Iran-Turkey bilateral trade declines by 70 pct in 3 months
May 02, 2020, at 05:25 pm
Tehran/Xinhua/UNI: Iran's trade with Turkey reached 645.44 million U.S. dollars in value during the first three months of the current year, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.
COVID-19: Philippines reports 156 new cases
May 02, 2020, at 05:11 pm
Manila/Xinhua/UNI: The Philippines on Saturday reported 156 new COVID-19 cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 8,928.
Russia: Construction Minister now tests positive for COVID-19
May 02, 2020, at 05:04 pm
Moscow/UNI: Construction, Housing and Utilities Minister of Russia Vladimir Yakushev and his deputy Dmitry Volkov have tested positive for COVID-19.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin tests positive for COVID-19
May 01, 2020, at 02:00 am
Moscow/IBNS: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been diagnosed with Covid-19, he revealed in a video meeting with President Vladimir Putin aired on the state-run Rossiya 24 television channel Thursday.
No new COVID-19 case reported in Hong Kong for 5 consecutive days
Apr 30, 2020, at 06:58 pm
Hong Kong/ Xinhua: China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) reported no new case of COVID-19 on Thursday, the fifth consecutive day of zero case.
Coronavirus lockdown casts harsh light on our data and privacy online
Apr 30, 2020, at 01:38 pm
New York/IBNS: A third of all nations lack laws to protect their citizen’s online data and privacy, despite an 11 per cent uptick in the global adoption of data protection and privacy legislation since 2015, the United Nations’ trade, investment and development body (UNCTAD) said on Wednesday.
Syria: As coronavirus threat intensifies, ceasefire more urgent than ever
Apr 30, 2020, at 01:36 pm
New York/IBNS: Syria desperately needs a nationwide ceasefire to enable its war-weary citizens to access the equipment and resources necessary to combat COVID-19, the UN’s top envoy for the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
-1588233279.jpg "COVID-19: Act now to avert ‘hunger catastrophe’ for millions missing out on school meals")
COVID-19: Act now to avert ‘hunger catastrophe’ for millions missing out on school meals
Apr 30, 2020, at 01:24 pm
With classrooms closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two UN agencies are urging governments to act now to shore up the futures of the 370 million children worldwide who depend on school meals.
Canadian Parliament approves $ 6.5 Bln COVID-19 student benefit package
Apr 30, 2020, at 12:06 pm
Toronto/Sputnik/UNI: Canada’s House of Commons has approved the Trudeau government’s proposed $6.5-billion Canada emergency student benefits (CESB) program in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, said at the conclusion of the session.
Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Militants Shell Settlement in Syria's Idlib: Russian Military
Apr 30, 2020, at 12:04 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Militants of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organization (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia) have attacked a settlement in the Syrian province of Idlib, the Russian Defense Ministry's center for Syrian reconciliation said in a bulletin on Wednesday.
Apr 29, 2020, at 04:36 pm
Geneva/IBNS: UN chief Antonio Guterres alerted the world that extremist groups are taking advantage of the COVID-19 lockdowns and have intensified their efforts to recruit youths online by exploiting their anger and despair through social media.