Syria’s refugee crisis becoming largest displacement: UN

United Nations, July 4 (IANS) At close to three million, Syria’s refugee crisis is becoming the world’s largest displacement, a media report said Friday. “Today, there are close to three million Syrian refugees, and the number of those seeking safe haven is increasing by 100,000 every month,” Xinhua quoted UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric as saying. If […]

US warns of terror attack at Uganda airport

Kampala, July 4 (IANS) The US has warned its citizens in Uganda of a possible terror attack at the country’s Entebbe International Airport in capital Kampala. The US embassy in Uganda, in a statement on its website Thursday, said it received information from the Uganda police force that there was a specific threat to attack the […]

Tribal clashes kill 150 in Sudan

Khartoum, July 4 (IANS) At least 150 people have been killed and 100 others injured in clashes between two groups belonging to Mesiria tribe in al-Dibaib area in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) reported Thursday. “The clashes took place between Awlad Omran and Al-Ziyoud groups of Mesiria tribes at Al-Dibaib area in […]

Bridge collapses in Brazil’s World Cup city

Rio de Janeiro, July 4 (IANS) At least two people were killed and several others injured after a bridge collapsed on a busy highway in the World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte in Brazil, media reports said. A car, a truck and a mini-bus were under the bridge when it fell Thursday, Xinhua quoted the […]

100,000 sheltering in UN Mission’s bases in South Sudan

United Nations, July 4 (IANS) The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has reported that nearly 100,000 people are seeking protection in its bases across the country, and the number is likely to remain high, a spokesperson said Thursday. “Humanitarian partners are working together with UNMISS to improve the situation, wherever possible, both by improving the […]

Kurdish leader calls for independence referendum

Baghdad, July 4 (IANS) The leader of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region Thursday asked the regional parliament to prepare for a referendum on the independence of the region as well as the disputed areas adjacent to the country’s north, an official Kurdish website said. Masoud Barzani, leader of Iraq’s Kurdistan, asked the regional parliament “to organise a […]

US military efforts in Iraq focus on advisory role: Hagel

Washington, July 4 (IANS) US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday they are focusing American military efforts in Iraq on securing the American embassy and personnel in Baghdad, while advising Iraqi security forces based on assessing the situation in the Middle East country. Hagel made the remarks while addressing a Pentagon press conference here. He also […]

Yemen on brink of economic collapse: UN

United Nations, July 3 (IANS) Yemen, reeling from political instability and insecurity from jihadist attacks, is “on the brink of an economic collapse,” a UN humanitarian official said here Wednesday, blaming the mild, but popular, drug khat, for much of the Aden Gulf nation’s woes. “This is one of (the) largest humanitarian challenges in scale and […]

US supports Ukraine’s decision to suspend ceasefire

Washington, July 3 (IANS) The Obama administration Wednesday threw its weight behind Ukraine’s decision to end a ceasefire and resume military operations against the insurgents in the country’s east. White House spokesperson Josh Earnest blamed the armed militants for not observing the truce, saying “it only fueled separatist violence and allowed the separatists to make further […]

‘EU determined to achieve Iranian nuclear deal’

Brussels, July 3 (IANS) The European Union (EU) is “determined” to achieve a final and comprehensive agreement in the new round of Iran’s nuclear talks that started Wednesday in Vienna, EU’s foreign policy spokesperson Michael Mann said. “We are determined. We hope Iran comes with a positive and realistic attitude,” Xinhua quoted the spokesperson as saying. […]