COVID-19’s far reaching impact on global drug abuse

New York/IBNS: More than 35 million people around the world now suffer from drug addiction, according to the latest annual report on the scourge, from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released on Thursday, which also analyzes the far-reaching impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global drug markets.

Coronavirus casts ‘huge shadow’ over Afghan life as multi-dimensional crisis continues

New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health emergency, but a multi-dimensional crisis for Afghanistan, dealing its people a painful blow just as Kabul and the Taliban prepare for peace talks in Qatar, the top UN official in the country says.

Yemen: millions of children facing deadly hunger, amidst aid shortages and COVID-19

New York/IBNS: Millions of children in the heart of the world’s worst humanitarian disaster could be pushed to the brink of starvation, due to huge shortfalls in humanitarian aid funding amid the coronavirus pandemic, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.

Alberta becomes first Canadian province to invest in serology testing of Covid-19

Alberta/IBNS: Alberta has announced an investment of $10 million for targeted serology testing to help to track the spread of Covid-19 across the province, media reports said.

170 signatories endorse UN ceasefire appeal during COVID crisis

New York/IBNS: UN Member States, Observers and others, sent a strong political message this week, with the announcement that 170 signatories have now endorsed the UN’s call to silence the guns, and stand united against the global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Islamabad to get its first Hindu temple, foundation stone laid

Dubai/IBNS: The Hindu community in Pakistan's Islamabad will worship in their temple soon as a simple ceremony was held to start construction of the first Hindu temple in the capital’s H-9 area on Tuesday.  

Kyrgyzstan reports 207 new COVID-19 cases

Bishkek/Xinhua: Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday reported 207 new COVID-19 cases, taking the nationwide tally to 3,726.

Widows must not be left out of efforts to build back better after COVID-19

New York/IBNS: When countries begin building back from the COVID-19 pandemic they must also work towards dismantling laws that discriminate against women, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for International Widow’s Day on Tuesday.

COVID-19 upends ‘entire generation’ of 600 million South Asian children

New York/IBNS: Without urgent action, COVID-19 will continue to unravel decades of progress across South Asia, destroying the “hopes and futures of an entire generation”, warns a new report released on Tuesday by the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

Canada: Alberta makes free non-medical masks to stem Covid-19 spread

Alberta/IBNS: In a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19 during the first phase of its reopening, Canadian province Alberta distributed more than 14 million free non-medical masks at A&W, McDonald’s Canada, and Tim Hortons drive-thrus across the province, media reports said.

COVID ‘exacerbating existing vulnerabilities’ in Central African Republic: Lacroix

New York/IBNS: The Central African Republic (CAR) is making progress as it prepares for presidential and legislative elections in December, but the political situation is still fragile - and security conditions volatile - amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said on Monday.

COVID-19 Economy: Donald Trump suspends H-1B, other visas till year end

Washington: In an attempt to help the COVID-19 hit economy of the nation, US President Donald Trump has suspended issuing of H-1B visas, which is popular among Indian  IT professionals, and several other foreign work visas till the end of the year.

Afghanistan: UN condemns attacks on healthcare amid COVID-19 pandemic

New York/IBNS: Fifteen attacks on healthcare in Afghanistan were recorded during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report published on Sunday by the UN Assistance Mission in the country, UNAMA.

Kung fu shrine Shaolin Temple reopens to public

Zhengzhou/Xinhua: China's kung fu shrine Shaolin Temple reopened to the public on Monday, ending a months-long closure amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Pakistan: Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Minister for Agriculture Janbaz Khan dies due to COVID-19 infection

Quetta:  Another key Pakistani regional minister has died after he was infected by COVID-19, media reports said.