Find unity ‘to halt Libya’s senseless unraveling’, UN envoy urges Security Council

Jan 31, 2020, at 09:47 am

New York/IBNS: The top UN official in Libya on Thursday expressed his “deep anger and disappointment” over intensifying conflict in Libya despite a high-level summit held in the German capital of Berlin earlier this month, that set out measures to de-escalate fighting and put the divided country back on a path towards peace.

Iraq: Solutions needed ‘urgently’ to quell ongoing violence, break political deadlock

Jan 31, 2020, at 09:37 am

New York/IBNS:  Amidst ongoing anti-government protests, rising casualties and the likelihood of further demonstrations, the top UN official in Iraq on Thursday, urged politicians to break the political deadlock, and “press ahead with substantial reforms”.

Britain prepares to leave EU amid public concerns over uncertainty

Jan 30, 2020, at 11:36 pm

London/Xinhua: Amid continuing public concerns over uncertainties, Britain is set to leave the European Union (EU) on Friday after its Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal was given the final seal of approval in the European Parliament Wednesday.

Moscow court sentences first ex-policeman to 2 months in jail over Journalist Golunov case

Jan 30, 2020, at 07:43 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Moscow's Basmanny district court sentenced on Thursday a former police officer to two months in jail over falsifying evidence against Russian journalist Ivan Golunov, a Sputnik correspondent reported fromt he courtroom.

Pompeo says UK can have close partnership with both US, EU

Jan 30, 2020, at 07:32 pm

London/Sputnik: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday he thought the United Kingdom could stay close partners with both his country and the European Union (EU) after it left the bloc.

Globally Bangladesh is a model for poverty reduction: World Bank

Jan 30, 2020, at 10:38 am

Dhaka/IBNS: The World Bank reiterated its commitment to help Bangladesh sustain high economic growth, as the World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Hartwig Schafer concluded a three-day visit to the country.

Afghan air raids kill 2 Taliban commander in western Herat province

Jan 30, 2020, at 10:19 am

Herat, Afghanistan/Xinhua/UNI: Two Taliban commanders have been confirmed killed as fighting planes struck a Taliban hideout in Zawal district of Afghanistan's western Herat province, provincial governor's spokesman Jilani Farhad said Wednesday.

Two Iraqi servicemen killed by IS terrorists in country’s north: security services

Jan 30, 2020, at 10:00 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Two Iraqi servicemen were killed by an attack of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia) in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, the Iraqi security services said.

National science body to aid Australian recovery from bushfire crisis

Jan 30, 2020, at 09:55 am

Canberra/Xinhua/UNI: Australia's national science body will be called up to help the nation recover from devastating bushfires.

Somali, U.S. forces destroy al-Shabab camp in southern region

Jan 30, 2020, at 09:50 am

Mogadishu/Xinhua/UNI: Somali and U.S. forces destroyed an al-Shabab camp in an airstrike Wednesday in the militants' stronghold in the southern region.  

Youth leaders share positive visions of the future, as Guterres launches UN75 in New York

Jan 30, 2020, at 09:42 am

New York/IBNS: Six youth leaders from around the world were at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to share their ambitious visions for a future where international cooperation is prioritized and everyone’s voice is heard.

End Syria fighting to avoid ‘even greater humanitarian catastrophe’

Jan 30, 2020, at 09:33 am

New York/IBNS: The “dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation” affecting women and children in northwest Syria was the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s top concern on Wednesday morning as he briefed the Security Council in New York.

Turkish Foreign Ministry slams Belgian top court's ruling not to prosecute PKK supporters

Jan 30, 2020, at 12:25 am

Moscow/Sputnik: The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the ruling of Belgium's supreme court to not prosecute 36 supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), banned in Turkey.

Russian national hailing Christchurch terrorist attack gets 30-month prison sentence: FSB

Jan 29, 2020, at 11:19 pm

Omsk/Sputnik: A man in the Siberian city of Omsk has been sentenced to two years and six months for publicly expressing his approval of last year's terrorist attack in New Zealand, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Wednesday.

Erdogan says Russia not loyal to agreements on Syria

Jan 29, 2020, at 10:30 pm

Istanbul/Xinhua: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Russia is not abiding by the agreements inked earlier to end the conflict in Syria's Idlib region, local media reported.

Four students in China diagnosed with coronavirus: Pakistan

Jan 29, 2020, at 07:17 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan on Wednesday said four of its nationals in China have been tested positive for the coronavirus.

UAE Health Ministry says four members of one Chinese family infected with coronavirus

Jan 29, 2020, at 06:32 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The UAE Health Ministry said on Wednesday, after confirming the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, that four people were infected and all of them were members of one Chinese family.

Zambia nabs 77 illegal immigrants

Jan 29, 2020, at 06:30 pm

Lusaka/Xinhua/UNI: Immigration authorities arrested 77 people for unlawful presence in Zambia and deported 28 others, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Namati Nshinka, Immigration Department Public Relations Officer, said the illegal immigrants were arrested following operations conducted in various parts of the country between January 22 and 26.

Thirty-five Chinese workers working under Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project under observation: Bangladesh Minister

Jan 29, 2020, at 05:39 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said 35 Chinese workers, who are working under the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, are under observation.

Afghan National Army releases 62 officers from Taliban prison in country's North: Official

Jan 29, 2020, at 03:49 pm

Kabul/Sputnik/UNI: The Afghan National Army (ANA) forces have broken into a Taliban prison in the country's northwestern Badghis province to release its officers, Badghis Governor Abdul Ghafoor Malikzai told Sputnik on Wednesday.

2019: A deadly year for migrants crossing the Americas

Jan 29, 2020, at 03:20 pm

New York/IBNS: More than 800 people died last year crossing deserts, rivers and remote lands while migrating across the Americas, making 2019 one of deadliest years on record, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday.

Yemen: Escalation in fighting must stop ‘before it’s too late’, Griffiths tells Security Council

Jan 29, 2020, at 02:50 pm

New York/IBNS: The UN Special Envoy for Yemen told an emergency session of the Security Council on Tuesday that a recent upsurge in violence between pro-Government and rebel forces following weeks of relative calm, had to end “before it’s too late”.

West Darfur tensions could see 30,000 flee across Sudanese border to Chad: UN refugee agency

Jan 29, 2020, at 01:54 pm

New York/IBNS: The number of people fleeing to Chad to escape ongoing tensions in Sudan’s West Darfur state, could reach 30,000 in the coming weeks, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.

Rights groups, Pashtuns demand release of arrested human rights leader Manzoor Pashteen

Jan 29, 2020, at 01:47 pm

Peshawar/IBNS: Human rights groups and Pashtuns took to streets in Pakistan and Afghanistan demanding the release of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief and rights activist Manzoor Pashteen who was arrested arbitrarily on charges of sedition and sent to Peshawar's Central Jail on a 14-day judicial remand on Monday.

Iraq: UN human rights report voices concern over conduct of ISIL fighter trials

Jan 29, 2020, at 01:36 pm

New York/IBNS: A new UN report published on Tuesday shows that while considerable effort has been made by Iraqi authorities to bring former ISIL terrorist fighters to justice, there are “serious concerns” about the fairness of the proceedings.

Nearly 5 million children in need due to rising violence in central Sahel: UNICEF

Jan 29, 2020, at 01:34 pm

New York/IBNS: A surge in violence in the central Sahel region in Africa means nearly five million children will need humanitarian assistance this year, up from 4.3 million, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.

New UN finance panel to push Global Goals forward

Jan 29, 2020, at 01:26 pm

New York/IBNS: The President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday encouraged Member States to support a new panel that has been set up to help make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality, by 2030. 

Israel PM Netanyahu withdraws immunity request

Jan 28, 2020, at 06:57 pm

Jerusalem/UNI: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday withdrew his request for immunity from prosecution on corruption charges.

Saudi Arabia may stop funding mosques in foreign lands

Jan 28, 2020, at 04:51 pm

Geneva/IBNS: In a shift from its half-a-century old foreign policy, Saudi Arabia is planning to stop funding mosques in foreign countries, a Wion report said today.

Corona virus out: Flights from Russia's Blagoveshchensk to China's Sanya stopped

Jan 28, 2020, at 12:28 pm

Blagoveshchensk/Sputnik:  Flights to Sanya city on China's Hainan Island from the city of Blagoveshchensk in Russia's Far East have been suspended over the new coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Transport and Road Management of Russia's Amur Region said in a statement.