Geneva

Turkey, Iran, Russia urge Syrian peace process free of foreign interference

A tripartite statement said the next international meeting on Syria in the Astana format will take place in Sochi in mid February.

New round of talks on Syria's constitution begins in Geneva

The US and its allies accuse Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad of deliberately delaying the drafting of a new constitution to waste time until presidential elections are held this year and avoid UN-supervised voting as called for by the UNSC.

UN says breakthrough achieved in Libya transition talks

The top UN official for Libya said that an advisory committee for representatives of Libya's different regions has proposed a way forward for choosing a transitional government that would lead the war-torn country to elections late this year.

UN: Libya’s rivals swap prisoners, part of ceasefire deal

The exchange of a first batch of prisoners, supervised by a joint military committee, took place in the southwestern village of al Shwayrif.

Tigray conflict: Nearly 100,000 refugees have run out of food in Ethiopia

UN and others warn refugee camps in Tigray need help, urging for access to deliver badly needed food, medicines and other supplies to the region where fighting between federal troops and local forces has continued for nearly a month.

The Spirit of the Rose diamond sells for $26.6M at Sotheby's auction

The diamond was mined in Russia and was named 'The Spirit of the Rose' after a ballet performed by the Ballets Russes and its legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.

Azerbaijan, Armenia continue to clash over Karabakh

Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops over Nagorno-Karabakh resumes ahead of a crucial meeting of Azerbaijan's top diplomat with US, Russian and French envoys.

UN rights body OKs more scrutiny of Belarus over human rights abuses

Backed by the European Union, the resolution seeks scrutiny on violations of human rights, in particular the crackdown on protests over the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.

WHO sees initial Covid-19 drug trial results within next two weeks

Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies programme, said it would be unwise to predict when a vaccine could be ready against Covid-19, the respiratory disease that has killed more than half a million people.

Trump to reveal modest executive order on police reforms

The order is expected to seek the use of financial incentives to encourage police departments to adhere to best practices following nationwide protests against police brutality and racism.

UN rights body to debate 'systemic' US racism at African nations' plea

UN Human Rights Council to discuss "police brutality and violence against peaceful protests" in US, after request last week by Burkina Faso on behalf of 54 African countries.

The Saudis, King Juan Carlos I and a shady railroad deal

Spain’s former monarch, King Juan Carlos I, a transformative political figure, might have received illicit money from Saudi royals for a rail project.