WORLD
WHO to fix 'errors' in its Covid origin probe report
The WHO had, in March, concluded in a report that a laboratory leak was "extremely unlikely". The report, which also carried details of early Covid patients in Wuhan, showed some errors. The official China National Genomics Data Center (NGDC) database says patient S01 began to exhibit symptoms on December 16, 2019, a week later than the December 8 onset recorded in the WHO report.
4 Afghan security personnel, 63 Taliban militants dead in recent violence
In Samangan province, four security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on the Rabatak security checkpoint on Thursday night, Reduction in Violence, a local independent monitoring group, said on social media. Also on Thursday night, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) targeted a Taliban gathering on the outskirts of Sari Pul city, capital of northern Sari Pul province,
UK Carrier Strike Group reaches Indian Ocean region
Following a series of successful engagements and operations in the Mediterranean, it is now sailing East across the Indian Ocean towards India. It will then meet with ships from the Indian Navy to conduct routine maritime exercises. The deployment represents the UK's commitment to deepening diplomatic, economic and security ties with India and in the Indo-Pacific region.
WHO raises alarm over surging Covid deaths in Africa
In a statement on Thursday, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said that the limited supply of oxygen and manpower in the already overwhelmed critical care facilities has fuelled the fatalities in the continent, reports Xinhua news agency. "Deaths have climbed steeply for the past five weeks. This is a clear warning sign that hospitals in the most impacted countries are reaching a breaking point," Moeti said.
Russia urges US to stop interfering in Cuban affairs
The US has deliberately been destroying Cuba's economy with its decade-long embargo and policies aimed at discriminating its people, Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, said in a statement on Thursday. She also pointed out that keeping Cuba in the US list of state sponsors of terrorism has hindered the country's development and "integration into global political processes", reports Xinhua news agency.
Indian-origin residents in South Africa arm to defend themselves
"We are forced to buy weapons and organize defence groups to protect our neighbourhoods. We are successful in business and professions and many locals are jealous of us. They just wanted an opportunity to loot us," said doctor Pritam Naidu (name changed for security reasons) from Durban, a city that is home to one million Indian-origin residents.
As India prepares to head UNSC Harsh Vardhan Shringla briefs Guterres international envoys
As India prepares to take up the presidency of the UN Security Council, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other international diplomats here to explain New Delhi's priorities while leading the UN's top decision-making body. Shringla briefed Guterres during their meeting on Thursday about India's focus areas during its presidency next month.
Joe Biden says sending troops to Haiti 'not on the agenda'
US President Joe Biden said on Thursday the US is only sending marines to bolster security at its embassy in Haiti but the idea of sending American troops into the Caribbean country was "not on the agenda". "The idea of sending American forces to Haiti is not on the agenda," Biden said.
'Poison': US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy rips big tech platforms for Covid misinformation
"Modern technology companies have enabled misinformation to poison our information environment with little accountability to their users", Murthy said at a White House briefing on Thursday. "We are asking them to step up, we can't wait longer for them to take aggressive action." US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy tore into dominant technology companies for enabling Covid-19 misinformation.
India, Bangladesh reaffirm commitment to strengthen partnership
India and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the partnership and expanding multifaceted cooperation, and also emphasised on the need to resume activities on various joint mechanisms soon after the Covid scenario improves in both countries, officials said.
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