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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.