Cross-border aid delivery in northwest Syria ‘absolutely essential’, Security Council hears

Feb 28, 2020, at 11:05 am

New Yor/IBNS: Cross-border humanitarian deliveries from Turkey last month reached more people in northwest Syria than at any time since operations began more than five years ago, the UN’s Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on Thursday.

Battles rages in Syria's Idlib as rebels try to cut Damascus-Aleppo highway

Feb 27, 2020, at 06:38 pm

Damascus/Xinhua: Intense battles raged on Thursday as the rebels were attacking the key Saraqeb city in the countryside of the northwestern Idlib province that was recently captured by the Syrian army.

UN disarmament chief hopes upcoming conference will address current nuclear challenges

Feb 27, 2020, at 02:39 pm

New York/IBNS: With division and distrust rife among countries that possess nuclear arsenals, the UN disarmament chief is hopeful that the issue will be addressed during an upcoming conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

UN study projects $32 billion loss for UK post no-deal Brexit

Feb 27, 2020, at 02:10 pm

New York/IBNS: The United Kingdom (UK) risks losing up to 14 per cent of its exports to the European Union (EU) in a so-called “no-deal” Brexit, according to a new study by the UN Conference on Trade, Investment and Development (UNCTAD).

Suspected terrorist supporter arrested in Russia's St. Petersburg: Investigators

Feb 26, 2020, at 07:44 pm

Moscow/Sputnik:Law enforcement officials have detained a man in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on suspicion of promoting and financing terrorist activities, the press service of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Investigative Committee said on Wednesday.

Malaysian opposition calls for parliamentary vote to resolve political crisis

Feb 26, 2020, at 05:26 pm

Bangkok/Sputnik/UNI: The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) on Tuesday proposed dissolution of the parliament and calling for new elections to resolve the country's political crisis.

We need to give voice to ‘We the Peoples’, says UN chief

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:43 am

New York/IBNS: For an Organization that is seen as all too ready to give advice, the United Nations welcomed a major role reversal on Tuesday: young people from all over the world were gathered in Switzerland to voice their concerns, outline their vision for a better future, and give Secretary-General António Guterres their advice on steering the world body through todays’ turbulent waters.

One in three Venezuelans not getting enough to eat, UN study finds

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:38 am

New York/IBNS: Hyperinflation in Venezuela means that roughly one-third of the population – more than nine million people – do not get enough to eat and are in need of assistance, according to estimates published on Tuesday by the World Food Programme (WFP).

More funding needed to combat locust swarms ‘unprecedented in modern times’

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:32 am

New York/IBNS: Along with climate shocks, conflict and acute food insecurity, the East Africa region now faces a hunger threat from desert locusts, top UN relief officials warned on Tuesday, saying action now, will avert a major food crisis later.

UN Convention that promotes mediation to resolve trade disputes moves closer to entry into force

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:26 am

New York/IBNS: Singapore and Fiji have become the first countries to ratify a UN treaty that promotes mediation as an alternative and effective method for resolving trade disputes, thus marking an important step towards its entry into force.

UN human rights chief warns of women’s rights complacency

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:21 am

New York/IBNS: Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned against complacency on women’s rights at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a landmark agenda for the empowerment of women.

UN panel to rally global political will to tackle internal displacement crisis

Feb 26, 2020, at 09:15 am

New York/IBNS: Forty-one million people around the world are internally displaced – and hundreds of thousands more have been forced from their homes since the beginning of the year – an “unacceptable” situation for which solutions can be found, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a delegation established to address this global challenge.

Coronavirus outbreak: Iran's deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi tests positive

Feb 25, 2020, at 10:35 pm

Tehran/IBNS: A day after claiming that his government was getting the novel Coronavirus under its control, Iran deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi tested positive for the disease worsening the situation in the country, media reports said.

Last Soviet marshal Yazov dies at 95

Feb 25, 2020, at 08:19 pm

Moscow/Xinhua: Former defense minister and the last marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Yazov, died at the age of 95 from a "serious and prolonged illness," the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Heavy rains, snow forecast in central, eastern China

Feb 25, 2020, at 07:34 pm

Beijing/Xinhua: A fresh wave of cold air will sweep across most regions in central and eastern China, lowering temperatures and bringing rain and snow from Wednesday to Friday, China's meteorological authority said Tuesday.

Egypt: Ex-President Hosni Mubarak dies 

Feb 25, 2020, at 06:45 pm

Cairo/UNI: Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak passed away after prolonged illness, state-run TV reported on Tuesday. He was 94.

Number of coronavirus cases in Iran rises to 95, 15 dead

Feb 25, 2020, at 05:45 pm

Tehran/Sputnik: Total number of people infected with novel coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, in Iran rose to  95, while 15 of them were killed by the virus, the country’s Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on Tuesday.

4 Iraqis infected with COVID-19 after visiting neighbouring Iran

Feb 25, 2020, at 05:34 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua: Iraq announced four new cases of novel coronavirus disease in the country's northern province of Kirkuk on Tuesday, bringing the total number in Iraq to five.

US need to work with India to cut air pollution: Sanders

Feb 25, 2020, at 04:52 pm

Washington/UNI: The US should work with India to cut air pollution and create good  renewable energy jobs instead of making defence deals, Senator and Democratic frontrunner in the November presidential election, Bernie Sanders said as a new report warned that climate change could turn into a "catastrophic" threat to national and global security in the coming decades.

COVID-19 death toll rises to 10 in South Korea as number of cases grow to 977

Feb 25, 2020, at 04:32 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: South Korea’s health officials reported  on Tuesday afternoon the 10th death from the novel coronavirus disease,  COVID-19, while the number of confirmed cases has risen by 84 people up  to 977, compared to the morning of the same day.

Italian tourist on Canary Islands tests positive for COVID-19, 1,000 quarantined: reports

Feb 25, 2020, at 04:12 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Up to 1,000 people in a hotel on the  Spanish island of Tenerife were placed under quarantine on Tuesday after  one visitor tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19),  media reported.

With human rights under attack, UN chief unveils blueprint for positive change

Feb 25, 2020, at 10:12 am

New York/IBNS: People’s basic human rights – their birth-right – are “under assault”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, as he launched a Call to Action aimed at boosting equality and reducing suffering everywhere.

15 wounded in protests in Iraq's capital

Feb 24, 2020, at 03:26 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI: Up to 15 people were wounded on Sunday in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces, an Interior Ministry official said.

Malaysia: Mahathir resigns as prime minister, Anwar meets King

Feb 24, 2020, at 03:23 pm

Kuala Lumpur/UNI: Mahathir Mohamad on Monday resigned as prime minister of Malaysia, his office said in a statement.

Car crash kills foreign teenage girl in Northern California

Feb 24, 2020, at 03:20 pm

San Francisco/Xinhua/UNI: An 18-year-old girl was killed in a fatal crash of a vehicle operated by her friend on a highway in Redwood City, Northern California, local media reported.

Israel defense forces say they struck Islamic Jihad targets in Syria

Feb 24, 2020, at 02:26 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have attacked Islamic Jihad militant group targets in Syria, as well as the Gaza Strip, IDF said in a statement.

Australian police probe terror links after knife-wielding man shot dead by police

Feb 24, 2020, at 02:24 pm

Sydney/Xinhua: Australian police continued to investigate whether a knife-wielding man shot dead by police in Brisbane on Sunday had any links to terror groups. Approaching two tourists at around 10:00 a.m. local time Sunday, the man is reported to have punched a 26-year-old male victim in an unprovoked attack before stabbing him in the back as he attempted to flee.

New Zealand extends travel ban on foreign citizens from China - Prime Minister

Feb 24, 2020, at 02:21 pm

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: New Zealand has extended its travel ban on foreign citizens from mainland China for a further eight days but will review the restrictions every two days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday.

Egypt welcomes formation of unity gov't in South Sudan

Feb 24, 2020, at 10:12 am

Cairo/Xinhua: Egypt welcomed the formation of a transitional unity government in South Sudan, hoping it would lead to comprehensive peace in the country, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Australian police probe terror links after knife-wielding man shot dead by police

Feb 24, 2020, at 09:38 am

Sydney/Xinhua: Australian police continued to investigate whether a knife-wielding man shot dead by police in Brisbane on Sunday had any links to terror groups.