Karen Pierce to become first woman to serve as UK Ambassador to US
Feb 07, 2020, at 07:03 pm
London/Sputnik UK: Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce has been appointed as the nation's ambassador to the United States, becoming the first woman to ever hold the post, the UK Foreign Office said in a statement on Friday.
Worker killed, another injured as airplane crashes tow truck at Bangkok airport
Feb 07, 2020, at 06:54 pm
Bangkok/Xinhua: One airport worker was killed and another one was injured following a crash between a domestic airliner and its tow truck at Don Mueang international airport in Bangkok on Friday.
Toyota extends plant shutdown in China amid ongoing coronavirus outbreak
Feb 07, 2020, at 06:30 pm
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Japanese automobile giant Toyota said it would extend its shutdown of production in China until February 17 due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, media reported Friday.
Russia registers 25 ceasefire violations in Syria over past 24 Hours - Defense Ministry
Feb 07, 2020, at 06:24 pm
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian truce has registered 25 ceasefire violations in Syria over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has recorded four truce breaches, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
-1581049311.jpg "Syria: ‘Massive waves of civilian displacement and loss of life must stop now’: UN Special Envoy")
Syria: ‘Massive waves of civilian displacement and loss of life must stop now’: UN Special Envoy
Feb 07, 2020, at 09:52 am
New York/IBNS: Air and ground strikes in the region of Idlib, northwest Syria, are causing “massive waves of civilian displacement and major loss of civilian life”, causing unacceptable human suffering which must stop now, Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told the Security Council on Thursday.
‘Convergence’ over lasting Libya ceasefire, as negotiator urges against ‘provocative’ acts
Feb 07, 2020, at 09:50 am
New York/IBNS: On day four of UN-led talks to transform an uncertain truce in Libya into a permanent ceasefire, veteran negotiator Ghassan Salamé on Thursday welcomed the “progress” that had been made so far, before urging an end to any “provocative” military action that might dash the chance of a successful outcome.
-1581048933.jpg "Central African Republic: One year after peace deal, a ‘long, steep’ road ahead to ensure child rights protections")
Feb 07, 2020, at 09:45 am
New York/IBNS: A year since the signing of a peace deal between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and 14 armed groups, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday that millions of children across the country remain threatened by violence and a lack of access to food, health care and other basic needs.
Chinese Ambassador Relays Xi Jinping's gratitude to Putin for support
Feb 06, 2020, at 06:49 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, after presenting his credentials at the Kremlin on Wednesday, conveyed to the Russian President Vladimir Putin words of gratitude from Chinese President Xi Jinping for his support in connection with the new coronavirus outbreak, a diplomatic source told Sputnik.
US Prosecution asks 4-year sentence over money laundering for Russia's Mira Terada
Feb 06, 2020, at 06:37 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Prosecutors in the United States have requested a four-year prison sentence over alleged money laundering for Russian national Mira Terada, nee Oksana Vovk, who has been in the US custody since this past summer, Sputnik has learned from the prosecution's memo submitted to the court.
Death toll from Coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 563
Feb 06, 2020, at 11:34 am
Moscow/UNI: The death toll from the novel Coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 563, the number of confirmed cases has reached 28,018 people, China's state health committee said on Thursday.
Death toll from Coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 563
Feb 06, 2020, at 10:54 am
Moscow/UNI: The death toll from the novel Coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 563, the number of confirmed cases has reached 28,018 people, China's state health committee said on Thursday.
Africa’s Sahel: Act now before the crisis ‘becomes unmanageable’, urges Grandi
Feb 06, 2020, at 08:59 am
New York/IBNS: The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is stepping up response in Africa’s Sahel region where escalating violence has forced a rising number of people to flee their homes.
Half of all violent deaths involve small arms and light weapons
Feb 06, 2020, at 08:45 am
New York/IBNS: Nearly 50 per cent of all violent deaths between 2010 and 2015, more than 200,000 each year, involved small arms and light weapons, the Security Council was told on Tuesday, during a briefing by UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu.
Refugee resettlement: ‘Tremendous gap’ persists between needs, and spaces on offer
Feb 06, 2020, at 08:38 am
New York/IBNS: Although around 1.4 million refugees are estimated to be in urgent need of resettlement worldwide, only 63,696 were resettled through the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) last year - that's only 4.5 per cent - due to a continuing shortage of offers of sanctuary from governments across the world.
Syrian army gives rebels chance to surrender in Saraqeb city
Feb 05, 2020, at 07:34 pm
Damascus/Xinhua: The Syrian army on Wednesday gave the rebels in Syria's Saraqeb city in the northwestern province of Idlib a chance to lay down their weapons and surrender, according to the state news agency.
Iran to support Jerusalem as capital of Palestine
Feb 05, 2020, at 05:45 pm
Tehran/Xinhua/UNI: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the Islamic republic will continue to support the Palestinian cause, Press TV reported on Wednesday.
South Sudan: UN official welcomes release of women and children abducted by armed group
Feb 05, 2020, at 10:08 am
New York/IBNS: The expert leading UN efforts to stamp out sexual violence committed during wartime has welcomed the release of 78 women and 50 children by an armed group in South Sudan.
Resolving Israel-Palestinian conflict, ‘key to sustainable peace’ in the Middle East: Guterres
Feb 05, 2020, at 10:07 am
New York/IBNS: Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “key to sustainable peace in the Middle East”, the UN chief said on Tuesday, maintaining that the lack of any progress only “furthers radicalization across the region”.
2020’s ‘wind of madness’ indicates growing instability: UN chief
Feb 05, 2020, at 10:04 am
New York/IBNS: Rising instability and unpredictable geopolitical tensions have led to a “wind of madness” across the world, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday during his main annual press conference for journalists at UN Headquarters in New York.
Bolivia: UN underlines support for ‘credible, transparent and inclusive’ election
Feb 05, 2020, at 10:01 am
New York/IBNS: With Bolivia this week reaching a “decisive stage” in its electoral process, the United Nations “will do everything possible” to support the country in holding a vote that is credible, transparent and inclusive, envoy Jean Arnault has said.
Both sides in Libya conflict agree need for lasting ceasefire: UN negotiator
Feb 05, 2020, at 09:58 am
New York/IBNS: The UN negotiator leading talks in Geneva to secure an end to fighting in Libya said on Tuesday that high-ranking officials from both sides of the conflict have agreed on the need for a “permanent and lasting” ceasefire to replace an uncertain truce.
Former Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi dies
Feb 04, 2020, at 08:24 pm
Nairobi/UNI: Former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, the country's longest-serving leader, passed away on Tuesday. Moi was 95. President Uhuru Kenyatta in a statement said Moi died at the Nairobi Hospital in the presence of his family.
Shooting in Mexican arcade kills 8, injures 1 : Prosecutor's Office
Feb 04, 2020, at 06:42 pm
Mexico City/Sputnik: An unknown shooter opened fire in a slot machine hall in the city of Uruapan in the central Mexican state of Michoacan, killing eight people and injuring one another, the local prosecutor's office said on Tuesday.
Total of 46 foreign airlines suspend fights to China : authorities
Feb 04, 2020, at 06:35 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: A total of 46 foreign airlines have so far suspended flights to and from China due to the spread of the novel coronavirus originating in the Asian country, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Tuesday.
China against panic, global overreaction to Coronavirus - Foreign Minister
Feb 04, 2020, at 05:43 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: China understands the rational and necessary measures that some countries are taking to control the spread of the new type of coronavirus, but opposes overreaction and panic, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Greek police detain 40 illegal migrants at riots on Lesbos Island : reports
Feb 04, 2020, at 05:35 pm
Athens/Sputnik/UNI: Greek police have detained 40 irregular migrants over their involvement in recent mass riots in the Moria refugee camp on Greece's Lesbos island that quickly turned into clashes with law enforcement, Greek media reported.
Total of 46 foreign airlines suspend fights to China : authorities
Feb 04, 2020, at 05:32 pm
Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: A total of 46 foreign airlines have so far suspended flights to and from China due to the spread of the novel coronavirus originating in the Asian country, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Tuesday.
China: First batch of Coronavirus-affected patients received at Wuhan hospital built in 10 days
Feb 04, 2020, at 03:26 pm
Wuhan/IBNS: A hospital built in 10 days in Chinese city Wuhan received its first batch of patients affected by novel Coronavirus, which claimed more than 360 lives in the country, on Monday, media reports said.
‘Spectre of poverty’ hangs over tribes and indigenous groups: UN labour agency
Feb 04, 2020, at 10:20 am
New York/IBNS: Indigenous and tribal communities are around three times more likely to face extreme poverty than others with women “consistently at the bottom of all social and economic indicators”, UN labour experts said on Monday.
Global initiative launched to keep top sports events safe from terrorism
Feb 04, 2020, at 10:07 am
New York/IBNS: Representatives from international sporting federations and the private sector joined with ambassadors at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday to launch a global programme aimed at safeguarding major sporting events from terrorism-related threats.