World

UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution Thursday recognizing “the unprecedented effects” of the coronavirus pandemic and calling for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat” the COVID-19 disease. It was the first resolution adopted by the 193-member world body on the pandemic that is …

ISLAMABAD – The World Bank’s Board of Directors approved a $200 million program for Pakistan to help the country take effective and timely action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank (WB), this support will also leverage an additional $38 million from eight existing projects that …

BRUSSELS – The head of the European Commission (EC) apologized to Italy on Thursday for Europe’s lack of solidarity in the fight against its coronavirus crisis, but promised more aid to cope with the economic fallout. There has been widespread consternation in Italy over Europe’s response to the pandemic, starting …

TEHRAN – The Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, said that the country’s military forces closely follow all movements of the United States military in the region. “What has happened against American bases in Iraq in recent weeks has been a natural reaction by the …

WASHINGTON – The United States on Thursday called on governments around the world to release millions of religious prisoners amid the coronavirus pandemic. Sam Brownback, United States Ambassador General for International Religious Freedom, told reporters that millions of religious minorities behind bars for practicing their religion should be released because …

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin $946 million for the extended range of the defense giants’ joint allied long-range missiles, or JASSM-ER, the defense ministry announced on Wednesday. The multi-million dollar prize is awarded to 360 lots of 17 JASSM Extended Range (ER) missiles; 40 Lot 17 military …

ANKARA – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the situation in Syria and the implications of the coronavirus pandemic with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone, the Anadolu news agency reported Thursday. At the meeting, leaders discussed ways to repatriate Russian citizens stranded in Turkey due to the coronavirus, …

ISLAMABAD – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) informed Pakistan on Wednesday that a number of measures, including the debt restructuring proposal, were discussed at the recent G-20 leaders’ summit virtual conference to help deal with the economic consequences of COVID-19. This was communicated by the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, …

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations atomic agency is sending the first batch of equipment to some 40 countries with which they can carry out a standard test for the coronavirus involving a technique derived from nuclear science, The Organization announced in a statement on Wednesday. The technique, the polymerization …

TEHRAN – As the world witnesses the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries should shoulder their responsibilities and provide joint leadership, especially at the United Nations, said Iranian ambassador to China Mohammad Keshavarz Zadeh. He warned that the world should be vigilant against xenophobic, racist or intolerant propaganda. “It …