Donald Trump government considering reduction of troops in Afghanistan
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:27 am
Washington, Dec 21 (IBNS): The US government is planning to reduce its troops posted in Afghanistan, media reports said on Friday.
2018 ‘terrifying’ for Yemenis but ultimately a ‘year for hope’ says UN Special Envoy
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:25 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): It has been a “terrifying” year for Yemenis but ultimately one of hope, as December talks in Sweden yielded a ceasefire around a key port city with the promise of further substantive consultations between the warring parties next month, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told UN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
Remain united for Syrians, UN envoy de Mistura urges Security Council
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:10 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Addressing the problems plaguing Syria and bring years of brutal fighting to an end, requires further “genuine effort” on the part of influential countries, to talk to each other and work constructively, the veteran United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has said.
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Migrants and refugees are being subjected to "unimaginable horrors" from the moment they enter Libya, throughout their stay in the country and – if they make it that far – during their attempts to cross the Mediterranean, according to a report released on Thursday, by the United Nations political mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UN human rights office (OHCHR).
James Mattis resigns as US Defence Secretary
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:02 am
Washington, Dec 21 (IBNS): Amid differences with US President Donald Trump over plans to withdraw troops from Syria, US Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned on Thursday, media reports said.
Third Canadian arrested over employment issue, says China
Dec 20, 2018, at 06:54 pm
Beijing/Ottawa, Dec 20 (IBNS): China on Thursday said the third Canadian has been arrested over an employment issue, media reports said.
Third Canadian citizen detained in China gets identified as teacher
Dec 20, 2018, at 06:30 pm
Ottawa, Dec 20 (IBNS): The third Canadian citizen, who has been detained in China, was a teacher, media reports said.
UN-led Yemen ceasefire monitoring team gets ready to begin operations
Dec 20, 2018, at 10:04 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): A UN-led team tasked with overseeing the ceasefire which came into effect on Tuesday around a number of critical Yemeni ports, has begun planning operations with a conference call to discuss the general outlines of its work, including agreement of a code of conduct, the UN Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Dec 20, 2018, at 10:02 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): As the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) prepare to vote in next week’s long-awaited presidential election, UN Security Council members on Tuesday expressed their conviction that the 23 December vote should be viewed as an “historic opportunity” for the country.
New UN rights report paints bleak picture in eastern DR Congo
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:59 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): A new United Nations human rights report has documented “hundreds” of extra-judicial killings and cases of torture and sexual violence against civilians over the last two years in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Confirmed ‘Blue Line’ tunnels ‘do not appear’ to surface in Israel – UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:56 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed the existence of at least two tunnels crossing the “Blue Line” – the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel – but they “do not appear thus far” to have exit points leading to the surface on Israeli territory, the United Nations top peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
General Assembly officially adopts roadmap for migrants to improve safety, ease suffering
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:53 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly officially endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration on Wednesday, a non-binding agreement adopted in Marrakech on 10 December by 164 Member States, and described by UN chief António Guterres as a “roadmap to prevent suffering and chaos”.
'Multiplicity’ of rights violations in Ukraine as fifth winter of conflict bites
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Rights violations have continued unabated and unaddressed in Ukraine and people are still dying amid ongoing conflict between Government forces and armed separatists in the east of the country, a top UN rights official said on Wednesday
China detains third Canadian citizen, bilateral tension grows
Dec 19, 2018, at 10:35 pm
Ottawa, Dec 19 (IBNS): Amid growing discord between the two countries, Canada on Wednesday said its third citizen has been detained by China, media reports said.
I respect parliamentary tradition: Sri Lankan President Sirisena
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:30 pm
Colombo, Dec 19 (IBNS): Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who had to eat his words and reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's Prime Minister, says he administered the PM's oath last Sunday because of his respect for the parliamentary tradition.
Dec 19, 2018, at 03:45 pm
London, Dec 19 (IBNS): The cost of heating and cooling the home, and increasing social isolation are significant factors in health risk of older adults during extreme weather, according to a new study by the University of Warwick.
Dec 19, 2018, at 03:33 pm
The RSF round-up figures have risen in all categories. Murders, imprisonment, hostage-taking and enforced disappearances have all increased. Journalists have never before been subjected to as much violence and abusive treatment as in 2018.
Afghanistan : Militant leader among 13 killed in U.S. drone strike
Dec 19, 2018, at 12:36 pm
Kabul, Dec 19 (IBNS) : At least 13 militants, including one of their local leaders, was killed in a drone strike conducted by the U.S. forces in southeastern Paktia province of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Security officials rescue abducted Afghan-German woman from Kabul
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:44 am
Kabul, Dec 19 (IBNS): Afghanistan security officials have rescued an Afghan-German woman, who was abducted two years ago, from Kabul city of the country, media reports said.
‘Chance for peace’ in South Sudan finally within reach, declares UN Peacekeeping chief
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The security situation in South Sudan has significantly improved since the recently signed peace deal between the opposing parties in the country’s civil war, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peacekeeping (DPKO), told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Human rights champions from across the world receive top UN prize
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The “clear and profound” guidelines enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “have made it the world’s most widely translated document”, the UN Secretary-General told the General Assembly on Tuesday at an event to commemorate the Declaration’s 70th Anniversary, marked 10 December.
UN rights chief welcomes new text to protect rights of peasants and other rural workers
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:07 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): As the most basic rights of rural people continue to be trampled on in many parts of the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, welcomed Monday the adoption on Monday by the UN General Assembly of a new declaration to help safeguard them.
Worth going 'extra mile' for a new Syrian constitution, UN envoy urges
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Efforts to establish a constitutional committee for Syria are worth going the “extra mile” for, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Tuesday, after meeting the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey - guarantors of a fragile ceasefire in the wartorn country – who agreed that it should convene for the first time early next year, in Geneva.
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Recent violence and rising tensions in the West Bank are fuelling a climate of hatred and fear, “driving both Israelis and Palestinians further away” from a resolution to the conflict, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East Peace Process has said.
South Sudanese refugees need $2.7 billion, as safe return remains elusive
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:54 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a $2.7 billion appeal on behalf of South Sudanese refugees on Tuesday, to address Africa’s largest displacement crisis, where millions have been uprooted by years of brutal civil war.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS):Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
World needs China for global prosperity: Xi Jinping
Dec 18, 2018, at 05:11 pm
Beijing, Dec 18 (IBNS): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said the world will need his nation for global prosperity.
Pakistan: School bus hits passengers train, 12 children hurt
Dec 18, 2018, at 05:09 pm
Islamabad, Dec 18 (BNS): At least 12 children were hurt when the vehicle in which they were travelling hit a passenger train close to Pakistan's Narowal city on Tuesday, media reports said.
Indian national Hamid Ansari freed from Pak jail, to be repatriated to Mumbai
Dec 18, 2018, at 03:18 pm
Islamabad, Dec 18 (IBNS) : Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari was on Tuesday released from a Pakistani jail to be repatriated to India, six years after he was detained by the country's intelligence agencies and subsequently sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card, according to a media report.
Moves to create a Kosovo army have ‘deteriorated relations’ with Serbia: UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:48 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The decision by Kosovo’s parliament to form a national army was described by the UN Peacekeeping chief on Monday as having “further deteriorated relations between Belgrade and Pristina,” which, he said, have been strained for some time.