A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet,&nbsp;and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

The United States, many European countries, Japan and others called on China to allow ''unfettered access''&nbsp;to Xinjiang for independent observers including UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet and to urgently refrain from detaining Uighurs and members of other minorities.

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The 39 countries also urged China in a joint statement read at a meeting of the General Assembly's human rights committee, to ''uphold autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary.''

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“We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the recent developments in Hong Kong,” German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in a statement on behalf of the group to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. “We call on China to respect human rights.”

Supporters of the German-led statement includes Britain, Canada, the United States, many European Union member states, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Honduras, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

The joint statement endorses an unprecedented appeal from 50 UN human rights experts for the creation of a UN mechanism for monitoring human rights in China. A recent global civil society appeal from over 400 organisations echoed the experts’ call.

The rival statements spotlight tensions between China and the West over human rights. Those tensions have escalated especially between the United States and China, and include other issues including responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and Beijing's actions in the South China Sea.

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong.

A cross-regional group of 39 United Nations member countries issued a stinging public rebuke on Tuesday of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, and expressed grave concern at the impact of its new national security law on human rights in Hong Kong. The United States, many European countries, Japan and others called on China to allow ''unfettered access'' to Xinjiang for independent observers including UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet and to urgently refrain from detaining Uighurs and members of other minorities. Also read: We know upto 3 million Uighurs are suffering in concentration camps, says Dolkun Isa, President World Uighur Congress to WION The 39 countries also urged China in a joint statement read at a meeting of the General Assembly's human rights committee, to ''uphold autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary.'' “We are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the recent developments in Hong Kong,” German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in a statement on behalf of the group to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. “We call on China to respect human rights.” Supporters of the German-led statement includes Britain, Canada, the United States, many European Union member states, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Honduras, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. The joint statement endorses an unprecedented appeal from 50 UN human rights experts for the creation of a UN mechanism for monitoring human rights in China. A recent global civil society appeal from over 400 organisations echoed the experts’ call. The rival statements spotlight tensions between China and the West over human rights. Those tensions have escalated especially between the United States and China, and include other issues including responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, and Beijing's actions in the South China Sea.

Around 40 nations rebuke China's human rights policies in Xinjiang, Tibet

China reported 34 cases of the new coronavirus in the mainland for July 24, up from 21 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Saturday.

Of the new infections, 20 were in&nbsp;Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region&nbsp;Xinjiang, according to a statement by the National Health Commission.

Speaking at a press conference held on Friday afternoon, Yasim Sadiq, the mayor of Urumqi, said the city has not yet considered an adjustment to the anti-coronavirus measures.

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"Based on the experience gained domestically and from other countries as well as epidemiological patterns, asymptomatic cases will become confirmed cases so currently it is very important to conduct free COVID-19 nucleic acid tests to all citizens in a timely manner,''&nbsp;said the mayor.

The expert team from the State Council, medical professionals of the autonomous region, and of Urumqi City will look into the results of the nucleic acid tests and epidemiological survey results before they make a further evaluation of the spread of the virus," he added.

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He explained that a rash change of the anti-epidemic measures might have a negative effect, and the city authorities will spare no efforts to improve testing capacity.

During the press conference an official from the local commerce bureau gave a brief on food prices, saying that the supply of daily necessities is stable.

"So far, there is an ample supply of vegetables, meat, grain and edible oil in the city. The wholesale price of common meat products and 60 kinds of common vegetables have returned to normal prices before the latest outbreak took place," said Yan Jun, director of the Bureau of Commerce (Bureau of Grain) of Urumqi City.

Since the virus first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan late last year, the country's official number of infections has been restricted to a trickle, mainly among arrivals from abroad. All mass lockdowns have been lifted.

But recent domestic outbreaks have proved the difficulty of stamping out the contagion entirely.

The regional capital city has tested over 2.3 million people for COVID-19 with nucleic acid tests, according to a press conference held Friday by the regional information office.

China reported 74 new asymptomatic cases, up from 43 a day earlier.&nbsp;As of Friday, mainland China had 83,784 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634.

China reported 34 cases of the new coronavirus in the mainland for July 24, up from 21 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Saturday. Of the new infections, 20 were in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Xinjiang, according to a statement by the National Health Commission.

China reported 34 cases of the new coronavirus in the mainland for July 24, up from 21 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Saturday. Of the new infections, 20 were in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Xinjiang, according to a statement by the National Health Commission. Speaking at a press conference held on Friday afternoon, Yasim Sadiq, the mayor of Urumqi, said the city has not yet considered an adjustment to the anti-coronavirus measures. Also read: China's border row template: Russia in 1969, Galwan in 2020 "Based on the experience gained domestically and from other countries as well as epidemiological patterns, asymptomatic cases will become confirmed cases so currently it is very important to conduct free COVID-19 nucleic acid tests to all citizens in a timely manner,'' said the mayor. The expert team from the State Council, medical professionals of the autonomous region, and of Urumqi City will look into the results of the nucleic acid tests and epidemiological survey results before they make a further evaluation of the spread of the virus," he added. Also read: After virus upheaval, China strikes deal with Pakistan to make bioweapons He explained that a rash change of the anti-epidemic measures might have a negative effect, and the city authorities will spare no efforts to improve testing capacity. During the press conference an official from the local commerce bureau gave a brief on food prices, saying that the supply of daily necessities is stable. "So far, there is an ample supply of vegetables, meat, grain and edible oil in the city. The wholesale price of common meat products and 60 kinds of common vegetables have returned to normal prices before the latest outbreak took place," said Yan Jun, director of the Bureau of Commerce (Bureau of Grain) of Urumqi City. Since the virus first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan late last year, the country's official number of infections has been restricted to a trickle, mainly among arrivals from abroad. All mass lockdowns have been lifted. But recent domestic outbreaks have proved the difficulty of stamping out the contagion entirely. The regional capital city has tested over 2.3 million people for COVID-19 with nucleic acid tests, according to a press conference held Friday by the regional information office. China reported 74 new asymptomatic cases, up from 43 a day earlier. As of Friday, mainland China had 83,784 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634.

Mainland China reports 34 new coronavirus cases, including 20 in Xinjiang

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said.

All of them were admitted to the Western Railways Jagjivan Ram Hospital here which was in April declared as a facility to treat COVID-19 patients, they said.

Of the total cases, 559 were reported from the Central Railway and 313 from the Western Railway, officials said.

Out of the 86 patients who died of COVID-19, 22 were existing railway employees (14 of the Central Railway and eight of the Western Railway) and the others included their family members and retired personnel.

As of now, 132 railway employees, besides their family members and retired personnel, are undergoing treatment at the hospital, officials said.

Currently, some special trains, goods trains and 700 local train services with limited number of passengers are being operated here by both the Central Railway and Western Railway.

Some railway unions claimed that since the resumption of local train services from June 15, there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases among railway employees.

"The state government allowed only 15 to 30 per cent attendance in offices, but in the railways nearly 100 per cent field staff personnel are working since the resumption of suburban train services, National RailwayMazdoor Union president Venu Nair said.

The zonal railways, however, said there is no connection between the rise in COVID-19 cases and resumption of services.

Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar said they are taking utmost care to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among railway personnel and passengers.

"We are taking every possible step for the safety of railway employees and passengers and ensuring social distancing. We are providing masks, sanitisers and all other safety equipment to our employees," he said.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Central Railway launched a 'Rail Parivar Dekhrekh' drive to ensure the safety of the railway employees, he added.

The Western Railway's Mumbai division DRM did not respond to queries on this.

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said.

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said. All of them were admitted to the Western Railways Jagjivan Ram Hospital here which was in April declared as a facility to treat COVID-19 patients, they said. Of the total cases, 559 were reported from the Central Railway and 313 from the Western Railway, officials said. Out of the 86 patients who died of COVID-19, 22 were existing railway employees (14 of the Central Railway and eight of the Western Railway) and the others included their family members and retired personnel. As of now, 132 railway employees, besides their family members and retired personnel, are undergoing treatment at the hospital, officials said. Currently, some special trains, goods trains and 700 local train services with limited number of passengers are being operated here by both the Central Railway and Western Railway. Some railway unions claimed that since the resumption of local train services from June 15, there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases among railway employees. "The state government allowed only 15 to 30 per cent attendance in offices, but in the railways nearly 100 per cent field staff personnel are working since the resumption of suburban train services, National RailwayMazdoor Union president Venu Nair said. The zonal railways, however, said there is no connection between the rise in COVID-19 cases and resumption of services. Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar said they are taking utmost care to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among railway personnel and passengers. "We are taking every possible step for the safety of railway employees and passengers and ensuring social distancing. We are providing masks, sanitisers and all other safety equipment to our employees," he said. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Central Railway launched a 'Rail Parivar Dekhrekh' drive to ensure the safety of the railway employees, he added. The Western Railway's Mumbai division DRM did not respond to queries on this.

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