Global Covid cases top 11.4mn

LONDON: Under a new regime of sanctions unveiled against violators of human rights, two top Myanmar army officials involved in atrocities against Rohingya Muslims are among 49 individuals and entities announced by UK government on Monday. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced on Monday that the regime has aimed to equip the post-brexit UK with new powers to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from the British economy and to freeze assets.

Mostly individuals have been identified as Russian and Saudi Arabian in the first such list of sanctions. But the list also includes Myanmar army commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and Soe Win, deputy commander-in-chief – both named in relation to Rohinyas in Rakhine state. UK has sanctioned people or entities for human rights violations and abuses under a Uk-only regime for the first time. It previously joined collective sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the European Union.

Officials said that the first list included 25 Russian nationals involved in the mistreatment and death of auditor Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered widespread Russian corruption by a group of Russian tax and police officials; 20 Saudi nationals involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; and two organisations involved in the forced labour, torture and murder that takes place in North Korea's gulags.

Raab said the regime will allow the UK to target individuals and organisations around the world unlike conventional geographic sanctions regime, which only target a country.

It could also include those who commit unlawful killings perpetrated against journalists and media workers, or vio

lations and abuses motivated on the grounds of religion or belief.

A special unit will consider the use of future sanctions, with teams across the department monitoring human rights issues.

They will ensure targets under the landmark regime will have to meet stringent

legal tests before the UK decides to designate, ensuring the sanctions are robust and powerful.

As specified in the legislation presented in the House of Commons, the regime can be used to impose sanctions for serious violations or abuses of three human rights: an individual's right to life; right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or right to be free from slavery, not to be held in servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

WASHINGTON DC: The overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to more than 11.4 million, while the deaths have soared to over 533,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University. On Monday morning, the total number of cases stood at 11,409,805, while the fatalities rose to 533,684, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,880,130 and 129,906, respectively, according to the CSSE. Brazil came in the second place with 1,603,055 infections and 64,867 deaths.

In terms of cases, India ranks third (697,887), and is followed by Russia (680,283), Peru (302,718), Chile (295,532), the UK (286,931), Mexico (256,848), Spain (250,545), Italy (241,611), Iran (240,438), Pakistan (228,474), Saudi Arabia (209,509), Turkey (205,758), France (204,222), Germany (197,523), South Africa (196,750), Bangladesh (162,417), Colombia (113,685) and Canada (107,394), the CSSE figures showed.

The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are the UK (44,305), Italy (34,861), Mexico (30,639), France (29,896), Spain (28,385), India (19,268), Iran (11,571), Peru (10,589) and Russia (10,145).

Another 22 Covid-19 patients have died in Britain, bringing the total Coronavirusrelated death toll in the country to 44,220, the British Department of Health and Social Care said on Sunday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. As of Sunday morning, 285,416 people have tested positive for the disease in Britain, a daily increase of 516, according to the department, Xinhua reported.

On Sunday afternoon, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined a nationwide clapping to pay tribute to the staff of National Health Service (NHS) on the 72nd anniversary of its founding.

Pakistan's Coronavirus cases on Monday crossed the 231,000-mark after 3,344 new infections were detected in the last 24 hours, while 50 people died of the deadly disease, taking the death toll to 4,762, the health ministry said on Monday.

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the number of confirmed cases reached 231,818 after 3,344 new infections surfaced in the country, but 131,649 patients have also fully recovered from the COVID-19.

Out of the total infections, Sindh province reported 94,528 cases, Punjab 81,963, Khyber-pakhtunkhwa 28,116, Islamabad 13,494, Balochistan 10,814, Gilgit-baltistan 1,561 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 1,342.

The total number of deaths reached 4,762 after another 50 patients died in the last 24 hours. Another 2,406 were in critical condition, it added. The ministry also said that 56.78 per cent patients have recovered from the disease while those still infected are 43.21 per cent.

A total of 1,420,623 tests have been performed, including 22,271 in the last 24 hours.