Four UN peacekeepers killed, five wounded in attack in Mali
Jan 15, 2021, at 03:05 pm
New York: Four United Nations peacekeepers in Mali were killed and five others wounded in an attack by unidentified armed elements on Wednesday, the UN mission in the country has said.
UK seeing first signs of Covid-linked lockdown's positive effect: Prime Minister
Jan 13, 2021, at 11:48 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The first positive effects of strict lockdown measures are starting to manifest in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday.
Japanese Prime Minister halts entry of all non-resident foreign nationals: Reports
Jan 13, 2021, at 09:52 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who earlier in the day expanded the coronavirus-related state of emergency to seven more prefectures, announced that the country was halting entry of all non-resident foreign nationals amid the continuing spike in new cases, Kyodo news agency reported.
Humanitarian crisis looms in Madagascar amid drought and pandemic
Jan 13, 2021, at 05:17 pm
New York: In southern Madagascar, “famine-like conditions” have doubled the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance compared with last year, to more than 1.3 million. Successive droughts and a lack of jobs linked to COVID-19 restrictions are to blame, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.
UNICEF chief: Closing schools should be ‘measure of last resort’
Jan 13, 2021, at 05:10 pm
New York: The head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) underscored on Tuesday that “no effort should be spared” to keep children in school, as the coronavirus pandemic continues into a second year.
UN counter-terrorism chief urges continued vigilance against ‘real’ ongoing threat
Jan 13, 2021, at 04:49 pm
New York: Despite important strikes against terrorism over the past two decades, including in bringing perpetrators to justice and disrupting additional attacks, countries cannot afford to let down their guard, the UN’s counter-terrorism chief told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday.
UN refugee agency calls for ‘new chapter for refugee protection’ across Europe
Jan 13, 2021, at 04:32 pm
New York: As Portugal assumes the presidency of the European Union (EU), to be followed by Slovenia later this year, the UN refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday called on them to lead the effort to forge a better protection system for those seeking refuge across the continent and beyond.
Peru: UN rights office decries excessive use of force in November protests
Jan 13, 2021, at 04:25 pm
New York: Police in Peru used unnecessary and excessive force during protests in the capital last November challenging the legitimacy of the interim President, a report published on Tuesday by the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR has found.
Syrian state TV reports Israeli air strikes on Syria's southeastern regions
Jan 13, 2021, at 02:58 pm
Cairo/Sputnik: The Syrian state television reported about Israeli air strikes on Syria's southeastern regions.
Pence opposes invoking 25th amendment, warns of setting 'Terrible' precedent: Letter
Jan 13, 2021, at 02:34 pm
Washington/Sputnik: US Vice President Mike Pence in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her to refrain from moving forward with legislation to remove President Donald Trump from office due to the risk it could further destabilize the United States.
S Korean gyms, cafes sue government over losses amid COVID-19 restrictions: Reports
Jan 12, 2021, at 10:53 pm
Moscow/ Sputnik: Hundreds of gym and cafe owners in South Korea have filed or will soon file for compensation to cover losses incurred due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.
Guterres to seek second five-year term as UN Secretary-General
Jan 12, 2021, at 04:52 pm
New York: António Guterres confirmed on Monday that he will be seeking a second five-year term as UN Secretary-General, which would begin in January 2022.
Serious repercussions likely to follow US plan to designate Yemen combatants terrorists, UN warns
Jan 12, 2021, at 04:45 pm
New York: The United States government’s decision to designate Ansar Allah, more commonly known as the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, as terrorists, is likely to have “serious humanitarian and political repercussions”, the UN spokesperson said on Monday.
West Africa: Democracy ‘a constant process’ top UN official tells Security Council
Jan 12, 2021, at 04:37 pm
New York: While elections are one-time events, “democracy is a constant process of deliberation and consultation” where dialogue provides an “important arena for the building of national consensus”, the top UN official in West Africa told the Security Council on Monday.
Privacy row: Whatsapp clarifies messages with friends, family remain safe
Jan 12, 2021, at 03:34 pm
Washington: Facebook-owned messaging service Whatsapp on Tuesday clarified that its privacy policy update does not affect the privacy of users' messages with friends or family.
Terrorists carry out 21 attacks on Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone: Reconciliation Center
Jan 12, 2021, at 03:24 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Members of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone 21 times over the past 24 hours, Rear Adm. Vyacheslav Sytnik, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said on Monday.
Saudi Arabia backs US plans to designate Houthis as terrorists: Foreign Ministry
Jan 12, 2021, at 02:38 pm
Doha/Sputnik: Saudi Arabia supports Washington's plans to designate Yemen's Houthi rebel movement, which Riyadh has been fighting since 2015, as a terrorist organization, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Turkish regulator starts probe against WhatsApp, Facebook over privacy policy - Reports
Jan 11, 2021, at 10:45 pm
Ankara/Sputnik: Turkey's competition regulator has launched investigation against WhatsApp and Facebook due to their new privacy policy, Anadolu news agency reported on Monday.
At least 19 protesters arrested in Minsk on Sunday : Watchdog
Jan 11, 2021, at 03:01 pm
Minsk/Sputnik: At least 19 people were arrested in Minsk on Sunday for participating in unauthorized protests, the unregistered Viasna human rights center said.
Strong 'Quad' would safeguard multilateralism: Pompeo
Jan 11, 2021, at 02:46 pm
Washington/UNI: United States Secretary of State Mike R Pompeo said on Sunday that a strong 'Quad' would ensure multilateralism in the world.
New Zealand's Central Bank says targeted by hack, sensitive data may be compromised
Jan 11, 2021, at 02:06 am
Moscow/Sputnik: New Zealand’s central bank on Sunday said it was responding to an illegal data breach that may have potentially accessed sensitive information.
Top diplomats of Australia, Canada, UK, US express concern over Hong Kong mass arrests
Jan 11, 2021, at 02:00 am
Moscow/Sputnik: The top diplomats of Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom expressed their concern with the recent arrest of scores of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, a joint statement shared by Washington’s State Department said.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip receive COVID-19 vaccinations: Buckingham palace
Jan 10, 2021, at 02:09 pm
London /Sputnik: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, have received COVID-19 vaccinations, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth, husband Prince Philip get Coronavirus vaccine
Jan 10, 2021, at 07:37 am
London/IBNS: Queen Elizabeth II, the current monarch of Britain, and her husband Prince Philip took the Covid-19 vaccine shot on Saturday, Buckingham Palace said, reported the media.
Central African Republic: Post-election violence triggers mass displacement
Jan 10, 2021, at 12:07 am
New York: Amidst post-election violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), more than 200,000 people have fled for their own safety, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
Uganda: ‘Deteriorating’ human rights situation in run-up to elections next week
Jan 09, 2021, at 11:59 pm
New York: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is urging authorities in Uganda to ensure elections next week are free and peaceful, noting that the arrest of opposition candidates and their supporters are among several “worrying” developments ahead of the vote.
Indonesia confirms loss of communication with Sriwijaya passenger aircraft: Reports
Jan 09, 2021, at 10:57 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Yusuf Latief, a spokesman for Indonesia’s search and rescue office, on Saturday confirmed the loss of communication with a plane of the country's Sriwijaya Air after it had taken off from Jakarta with over 50 passengers on board, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
Saudi Arabia to keep borders shut over COVID-19 until March 31: State Media
Jan 09, 2021, at 09:26 pm
Doha/Sputnik: Saudi Arabia will keep its borders shut for international travel amid the global spread of a new coronavirus variant until March 31, state media have reported, citing the interior ministry.
Terrorists carry out 23 attacks on Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone- reconciliation center
Jan 09, 2021, at 03:26 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone 23 times over the past 24 hours, Rear Adm.
Kim Jong Un says US Is N.Korea's biggest enemy : Reports
Jan 09, 2021, at 03:21 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the United States was his country's biggest enemy, the Yonhap news agency reported.