WORLD
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.
Japan ends one-China policy, new map no longer shows Taiwan as part of China
The 2021 white paper by Japan's Defence Ministry, published this week, has removed Taiwan from a map of China. The white paper in its earlier editions had always shown Taiwan and China together, alluding to Taiwan as a territory of China. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the changes to the white paper.
China not mincing words about downturn in ties with India
Global Times reported these statements made by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Wang referred to the "downturn" more than once during his meet with Jaishankar.
Myanmar army kills 16 members of civilian resistance group
The Kani defence force comprising citizens fought the troops with hunting rifles and catapults for four days before their activists fled to the neighbouring hills bordering Manipur and Nagaland. One of their commanders, who calls himself U Ba Thien, told IANS that the Tatmadaw (Burmese army) rounded up 22 of the resistance fighters during relentless combing operations.
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