Ukraine's embassy in Iran says plane crashed due to engine malfunction, not terror act

Jan 08, 2020, at 03:53 pm

Kiev/Sputnik/UNI: The preliminary investigation into the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 737 plane crash earlier in the day shows that the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction and the tragedy was not the result of a terrorist act as some speculations have suggested, the Ukrainian Embassy in Iran said on Wednesday.

US Federal Aviation Agency bans flights over Persian Gulf - Statement

Jan 08, 2020, at 11:07 am

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: The US Federal Aviation Authority banned flights over the Persian Gulf due to escalating military activities in the region.

All onboard passengers killed after Ukrainian plane crashes near Tehran

Jan 08, 2020, at 10:56 am

Tehran/IBNS: All 180 onboard passengers were killed after a Ukrainian plane crashed near Iran's Khomeini Airport on Wednesday, media reports said.

Sudan: Intercommunal clashes displace tens of thousands in volatile Darfur region

Jan 08, 2020, at 10:38 am

New York/IBNS: Around 40,000 have been displaced in Sudan’s West Darfur State in recent days, following intercommunal clashes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, citing Sudanese Government data.

UN chief monitoring Venezuela developments ‘with concern’

Jan 08, 2020, at 10:33 am

New York/IBNS: The latest twist in Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis “make urgently needed dialogue even more difficult to achieve”, the UN Secretary-General has said.

Syria: Civilians face ‘daily nightmare’ in Idlib, says top UN official

Jan 08, 2020, at 10:16 am

New York/IBNS: Following a sharp escalation of hostilities in southern Idlib, “at least 300,000 civilians have fled their homes” since mid-December, the UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis said on Tuesday, voicing concern for their well-being.

Iran: Ukrainian plane with 180 on board crashes

Jan 08, 2020, at 09:46 am

Tehran/IBNS: A Ukrainian passenger plane, which was carrying 180 passengers,  crashed near Iran's Khomeini Airport on Wednesday, media reports said.

Seven Syrian troops killed in ambush in desert region

Jan 07, 2020, at 06:14 pm

Damascus/Xinhua/UNI: A bus transporting Syrian soldiers was ambushed on Tuesday morning in the desert of the eastern province of Deir al Zour, leaving seven soldiers killed and 14 others wounded.

Thirty five killed, 48 injured during Soleimani's funeral procession in Iran - reports

Jan 07, 2020, at 05:19 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Thirty-five people have died and another 48 got injured in a stampede as people packed the streets of the Iranian city of Kerman for the funeral procession of late Qasem Soleimani, the country's Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force commander, killed by the United States last week, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported on Tuesday.

Zarif still waiting on official notice for US visa to attend UNSC meeting Iranian mission

Jan 07, 2020, at 05:12 pm

United Nation/Sputnik/UNI: Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations told Sputnik on Tuesday that it had not yet received any official notification of a visa for Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit the mission in the United States.

US army strengthens security at base attacked in Kenya

Jan 07, 2020, at 05:01 pm

Nairobi/Xinhua/UNI: The US military has said that its African Command's (Africom's) East Africa Response Force (EARF) has arrived at Kenya's Manda Bay to augment security after three Americans were killed in an attack launched by al-Shabab terrorists on Sunday.

Iran: 35 killed in a stampede at funeral of Qasem Soleimani

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:59 pm

Tehran/IBNS: At least 35 people were killed as a stampede occurred at the funeral of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in the southeastern city of Kerman on Tuesday, media reports said.

Iran Parliament names Pentagon terrorist organisation

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:56 pm

Tehran/UNI: Iran's Parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill designating the US Department of Defence and all affiliated entities as terrorist organisations and all those involved in assassinating General Qasem Soleimani as terrorists.

Iran: Stampede kills mourners at Qasem Soleimani's burial

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:37 pm

Tehran/IBNS: Several mourners died due to a stampede on Tuesday that occurred during a funeral procession in the city of Kerman for Iranian elite Quds Force Qasem Soleimani in US airstrike, media reports said.

UN envoy appeals for other nations to ‘keep out of Libya’

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:18 pm

New York/IBNS: The top UN official in Libya has delivered a stern message urging other nations to stop intervening in the country’s ongoing crisis.

UN cultural agency chief meets with Iran ambassador amid current tensions

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:13 pm

New York/IBNS: The current tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region and their potential implications for cultural heritage sites were the focus of a meeting on Monday between the head of the UN’s cultural agency, UNESCO, and a senior diplomat from Iran.

Australia bushfire crisis: UNICEF offers help and support

Jan 07, 2020, at 04:01 pm

New York/IBNS: Raging bushfires wreaking havoc across Australia have prompted the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to offer its support to the Australian Government and its partners which are battling the “unprecedented disaster”.

Stop escalation, urges UN chief, as geopolitical tensions reach ‘highest level this century’

Jan 07, 2020, at 03:56 pm

New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions on Monday, which he described as being “at their highest level this century” as the new decade dawns.

Two servicemen killed in attack by IS terrorists in northern Iraq: Armed forces

Jan 06, 2020, at 06:21 pm

Cairo/Sputnik/UNI: An attack by members of the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia) on Iraqi troops in the northern Kirkuk province left two servicemen killed and left three others injured, the Iraqi Armed Forces’ press service said in a statement on Monday.

Kenya arrests 3 for foiled attack on Britain army camp

Jan 06, 2020, at 06:11 pm

Nanyuki, Kenya/Xinhua/UNI: Kenyan security forces are holding three terror suspects who were arrested for trying to storm a British military camp in the country, an official said Monday.

Iraqi caretaker PM calls on people to unite

Jan 06, 2020, at 05:52 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI: In a statement marking the Iraqi Army Day that falls on Monday, Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called on Iraqis to get united.

Baghdad lodges official complaint with UN Security Council over Soleimani killing -Reports

Jan 06, 2020, at 10:32 am

Cairo/Sputnik/UNI: The Iraqi Foreign Ministry is submitting an official complaint with the UN Security Council over the US attack that killed Iran's Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani and deputy commander of an Iraqi Shia militia group Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad, Al-Arabiya reported.

3 killed in Kenya's Manda Bay Airfield attack by al-Shabab: AFRICOM

Jan 06, 2020, at 10:23 am

Nairobi/Xinhua/UNI: A U S service member and two Department of Defense contractors were killed, following an attack by al-Shabab on Sunday at the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, according to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

UN Libya Mission strongly condemns bombing of military academy, at least 30 dead

Jan 06, 2020, at 09:51 am

New York/IBNS: The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Sunday strongly condemned the bombing of a military academy in the capital Tripoli, which according to news reports left at least 30 dead and more than 30 others wounded.

Kenya's Manda airstrip closed after al-Shabab attack

Jan 05, 2020, at 08:08 pm

Lamu, Kenya/Xinhua/UNI: Kenya's aviation authorities have closed indefinitely Manda airstrip following a dawn terror attack by al-Shabab militants early Sunday.

62 Ethiopian children intercepted in a suspected case of human trafficking

Jan 05, 2020, at 08:01 pm

Addis Ababa/Xinhua/UNI: Police in northern Ethiopia's Amhara regional state have intercepted 62 children in a suspected case of human trafficking, an Ethiopian official said on Sunday.

Tokyo prosecutors to investigate Ghosn's escape means

Jan 05, 2020, at 07:55 pm

Tokyo/Xinhua/UNI: Tokyo prosecutors will look into how Nissan Motor Co. former Chairman Carlos Ghosn jumped bail and fled Japan, a senior prosecutor said on Sunday.

Trump opted for extreme measures by killing Soleimani despite warnings: Reports

Jan 05, 2020, at 05:15 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: US President Donald Trump has been warned by top military officials that killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iranian elite Quds Force, was the most extreme response to the latest Tehran-fueled violence in neighboring Iraq, The New York Times reported, citing sources in the Pentagon and in the presidential administration.

World Braille Day marks key communication tool for millions

Jan 05, 2020, at 04:52 pm

New York/IBNS: Being marked for only the second time ever, World Braille Day on Saturday raises awareness of the importance of the tactile global communication system which helps enable blind and visually impaired people, to realize their full human rights.

Al-Shabab attacks US military base in Kenyan coastal county

Jan 05, 2020, at 04:15 pm

Lamu, Kenya/Xinhua/UNI: The Somali extremist group al-Shabab said it has attacked the US military base in Kenya's coastal Lamu County on Sunday morning.