Briefly

UNITED NATIONS

Appeal to keep Syria aid trucks rolling

Mark Lowcock, the UN humanitarian coordinator, on Tuesday urged the Security Council to renew a mechanism that provides lifesaving assistance to millions in northwest Syria through cross-border deliveries from Turkey. The United Nations' top aid official briefed the council during a virtual meeting in which he outlined the urgent need to keep the trucks rolling amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The cross-border operation for northwest Syria, authorized by the Security Council, is a lifeline for millions of civilians whom the UN cannot reach by other means. It cannot be substituted. Its authorization must be renewed," he said. Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the UN, said China pays close attention to the humanitarian situation in Syria, adding that China welcomes the cease-fire appeals made by the UN, calling on all parties to enhance mutual trust and jointly safeguard the well-being of the Syrian people. Zhang added that China has provided medical assistance to Syria to combat COVID-19 and will continue to do so.

SOUTH ASIA

Super cyclone slams Bangladesh, India

A powerful cyclone slammed ashore on Wednesday along the coastline of India and Bangladesh where more than 2.6 million people fled to shelters in a frantic evacuation made all the more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic. Cyclone Amphan, an equivalent of a category-3 hurricane, was packing winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour and maximum gusts of 190 km/h. Authorities warned it could cause extensive damage to flimsy houses and a storm surge may push seawater 25 km inland, flooding cities including Kolkata. The cyclone began to make landfall Wednesday afternoon between Digha, a seaside resort in West Bengal, and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh. The eye of the storm is likely to pass through the Sunderbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, India's meteorological department said.

UNITED KINGDOM

'Captain Tom' earns knighthood at 100

Hundred-year-old British World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore is to be knighted after raising nearly $40 million for healthcare charities, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling him a "beacon of light" during the coronavirus pandemic. The knighthood, which brings with it the title of "Sir", will be formally issued by Queen Elizabeth II. Moore set himself the goal of walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday in April. He was hoping to raise 1,000 pounds ($1,200) for National Health Service charities as a thank you for the treatment he received while suffering from cancer and a broken hip. But the money started pouring in after his effort drew national and then international interest, a rare good news story in the middle of a global health emergency.

China Daily - Agencies Via Xinhua