World Bank President steps down, Chief Executive assumes temporary role

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:17 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, announced on Monday that he is stepping down, after more than six years in the role. Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank CEO, will assume the role of interim President, from 1 February.

Saudi woman seeking asylum in Thailand ‘now in a secure place’ says UNHCR

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:14 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday that 18-year-old Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun, who had been stranded at Bangkok airport after fleeing her family in Kuwait, saying that she would be killed if forced to return, was “now in a secure place”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commences his China visit

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:06 am

Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commenced his China visit from Tuesday.

Rising human trafficking takes on ‘horrific dimensions’: almost a third of victims are children

Jan 08, 2019, at 09:50 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): A new UN report published on Monday shows that human trafficking is on the rise and taking on “horrific dimensions”, with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver. Children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked, and far more girls are detected than boys.

UK visa costlier for Indians from tomorrow

Jan 07, 2019, at 09:13 pm

London, Jan 7 (IBNS): UK visa is set to cost more for Indian and other non-EU citizens from tomorrow, media reports said on Monday.

Nepal seeks exchange facility for high-denomination Indian currency

Jan 07, 2019, at 08:38 pm

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (IBNS): Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the country's central bank has asked Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to manage an exchange facility of high-denomination Indian currency notes in Nepal, the Himalayan Times said.

Canada considers Quebec woman's disappearance in Burkina Faso as kidnap

Jan 07, 2019, at 07:43 pm

Ottawa, Jan 7 (IBNS): Canadian officials on Sunday said they are treating a Quebec woman's disappearance in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in west Africa, as kidnapping, media reports said.

Sheikh Hasina takes oath as Bangladesh PM

Jan 07, 2019, at 05:38 pm

Dhaka, Jan 7 (IBNS): Sheikh Hasina took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fourth time in her political career on Monday.

Afghanistan : 16 Taliban militants killed in airstrike

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:51 pm

Kabul, Jan 7 (IBNS) : At least 16 militants of the Taliban group were killed and an operations center of the group was destroyed in an airstrike conducted in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on Monday.

Afghanistan: Police thwart militant's bid to detonate a mosque in Herat

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:49 pm

Kabul, Jan 7 (IBNS): Saving several lives, the Afghan police forces have thwarted anti-government armed militants bid to detonate a mosque in western Herat province of the war-torn country, media reports said on Monday.

China kindergarten knife attack convict executed

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:14 pm

Beijing, Jan 7 (IBNS):  China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday said a man, who was convicted in the kindergarten knife attack case in south China, was executed on Friday after his death sentence was approved, media reports said.

Balochistan: Blasts leave 12 people injured

Jan 07, 2019, at 03:47 pm

Quetta, Jan 7 (IBNS): At least 12 people were injured as two blasts rocked Balochistan on Sunday, media reports said.

Imran Khan is going from country to country to beg for financial aid: Sindh CM

Jan 07, 2019, at 03:44 pm

Islamabad, Jan 7 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who stormed to power last year after his PTI registered a massive victory in the general polls, has drawn the criticism of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah over his recent foreign visits.

Human Rights Watch urges Thailand authorities to halt deportation of Saudi woman

Jan 07, 2019, at 10:02 am

Bangkok, Jan 7 (IBNS): Thailand authorities should immediately halt the planned deportation of a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing domestic abuse and fears for her safety if forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

2019 'a critical year' for Somali politics and development says Security Council

Jan 07, 2019, at 08:42 am

New York, Jan 7 (IBNS): In the wake of the Somali Government's decision last week to expel the head of the UN's assistance mission, UNSOM, the Security Council on Saturday cautioned that 2019 would be "a critical year" for the east African nation that is reconsituting itself after decades of conflict.

Afghanistan: Taliban abduct Wolesi Jirga candidate

Jan 06, 2019, at 07:02 pm

Kabul, Jan 6 (IBNS): Suspected Taliban terrorists abducted a Wolesi Jirga candidate from Afghanistan's Baghlan-i-Markazi district, media reports said on Sunday.

Afghanistan: Mine collapse kills 30 people in Badakhshan

Jan 06, 2019, at 05:18 pm

Kabul, Jan 6 (IBNS): At least 30 people died as a gold mine collapsed in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Sunday, media reports said.

Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks

Jan 06, 2019, at 05:06 pm

New York, Jan 6 (IBNS): More than 40 civilians have been reportedly killed during intercommunal clashes this week in northern Burkina Faso, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement on Friday night condemning the violence and “deteriorating security situation” in parts of the West African country.

UAE crown prince on official visit to Pakistan

Jan 06, 2019, at 02:17 pm

Islamabad, Jan 6 (IBNS): UAE crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Sunday after nearly 12 years on a one-day official visit.

Canada: Toronto police investigate shootout which sent one person to hospital

Jan 05, 2019, at 10:47 pm

Toronto, Jan 5 (IBNS): The Toronto police are investigating a shootout between a pedestrian and two occupants of a vehicle, CTV News reported.

US bowling alley shooting leaves 3 dead

Jan 05, 2019, at 05:49 pm

Los Angeles, Jan 5 (IBNS): At least three people died in a shooting incident in the US city of Torrance on Saturday, police said.

BNP can only complain: Awami League leader Quader

Jan 05, 2019, at 05:00 pm

Dhaka, Jan 5 (IBNS): Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the key opposition in the Muslim majority country, has no other task left but to make allegations after losing the 2018 general polls.

Chinese President Xi directs armed forces to enhance combat readiness

Jan 05, 2019, at 04:57 pm

Beijing, Jan 5 (IBNS):  Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed his nation's armed forces to enhance their combat readiness.

Pakistani ministers seeks international cooperation to reduce child sexual abuse

Jan 05, 2019, at 04:47 pm

Islamabad, Jan 5 (IBNS):  Pakistani Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari has called for more cooperation internationally to reduce crimes related to child sexual abuse.

'Multiple victims' in US bowling alley shooting: Police

Jan 05, 2019, at 04:07 pm

Los Angeles, Jan 5 (IBNS): Police have said that several victims were injured after shots were fired at Gable House Bowl in Torrance city of the US on Saturday.

Afghanistan : 52 militants killed in military operations

Jan 05, 2019, at 11:53 am

Kabul, Jan 4 (IBNS) :  In all 52 militants belonging to Taliban group and ISIS Khurasan (ISIS-K) have been killed in various military operations conducted in a number of provinces of Afghanistan.

The ‘abuse of food relief in Yemen’ must end now

Jan 05, 2019, at 09:15 am

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IBNS): On Friday, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) demanded that the stealing of food by warring factions in Yemen must stop immediately; and welcomed a statement from Houthi rebel leaders saying that the situation was now under investigation.

UN chief expresses ‘full confidence’ in top Somalia official following Government expulsion

Jan 05, 2019, at 09:13 am

New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN Secretary-General said on Friday he “deeply regrets” the Somali Government’s decision to expel his Special Representative in the country, adding that he had “full confidence” in Nicholas Haysom’s abilities and track record as an international civil servant.

Rights defenders jailed in Bahrain and UAE should be released unconditionally, UN urges

Jan 05, 2019, at 09:11 am

New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has called for the immediate release of a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain, after the country’s highest court rejected a final appeal for his release on Monday. Nabeel Rajab was jailed in 2016 for tweeting criticism of Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes on Yemen and allegations of torture inside one of Bahrain’s prisons.

Bangladesh elections: Hold those responsible accountable for ‘violent attacks and intimidation’

Jan 05, 2019, at 09:03 am

New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): Violence and alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh “before, during and after” 30 December elections have prompted the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) to call on Friday for those responsible to be held to account.