Stand in solidarity to preserve Africa’s hard-won progress, urges UN chief
May 20, 2020, at 12:49 pm
New York/IBNS: The coronavirus pandemic threatens the hard-earned gains Africans have made throughout the continent, the UN chief said on Wednesday, urging the world to stand in solidarity with the people, “now, and for recovering better”.
Guterres encourages Member States to reach agreement over Ethiopian Nile dam project
May 20, 2020, at 12:47 pm
New York/IBNS: UN chief António Guterres is encouraging Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to persevere with efforts to overcome their differences and reach agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Syria: UN relief chief appeals for renewal of lifesaving cross-border aid operation
May 20, 2020, at 12:44 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN’s top aid official has urged the Security Council to renew a mechanism that provides lifesaving assistance to millions of desperate people in northwest Syria, through cross-border deliveries from Turkey.
'Alarming’ military build-up underway in Libya, as COVID-19 heightens insecurity
May 20, 2020, at 12:44 pm
New York/IBNS: The civil war in Libya is in danger of intensifying as foreign intervention grows and the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic adds to a deepening sense of insecurity, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Coordination essential to beat coronavirus, keep development goals on track
May 20, 2020, at 12:38 pm
New York/IBNS: As the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc across the world – with the most vulnerable suffering the most – the UN chief said on Tuesday that the task of eradicating poverty and achieving the development goals “has never been more challenging, more urgent and more necessary”.
Post-pandemic ‘green shift’ in transport could create up to 15 million jobs
May 20, 2020, at 12:37 pm
New York/IBNS: Transforming the transport sector to be more environmentally-friendly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, could create up to 15 million new jobs worldwide and help countries move to greener, healthier economies, according to a UN-backed report published on Tuesday.
Building a cinematic bond with refugees, in a time of crisis
May 20, 2020, at 12:36 pm
New York/IBNS: A Brazilian filmmaker is hoping that the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic will generate more empathy and solidarity towards others, including refugees, an optimistic position also held by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the South American country.
Unknown gunmen attack mosque in Afghanistan, seven killed
May 20, 2020, at 11:19 am
Kabul/IBNS: When the Muslim community across the globe is observing the holy month of Ramadan, unknown gunmen attacked a mosque in Afghanistan's Parwan region and left at least seven people killed and 12 others injured, media reports said on Wednesday.
May 20, 2020, at 10:51 am
Kabul/IBNS: At least 12 people, including women and children, were killed or wounded as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Taliban militants ripped through a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan's Zabul province, media reports said on Wednesday.
May 20, 2020, at 10:31 am
Washington/IBNS: New purchasing power parities (PPPs) for reference year 2017 that adjust for differences in the cost of living across economies were released today by the International Comparison Program (ICP).
Number of COVID-19 cases in US armed forces exceeds 5,700 - Pentagon
May 19, 2020, at 09:08 pm
Washington/Sputnik - The number of COVID-19 cases among the US armed forces, civilian personnel and their families has reached 8,697 of whom 5,765 are among active service personnel, the Department of Defense announced in a fact sheet on Tuesday.
Pakistan: National Commission for Human Rights still non-functional even after a year lapse
May 19, 2020, at 06:18 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan's National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) is still not functioning even after a year since its first term ended.
After Twitter halts in Pakistan for hours on Sunday, digital rights group demands answer from govt
May 19, 2020, at 06:11 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: Amid doubts of media censorship, the Media Matters for Democracy, a digital rights group, has asked the Pakistan government to issue a statement to clarify if micro-blogging site Twitter was blocked in the country recently.
China bracing for another COVID-19 wave: Authority put Shulan under Wuhan-like lockdown
May 19, 2020, at 05:50 pm
Beijing/IBNS: It seems that China is still struggling to cope up with the COVID-19 scenario as Wuhan like lockdown has been imposed in north-eastern city of Shulan where an outbreak of the deadly virus has been reported.
Pakistan: ANP condemns alleged threats to Pashtun leader
May 19, 2020, at 05:44 pm
Peshawar/IBNS: Pakistan's Awami National Party (ANP) has condemned the alleged death threats given to Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) central leader Dr Said Alam Mehsud.
Police officer, 3 civilians injured in bomb blast in Afghanistan's north
May 19, 2020, at 05:10 pm
Kabul/Sputnik/UNI: A police officer and three civilians were injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz, police spokesman Hijratullah Akbari said on Tuesday.
Covid-19: Highest single-day spike of 1,251 cases pushes tally to 25,121 in Bangladesh
May 19, 2020, at 05:03 pm
Dhaka/UNI: With the highest single-day spike of 1,251 cases in the past 24 hours, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh mounted to 25,121 on Tuesday.
At least 40 Taliban militants killed in Afghan forces' response attack in Kunduz
May 19, 2020, at 04:19 pm
Kabul/Sputnik/UNI: At least 40 Taliban militants were killed and over 50 others injured in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province in an operation by Afghan security forces, a deputy spokesman for the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
US state department condemns Taiwan’s exclusion from World Health Assembly
May 19, 2020, at 04:13 pm
Washington/UNI: The US State Department has expressed its disappointment at Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Assembly calling it a politically motivated decision.
Four nurses at Seoul hospital contract COVID-19 triggering fears of new cluster
May 19, 2020, at 04:06 pm
Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: Four nurses from Samsung Medical Center in Seoul have tested positive for COVID-19, triggering fears of a new cluster of infection in South Korea’s capital, national media reported on Tuesday, citing authorities.
Australia records 100th COVID-19 death
May 19, 2020, at 04:05 pm
Canberra/Xinhua/UNI: Australia has recorded its 100th COVID-19 death on Tuesday when authorities confirmed that a 93-year-old female resident of the Newmarch House aged care facility in Western Sydney became the 100th COVID-19 death in Australia, 19th from Newmarch House.
Balochistan: Blast kills 7 Pakistani security personnel
May 19, 2020, at 03:02 pm
Islamabad/Xinhua/UNI: Pakistani army said on Tuesday that seven security personnel were killed in a roadside bomb attack, and exchange of fire with terrorists in southwestern Balochistan province.
Improve or will stop funding: Trump gives 30 day ultimatum to WHO chief
May 19, 2020, at 02:49 pm
Washington/IBNS: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday took to Twitter and shared a three page letter to World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in which he has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the UN health body to make "substantive improvements" over repeated missteps in handling the coronavirus pandemic and siding with China in hiding important information.
Covid-19 crisis closes 90 percent of museums globally, UNESCO plans for reopenings
May 19, 2020, at 12:34 pm
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc globally, museums have not been spared, the UN cultural agency said on Monday, International Museum Day, revealing that nearly 90 per cent of the treasured cultural institutions have had to close their doors, while almost 13 per cent are under serious threat of never reopening.
Renewed trust and cooperation could finally ‘unlock progress’ toward peace in Syria – UN envoy
May 19, 2020, at 12:31 pm
Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally “unlock progress”, putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.
COVID-19 in Pakistan: Clerics announce resumption of congregational prayers at mosques
May 19, 2020, at 12:29 pm
Islamabad/IBNS: With Pakistan still witnessing an increase of COVID-19 cases, several prominent clerics and noted scholars on Monday announced the resumption of five-time congregational prayers at mosques across the country.
Renewed trust and cooperation could finally ‘unlock progress’ toward peace in Syria – UN envoy
May 19, 2020, at 12:16 pm
Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally “unlock progress”, putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.
Bangladesh raises Amphan danger signals to level 7
May 19, 2020, at 11:29 am
Dhaka/UNI: Maritime ports of Mongla, and Chattogram-Cox's Bazar have been advised to lower local warning signal no four but instead hoist danger signal numbers seven and six respectively as cyclone 'Amphan' approaches Bangladesh.
Trump says chose not to make statement to WHO today, will do so in 'near future'
May 19, 2020, at 11:27 am
Washington/Sputnik: US President Donald Trump said he has decided not to give any statement to the World Health Organization today and will make a statement soon.
COVID-19 in Pakistan: Clerics announce resumption of congregational prayers at mosques
May 19, 2020, at 11:18 am
Islamabad/IBNS: With Pakistan still witnessing an increase of COVID-19 cases, several prominent clerics and noted scholars on Monday announced the resumption of five-time congregational prayers at mosques across the country.