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UNITED NATIONS, Oct 08 (APP): Delegates of India and Pakistan engaged in a verbal duel at two UN panels Wednesday night after Pakistan’s Ambassador Munir Akram highlighted New Delhi’s human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir and drew attention to the rising Islamophobia across India in his hard-hitting speeches.

Ambassador Akram spoke in the General Assembly’s Third Committee on ‘Right of Self-determination’ and in the Sixth Committees on ‘Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism’,

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 7 (NNN-SANA) – The United Nations’ concern over the economic downturn in Syria is rising, as COVID-19 cases increase and more than 11 million people are in urgent need of aid, a UN spokesman said.

“Basic food items are now out of reach for many families, with food prices at record levels, after more than tripling in the past year,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General, Guterres.

Dujarric cited reports of families queuing for hours in some areas to buy subsidised necessities, such as bread and fuel.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday made a joint statement on behalf of 55 countries at the General Debate of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, opposing interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Hong Kong.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Tuesday refuted groundless accusations against China on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong by the United States and a few other countries.

Speaking at the General Debate of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Zhang resolutely rejected their statements and wrongful acts of interfering in China's internal affairs with the excuse of human rights and provoking confrontation among member states at the United Nations.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state will reinstate restrictions on businesses, houses of worship and schools in and near areas where coronavirus cases are spiking, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, saying the severity of shutdowns would vary by proximity to the hot spots.

Set to take effect no later than Friday, the new rules will affect parts of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, sections of Orange and Rockland counties in the Hudson Valley, and an area within Binghamton in the Southern Tier.

THE UNITED NATIONS, October 6. /TASS/: Western states were reluctant to listen to a speech by former head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Jose Bustani in the UN Security Council because they are afraid of the uncomfortable truth that the structure is politicized, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told reporters on Monday.

NEW YORK (AP) — The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 05 (APP): The United Nations has strongly condemned Saturday’s suicide attack on a government building in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

At least 13 people were killed and dozens more injured in the attack that targeted a district administrative building in Shinwar, where many civilians were present.

In a statement by his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that those behind such crimes must be held accountable.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 35 million on Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The global case count reached 35,008,447 with a total of 1,034,818 deaths worldwide as of 3:23 p.m. local time (1923 GMT), the CSSE data showed.

The United States reported the most cases and deaths, which stood at 7,411,716 and 209,720, respectively. 

NEW YORK, Oct 03 (APP): An Indian-American academician has brushed aside India’s reasons for its recent tough action against Amnesty International, saying “ample evidence” existed that the government was in fact irritated by the international human rights body’s unfavourable reports on the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, the recent New Delhi riots and the legislation adversely affecting Muslims.

On Sept. 29, Amnesty said it was forced to shut down its operations in India and lay off all staff after the Indian government froze its bank accounts.