Nov 15, 2018, at 09:08 am
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS): Sounding the alarm about the urgent need to protect coral reefs from extinction within decades, a new coalition of organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was launched on Wednesday in Egypt during the UN Biodiversity Conference, to galvanize global leadership before it is too late.
UN and Tokyo 2020, leverage power of Olympic Games in global sustainable development race
Nov 15, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS): The United Nations and the organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have signed an agreement to highlight the important contribution that sport makes in the race to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by the ambitious deadline of 2030.
Canada: Medical cannabis users complain of shortages
Nov 14, 2018, at 07:19 pm
Ottawa, Nov 14 (IBNS): Medical cannabis users are complaining of shortages of marijuana and delays in production, media reports said.
Canada wants free trade agreement with Asian nations: PM Trudeau
Nov 14, 2018, at 07:19 pm
Singapore, Nov 14 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his country wants free trade deal with a bloc of 10 Asian nations, media reports said.
Political Crisis in island nation: Sri Lankan Parliament votes to reject new prime minister
Nov 14, 2018, at 04:51 pm
Colombo, Nov 14 (IBNS): In a new twist to the political crisis in Sri Lanka, the country's parliament on Wednesday passed a vote of no-confidence against the newly-appointed prime minister chosen by President Sirisena.
Donald Trump celebrates Diwali at White House, calls Modi a friend
Nov 14, 2018, at 11:04 am
Washington, Nov 14 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump has referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "friend" while celebrating Hindu festival Diwali at the White House on Tuesday.
Congo Prospers from Environmental Protection
Nov 14, 2018, at 10:09 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): Families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are being supported by their government and the United Nations to protect the environment and build what the UN Development Programme calls “climate-resilient lives.”
Help build vulnerable island states’ resilience to extreme weather, urges senior UN official
Nov 14, 2018, at 10:02 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): With Small Island Developing States (SIDS) bearing the brunt of economic losses from climate change, making them more resilient to extreme weather events must be a priority, said Inga Rhonda King, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), speaking at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Building climate resilience and peace, go hand in hand for Africa’s Sahel – UN forum
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:55 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): To build a sustainable peace in Africa’s Sahel region, “urgent attention” is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure that communities have access to sufficient opportunities, a joint meeting between the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Peacebuilding Commission highlighted on Tuesday.
‘Terror and panic’ among Rohingya who may be forced to return to Myanmar – UN rights chief
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:52 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): There is “terror and panic” among Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will, the United Nations top human rights official has said, warning that the returns would seriously endanger the lives of those sent back.
Outgoing UN official praises Iraq’s ‘exemplary peaceful transfer of power’ at the top
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): In his last briefing as the top United Nations official in Iraq, Ján Kubiš updated the Security Council on the country’s post-election political settlement, commending the “exemplary peaceful transfer of power” between Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his successor, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who was sworn in at the end of October.
UN receives ‘Humanium’ wristwatch gift, symbolizing peaceful transformation
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:43 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): On Friday, the United Nations disarmament chief was presented with a watch that does more than just tell the time. Made from “Humanium” – a metal processed from confiscated firearms in El Salvador – it symbolizes how peaceful transformation can be wrought from bloody conflict.
United States: UN chief ‘deeply saddened’ by deadly California wildfires
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:40 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed “deep sadness” over the loss of lives and damages caused by devastating wildfires in the state of California in the United States.
Gaza: deadly violence continues to escalate, top UN officials work to restore calm
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): As violence in the Gaza Strip is once again flaring up reportedly following a raid and bombings by Israeli forces and multiple rocket launches from inside the Palestinian enclave, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on Tuesday that he was following developments closely, while his Special Coordinator for the region, Nickolay Mladenov, works with all sides to try and restore calm.
UN food agency appeals for access to key storage facility amid fight for Hudaydah
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:32 am
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): UN humanitarian agency the World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for access to a key storage facility in the port of Hudaydah, which is now under the control of a Saudi-led military coalition that supports the internationally recognized Government.
Several pilots report UFOs sightings off Irish coast, authorities start investigation
Nov 14, 2018, at 09:28 am
London, Nov 14 (IBNS): In a strange development, the Irish Aviation Authority has started investigating after receiving reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects and bright lights off the coast of Ireland, media reports said on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka: SC stays proclamation dissolving Parliament
Nov 13, 2018, at 06:54 pm
Colombo, Nov 13 (IBNS): In a major development, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an interim order till Dec 7, staying the proclamation issued by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve parliament.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan to visit Malaysia on Nov 21
Nov 13, 2018, at 04:34 pm
Islamabad, Nov 13 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Malaysia on Nov 21, media reports said.
Afghanistan: Magnetic bomb blast leaves 11 hurt
Nov 13, 2018, at 03:57 pm
Kabul, Nov 13 (IBNS): A magnetic bomb blast in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Tuesday left at least 11 people injured, media reports said.
Canada in talks with Pakistan over Asia Bibi, says Canada PM Trudeau in Paris
Nov 13, 2018, at 03:15 pm
Paris, Nov 13 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his country is talking with Pakistan over Asia Bibi, whose acquittal of charges of blasphemy sparked massive row in South Asia, media reports said.
UN experts concerned over racial bias in Dutch child welfare system
Nov 13, 2018, at 09:12 am
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The Dutch authorities have been accused by UN experts of racism in the country’s welfare system, after seven children of African descent were forcibly removed from their parents.
Marginalized voices must be ‘included and amplified’ in digital technology space: UN Chief
Nov 13, 2018, at 09:07 am
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): New thinking is needed to better address deep gender gaps in access to digital technologies, seek out networks of the increasingly active elderly population, and support young people facing a rapidly transforming labour market, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates on Monday, at the 2018 Internet Governance Forum (IGF), hosted in Paris by the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Rohingya returns only ‘at their freely expressed wish’ – UN refugee chief
Nov 13, 2018, at 09:00 am
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): Returns of Rohingya refugees, forced to flee their homes due to widespread and systematic violence in northern Myanmar, “should only take place at their freely expressed wish” the United Nations top refugee official has stressed, amid concerns that conditions at places of origin are not yet conducive to safe, dignified and sustainable returns.
Canada PM Justin Trudeau meets Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad in Paris
Nov 12, 2018, at 09:53 pm
Paris, Nov 12 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad in France's capital city Paris.
Afghanistan: Kabul suicide attack kills 8
Nov 12, 2018, at 04:11 pm
Kabul, Nov 12 (IBNS): At least eight people were killed as a suicide attack hit Afghanistan capital Kabul city on Monday, media reports said.
Afghanistan : 56 militants killed, wounded in Kunduz clash
Nov 12, 2018, at 02:06 pm
Kabul, Nov 12 (IBNS) :The Afghan Military in the North claims at least 56 militants have been killed or wounded during a clash with the security forces in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan.
Nov 12, 2018, at 09:45 am
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): From conflict and economic downturn to disease and climate change, global problems require “more than ever” a strengthening of international cooperation, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders at the Paris Peace Forum on Sunday, commemorating 100 years since the end of the First World War.
Somalia: UN Security Council condemns terrorist attack in which dozens were killed or injured
Nov 12, 2018, at 09:28 am
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): The members of the United Nations Security Council, on Saturday, condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Friday’s car bomb attack in Somalia, in which dozens of innocent women, children and men were killed or injured, and reiterated that any acts of terrorism are "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed".
Saddened by death and devastation in California fires: Pompeo
Nov 12, 2018, at 09:22 am
Washington, Nov 12 (IBNS): US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he is saddened by the loss of lives in wildfires which hit California in recent times.