Lebanon: UN chief welcomes murder conviction for 1980 blue helmet killings
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:41 pm
New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Lebanon’s decision to bring to justice the man found guilty of killing two UN peacekeepers decades ago.
UN rights expert urges United States to remove sanctions hindering rebuilding in Syria
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:38 pm
New York: A UN independent human rights expert, on Tuesday, called on the United States to remove unilateral sanctions against Syria that may hamper efforts to rebuild the war-torn country’s destroyed civilian infrastructure.
Denmark extends COVID-19 restrictive measures until January 17
Dec 30, 2020, at 03:21 pm
Murmansk/Sputnik: Denmark's restrictive measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being extended until January 17, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference broadcast by Danish media.
UK reports biggest single-day spike of 53,135 COVID cases, 414 deaths
Dec 30, 2020, at 07:37 am
London/UNI: The United Kingdom on Tuesday recorded the highest single-day spike of 53,135 fresh novel coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, while 414 people lost their lives.
Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 jolts Croatia
Dec 30, 2020, at 07:21 am
Zagreb/Sputnik: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked Croatia on Tuesday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.
Legendary French designer Pierre Cardin who revolutionised fashion in 1950s and 60s dies at 98
Dec 30, 2020, at 02:55 am
Paris/IBNS: Legendary fashion designer Pierre Cardin, who revolutionised fashion in 1950s and 60s, passed away on Tuesday in a hospital near Paris at the age of 98.
Fifty reporters killed globally in 2020, most in non-war zones, says Reporters Without Borders
Dec 29, 2020, at 10:54 pm
Paris/UNI: A total of 50 media workers have been killed worldwide while performing their duties this year, mostly in peaceful countries, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) non-governmental organisation said on Tuesday.
UN Secretary General Guterres says countries should strive to make 2021 ‘year of healing’
Dec 29, 2020, at 09:27 pm
New York/Sputnik: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on governments across the globe to work in unity and solidarity in order to defeat the coronavirus and make next year a year of healing.
25,000 refugees in unsettled Tigray region receive urgent UN food supplies
Dec 29, 2020, at 06:15 pm
New York: Some 25,000 Eritrean refugees, sheltering in two camps in the unsettled Tigray region of Ethiopia, have received desperately needed food aid for the first time since mid-October.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Migrant lives at ‘immediate risk’, warn UN agencies
Dec 29, 2020, at 05:59 pm
United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners have called on authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to act urgently to help hundreds of migrants, stranded and without shelter, amid freezing winter temperatures.
Japan provided intel regarding Uyghurs persecution to U.S., Britain
Dec 29, 2020, at 03:38 pm
Tokyo/UNI: Japan in 2019 provided intelligence to the United States and Britain regarding People's Republic of China's (PRC) forceful detainment of Muslim Uyghur minority people Japanese press has claimed.
Three French soldiers killed by explosive device during operation in Mali: Elysee Palace
Dec 29, 2020, at 02:46 pm
Paris/Sputnik: Three French soldiers have been killed after their armored vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Mali on Monday morning, the Elysee Palace's press department said.
Turkey expects delay in delivery of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine shipment : Health Minister
Dec 28, 2020, at 04:02 pm
Ankara/Sputnik: The first shipment of Sinovac Biotech's vaccine against COVID-19 from China to Turkey has been delayed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at Beijing customs, Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca said on Sunday.
Vaccination with Russia’s Sputnik V to start in Argentina from Tuesday: Authorities
Dec 27, 2020, at 02:43 pm
Buenos Aires/Sputnik: The delivery of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine doses to Argentina is expected to be completed by Monday and vaccination will start on Dec 29, the press service of Argentina’s president informed in a statement.
More pandemics likely to come, countries must invest in preparedness: WHO chief
Dec 27, 2020, at 02:04 pm
Geneva/Sputnik: World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the world should get prepared for future pandemics that are inevitable.
Gunmen killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic : Office of Secretary-General
Dec 26, 2020, at 11:15 pm
United Nations/Sputnik: Unidentified gunmen have attacked UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, leaving three of them killed and two more injured, the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general said.
First concert held on Christmas eve in Paris Notre-Dame Cathedral since fire: Reports
Dec 26, 2020, at 01:04 am
Moscow/UNI: A live concert of classical music was broadcast on Christmas eve from the Paris Notre-Dame Cathedral for the first time since a major fire engulfed and severely damaged the building about a year ago.
Emmanuel Macron leaves residence in Versailles after coronavirus quarantine – Reports
Dec 25, 2020, at 06:42 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: French President Emmanuel Macron has left his residence in Versailles where he underwent a quarantine after having tested positive for COVID-19, French media reported.
Iran builds up air defense systems near nuclear sites over possible US strikes - Reports
Dec 25, 2020, at 06:36 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Iran is strengthening air defense systems located near its nuclear facilities as a precaution against possible US missile strikes, the Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper reported on Thursday, citing informed sources from Iran.
US govt to study China's crackdown on Uyghurs
Dec 25, 2020, at 05:57 pm
Washington/UNI: U.S. administration would closely study the Chinese government's crackdown on its Uyghur ethnic minority and may consider labeling it "genocide," said a government official.
'Deal is done,' announces Boris Johnson on finalising post-Brexit trade agreement
Dec 25, 2020, at 06:00 am
London/IBNS: Britain and the European Union on Thursday struck a post-Brexit trade deal having a free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Thousands of migrants lose shelter, after camp destroyed in fire
Dec 25, 2020, at 02:04 am
New York: The closure and subsequent fire, on Wednesday, at a migrant camp in Bosnia and Herzegovina has left thousands of migrants without shelter and protection, amid plummeting winter temperatures, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported.
Hate speech on Facebook poses ‘acute challenges to human dignity’: UN expert
Dec 25, 2020, at 01:51 am
New York: An independent UN human rights expert called on Wednesday for Facebook’s Oversight Board to give greater consideration to the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities before making decisions over controversial content, particularly involving hate speech.
Press freedom more important than ever, as UN condemns killing of 59 media workers
Dec 25, 2020, at 01:18 am
New York: At least 59 media workers have been killed this year, four of them women, the UN said on Wednesday, in a call to stand up for access to information and factual reporting “as a public good”.
Uganda: UN food assistance programme hit as COVID-19 dries up funding
Dec 25, 2020, at 01:05 am
New York: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will have to further reduce food rations and cash assistance for more than 1.2 million refugees in Uganda due to a funding shortfall, the agency has said, calling for urgent resources to sustain aid efforts.
Central African Republic: UN rights office warns of ‘escalating violence’ ahead of Sunday poll
Dec 25, 2020, at 12:54 am
New York: Just days before elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), an uptick in armed violence is threatening the safety of civilians and their right to vote, according to the UN human rights office.
Kabul and Islamabad engage in blame game over border fencing, says report
Dec 24, 2020, at 06:27 pm
Islamabad: The border fencing between Afghanistan and Pakistan has emerged as the main sources of the blame game between Kabul and Islamabad.
Belgium hopes trade with Russia to return to Pre-COVID levels soon : Ambassador
Dec 23, 2020, at 09:54 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Andrei Savenkov Belgium hopes that bilateral trade with Russia will rebound to the pre-COVID-19 levels after experiencing a contraction this year due to the pandemic, new Belgian Ambassador to Russia Marc Michielsen told Sputnik in his first interview since the appointment.
COVID-19: Support to frontline workers part of UN response in Brazil
Dec 23, 2020, at 04:18 pm
New York: UN agencies in Brazil are supporting national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including by providing thousands of protective items for health workers, the global organization reported on Tuesday.
Iran nuclear deal: ‘Heated rhetoric and the heightened risk of miscalculation’ widen differences
Dec 23, 2020, at 04:16 pm
New York: Although the landmark Iran nuclear deal could improve regional stability if fully implemented, increased tensions have highlighted the risks posed by escalation, the UN’s Political and Peacebuilding Affairs chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.