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.

Trump in tense State of Union speech pushes immigration overhaul, calls for ending wars

Feb 05, 2020, at 07:11 pm

Washington/Sputnik:US President Donald Trump in his annual address to Congress called for immigration reforms and ending foreign wars, although the most notable aspect of the night was the palpable tension in the air on the eve of a historic impeachment vote.

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.

Afghanistan: Unknown gunmen kill female cop

Feb 05, 2020, at 04:44 pm

Kandahar/IBNS: Unkown gunmen shot dead a policewoman in Afghanistan's  Kandahar province on Tuesday, media reports said on Wednesday.

Dhaka: Suspected 'Robber' killed during gunfight

Feb 05, 2020, at 03:47 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: A shootout incident with Rapid Action Battalion in Bangladesh capital Dhaka city left at least one suspected robber dead, media reports said.

Pakistan woman cuts off man's genitals who tried to 'rape' her

Feb 05, 2020, at 03:30 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistani woman has chopped off the genitals of a man who allegedly  attempted to rape her, media reports said.

Trump honors one of America’s first black fighter pilots at state of union address

Feb 05, 2020, at 10:26 am

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: US President Donald Trump during his State of the Union Address welcomed a 100-year-old World War II veteran who was one of America’s first black fighter pilots.

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.

Nepal govt likely to quarantine its evacuated citizens from China in Bhaktapur

Feb 05, 2020, at 09:21 am

Kathmandu/IBNS: The Nepal government on Wednesday said it might quarantine all those Nepali nationals who will be evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan province of China to Nepal Electricity Authority Training Centre in Bhaktapur, media reports said.

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.

Afghanistan: 59 Taliban militants surrender

Feb 04, 2020, at 05:40 pm

Herat/Xinhua: Fifty-nine Taliban militants have surrendered to government security forces in three western Afghan provinces, the command of special forces said on Tuesday.

Thirteen killed in N Afghanistan clashes, including pro-gov't local leader

Feb 04, 2020, at 05:38 pm

Sheberghan, Afghanistan/Xinhua: Thirteen were killed during an ambush in northern Jawzjan province overnight, including a pro-government local leader, one of his men and 11 Taliban militants, a provincial government spokesman said on Tuesday.

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.

Bangladesh road mishap leaves two dead

Feb 04, 2020, at 04:18 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: A bus plunged into a roadside ditch in Bangladesh's Rajshahi  area which left at least two people killed, media reports said.

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.

Syria: UN health agency highlights ‘critical health threats’ facing Idlib civilians

Feb 04, 2020, at 10:04 am

New York/IBNS: The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alarm on Monday over critical health threats facing hundreds-of thousands of Syrians forced to flee due to intensified hostilities in Syria’s northwest, where health facilities and workers have increasingly come under attack.

You are my everything: Sheryl Sandberg announces her engagement

Feb 04, 2020, at 09:39 am

Los Angeles/IBNS: Nearly five years after being widowed, Facebook's number two executive Sheryl Sandberg on Monday announced that she has decided to marry marketing executive Tom Bernthal.

Taliban terrorists set girl's school on fire in Afghanistan

Feb 04, 2020, at 09:17 am

Kabul/IBNS: A girl's school was set on fire by suspected Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province, media reports said on Tuesday.

ISIS claims responsibility for London attack

Feb 04, 2020, at 09:06 am

London/IBNS: Islamic State terrorist group on Monday claimed responsibility for the stabbing incident in London which left two people hurt.