South Sudan: UN chief commends ‘spirit of compromise and collaboration’ as new cabinet is unveiled

Mar 15, 2020, at 04:12 pm

New York/IBNS: Following the unveiling of a new unity cabinet in South Sudan on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General has commended the “spirit of compromise and collaboration” shown by President Salva Kiir and rival-turned-top deputy, Riek Machar, on what has been a rocky road towards forging lasting peace.

Boris Johnson, Donald Trump discuss Coronavirus pandemic

Mar 15, 2020, at 11:13 am

Moscow/Sputnik: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump discussed the situation with the coronavirus pandemic and the recent attacks on the Taji military base in Iraq, the Downing Street said in a press release.

Wife of Spain PM Pedro Sanchez tests positive for Coronavirus

Mar 15, 2020, at 10:45 am

Madrid/IBNS/UNI: The wife of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tested positive for Coronavirus, media reports said on Sunday.

China's Hubei reports 4 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19

Mar 15, 2020, at 09:31 am

Wuhan/Xinhua: Central China's Hubei Province reported 4 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 10 deaths on Saturday, the provincial health commission said on Sunday.

Spain imposes lockdown to fight coronavirus

Mar 15, 2020, at 09:17 am

Madrid/UNI: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed the 'State of Alarm' in Spain, announcing that the country will go into lockdown for 15 days from 0800 hrs on Monday morning in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

COVID-19: Spain becomes latest country to declare state of emergency

Mar 15, 2020, at 12:44 am

Madrid/UNI: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday announced that his government has decided to declare a state of emergency for the next 15 days in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak which has engulfed Spain and large parts of mainland Europe.

Rockets hit military base housing US forces near Iraqi capital

Mar 14, 2020, at 04:53 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI:  A new rocket barrage on Saturday targeted a military base housing US forces near the Iraqi capital Baghdad for the second time in a few days, an Iraqi Defense Ministry source said.

Lebanon to shut land borders with Syria over COVID-19 concerns

Mar 14, 2020, at 04:51 pm

Beirut/Xinhua/UNI:  Lebanon informed Syrian authorities on Saturday that it will shut down land borders with Syria starting on Monday as a measure to restrict spread of COVID-19, according to local media reports.

Bill Gates leaves Microsoft board as he plans to focus on philanthropy

Mar 14, 2020, at 09:42 am

Washington/UNI: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is stepping down from its board of directors in order to focus more on his philanthropic work, the company announced.

More support needed for victims of sexual abuse by UN personnel

Mar 14, 2020, at 09:22 am

New York/IBNS: Although measures to support victims of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) committed by UN personnel are proving effective, there is still room to do more, the senior official leading these efforts told journalists in New York on Friday.

As Syrian conflict enters 10th year, ‘brutal truth’ is, there is little protection for families

Mar 14, 2020, at 08:57 am

New York/IBNS: Although a fragile ceasefire agreed in northwest Syria is still holding, UN humanitarians on Friday warned of dire conditions for hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by conflict, now in its tenth year.

UN human rights chief: racism and xenophobia are ‘contagious killers’ too

Mar 14, 2020, at 08:25 am

New York/IBNS: The coronavirus outbreak may have forced millions around the world already into “social distancing”, keeping a metre apart to prevent its spread, but it will not stop them from uniting to combat racism, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights declared in Geneva on Friday.

US airstrikes hit Iraqi paramilitary headquarters

Mar 13, 2020, at 07:35 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI:  The US military carried out overnight airstrikes on paramilitary Hashd Shaabi headquarters south of Baghdad, the Iraqi military said on Friday.

On high alert of COVID-19, Myanmar to restrict public events until late April

Mar 13, 2020, at 07:29 pm

Yangon, /Xinhua/UNI: Myanmar government Friday announced the restriction of mass gatherings and public events including the traditional Thingyan water festival until the end of April, according to an announcement issued by the President's Office.

De-escalate now, to steer Yemen off ‘precarious path’, UN Security Council hears

Mar 13, 2020, at 09:36 am

New York/IBNS: Yemen is at a “critical juncture”, the UN Special Envoy for the country told the Security Council on Thursday. Speaking via video-link, Martin Griffiths said that the combatants will either move towards de-escalation or greater violence, which would make “the path to the negotiating table more arduous”.

Iraq: UN mission urges ‘maximum restraint' following deadly attack on foreign troops

Mar 13, 2020, at 09:20 am

New York/IBNS: The UN mission in Iraq has called for ‘maximum restraint’ following a deadly attack on foreign forces serving under the United States-led coalition against the militant group ISIL.

War in Syria: 'Carnage', flouting of rights and international law, must stop: Guterres

Mar 13, 2020, at 09:15 am

New York/IBNS: UN agencies have underscored their commitment to continue supporting civilians affected by the war in Syria, which this month enters its tenth year. The Secretary-General issued a statement on Thursday, declaring that "we cannot allow the tenth year to result in the same carnage, the same flouting of human rights and international humanitarian law."

South Africa reports four more confirmed cases of COVID-19

Mar 12, 2020, at 04:19 pm

Cape Town/Xinhua: The South African government on Thursday reported four more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 17.

Israel Prez receives official election results

Mar 11, 2020, at 06:55 pm

Jerusalem/UNI: Israel President Reuven Rivlin issued a call for a unity government after the official results of the March 2 elections were submitted to him on Wednesday.

UK to withdraw over 300 troops from Afghanistan following US-Taliban Peace Deal

Mar 11, 2020, at 06:44 pm

London/UNI: United Kingdom has decided to pull out more than 300 of its troops stationed in Afghanistan by the middle of July following the peace agreement between the Taliban and the United States.

Two more Disneyland Paris employees reportedly contract Coronavirus

Mar 11, 2020, at 05:05 pm

Paris/Sputnik/UNI:  The number of Disneyland amusement park employees in Paris who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has risen to three, French media reported.

Erdogan accuses Damascus of violating Idlib ceasefire, warns of possible new attacks

Mar 11, 2020, at 04:55 pm

Ankara/Sputnik/UNI:  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Damascus on Wednesday of violating the Idlib ceasefire, agreed upon by Russia and Turkey, warning that Ankara could strike even a heavier blow if the truce breaches continue.

UN programme to help spare millions from child marriage, extended to 2023

Mar 11, 2020, at 04:51 pm

New York/IBNS: Millions of girls have been able to avoid “an unwanted marriage and an unwelcome end to their childhood”, since the launch four years ago, of a joint UN agency programme, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

Burundi election countdown amid ‘deteriorating’ human rights situation

Mar 11, 2020, at 04:42 pm

New York/IBNS: Two months ahead of Burundi’s planned local and presidential elections, senior UN-appointed independent rights investigators have urged the Government to reopen the “democratic, civil and political space” there.

Drone strike kills 5 al-Shabab terrorists in Somalia: US-Africa Command

Mar 11, 2020, at 04:41 pm

Mogadishu/Xinhua/UNI: Five al-Shabab terrorists were killed on Tuesday in a joint US-Somali airstrike in southern Somalia, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said.

Nicaragua: After two years of crisis, more than 100,000 have fled the country

Mar 11, 2020, at 03:26 pm

New York/IBNS: Over the past two years, more than 100,000 people in Nicaragua have sought asylum abroad, reportedly fleeing persecution and human rights abuses, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.

71 Chinese workers who returned to Nepal quarantined at Pokhara Airport construction site

Mar 11, 2020, at 01:49 pm

Pokhara/IBNS: Instead of showing health consciousness over the outbreak of the deadly Novel Coronavirus, China has sent 71 workers to the Pokhara Airport construction site in Nepal. All the workers have been quarantined.

Pakistan: Balochistan reports first coronavirus case

Mar 11, 2020, at 09:43 am

Quetta/IBNS: Quetta reported the first Coronavirus case in Pakistan's Balochistan region on Tuesday, media reports said.

British health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive for coronavirus

Mar 11, 2020, at 09:31 am

London/IBNS: British junior Health Minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Seven killed in boat collision in central Indonesia

Mar 10, 2020, at 07:03 pm

Jakarta/Xinhua: Seven people were killed and six others injured after two boats collided on a river in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province, a disaster agency official said on Tuesday.