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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Turkish president says to fully implement agreements with Libya in 2020

Dec 31, 2019, at 08:56 pm

Ankara/Xinhua: Turkey will fully implement the agreements signed with Libya on security and maritime delimitation in 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

Over 300 people evacuated from supermarket in France due to fire

Dec 31, 2019, at 08:40 pm

Paris/UNI: More than 300 customers and 35 staff members were evacuated at a supermarket in France's eastern city of Besancon after a fire broke out at an underground parking lot, media reported on Tuesday.

Iraqi protesters storm US embassy in Baghdad

Dec 31, 2019, at 07:27 pm

Baghdad/UNI: Hundreds of demonstrators, participating in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by US attack in Iraq, stormed the US embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone on Tuesday, a security official said.

Trump says Iran to 'be held fully responsible' for attack on US Embassy in Iraq

Dec 31, 2019, at 07:08 pm

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: President Trump on Tuesday warned that Iran would be held responsible after Iraqi demonstrators stormed the American Embassy in Baghdad to protest against recent US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

China releases regulation on implementing foreign investment law

Dec 31, 2019, at 06:58 pm

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: China has unveiled a regulation on implementing the foreign investment law to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors.

Turkish president says to fully implement agreements with Libya in 2020

Dec 31, 2019, at 06:52 pm

Ankara/Xinhua/UNI: Turkey will fully implement the agreements signed with Libya on security and maritime delimitation in 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

2 more confirmed dead, several missing in Australian bushfires

Dec 31, 2019, at 06:18 pm

Sydney/Xinhua/UNI: Two more people were confirmed dead and several more remain missing in Australia on Tuesday as the result of severe bushfires in the country's southeast.

Iraq: Protesters set ablaze US Embassy fence 

Dec 31, 2019, at 06:08 pm

Baghdad/UNI: Protesters on Tuesday set on fire the outside fence of the US Embassy in the capital of Baghdad in response to the US airstrikes against the Shia Kata’ib Hezbollah militia.

Turkish Police detain 5 Syrians planning New Year's terrorist attack

Dec 31, 2019, at 05:56 pm

Ankara/Sputnik/UNI: Turkish police have arrested five Syrian nationals who were preparing a terrorist attack during New Year's celebrations in Ankara, media reported on Tuesday.

Al Shabab takes responsibility for Mogadishu blast

Dec 31, 2019, at 04:22 pm

Mogadishu/IBNS: Terror group Al Shabab on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack in Somalia capital Mogadishu last week that claimed over 80 lives.

27 die in Ethiopia in head-on collision involving bus, overloaded minibus

Dec 31, 2019, at 10:26 am

Addis Ababa/Xinhua/UNI: Twenty seven people were killed after an overloaded minibus collided head-on with another bus on Sunday in Ethiopia's Oromia regional state, local police officials confirmed on Monday.

Ex-Nissan Motor chief Ghosn may have jumped bail, fled Japan

Dec 31, 2019, at 09:50 am

Tokyo/Xinhua/UNI: Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn may have fled Japan and arrived in Lebanon in possible violation of his bail conditions which restrict overseas travel, local media reported on Tuesday.

Sudan: UN mission envoy commends signing of Darfur framework agreement

Dec 31, 2019, at 09:47 am

New York/IBNS: The joint chief mediator for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, UNAMID, welcomed on Monday a framework agreement between the Transitional Government of Sudan and the Darfur armed movements that was signed during peace talks in Juba, South Sudan, on Saturday.

Turkish police arrest about 100 foreigners suspected of IS links - Reports

Dec 30, 2019, at 06:35 pm

Ankara/Sputnik/UNI: Turkish police have arrested about 100 foreign nationals in raids across the country on suspicion of having links to the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia), media reported on Monday.

US forces hit 5 Iran-backed military group bases in Iraq, Syria

Dec 30, 2019, at 10:26 am

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI: The US forces on Sunday attacked five bases of Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) in Iraq and Syria in response to repeated attacks by KH against US-led coalition forces in Iraq, a US military statement said.

Somali, US forces kill senior al-Shabab militant

Dec 30, 2019, at 10:19 am

Mogadishu/Xinhua/UNI: Somali and US forces conducted an airstrike in southern region on Sunday, killing a senior al-Shabab terrorist, a government official said.