Geneva, 19 May (Kanaga Raja) -The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best – and the worst – of humanity and has exposed the fault lines, inequalities, injustices and contradictions of our modern world, the Director-General of the World Health…
Category: Int’l relations
WHO: Leaders call COVID-19 vaccines a “global public good”
Geneva, 19 May (TWN) – Several world leaders, speaking at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) on Monday, referred to future COVID-19 vaccines as a “global public good”, but the resolution on the COVID-19 response that was…
Amazon contractors hit hardest by pandemic
She delivers for Amazon, but Adrienne Williams says the e-commerce and tech giant did not deliver for her. The 42-year-old California single mother is among the legion of drivers for Amazon’s third-party delivery firms which have been struggling amid surging…
Covid-19: Equitable access to tech, medical tools must- CSOs
Open letter to UNITAID, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states Civil society concerns regarding lack of governance mechanisms and binding commitments for equitable access and sharing of technology, knowledge and data, management and licensing of intellectual property…
Global coronavirus deaths 313,220, infections 4.72 million
Dhaka, May 17 – The number of officially confirmed coronavirus cases is getting closer to five million. On Sunday morning, the cases stood at 4.72 million, according to Worldometer. So far, the virus has killed 313,220 people and the death…
BAF aircraft leaves for Maldives with 11 doctors, equipment
A C-130B transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force left Dhaka for Maldives on Saturday with daily essentials as souvenir and 11 Bangladeshi doctors who could not join their workplace in Maldives due to coronavirus situation.
Modern slavery in Asia Pacific fuelled by poverty, migration
By Neena Bhandari SYDNEY, Australia, May 15 2020 (IPS) – Aged 17, Moe Turaga was saddled with the responsibility of providing for his mother and young siblings when a family member approached him with the promise of a job and…
Coronavirus concerns complicate Philippines typhoon recovery
As Typhoon Vongfong slammed the Philippines on Thursday, tens of thousands of people fled to cramped shelters, raising fears that without proper safety precautions in place, evacuation centres could become a hotbed of coronavirus infection, the UN emergency humanitarian relief…
WTO chief to step down early as global economic crisis rages
GENEVA (BSS/AFP) – The World Trade Organization chief announced Thursday he will step down on August 31, a year before his term ends, despite the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the global economy. Roberto Azevedo said it had been a “personal decision”…
WTO DG to relinquish office before end of his term
Geneva, 14 May (D. Ravi Kanth) – The World Trade Organization director-general Roberto Azevedo is expected to inform members Thursday that he would be relinquishing charge soon before completing his term of office on 31 August 2021, said sources familiar…
Ex-Ministers condemn Bolsonaro’s ‘lunatic’ foreign policy
Geneva, 14 May (Chakravarthi Raghavan) – In an unprecedented move, all living former foreign ministers of Brazil have joined hands to strongly condemn the “lunatic” foreign policy of President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing it of subordinating national independence to the policies…
Global coronavirus death toll nears 300,000
Dhaka, May 14 – The global death toll is inching towards 300,000, as the number of globally confirmed coronavirus cases near 4.5 million. On Thursday morning, the global death toll stood at 298,165, according to data compiled by Worldometer. Confirmed…
Global economy to shrink by 3.2pc: UN report
Dhaka, May 14 – The world economy has been projected to shrink by 3.2 percent wiping out nearly four years of output gains as economic activities around the world comes to grinding halt against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic,…
Covid-19: C’wealth Health Ministers convene virtually 14 May
By William Ellis TORONTO, May 13 2020 (IPS) – The Coronovirus pandemic has been an unforgiving test of advanced economies. Health systems in the United States, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK have been put under immense pressure, with shortages…
Complete exit from lockdown not possible, Modi tells CMs
PM says a lockdown will continue in some form or the other even after May 17 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said at a videoconference with Chief Ministers that a lockdown would continue in some form or the…
White House staff ordered to wear masks
White House staff have been ordered to wear masks when entering the West Wing after two aides tested positive for coronavirus.
Global virus death toll reaches 287,293, cases over 4.25 m
Dhaka, May 12 – The global death tally from coronavirus pandemic reached 287,293 as of Tuesday morning.
‘Nowhere is safe for us,’ Amnesty report on Syria
Between December 2019 and March 2020, the Syrian government, backed by its ally Russia, subjected civilians in opposition-held areas in north-west Syria to a new wave of horrors. In an all-too-familiar pattern, attacks from the air and the ground repeatedly…
German court decision ends treaty pretences
by John Weeks on 11th May 2020 @johnweeks41 With ‘coronabonds’ stymied, an exit from the crisis had depended on ECB monetary operations—until the German constitutional court weighed in. On May 5th the German constitutional court issued a ruling likely to…
Malaysia urged to stop violent threats against Rohingyas
Eighty four national and international humanitarian agencies on Monday expressed their concern over the response of the Malaysian government to threats of violence and ‘hate speech’ directed at ethnic Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia.
Iranian navy ship Konarak ‘sunk by friendly fire’ from frigate
An Iranian navy “friendly fire” incident in which a ship was sunk has killed dozens of sailors, unofficial reports say.
BD HR body to move court over hospitals refusing treatment
Dhaka, May 11 – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to move the court as it feels the people’s right to medical treatment has been violated.
Global coronavirus death toll 283,860, cases over 4 m
Dhaka, May 11 – The global death tally from coronavirus pandemic reached 283,860 as of Monday morning.
3 White House virus task force members in quarantine
Washington, AP/UNB, May 10 – Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Turkey to take Rohingya issue to UNSC
Turkey has assured Bangladesh of raising the Rohingya issue at the next meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) as Rohingya problem remains unresolved putting much burden on Bangladesh.
Covid-19: Record death toll in Brazil, global toll 275,000
Brazil has reported a record 751 COVID-19 fatalities over a 24-hour period. The IMF says the global economy will suffer even more than the previously forecast “pessimistic assessment” for 2020. The global death toll from COVID-19 has risen to roughly…
US Vice President Pence Press Secretary Tests virus Positive
DES MOINES, IOWA – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, has tested positive for coronavirus.
‘Save people floating in Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea’
Eighteen humanitarian agencies called on governments in the region to save lives of stranded asylum seekers in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
FM calls diplomats remarks on media freedom disappointing
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday berated statements posted on social media by some diplomats on media freedom issue terming them “unfortunate, disappointing and unacceptable”.
UN, partners launch $6.7 bn appeal for vulnerable countries
7 May 2020 – 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.