Briefly

GENEVA

China calls for defense of rights in pandemic

The UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution proposed by China and a group of other countries aimed at eliminating inequalities when it comes to people's economic, social and cultural rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Introducing the draft resolution on behalf of Bolivia, Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa and China at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Chen Xu, said the pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the economic and social development of all countries, especially developing countries.

PAKISTAN

President dissolves National Assembly

Pakistani President Arif Alvi on Sunday dissolved the National Assembly at the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan, said a statement from the president's secretariat. Earlier in the day, in a televised address to the nation on national TV, the prime minister told the nation that he had sent advice to the president to dissolve the national assembly, or the lower house of the parliament. The deputy speaker of the National Assembly on Sunday rejected a no-confidence motion filed by an opposition alliance against Khan.

UNITED STATES

6 dead, at least 9 hurt in Sacramento shooting

Police in California said six people are dead and at least nine others have been injured after a shooting in downtown Sacramento. The Sacramento Police Department said the shooting happened early on Sunday morning. Video posted on Twitter showed people running through the street as the sound of rapid gunfire could be heard in the background. Video showed multiple ambulances had been sent to the scene. The conditions of the victims were not immediately known.

SRI LANKA

Curfew imposed under state of emergency

Sri Lanka declared an islandwide curfew from 6 pm on Saturday to 6 am on Monday as the country faced a severe power crisis and rising inflation. On Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued the Extraordinary Gazette declaring a state of public emergency with immediate effect. Rajapaksa said the emergency was declared in the interests of public security, protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

Xinhua - Agencies