Afghanistan: Civilians continue to die in record numbers, new UN report shows

Oct 11, 2018, at 08:02 am

New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): The conflict in Afghanistan continues to exact a terrible toll on civilians, with the highest number of fatalities recorded for the first nine months of this year, since 2014, a United Nations report has revealed.

‘Put an end to the death penalty now’, urges Guterres, marking World Day

Oct 11, 2018, at 07:59 am

New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): Progress made toward eliminating the death penalty has been “marred by setbacks,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement on Wednesday, marking the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty.

40 terrorists killed in different parts of Afghanistan: MoD

Oct 10, 2018, at 07:07 pm

Kabul, Oct 10 (IBNS): Afghan National Defense and Security Forces launched 21 clearing operations and 103 Special Forces operations in different parts of the country in the past 24 hours, officials said.

Afghan civilians continue to be killed in record high numbers: UNAMA

Oct 10, 2018, at 07:02 pm

Kabul, Oct 10 (IBNS): The figures released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) show continuing high casualty rates being inflicted on the Afghan civilian population, especially by anti-government elements.

Kenya bus crash leaves 50 dead

Oct 10, 2018, at 05:12 pm

Nairobi, Oct 10 (IBNS): A bus crashed in Kenya and left at least 50 people killed on Wednesday, media reports said.

Canada: Pipeline explodes near Prince George in British Columbia

Oct 10, 2018, at 01:53 pm

Prince George, Oct 10 (IBNS): The RCMP have said a pipeline exploded near Prince George in British Columbia (BC), media reports said.

Hurricane Michael: Florida braces for 'extremely dangerous' category 4 storm

Oct 10, 2018, at 01:43 pm

Tallahassee, Oct 10 (IBNS): Residents in Florida have been warned of an 'extremely dangerous' category 4 storm, Hurricane Michael, which is due to make landfall later in the day.

Canada likely not to support Michaëlle Jean in her bid to become Francophonie Secretary General

Oct 10, 2018, at 01:41 pm

Ottawa, Oct 10 (IBNS): Canada has hinted at doing anything but supporting former Governor General Michaëlle Jean, who is running to become la-Francophonie Secretary General for the second time, media reports said.

Former Guatemalan Vice President Roxana Baldetti sentenced to prison in 'Magic Water' scandal

Oct 10, 2018, at 01:15 pm

Guatemala City, Oct 10 (IBNS): Disgraced former Guatemalan Vice President Roxana Baldetti has been sentenced to 15- and -half years in prison after a national court found her guilty in the 'Magic Water' scandal.

US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley resigns

Oct 10, 2018, at 11:30 am

Washington, Oct 10 (IBNS): In a shock move, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has resigned.

UN refugee agency ramps up support for Venezuelans, praises ‘extraordinary solidarity’ of Colombia

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:49 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): With the help of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Colombia is showing “extraordinary solidarity” towards Venezuelans displaced amid the country’s on-going economic and political crisis, said agency chief, Filippo Grandi on Tuesday.

Consequences of severe global funding shortages for refugees and migrants ‘all too real’, warns UNHCR

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:47 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Efforts to assist the tens of millions who’ve been forced from their homes are being increasingly constrained by severely limited funds, a new report from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned, urging greater international attention and support.

First South Sudan river convoy in five years, delivers UN aid to remote areas

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:42 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): For the first time since civil war erupted in South Sudan in 2013, a United Nations food convoy has managed to deliver thousands of tonnes of aid by river, to people in seven hard-to-reach locations, saving millions of dollars on costly aid flights.

Venezuela prisons ‘beyond monstrous’, UN warns, highlighting plight of Colombian detainees

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:36 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Conditions in Venezuela’s prisons are “beyond monstrous”, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, before calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the death of a leading political opponent of the Government.

Killing and rape of Bulgarian investigative reporter is an ‘outrage’ - UNESCO chief

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:31 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has condemned the “brutal” killing of investigative reporter Victoria Marinova, whose body was found on Saturday in the Bulgarian city of Ruse, bearing signs of suffocation and sexual assault.

Independent inquiry needed into suspected ‘enforced disappearance’ of Saudi journalist: UN rights office

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:28 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The “apparent enforced disappearance” of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was last seen reportedly visiting his country’s consulate in Istanbul last week, requires a full investigation involving both Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.

Critical food programmes in North Korea can’t wait for ‘diplomatic progress’, UN food agency warns

Oct 10, 2018, at 09:22 am

New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): North Korea’s humanitarian situation remains dire, with widespread chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, the United Nations emergency food relief agency has warned, urging greater and sustained funding for its aid operations there.

Canada: Man charged with first-degree murder in deadly house explosion

Oct 10, 2018, at 12:19 am

Kitchener, Oct 9 (IBNS): A 58-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in a deadly house explosion at Kitchener, Ontario on Monday, media reports said.

Afghan's Right to vote is enshrined in the constitution and a fundamental human right: UNAMA

Oct 09, 2018, at 03:39 pm

Kabul, Oct 9 (IBNS): With less than two weeks to the polls to elect a new Parliament, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) highlights that taking part in elections is a citizen’s right enshrined in the Afghan Constitution and a basic human right for all people.

USA: Three killed in separate shootings in St Louis

Oct 09, 2018, at 02:47 pm

St Louis, Oct 9 (IBNS): At least three people have been killed in separate shooting incidents in Missouri's St Louis city, reports said.

Japan: Zookeeper mauled to death by rare white tiger

Oct 09, 2018, at 01:10 pm

Tokyo, Oct 9 (IBNS): A rare white tiger killed a zookeeper in its enclosure in a zoo in Japan, reports said.

Google decides to shut down Google+ after users' personal data exposed

Oct 09, 2018, at 09:55 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Internet search engine Google on Monday announced that it has decided to shut down social network Google+ for consumers.

UN recognizes postal service as ‘a true partner for all’ delivering good to the world

Oct 09, 2018, at 09:05 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Marking World Post Day, top United Nations officials highlighted the importance of the postal sector not just for delivering mail but also “delivering good to the world”.

Bullying: Protection for children is a ‘fundamental human right’ says top UN advocate

Oct 09, 2018, at 09:02 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Around 130 million, or one-in-three children worldwide, experience some form of bullying, the United Nations stated on Monday, in its latest report on how children can be better-protected. This form of violence has long-lasting and direct consequences for their health, school performance and overall well-being.

With boundaries blurring between crime and terror, international cooperation’s vital, UN highlights

Oct 09, 2018, at 08:58 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): The constantly-evolving ‘nexus’ between crime and terrorism, ranging from simple deals to complex symbiotic relationships, demands greater understanding to break the illicit flow of black-market cash across borders, a United Nations meeting heard on Monday.

Cutting-edge tech a ‘double-edged sword for developing countries’: UN report

Oct 09, 2018, at 08:54 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): The latest technological advances, from artificial intelligence to electric cars, can be a “double-edged sword”, says the latest UN World Economic and Social Survey (WESS 2018), released on Monday.

‘Stronger’ effort must be made to cement peace deal for South Sudanese women and girls: UN Women chief

Oct 09, 2018, at 08:42 am

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Putting the latest peace deal into real effect across South Sudan, must include addressing “in a stronger manner, the challenges facing women and girls”, said the UN’s leading voice for gender-equality, who is part of a joint United Nations-African Union delegation to the country this week.

Canada: Explosion, fire at Saint John's oil refinery; two injured

Oct 09, 2018, at 12:03 am

Saint John, Oct 8 (IBNS): An explosion and fire at a oil refinery in Saint John city of Canada injured at least two people on Monday morning, media reports said.

Nordhaus, Romer get Nobel Prize in Economics

Oct 08, 2018, at 04:05 pm

Oslo, Oct 8 (IBNS): In a significant announcement, the Nobel Prize in Economics was given to William Nordhaus for his work on climate economics and Paul Romer for his work on the endogenous growth theory on Monday.

Afghanistan: One cop, two others injured in Kabul blast

Oct 08, 2018, at 03:56 pm

Kabul, Oct 8 (IBNS): At least one policeman and two others were injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan capital Kabul city on Sunday, media reports said on Monday.