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UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of the political process in Syria.

"After eight years of conflict, this process will be long and difficult. But I think it is possible to move forward step by step," Pedersen told the Security Council in a briefing.

Many earlier differences over the constitutional committee, a key element in the Syrian political process, have been narrowed down, he said.

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): Venezuela's envoy to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday said the attempt by foreign powers to spark a civil war to open the doors for a military intervention from abroad and impose a puppet government in his country has failed.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro acted rapidly and isolated the "focal point of public disorder" and the country "is in total normality throughout the national territory," Venezuelan Permanent Representative to the UN Samuel Moncada Acosta said at a press briefing.

UNITED NATIONS, April 30 (Xinhua): The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another six months, till Oct. 31, 2019.

Resolution 2468 won the support of 13 of the 15 members of the Security Council. Russia and South Africa abstained.

The resolution emphasizes the need to achieve a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution to the question of Western Sahara.

NEW YORK (AP) — An important pretrial hearing in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault case could play out in secret if a judge rules against news organizations fighting to keep the courtroom open.

Both the prosecution and defense have asked that Friday’s hearing, which will deal with trial strategy and potential witnesses, be held behind closed doors.

Prosecutors say they want to protect Weinstein’s right to a fair trial and shield the identities of women who’ve accused the disgraced movie mogul of wrongdoing.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. measles cases have surged again, and are on pace to set a record for most illnesses in 25 years.

Health officials on Monday said 555 measles cases have been confirmed so far this year, up from 465 as of a week ago.

While 20 states have reported cases, New York has been the epicenter. Nearly two-thirds of all cases have been in New York, and 85% of the latest week’s cases came from the state. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities.

UNITED NATIONS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Indonesian official urged Tuesday that humanitarian assistance to Venezuela "must be free from political objectives."

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, Dian Triansyab Djani, Indonesia's permanent representative to the United Nations, said aid should be delivered in close coordination with the Venezuelan government and in full respect of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NEW YORK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-listed Chinese stocks are appealing to investors as Wall Street chases after companies that do business in an economy with sustained growth, an experienced trader at the New York Stock Exchange said Tuesday.

"Most people here in the United States are very interested in Chinese growth. It's been a story that's enamored U.S. investors for a long time," said Mark Otto, who has been trading Chinese stocks for more than a decade during his 25-year experience at the New York Stock Exchange, in an interview with Xinhua.

NEW YORK, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Committee of 100 (C100), a prominent Chinese American organization, on Sunday condemned the growing racial profiling against Chinese Americans in the United States.

The C100 members are compelled to stand up and speak out against the "increasingly common" racial profiling in the country, where "Chinese Americans are being targeted as potential traitors, spies, and agents of foreign influence," said a statement issued by the organization.

27 Mar 2019; AFP: A New York county hit by a measles outbreak declared a state of emergency Tuesday and banned non-vaccinated minors from public places in a bid to prevent the once-eliminated disease from spreading.

The measure, which defines a public place as anywhere "more than 10 persons are intended to congregate" -- including public transport -- was announced by officials in Rockland County, 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of New York City.

New York, Mar 6 (PTI) An Indian-origin former employee of Cisco Systems has been arrested and charged with a criminal complaint alleging he defrauded the technology major of more than USD 9.3 million.

Prithviraj Bhikha, 50 was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud, US Attorney David Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John Bennett have said.