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COVID-19 Cases Hit 200,000 Globally, death Toll Rises to 8,000 – WHO

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  The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than  200,000 cases of  Coronavirus ( COVID-19)  have now been reported to WHO and 8,000 people have lost their lives.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, gave the update on the agency’s website.

According to him, more than 80 per cent of all cases are from two regions – the Western Pacific and Europe.

“We know that many countries now face escalating epidemics and are feeling overwhelmed.

“We hear you. We know the tremendous difficulties you face and the enormous burden you are under. We understand the heart-wrenching choices you are having to make.

“We understand that different countries and communities are in different situations, with different levels of transmission.’’

The director general said that WHO was talking to ministers of health, heads of state, health workers, hospital managers, industry leaders, CEOs and more every day.

“WHO was talking to the stakeholders to help them prepare and prioritise, according to their specific situation.

“Don’t assume your community won’t be affected. Prepare as if it will be; don’t assume you won’t be infected. Prepare as if you will be.

“But there is hope. There are many things all countries can do.

“Physical distancing measures – like cancelling sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings – can help to slow transmission of the virus.

“They can reduce the burden on the health system; they can help to make epidemics manageable, allowing targeted and focused measures,’’ he said.

In addition, he director general suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace.

“If they don’t, transmission chains can continue at a low level then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.

“WHO continues to recommend that isolating, testing and treating every suspected case, and tracing every contact, must be the backbone of the response in every country.

“This is the best hope of preventing widespread community transmission.

“Most countries with sporadic cases or clusters of cases are still in the position to do this.

“Many countries are listening to our call and finding solutions to increase their ability to implement the full package of measures that have turned the tide in several countries,’’ he said.

Also, Ghebreyesus said some countries were experiencing intense epidemics with extensive community transmission, saying, “we understand the effort required to suppress transmission in these situations. But it can be done.’’

The director general, however, thanked some countries for joining solidarity trial, which would provide simplified procedures to enable even hospitals that have been overloaded to participate.

He said many countries had already confirmed that they will join the SOLIDARITY trial – Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand – and I trust many more will join.

“I continue to be inspired by the many demonstrations of solidarity from all over the world.

“The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has now raised more than US$43 million from more than 173,000 individuals and organizations.

“ A few days since we launched it. I’d especially like to thank FIFA for its contribution of US$10 million.

“These and other efforts give me hope that together, we can and will prevail.

“This virus is presenting us with an unprecedented threat. But it is also an unprecedented opportunity to come together as one against a common enemy – an enemy against humanity,’’ the director general said (NAN)

Foreign News

Earthquake Shakes Western Greece

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A strong earthquake has shaken western Greece on Friday morning, but no casualties reported.

The Greek Geodynamic Institute in Athens, said the 5.8 magnitude quake occurred at 9:12 am (0812 GMT) local time.

The epicentre of the quake was about 20 kilometres below the seabed off the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula near the islet of Stamfani, also known as Strofades.

It was preceded by a smaller quake with a magnitude of 4.

1.

Greece’s Civil Defence organisation did not initially say whether there were any casualties or damage to buildings.

A tsunami warning was not issued.

“We felt the tremors very strongly,” a resident of the nearby Olympia region said, adding that

“everyone here is on the streets.

 Local media reported that many schools had been evacuated as the quake was felt throughout western Greece, and on the tourist island of Zakynthos and as far away as Athens, about 300 kilometres away.

The deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea is located between western Greece and Sicily in Italy, with a depth of over 5,000 metres.

The African and European tectonic plates meet in this region, which make it prone to strong earthquakes. (dpa/NAN)

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Russian Army Fires Ballistic Missiles at Kiev from Crimean Peninsula

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The Russian Army has hit the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, with ballistic missiles, injuring four people and damaging an uninhabited three-storey building, according to officials.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said  that two of the injured  people were in a central neighbourhood and  had been taken to hospital.

Rocket debris also fell in two other neighbourhoods.

According to the Ukrainian air force, two ballistic missiles were fired at the city of millions, from the Russian-controlled Crimea Peninsula.

Both were shot down.

Half a dozen explosions from anti-aircraft missiles had previously been heard in the city centre.

The air raid warning was only triggered a few seconds beforehand, it said.

Ukraine has been facing  Russian invasion for over two years.

Since then, the Ukrainian air defence system has been massively reinforced with Western systems. (dpa/NAN)

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Cambodia Arrests 2 Foreigners for Smuggling 2.27 kg Narcotics

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Cambodian customs police at the Phnom Penh International Airport said they have arrested two South Korean nationals for an attempt to smuggle 2.27 kg narcotics to South Korea.

The duo, a man and woman, were caught Sunday night while they checked in for a ZA215 flight bound for Seoul.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said in a news release on Monday.

In their body searches, our customs officials found many packs of drugs wrapped around their waists, the news release said.

“As a result, some 1.29 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 0.98 kg of ketamine were seized from the two suspects’ possession.’’

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.

Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 3,899 drug-related suspects, including 106 foreigners, in 1,659 cases from Jan. 1 to March 3, 2024.

According to the report they confiscated a total of 2.79 tonnes of narcotics.

Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. (Xinhua/NAN)

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