Terrorism: US issues advisory to its carriers to avoid Pakistan airspace

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:53 am

Washington/IBNS: Fearing terror attack, the United States has issued advisory to all its air carriers and commercial operators to exercise caution as they fly into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan.

Former Nissan Chairman Ghosn says organised escape from Japan on his own

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:36 am

Paris/Sputnik/UNI: Carlos Ghosn, the ex-chairman of automaker Nissan, who made a surprise escape from Japan ahead of trial on financial misconduct charges, on Thursday denied claims that his family played a role in his escape, saying he organized the operation on his own.

Deputy Head of Iraqi Shia Militia killed by rocket fire near Baghdad Airport – Reports

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:24 am

Baghdad/Sputnik/UNI: Deputy head of Iraq's Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed by the Friday strikes near the Baghdad International Airport, Al Arabiya and Sky News broadcasters reported.

Iraq security forces cordoned off Baghdad’s Green Zone after deadly US strikes

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:17 am

Cairo/Sputnik/UNI: Iraq security forces have cordoned off the Green Zone of Baghdad – where the US Embassy is located – after the Friday US airstrikes that killed Commander of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani, as well as two senior officials of the Iraqi Shia militia, the Sky News Arabia broadcaster reported.

UNICEF chief hopes 2020 will be 'a year of peace' for Syria’s children

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:52 am

New York/IBNS: Only an end to the war in Syria can bring safety to children there, the head of the UN child rights agency said on Thursday.

UN envoy commends successful conclusion of Guinea-Bissau presidential election

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:46 am

New York/IBNS: The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) has underlined the Organization’s support for Guinea-Bissau following the conclusion of its presidential election.

Secretary-General calls for global participation in UN75 dialogues for better future for all

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:40 am

New York/IBNS: The United Nations on Wednesday launched the biggest global conversation on the world's future: the UN75 dialogues.  Views and ideas gathered throughout the year will be shared at a high-level event in September to mark the Organization's 75th anniversary.

Indian origin teen climber falls 500 feet on Oregon Mount Hood, survives

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:28 am

Washington/IBNS: An Indian origin mountain climber, who belongs to Canada, miraculously survived a 500-feet fall from Mount Hood, media reports said.

US kills Iran Quds force leader Qasem Soleimani

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:12 am

Washington/IBNS: The Pentagon on Friday announced the death of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani during a 'strike'.

Over 1,000 Syrians return home from Jordan, Lebanon over past 24 hours: Russian Military

Jan 02, 2020, at 11:24 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Over 1,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring said on Thursday.

Beijing says actions hindering dialogue on Korean Peninsula 'unacceptable'

Jan 02, 2020, at 10:47 pm

Beijing/Sputnik: Actions that impede dialogue and exacerbate the political crisis on the Korean peninsula are "unacceptable", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday.

Finding common ground in East Africa: a UN Resident Coordinator blog

Jan 02, 2020, at 03:37 pm

New York/IBNS: Together, Kenya and Uganda kick-start a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with the UN to address challenges that transcend country borders.  By Siddharth Chatterjee (Kenya RC) and Rosa Malango (Uganda RC).

US Embassy's security guards use tear gas against protesters in Baghdad: Reports

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:06 pm

Beirut/Sputnik: The US embassy security personnel have deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators off its territory in Baghdad, Lebanese Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported on Wednesday.

Nine dead in Indonesian capital floods

Jan 01, 2020, at 09:07 pm

Jakarta/Xinhua: Massive floods hitting the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and its peripheral areas have killed at least nine people, a disaster mitigation agency has said Wednesday.

One dead, dozens injured by firecrackers during New Year's celebrations in Italy

Jan 01, 2020, at 08:16 pm

Rome/Xinhua: One person died, three people suffered amputations and dozens were injured by firecrackers during New Year's Eve celebrations across Italy, local media reported Wednesday.

Eight policemen killed in Afghanistan's Balkh province following Taliban attack

Jan 01, 2020, at 05:09 pm

Kabul/SPutnik/UNI:  The Taliban militants have attacked a police checkpoint in the northern Afghan province of Balkh, leaving eight people killed and three others injured, the Balkh police chief, Ajmal Fayez, told Sputnik on Wednesday.

Hong Kong Police deploy tear gas to disperse anti-gov't protesters during clashes- Reports

Jan 01, 2020, at 04:41 pm

Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: Hong Kong police used tear gas during clashes with anti-government protesters as the approved rally turned violent, media reported on Wednesday.

South Korea urges north to cancel test of new strategic weapon - Unification Ministry

Jan 01, 2020, at 04:31 pm

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: South Korean Unification Ministry spokesperson Lee Sang Min on Wednesday urged Pyongyang to refrain from piloting its recently-announced new strategic weapon as it could harm the progress around the Korean peninsula's denuclearization.

PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates Dhaka International Trade Fair

Jan 01, 2020, at 03:51 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday unveiled the 25th edition of Dhaka International Trade Fair.

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn pulls off stunning escape from Japan to Lebanon

Jan 01, 2020, at 03:49 pm

Tokyo/IBNS: Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who is under trail for financial misconducts, slipped out of the Japanese authorities by fleeing the country to reach Lebanon without a passport and even using wooden musical instrument box, media reports said.

Kim reneging on promise to halt nuclear tests to be ‘deeply disappointing’: Pompeo

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:26 am

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: The Trump administration would be deeply disappointed if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un broke his promise to halt nuclear testing, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview.

Kim Jong Un promises to unveil new North Korean strategic weapons soon - Reports

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:22 am

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: North Korean leader Kim Jon Un said that Pyongyang will continue developing strategic weapons unless the United States drops its hostile policy toward the country, promising to unveil new strategic weaponry in the near future, media reported on Wednesday, citing Kim's speech at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Train derails in Canada, 13 people on board

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:16 am

Ottawa/Xinhua/UNI: A passenger train with 13 people on board derailed near Portage la Prairie of Canada's Manitoba province, local media reported. Injures were reported, according to CTV.

Iraqi PM calls for end to US embassy siege after strikes on Shiite militia

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:12 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi urged protesters on Tuesday to end the violent siege of the American embassy in Baghdad, which was triggered by a deadly US strike on a Shiite militia.

US to send extra forces to beef up embassy in Baghdad after clash

Jan 01, 2020, at 10:06 am

Washington/Xinhua/UNI: Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced on Tuesday that the United States is sending extra forces to beef up the US Embassy in Baghdad after furious Iraqi demonstrators stormed it.

Trump blames Iran for demonstrators storming US Embassy in Baghdad

Jan 01, 2020, at 09:57 am

Washington/Xinhua/UNI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran after furious Iraqi demonstrators mourning those killed in an earlier American attack in Iraq stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces grave hunger challenges in 2020: UN food relief agency

Jan 01, 2020, at 09:34 am

New York/IBNS: At the dawn of the next decade, a new World Food Programme (WFP) forecast of global hunger hotspots has revealed that escalating hunger will challenge sub-Saharan Africa in the first half of 2020.

Israel/Palestine war crimes probe ‘momentous step forward’, says UN rights expert

Jan 01, 2020, at 09:06 am

New York/IBNS: An independent UN human rights expert hailed on Tuesday, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to consider a formal criminal investigation into allegations of war crimes in Palestine as a "momentous step forward in the quest for accountability" in the five-decade-long Israeli occupation.

Uber, Postmates sue California over labour law, claiming it as "unconstitutional"

Dec 31, 2019, at 10:55 pm

San Francisco/Xinhua: US gig economy companies Uber Technologies, Inc and Postmates Inc on Monday brought a lawsuit against California, claiming a state labour law set to be enforced soon as "unconstitutional."

At least 500 restaurants closed in Lebanon amid economic slowdown

Dec 31, 2019, at 10:13 pm

Beirut/Xinhua: Tony Ramy, head of Lebanon's Syndicate of Restaurants Owners, announced Tuesday that 500 restaurants were closed in Lebanon in 2019, local media reported.