Narendra Modi calls Australian PM Scott Morrison, condoles loss of lives in bushfires

Jan 04, 2020, at 06:40 am

New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Friday where he condoled the loss of lives and damage to property caused due to bushfires.

UN chief calls for de-escalation across Gulf region after killing of top Iranian General in US airstrike

Jan 04, 2020, at 06:31 am

New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the latest escalation in tension across the Gulf region, following the killing of a top Iranian General in Iraq, in an airstrike carried out by the United States.

Libya: UN refugee agency deeply concerned by shelling near Tripoli facility

Jan 04, 2020, at 06:22 am

New York/IBNS: Shelling near a major facility run by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday, has sparked the deep concern for the safety of refugees and asylum seekers there.

Trump says Soleimani was hated in Iran, should have been killed many years ago

Jan 03, 2020, at 11:21 pm

Washington/Sputnik: President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his decision to assassinate Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, saying the Iranian general was reviled and feared in Iran and should have been eliminated many years ago.

Chinese health authorities confirm 44 cases of mystery viral pneumonia in Wuhan

Jan 03, 2020, at 08:26 pm

Beijing/Sputnik: The toll of people infected with pneumonia of unknown kind in the Wuhan city of the central Chinese province of Hubei has risen to 44 as authorities fear the return of deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, the local health committee said in a statement on Friday.

Pakistan: Punjab Assembly resolution seeks most stringent anti-blasphemy laws, USCIRF condemns

Jan 03, 2020, at 06:52 pm

Washington/IBNS:  The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Friday condemned the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly in Pakistan which asked the federal government to make new or improve existing laws to sternly punish blasphemers and set up a Saudi Arabia like central screening or filtration system to intercept blasphemous material on social media.

Iran to respond to Soleimani's killing Soon: Authorities

Jan 03, 2020, at 05:20 pm

Tehran/Sputnik/UNI:  Tehran will respond to the killing of Iran's Quds commander Qasem Soleimani by a US airstrike in the near future, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Friday.

Iran names Esmail Qaani as new Quds chief

Jan 03, 2020, at 04:53 pm

Tehran/IBNS: Esmail Qaani has been appointed as Iran's new head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm following the death of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, media reports said.

US democrats slam Trump’s administration for killing Soleimani, fear for bigger conflict

Jan 03, 2020, at 04:09 pm

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: The United States 2020 Democratic Party Presidential Candidates Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, as well as US Senator Chris Murphy, have opposed President Donald Trump’s recent move that resulted in the killing of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and expressed fear of further conflict escalation between Washington and Tehran.

China slams US strike on Iraq, says opposes military force use in international relations

Jan 03, 2020, at 04:08 pm

Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: The Chinese Foreign Ministry has slammed the US strike on Iraq that killed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and said that it opposed the use of military force in international relations.

Pakistan introduces bill to extend country's army chief's tenure

Jan 03, 2020, at 04:06 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: Paving way for three-year extension for Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, country's Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak on Friday tabled the Pak­­­is­tan Army (Amend­ment) Act 2020 in the National Assembly on Friday.

Damascus strongly condemns killing of Soleimani: Syrian Foreign Ministry

Jan 03, 2020, at 03:56 pm

Beirut/UNI/Sputnik: Syria has slammed the US airstrikes in Iraq that resulted in the killing of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Friday, as cited by the SANA news agency.

Madrasa headmaster’s 4-year-old son recovered from teacher's wardrobe

Jan 03, 2020, at 03:55 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Police detained a madrasa teacher after the body a 4-year-old child was recovered in his wardrobe from Bangladesh's Gazipur area, media reports said.

US directs citizens to leave Iraq following death of top Iranian military leader

Jan 03, 2020, at 03:53 pm

Washington/IBNS: Amid heightened tension following the US strike in Iran which killed Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, the country's embassy in Baghdad on Friday asked American citizens in Iraq to "depart immediately".

Iran warns US of 'consequences' after strike kills Quds force leader Qasem Soleimani

Jan 03, 2020, at 11:46 am

Tehran/Washington/IBNS: After a US strike killed Iran's top military general Qasem Soleimani, Tehran has slammed Washington and also warned of "consequences" for undertaking a "rogue adventurism", media reports said.

Terrorism: US issues advisory to its carriers to avoid Pakistan airspace

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:53 am

Washington/IBNS: Fearing terror attack, the United States has issued advisory to all its air carriers and commercial operators to exercise caution as they fly into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan.

Former Nissan Chairman Ghosn says organised escape from Japan on his own

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:36 am

Paris/Sputnik/UNI: Carlos Ghosn, the ex-chairman of automaker Nissan, who made a surprise escape from Japan ahead of trial on financial misconduct charges, on Thursday denied claims that his family played a role in his escape, saying he organized the operation on his own.

Deputy Head of Iraqi Shia Militia killed by rocket fire near Baghdad Airport – Reports

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:24 am

Baghdad/Sputnik/UNI: Deputy head of Iraq's Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed by the Friday strikes near the Baghdad International Airport, Al Arabiya and Sky News broadcasters reported.

Iraq security forces cordoned off Baghdad’s Green Zone after deadly US strikes

Jan 03, 2020, at 10:17 am

Cairo/Sputnik/UNI: Iraq security forces have cordoned off the Green Zone of Baghdad – where the US Embassy is located – after the Friday US airstrikes that killed Commander of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani, as well as two senior officials of the Iraqi Shia militia, the Sky News Arabia broadcaster reported.

UNICEF chief hopes 2020 will be 'a year of peace' for Syria’s children

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:52 am

New York/IBNS: Only an end to the war in Syria can bring safety to children there, the head of the UN child rights agency said on Thursday.

UN envoy commends successful conclusion of Guinea-Bissau presidential election

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:46 am

New York/IBNS: The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) has underlined the Organization’s support for Guinea-Bissau following the conclusion of its presidential election.

Secretary-General calls for global participation in UN75 dialogues for better future for all

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:40 am

New York/IBNS: The United Nations on Wednesday launched the biggest global conversation on the world's future: the UN75 dialogues.  Views and ideas gathered throughout the year will be shared at a high-level event in September to mark the Organization's 75th anniversary.

Indian origin teen climber falls 500 feet on Oregon Mount Hood, survives

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:28 am

Washington/IBNS: An Indian origin mountain climber, who belongs to Canada, miraculously survived a 500-feet fall from Mount Hood, media reports said.

US kills Iran Quds force leader Qasem Soleimani

Jan 03, 2020, at 09:12 am

Washington/IBNS: The Pentagon on Friday announced the death of Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani during a 'strike'.

Over 1,000 Syrians return home from Jordan, Lebanon over past 24 hours: Russian Military

Jan 02, 2020, at 11:24 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Over 1,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring said on Thursday.

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.