Iran closer to COVID-19 containment, Turkey may become worst-hit in M-E

Tehran/Ankara (IANS) Iranian authorities have said that they were closer to the contain the COVID-19 pandemic in most of the country, while, Turkey was poised to overtake Iran as the hardest-hit country in the Middle East due to rapid growth of new…

Wuhan revises number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, deaths

Wuhan (IANS) Wuhan city, the capital of China's Hubei province where the global coronavirus pandemic originated last December, on Friday revised the numbers of its confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19…

Over 100 nations seek IMF help amid COVID-19 crisis

Washington (IANS) More than 100 countries have turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support to cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the institution's managing Director has said.

"We…

Netanyahu announces plan to ease restrictions, revive economy

Jerusalem (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a "cautious and gradual" plan to resume business activity and ease closure restrictions amid COVID-19.

The plan is based on principles suggested by Israel's National…

China may have conducted low level nuclear tests: US

Washington (IANS) In a statement that could fuel US-Chinese tensions, the US State Department has said in a report that China may have secretly conducted low-level underground nuclear tests despite claiming to observe an international pact banning…

Trump says COVID-19 peak passed in US, country to reopen soon

Washington (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said that America has "passed the peak" of new COVID-19 cases and predicted some states would reopen this month, even as the country currently accounted for the highest number of coronavirus deaths and…

Corona cases now over 20 lakh, Spain reports biggest jump

New York (IANS) The number of Covid-19 cases crossed 20 lakh globally on Wednesday, with the US topping the chart with 610,774 cases and more than 26,000 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at the Johns Hopkins…

Trudeau announces expanded eligibility for emergency benefit

Ottawa (IANS) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announce expanded eligibility rules for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) so that part-time and seasonal workers can claim the CERB.

Part-time and seasonal workers, who are…

Trump alleges WHO cover-up with China on COVID-19, stops funding

New York (IANS) Accusing the World Health Organisation (WHO) of causing thousands of deaths by collaborating with China to initially cover up the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, US President Donald Trump has announced that he will stop funding…

US govt body warns Pakistan against religious discrimination

New Delhi (IANS) The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has reprimanded the Imran Khan government for denying food aid to Hindus and Christians in Pakistan amid the coronavirus pandemic and warned that it will trigger an additional…