Covid19: Emergence of Delta variant may lower acceptance of EU Digital Covid Certificate
Jul 02, 2021, at 07:15 am
Brussels/IBNS: The digital travel pass programme launched with the aim to allow seamless traveling across the European Union during the summer vacation period could fail as the deadlier Delta variant of coronavirus threatens to trigger a fresh wave of the infection.
Report now claims Wuhan virologist who worked on bat coronaviruses tied to military scientists
Jul 02, 2021, at 05:30 am
Wuhan: A top Chinese virologist has been tied to at least two Chinese military scientists who collaborated with her on coronavirus research in the past, including one now listed as deceased, making yet another crucial revelation in the path to trace the origin of the COVID-19 virus which is wreaking havoc across the world.
China's 1-cent masks giving tough challenge to US manufacturers
Jul 02, 2021, at 05:01 am
Washington: Cheap import of masks from China is blamed by US manufacturers of Premium-PPE as the reason behind the plunge of mask production.
2021 Canada Day celebrated virtually amid COVID-19 pandemic
Jul 02, 2021, at 04:28 am
Ottawa/IBNS: Canada Day is the national day of Canada and has been observed on July 1 since 1868 by Canadians across the country and around the world to show their pride in their history, culture, and achievements.
Generation Equality: Alongside COVID lies an ‘equally horrific pandemic’ threatening women
Jun 30, 2021, at 10:03 pm
New York: As the world grapples unevenly with the effects of COVID-19, “a parallel and equally horrific pandemic” has threatened half the world’s population, the UN chief said on Tuesday, in the lead up to the Generation Equality Forum in France.
Bangladesh gears up for strict lockdown from July 1 to curb COVID-19 spike
Jun 29, 2021, at 02:48 pm
Dhaka: Bangladesh is gearing up to witness the strictest lockdown from July 1 to contain the surge of COVID-19 which is leaving the country battered.
Japan plans stricter COVID19 safety measures for some athletes as Delta variant fears grow
Jun 28, 2021, at 02:31 am
Tokyo/Sputnik: The organizers of the Olympic Games in Japan plan to introduce stricter entry restrictions for athletes from certain countries starting next month, because of the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Sunday.
Delta variant driving the third wave of Covid-19 in South Africa
Jun 27, 2021, at 04:20 am
Cape Town/IBNS: Scientists have attributed the current surge in coronavirus cases in South Africa to the Delta variant, according to media reports.
Australia: Parts of Sydney put under lockdown amid COVID-19 Delta variant infection surge
Jun 25, 2021, at 11:56 pm
Sydney: Several regions in Australia's Sydney city, including Bond beach, will be under lockdown as COVID-19 cases started to surge in recent times, media reports said on Friday.
COVID pandemic fuelling major increase in drug use worldwide: UN report
Jun 25, 2021, at 04:07 pm
New York: Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year of unprecedented upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, up by 22 per cent from 2010. That’s among the key findings of the latest annual report released on Thursday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which also provides an overview of global drug markets, as well as their impact on people’s health and livelihoods.
UN chief urges European Parliament to support COVID vaccines for all
Jun 25, 2021, at 03:56 pm
New York: The European Union (EU) must use its leverage to ensure people everywhere have access to COVID-19 vaccines, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.
UK govt updates green, red travel lists of countries effective June 30
Jun 25, 2021, at 02:30 pm
London/Sputnik: UK transport minister Grant Shapps announced on Thursday changes to the "green" and "red" lists of countries depending on the risk of COVID-19 exposure, effective June 30.
Lithuania donates 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Taiwan to combat COVID-19
Jun 25, 2021, at 03:47 am
Taipei: Lithuania has donated 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Taiwan to combat COVID-19 pandemic which is still putting life across the globe in danger.
Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services suffers huge losses amid pandemic
Jun 24, 2021, at 01:35 am
Thimphu: The Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Limited (RBHSL), that provides services ranging from chartered flights to medical evacuations and fire fighting, has suffered a loss of around $836,000 in 2020.
Nepal: New mutant of Delta variant found
Jun 22, 2021, at 10:07 pm
Authorities in Nepal have confirmed the prevalence of highly infectious K417N, a sub-lineage of B.1.617.2, known as the Delta variant of the coronavirus, in the country. The mutation is also known as Delta plus.
Pandemic ‘rolled back’ sustainable development funding for weak economies: UNCTAD
Jun 22, 2021, at 03:45 pm
New York: Financial assistance to the world’s 83 weakest economies fell by 15 per cent in 2020, to $35 billion as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UN trade and development experts UNCTAD said on Monday.
Rwanda bars movements to capital city amid spike in COVID-19 infections
Jun 22, 2021, at 02:37 pm
Kigali/Xinhua: The Rwandan government announced that movements between the capital city Kigali and the rest of the country will be prohibited from Wednesday except for essential services and goods transportation, as a response to the recent rise of COVID-19 infections.
US locks down Kabul embassy amid Covid surge
Jun 19, 2021, at 04:19 pm
Kabul: Amid a rising Covid-19 surge in Afghanistan, especially in capital Kabul, the US embassy has ordered a near-complete lockdown. At least one embassy staffer succumbed to the Covid-19, 114 are in isolation and several have been evacuated on medical grounds, according to US newswires.
Forced displacement at record level, despite COVID shutdowns: UNHCR
Jun 19, 2021, at 03:57 pm
New York: The number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution, and human rights violations, rose last year to nearly 82.4 million people, a further four percent increase on top of the already record-high of 79.5 million, recorded at the end of 2019.
Pakistani actress Nida Yasir says she was robbed while on vacation in Turkey
Jun 19, 2021, at 03:51 pm
Islamabad: Pakistani actress and morning show host Nida Yasir has revealed that she was robbed while on vacation in Turkey with her family. Nida shared details of the robbery on her morning show, explaining that her valuables were stolen in Istanbul.
Famine risk spikes amid conflict, COVID-19 and funding gaps: WFP
Jun 19, 2021, at 03:40 pm
New York: The impact of conflicts old and new, climate shocks and COVID-19, in addition to a lack of funding, have left millions more on the verge of famine than six months ago, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
Border closes due to COVID: Afghanistan students on scholarship may miss exams in Pakistan
Jun 19, 2021, at 02:27 am
Kabul: Afghan students, who study in Pakistani universities and have returned home on vacation, fear they might soon miss their examinations if Islamabad does not open the border between the two nations.
UK: Parliament approves extending COVID-19 restrictions until July 19
Jun 17, 2021, at 02:23 pm
London/Sputnik: The House of Commons of the UK Parliament approved on Wednesday the government's proposal to postpone the deadline for lifting quarantine restrictions in England until July 19 due to the surge of COVID-19.
Jun 16, 2021, at 11:47 pm
A report has claimed that the fund raised by United States-based Pakistan-linked charity organisations in the name of helping India in the COVID-19 crisis might have been used to sponsor terror attacks.
Pakistan: NOC only hands over 1000 Pfizer vaccine to Balochistan government
Jun 16, 2021, at 01:01 am
Islamabad: The National Command and Operation Centre has handed over only 1,000 doses of Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine to the Balochistan government at a time when the nation is fighting to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pakistan: After Punjab now Sindh govt decides to block sim cards of unvaccinated people
Jun 15, 2021, at 10:44 pm
Islamabad: The Sindh government has also decided to follow the footsteps of Punjab and block the mobile SIM cards of unvaccinated individuals.
Mike Pompeo says COVID-19 leaked from Wuhan lab
Jun 15, 2021, at 04:59 am
Washington: Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he believed the coronavirus pandemic originated with a leak out of a lab in Wuhan.
Jun 15, 2021, at 04:54 am
Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the World Health Organization's first study on the coronavirus pandemic's origins "highly deficient", a statement which is believed to be strong enough to put Beijing on the backfoot.
G7 Summit: Leaders call for new study into origins of Covid, voice concern on China
Jun 15, 2021, at 04:04 am
World leaders, who are attending the Group of Seven summit, on Sunday issued a call for new study into the origins of Covid-19 which will also cover China, media reports said.
New Zealand reports 1 new case of COVID-19 in managed isolation
Jun 14, 2021, at 09:58 pm
Wellington/Xinhua: New Zealand reported one new case of COVID-19 in managed isolation and no new cases in the community on Monday.