Global Covid caseload tops 523.9 mn
Washington, May 20 (IANS) The global coronavirus caseload has topped 523.9 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.27 million and vaccinations to over 11.43 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
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International NEIGHBOURHOOD 08:22 AMPakistan bans import of non-essential luxury items to stabilise economy
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Crime/Disaster/ International 08:06 AM3 injured as blast hits Afghanistan's northern Mazar-I-Sharif city
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Afghan capital city to carry out 181 development projects
Kabul, May 20 (IANS) The Afghan capital has launched and implemented 181 development projects throughout the current year in Kabul, the Mayor said.
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Indonesia to lift palm oil export ban
Jakarta, May 20 (IANS) Indonesia will lift an export ban on crude palm oil, cooking oil, refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palm oil, and RBD palm olein starting from May 23, as the country has brought domestic cooking oil prices and supply under control.
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UN mission urges Lebanon, Israel to resolve rifts through tripartite meetings
Beirut, May 20 (IANS) The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has urged Lebanon and Israel to use the tripartite meetings to find win-win solutions to the contentious issues along their border.
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US jobless claims rise for third straight week amid tight labour market
Washington, May 20 (IANS) Initial jobless claims in the US last week rose for the third straight week amid a tight labor market, reaching 218,000, the US Labor Department reported.
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Preparations underway to draft new constitution in Tunisia: Presidency
Tunis, May 20 (IANS) Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced that preparations are underway to draft a new constitution, which will be submitted to a referendum slated for July 25.
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4 migrants dead, 10 missing as boat sinks off Tunisia's coast
Tunis, May 20 (IANS) Four migrants died and 10 others went missing after a boat carrying 58 migrants sank off Tunisia's eastern coast, authorities said.
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Scholz says no shortcuts to Ukraine's EU membership bid
Berlin, May 20 (IANS) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said there would be no shortcuts to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union (EU).
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Italian PM gains support to unlock 200bn euros in recovery fund
Rome, May 20 (IANS) Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called an emergency meeting of his cabinet of Ministers, an unusual move aimed at gaining support for a competition-related law that had been bogged down in a Senate committee.
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Singapore reports 4,578 new Covid-19 cases
Singapore, May 20 (IANS) Singapore reported 4,578 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total tally to 1,258,691.
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NATO chief vows to settle Turkey's concerns over expansion
Copenhagen, May 20 (IANS) Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has pledged to address Turkey's concerns on Finland's and Sweden's applications to join the military alliance.
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Pakistan reports 89 new Covid-19 cases
Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) Pakistan reported 89 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the tally of infected people to 1,529,560, the Health Ministry said.
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Uzbekistan to ease tariff policy for energy sector reform
Tashkent, May 20 (IANS) Uzbekistan will introduce a monthly "social norm" -- a limit for state-subsidised gas and electricity as a part of broader energy reform the country is facing, the government said.
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Wildfires near Ukraine's Chernobyl plant pose no radioactive threat: IAEA
Vienna, May 20 (IANS) Wildfires near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant do not pose a radioactive threat, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
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UN chief urges reintegrating agricultural production of Russia, Ukraine into world markets
United Nations, May 20 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for efforts to reintegrate the agricultural production of both Russia and Ukraine into world markets.
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India warns against 'hoarding, speculation' causing 'unjustifiable' food prices
By Arul Louis
United Nations, May 20 (IANS) India has warned against "hoarding and speculation" running up prices of foodgrains to "unjustifiable" levels and urged for ensuring "equity" and "affordability" in the availability of food to all.
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Israel's ruling coalition becomes minority after Arab lawmaker resigns
Jerusalem, May 20 (IANS) Israel's governing coalition became a minority in Knesset or the parliament, after an Israeli-Arab lawmaker announced her resignation.
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Turkey insists on saying 'no' to Sweden and Finland's NATO bid: Erdogan
Ankara, May 20 (IANS) Turkey would say "no" to Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bid, as the country would not make the same "mistake" again, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
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Russian, US military chiefs discuss Ukraine over phone
Moscow, May 20 (IANS) Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley held a phone call to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Ukraine.
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Gaffar Chowdhury, lyricist of B'desh's revolutionary language movement song, dies
By Sumi Khan
Dhaka, May 20 (IANS) A strong voice of pro-liberation, pro-Bangabandhu and liberal values, Bangladeshi language movement activist, freedom fighter, journalist, columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury passed away in London on Thursday evening. He was 88.
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'Tarbooz politics' in Pak: Politician distributes watermelons with his name carved on them
Lahore, May 19 (IANS) As people across Pakistan are reeling under sweltering heat, a Lahore-based politician came up with a novel and cheap idea to help them in their efforts to stay cool.
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US offers 'full, total, complete' support for Sweden, Finland's NATO applications
By Yashwant Raj
Washington, May 19 (IANS) US President Joe Biden on Thursday offered "full, total, complete" support for Sweden and Finlands applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
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Global famine likely this year: Putin aide
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The attempt by the US to take over Ukraine's grain reserves may spark a humanitarian crisis in the country and lead to grain shortages globally, Russian President Vladimir Putins aide, Maksim Oreshkin, said on Thursday.
