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.
‘Timeless message of unity’ resonates on holy day celebrating Buddhism, amidst pandemic
May 08, 2020, at 11:06 am
New York/IBNS: To the millions around the world who celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha, the UN chief sent warm wishes on Thursday, officially marked as the Day of Vesak, noting that “we can all be inspired by his teachings”.
COVID-19: UN and partners launch $6.7 billion appeal for vulnerable countries
May 08, 2020, at 10:55 am
New York/IBNS: Humanitarians are seeking nearly $7 billion to protect millions of lives and halt the spread of COVID-19 in more than 60 of the world’s most fragile countries.
Coronavirus cases rise to 18,890 in Qatar
May 07, 2020, at 09:52 pm
Doha/UNI: Qatar's Covid-19 confirmed cases have reached 18,890 as 918 new cases were registered over the past 24 hours, confirmed the country’s Health Ministry on Thursday.
-1588845485.jpg "Amid COVID-19 pandemic, thousands stranded in Bay of Bengal ‘unable to come ashore'")
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, thousands stranded in Bay of Bengal ‘unable to come ashore'
May 07, 2020, at 03:28 pm
New York/IBNS: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,United Nations agencies called on Wednesday for South-East Asian governments to show compassion to boats full of vulnerable people adrift in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
Venezuelans ‘teetering on the brink of survival’ warn UN human rights experts
May 07, 2020, at 03:27 pm
New York/IBNS: United Nations independent experts demanded on Wednesday that the Venezuelan Government take concrete actions to tackle the devastating impact on basic human rights of the country’s economic crisis.
COVID-19 crisis putting human trafficking victims at risk of further exploitation, experts warn
May 07, 2020, at 03:25 pm
New York/IBNS: Lockdowns, travel restrictions, resource cutbacks and other measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus are putting victims of human trafficking at risk of further exploitation, while organized crime networks could further profit from the pandemic, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Senior UN official calls for universal basic income to tackle
May 07, 2020, at 03:23 pm
New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a health crisis, but it is also proving to be an economic disaster for huge numbers of people worldwide. A senior UN official with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is calling for countries to provide citizens with a universal basic income, to help the millions who have lost their jobs, because of measures to curb the virus, combined with increasing levels of inequality.
-1588845148.jpg "Coronavirus and human rights: New UN report calls for disability-inclusive recovery")
Coronavirus and human rights: New UN report calls for disability-inclusive recovery
May 07, 2020, at 03:22 pm
New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying inequalities experienced by the world’s one billion people with disabilities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in launching a report issued on Wednesday that calls for a disability-inclusive recovery and response to the crisis.
Covid-19: Brazil's death toll reaches 8,536
May 07, 2020, at 01:47 pm
Rio de Janeiro/UNI: Brazil's death toll from Covid-19 has reached 8,536 as 615 more fatalities were recorded over the past 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry informed on Thursday.
Covid-19: Cases in Germany surpass 1,66,000
May 07, 2020, at 01:44 pm
Berlin/UNI: The total number of Covid-19 cases in Germany have reached 166,091 since the start of the pandemic as 1,284 new cases were registered over the past 24 hours, confirmed the Robert Koch Institute said on Thursday.
Don't let China host the 2022 Olympics without honoring human rights norms, say USCIRF members
May 06, 2020, at 05:24 pm
Washington/IBNS: Top US officials have argued that human rights activists and members of the Congress have already called on the International Olympic Committee to either demand China to respect human rights as a condition of hosting the Games or to move the 2022 Winter Olympics to another location.