pertained to the inclusion of a member of the Ahmadiyya community in the National Commission for Minorities, media reports said.
Weakest segments of society invisible, unheard: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
May 02, 2020, at 02:59 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) notes that widespread social and economic marginalisation have left the weakest segments of society invisible and unheard.
Millions of missing airmiles: How the UN civil aviation agency is helping airlines take off again
May 02, 2020, at 01:41 pm
New York/IBNS: In normal times, the world’s airlines would be carrying nearly 2 billion international passengers this year. That’s 5.7 million a day. But with the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the planet, these are not normal times. In its latest analysis of the economic impact of novel coronavirus on global commercial aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) warns of a potential overall reduction of 872 million to just over 1.3 billion international passengers – if signs of recovery emerge in late May.
‘Rights and dignity’ of older people must be respected during COVID-19 and beyond
May 02, 2020, at 01:30 pm
New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 fatality rate for people over 80-years-old, is five times the global average, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday, launching a new policy initiative to address this and many other challenges faced by the elderly, during and after the biggest public health crisis to hit the world in a century.
May 02, 2020, at 01:27 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General is calling for greater protection of journalists who are providing the “antidote” to what he has characterized as a pandemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.
Vaccine bottlenecks from COVID lockdown put children’s lives at stake: UNICEF
May 02, 2020, at 01:24 pm
New York/IBNS: Help is needed urgently to distribute vaccines worldwide amid dramatic shortages because of COVID-19 restrictions, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. It has warned that youngsters’ lives “are at stake” owing to the dramatic decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
Canada: Ontario allowing select businesses to reopen with strict safety measures
May 02, 2020, at 01:21 pm
Ottawa/IBNS: The Ontario government has granted permission to some workplaces to reopen on May 4 provided they follow strict public health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, media reports said.
China firmly opposes US support for Taiwan's participation in UN
May 02, 2020, at 01:13 pm
United Nations/Xinhua/UNI: The US UN mission has gravely interfered with China's internal affairs by openly supporting Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, said a spokesperson of the permanent mission of China to the UN.
Shanghai launches first centralized tax refund point for overseas tourists
May 02, 2020, at 01:04 pm
Shanghai/Xinhua: Shanghai launched its first centralized tax refund point in a central commercial district on Friday, offering better tax refund service for overseas travelers.
Nawaz Sharif surgery postponed due to coronavirus
May 02, 2020, at 12:51 pm
Islamabad/UNI: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's heart surgery has been postponed due to coronovirus, his daughter Maryam Nawaz has said.
Canada: Ontario allowing select businesses to reopen with strict safety measures
May 02, 2020, at 12:46 pm
Ottawa/IBNS: The Ontario government has granted permission to some workplaces to reopen on May 4 provided they follow strict public health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, media reports said.
Missing exiled Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain found dead in Sweden
May 02, 2020, at 12:07 pm
Stockholm/IBNS: Two months after he went missing, the body of a Pakistani journalist, who had fled his nation, was found dead in a river in Sweden, media reports said.
US servicemen shoot dead Syrian civilian in Deir Ez-Zor Province: Reports
May 02, 2020, at 11:07 am
Beirut/Sputnik/UNI: US servicemen have shot dead a Syrian civilian, who drove a car in the province of Deir ez-Zor, Syria's state media reported.
Ending all specualtion on his health, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance
May 02, 2020, at 10:14 am
Seoul/IBNS: Ending all speculation over his health, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance, media reports said.
Canadians lost more than $1.2 million to scammers in recent weeks
May 01, 2020, at 09:17 pm
Ottawa/IBNS: Canadians have suffered a loss of more than $1.2 million in recent weeks to scammers, who had taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic, media reports said.
Number of COVID-19 cases in Serbia exceeds 9,200, death toll up to 185
May 01, 2020, at 08:19 pm
Belgrade/Sputnik: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Serbia has increased by 196 to 9,205 in the past 24 hours, and the death toll has risen by six to 185 people, the Health Ministry said on Friday.
Fifteen militants killed, 10 wounded in eastern Afghanistan - Authorities
May 01, 2020, at 07:08 pm
KABUL/Sputnik: Fifteen militants have been killed and 10 have been wounded in Afghanistan's eastern province of Logar, the local authorities said on Friday.
Austria extends air traffic suspension with several states including Russia until May 22
May 01, 2020, at 07:00 pm
Vienna/Sputnik: The Austrian authorities have extended the suspension of air traffic with a number of countries, including Russia, until May 22 in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the order issued by the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
Islamabad is most dangerous place for journalists: Report
May 01, 2020, at 05:31 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan's Islamabad city remains the most unsafe place for journalists, as per a report published by a media rights watchdog.
COVID-19: Death toll in Bangladesh touches 170
May 01, 2020, at 05:06 pm
Dhaka/IBNS: Death toll due to COVID-19 in Bangladesh has touched 170 with the fresh deaths of two more patients, media reports said.
Lift Cuba embargo or risk many lives lost to COVID-19, UN rights experts warn US
May 01, 2020, at 04:54 pm
New York/IBNS: The United States must urgently lift its blockade on Cuba to save lives amid the expanding COVID-19 crisis, UN human rights experts stressed on Thursday, emphasizing that the more than six-decades-old sanctions are impeding the supply of medicine, medical equipment, food and other goods essential to surviving the pandemic.
May 01, 2020, at 04:46 pm
New York/IBNS: A group of 13 independent UN human rights experts on Thursday called on the UN chief, António Guterres, to “urgently step up efforts” to fulfill a UN pledge to help victims of a nine-year-long cholera epidemic in Haiti that killed over 10,000 citizens.
Greta Thunberg launches campaign to support UNICEF protection efforts against COVID-19
May 01, 2020, at 03:17 pm
New York/IBNS: Climate activist Greta Thunberg along with Danish NGO Human Act, on Thursday launched a child rights-driven campaign to support the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in protecting young lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-1588325634.jpg "UN prepares for potentially devastating COVID-19 outbreak in conflict-ravaged northeast Nigeria")
UN prepares for potentially devastating COVID-19 outbreak in conflict-ravaged northeast Nigeria
May 01, 2020, at 03:03 pm
New York/IBNS: In northeast Nigeria, where armed conflict has forced millions from their homes, the UN’s migration agency, IOM, is supporting the construction of quarantine shelters, as the region braces for an outbreak of COVID-19 which, it warns, would have ‘devastating consequences’ for those who have been displaced.
Abductor of converted Hindu girls in Pakistan bribed police: Family member alleges
May 01, 2020, at 02:09 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: An uncle of two abducted Hindu girls in Pakistan has alleged that their abductor Mohammad Aachar Dharejo is getting the favour of the police as he bribed them.
Major U.S. airlines to require passengers to wear face masks
May 01, 2020, at 01:28 pm
Washington/Xinhua/UNI: Three U.S. airlines said Thursday that they will soon require passengers to wear face masks on flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israeli Helicopters carry out missile strike on Southern Syria: Reports
May 01, 2020, at 12:39 pm
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Israeli military helicopters have carried out a missile strike on southern parts of Syria, Syrian state media reported on Friday.
US could use new tariffs on China as retaliatory measure over COVID-19 crisis: Trump
May 01, 2020, at 12:01 pm
Washington/Sputnik/UNI: The United States could impose new tariffs on China as a retaliatory measure over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, US President Donald Trump said in a press conference.
Russia hit coronavirus plateau in past week: Health Official
May 01, 2020, at 11:32 am
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The coronavirus epidemic in Russia appeared to be plateauing in the past week, the head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency said Thursday.
UK reports 674 new COVID-19 deaths as total rises above 26,700: Prime Minister Johnson
May 01, 2020, at 11:30 am
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: A further 674 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the United Kingdom over the previous 24 hours, taking the total death toll above 26,700, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday.