Civilian toll devastating in Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch

Jan 15, 2020, at 04:33 pm

Kabul/New York/IBNS: Attacks by all parties to Afghanistan’s armed conflict in 2019 took a devastating toll on civilians, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday in its World Report 2020.

China's central bank injects liquidity into market

Jan 15, 2020, at 10:26 am

Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, on Wednesday pumped cash into the financial system through open market operations to maintain liquidity in the market.

S Korea FM, US State Secretary Discuss N Korea, Middle East

Jan 15, 2020, at 10:21 am

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: South Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the Korean peninsula, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

UN aviation experts to join Ukraine Airlines Iran crash investigation

Jan 15, 2020, at 09:58 am

New York/IBNS: Experts from the UN aviation watchdog, ICAO, will support the investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian Passenger plane in Iran on January 8, following an invitation from the Iranian authorities, which was accepted on Tuesday.

UN moves to tackle ‘hidden abuse’ and violence against Europe’s children

Jan 15, 2020, at 09:51 am

New York/IBNS: Each year, at least 55 million children in Europe suffer some form of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological violence, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Colombia: ‘Staggering number’ of human rights defenders killed in 2019

Jan 15, 2020, at 09:44 am

New York/IBNS: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is “deeply troubled by the staggering number of human rights defenders killed in Colombia” last year, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.

More than 5000 feral camels killed in drought-hit areas of southern Australia

Jan 15, 2020, at 01:10 am

Sydney/IBNS: Australia has completed the culling of more than 5,000 feral camels over the last five days that were threatening the survival of indigenous communities in drought-hit areas of southern Australia, reports said.

US house to send articles of Trump impeachment to Senate: Congressman

Jan 14, 2020, at 11:20 pm

Washington/Sputnik: The House of Representatives will send the articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump to the Senate on Wednesday, House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Tehran vows to respond decisively to any destructive actions against JCPOA

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:07 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Tehran will respond decisively to any destructive measures regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Tuesday.

Top Pakistani Military general and Bajwa’s successor put under house arrest, then 'forced to resign'

Jan 14, 2020, at 06:59 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: In what might be seen as a conflict arising within the Pakistani Army, the second-most senior Pakistan Army officer, General Sarfraz Sattar was allegedly forced to resign after being kept under house arrest with his family for weeks, media reports said.

First Singaporean charged with terror financing, says he only recognises Sharia law

Jan 14, 2020, at 06:08 pm

Singapore/IBNS: The trial of first Singapore national to be charged with terror financing commenced on Monday where he admitted that he had transferred funds overseas to support the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), media reports said.

Iran to take US to Int'l criminal court in The Hague over Soleimani killing

Jan 14, 2020, at 05:13 pm

Tehan/Sputnik/uUNI: Iran intends to hold the US government and armed forces accountable for the killing of its top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, bringing a case against it to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, judicial spokesman Gholam Hossein Ismaili said on Tuesday.

Ukrainian plane downing: Several people detained

Jan 14, 2020, at 04:24 pm

Tehran/IBNS: Iran's judiciary said several people have been detained in connection with the crash of a Ukrainian plane in Tehran last week.

Afghanistan: Explosions rock Mazar-e-Sharif, 2 killed

Jan 14, 2020, at 03:54 pm

Kabul/IBNS: Back-to-back explosions rocked Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif city which left at least two people killed, media reports said.

Pompeo, Omani counterpart reaffirm relations in region after Sultan's death: State Dept

Jan 14, 2020, at 10:35 am

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a telephone call with Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf bin Abdullah discussed maintaining cooperation to advance peace and security in the Persian Gulf region following the death of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a press release.

France to send more forces to combat terrorists in Africa, Macron says

Jan 14, 2020, at 10:26 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will commit an additional 220 military servicemen to take part in Operation Barkhane, which aims to fight jihadist groups in Africa’s Sahel region.

At least 6 killed in China's northwest as road collapses near bus stop

Jan 14, 2020, at 10:21 am

Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: A massive road collapse in front of a bus stop next to a Red Cross hospital in the city of Xining in China's northwestern province of Qinghai has left at least six people killed as search and rescue operation continues, Chinese media reported.

Ten people missing in Northwestern China after road collapse: Reports

Jan 14, 2020, at 10:16 am

Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: At least 10 people are missing after a road collapse involving a bus in the capital of China’s northwestern Qinghai province, The Beijing News newspaper reports.

South Korea’s Moon shakes off pessimism about dialogue with Pyongyang

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:55 am

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed some hope about the prospects of dialogue with North Korea, as well as possibilities of Pyongyang resuming talks with the United States.

Almost 1,000 civilians leave Idlib De-escalation zone on Monday - Russian Military

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:50 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: A total of 983 civilians left terrorist-controlled territory in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Monday through two newly-established humanitarian corridors, Maj. Gen. Yuri Borenkov, the commander of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation, reported.

Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:45 am

New York/IBNS: The President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday set out his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade.

‘No shortcuts to a healthier world’: WHO chief sets out health priorities for the decade

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:38 am

New York/IBNS: The head of the UN health agency, WHO, has set out his urgent global health challenges for the next ten years – designated the “Decade of Action” by the UN General Assembly” – and underscored the importance of investing in public health, in a statement released on Monday.

Colombia: ‘Significant strides’ towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council

Jan 14, 2020, at 09:31 am

New York/IBNS: Colombia has continued to make “significant strides in its peace process”, the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.

Queen agrees to let Prince Harry and Megan have independent lives

Jan 13, 2020, at 11:53 pm

London/IBNS: Queen Elizabeth II on Monday agreed to grant Prince Harry and his actress wife Megan an "independent live" and to move part-time to Canada after they expressed desires that their future roles in the Royal Family as full-time members may be concluded, media reports said.

Lahore High Court quashes Parvez Musharraf's death sentence

Jan 13, 2020, at 10:18 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: The death sentence handed down to former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf by a special court has been quashed by another court in the country, a BBC report said.

Donald Trump authorized killing of Soleimani in June: Reports

Jan 13, 2020, at 09:45 pm

Washington/Sputnik: US President Donald Trump approved the assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani seven months ago, NBC News reported on Monday, citing five current and former senior administration officials.

Iranian president calls for implementation of law blacklisting Pentagon

Jan 13, 2020, at 04:47 pm

Tehran/Xinhua/UNI: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday issued an order to implement a law blacklisting the US Department of Defence as "terrorist organization," Tasnim news agency reported.

Seven prisoners escape prison in Afghanistan

Jan 13, 2020, at 03:40 pm

Kabul/IBNS: At least seven prisoners broke a jail in Afghanistan's Paktya area and fled away on Sunday evening, media reports said.

Iran's Rouhani blames US for current situation in Middle East: Presidential Press Office

Jan 13, 2020, at 10:23 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, during a telephone conversation with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, said that the United States were to be blamed for the current developments in the Middle East, the presidential press office said in a statement.

Australian PM takes major polling hit amid bushfires

Jan 13, 2020, at 10:18 am

Canberra/Xinhua/UNI: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has suffered a blow to his approval rating amid the ongoing bushfire crisis.