UN appeals for humanitarian corridors in northwestern Syria

BEIRUT (AP) — The United Nations human rights chief urged Syrian government forces and their allies Tuesday to allow safe corridors in conflict areas in northwestern Syria, where a military offensive has unleashed a massive wave of fleeing civilians in one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the long...

Huge locust outbreak in East Africa reaches South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war, officials announced Tuesday. Around 2,000 locusts were spotted inside the country,...

AP Interview: UN chief says new virus poses 'enormous' risks

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The U.N. secretary general said Tuesday that the virus outbreak that began in China poses “a very dangerous situation” for the world, but “is not out of control.” Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Antonio Guterres said that “the...

UN says Libyan rival forces resume talks to save cease-fire

GENEVA (AP) — Libya’s warring sides resumed Tuesday U.N.-brokered talks in Geneva aimed at salvaging a fragile cease-fire in the North African country, the U.N. said, even as eastern Libyan forces stepped up their attacks on the Libyan capital, hitting its port. It appeared to be the first such...

Stampede kills at least 20 at refugee camp in Niger

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — At least 20 people died in a stampede in Niger as they were being given food and goods at a refugee camp, a local official said. Diffa governor Issa Lamine said 15 women and five children were killed and 16 others were injured Monday at the camp in the southeast for people who fled...

UN secretary-general tells AP new coronavirus outbreak "not out of control" but a "very dangerous situation.”

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — UN secretary-general tells AP new coronavirus outbreak "not out of control" but a "very dangerous situation.”.

UN: Impact of long Libya war on civilians is `incalculable'

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N humanitarian coordinator for Libya said Monday the impact of the country’s nine-year war on civilians “is incalculable,” pointing to its intensity escalating “exponentially” since a rebel commander launched an offensive last April, casualties...

Gunmen kill 24 in attack near church in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Gunmen killed 24 civilians, including a church pastor, and kidnapped three others on Sunday in Burkina Faso, an official said. It was the latest attack against a religious leader in the increasingly unstable West African nation. The mayor of Boundore commune, Sihanri...

After gains in northern Syria, Assad predicts total victory

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated his forces Monday for recent gains in northwestern Syria that led to his troops consolidating control over Aleppo province, pledging to press ahead with a military campaign to achieve complete victory “sooner or later.” Assad,...

Lesotho's drought makes 500,000 people hungry, UN says

MASERU, Lesotho (AP) — An estimated 500,000 people are threatened with hunger in Lesotho, a quarter of the mountain kingdom's population, according to the United Nations, which is appealing to the international community for help. A drought last year and patchy rains this year have contributed to poor...