Canada: Northern Ontario wildfire no longer out of control

Aug 10, 2018, at 03:15 pm

Toronto, Aug 10 (IBNS): The wildfire in North Ontario is no longer considered to be out of control, media reports said.

Canada not considering retaliation against Saudi Arabia, says FM Bill Morneau

Aug 10, 2018, at 02:31 pm

Ottawa, Aug 10 (IBNS): Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau has said his government is not considering any retaliatory measure against Saudi Arabia, which severed  diplomatic ties with the North American country owing to its interference in internal matters of the Middle Eastern country, media reports said.

Citing irregularities from US, North Korea halts denuclearisation programme

Aug 10, 2018, at 12:30 pm

Pyongyang, Aug 10 (IBNS): North Korea said on Thursday that it has halted its denuclearisation programme, citing irregularities from the United States of America.

UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them

Aug 10, 2018, at 09:16 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

UN Envoy urges Burundi leaders to ‘seize opportunities for national unity and peace’

Aug 10, 2018, at 09:13 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafando, has called on the country’s leaders to “seize the opportunity” offered by the recent adoption of a new constitution, to create a new political environment that is “conducive to the consolidation of national unity and peace”.

Afghanistan: Blast in Herat kills 3

Aug 10, 2018, at 09:06 am

Herat, Aug 10 (IBNS): At least three people were killed in a blast which rocked Afghanistan's western Herat province on Thursday, media reports said on Friday.

UN chief condemns air strike that hit school bus in northern Yemen, killing scores of children

Aug 10, 2018, at 09:02 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned an air strike by pro-Yemini Government coalition forces, which killed scores of children who were on board a bus travelling through a busy market area in the northern province of Saada.

Thai citizenship means ‘dream of a brighter future’ for cave rescue boys, says UN Refugee Agency

Aug 10, 2018, at 08:59 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The decision of the Thai Government to grant citizenship to three of the boys recently rescued after being trapped in a flooded cave, along with their football coach, has been welcomed by UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Nagasaki is ‘a global inspiration’ for peace, UN chief says marking 73rd anniversary of atomic bombing

Aug 10, 2018, at 08:57 am

New York, Aug 10(IBNS): The survivors of the atomic bombings, known in Japanese as the hibakusha, have become global “leaders for peace and disarmament”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at Thursday’s Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan, commemorating the 73rd anniversary of that devastating day.

Millions at risk if Syria’s war moves to last redoubt of Idlib, warns senior aid official

Aug 10, 2018, at 08:53 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Aid access to embattled Syrians may soon improve following recent military gains by the Government, but the war “cannot be allowed to go to Idlib”, the head of the UN’s Humanitarian Task Force said on Thursday.

Nicaragua must end 'witch-hunt' against dissenting voices – UN human rights experts

Aug 10, 2018, at 08:40 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Following weeks of civil unrest in Nicaragua, a group of 11 UN independent human rights experts urged the Government on Thursday to stop the violent repression of protestors, which has left at least 317 people dead and 1,830 injured, stressing that "no one should be detained for the exercise of their human rights”.

FROM THE FIELD: A mountain of indigenous knowledge in Peru

Aug 10, 2018, at 08:37 am

New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Indigenous people in a remote mountain town in the Andes in Peru are being helped to boost their incomes by preserving a valuable but threatened breed of alpaca.

Canada: Ontario Ford Govt invests $25 million to wipe out gun violence and gangs

Aug 09, 2018, at 11:35 pm

Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS):  Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Thursday joined Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Michael Tibollo and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney to announce that Ontario's Government for the People is investing $25 million in new funding to fight gangs and guns, media reports said.

Yemen: Dozens of children killed in airstrike on bus

Aug 09, 2018, at 10:02 pm

Sana, Aug 9 (IBNS): Dozens of children lost their lives in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a school bus on Thursday.

Canada: Federal government planning to impose new restrictions to curb gun violence

Aug 09, 2018, at 07:07 pm

Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS): In the wake of several mass shootings in the country, the federal government in Canada is planning to impose some new restrictions to curb gun violence, media reports said.

Canada PM Trudeau takes 'firm' stance in dispute with Saudi Arabia

Aug 09, 2018, at 07:05 pm

Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shown no sign of budging down in the ongoing dispute with Saudi Arabia over the humanitarian issue, media reports said.

Skripal attack: US to impose fresh sanctions against Russia over use of Novichok agent

Aug 09, 2018, at 11:44 am

Washington/Moscow, Aug 9 (IBNS): The US has said that it will impose fresh sanctions on Russia over the latter's use of Novichok nerve agent in the attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Gaza border: Retaliatory fire from Israel kills pregnant woman, baby

Aug 09, 2018, at 10:44 am

Jerusalem, Aug 9 (IBNS): A pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter were among the three people killed in a retaliatory fire by Israeli soldiers on the Gaza border.

UN urges protection of indigenous peoples’ rights during migration

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:45 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, UN Secretary-General António Guterres put a spotlight on the factors pushing indigenous people to migrate “within their countries and across international borders” despite their “profound spiritual connection to their lands and resources”.

Former Chilean President Bachelet put forward by UN chief as next High Commissioner for Human Rights

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:42 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): She has twice been President of Chile, and on Wednesday, ground-breaking politician and women’s rights champion, Michelle Bachelet was nominated by the United Nations chief António Guterres for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Amid ‘volatile’ environment, UN mission chief urges Iraqi leaders to ‘listen to the voice of the people’

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:38 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Despite a myriad of “long-neglected social, economic and development needs”, the Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Wednesday said progress had been made towards recovery and stability in the battle-scarred country, and called for Iraqi political leaders to continue to “work for national reconciliation” through “inclusive” solutions.

In Tokyo, UN chief expresses full support for US-Japan dialogue with North Korea

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:36 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): At a joint press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ongoing talks between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as Japan’s renewed initiative of dialogue with the country.

‘Well-being of two million’ in Gaza at stake as emergency fuel runs dry: UN humanitarian coordinator

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:33 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): To avert hospital closures and raw sewage overflowing onto the streets of Gaza, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on Wednesday called on Israeli authorities to allow UN-purchased emergency fuel back across the border of the Palestinian enclave.

Let Nagasaki remain ‘the last city’ to suffer nuclear devastation says museum director, as UN chief arrives

Aug 09, 2018, at 09:30 am

New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): It’s essential that Nagasaki’s devastation should “not be forgotten” now or in the future, if the threat of nuclear war is to be lifted, said the Director of the Japanese city’s Atomic Bomb Museum, ahead of a visit there on Thursday by the UN Secretary-General.

Saudi Arabia issues orders to eliminate new Canadian investments, says report

Aug 08, 2018, at 11:32 pm

Riyadh/Ottawa, Aug 8 (IBNS): Escalating tension between the two countries, Saudi Arabia has now issued orders to eliminate new Canadian investments, Financial Times reported.

Canada: Six people dies in Alberta Highway crash

Aug 08, 2018, at 11:31 pm

Edmonton, Aug 8 (IBNS): Six people were killed in a collision on a highway in Alberta province of Canada on Tuesday, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Roadside blast leaves 13 injured

Aug 08, 2018, at 06:56 pm

Kabul, Aug 8 (IBNS): A roadside blast in northern Balkh province of Afghanistan left at least 13 people wounded, media reports said.

Bangladesh: Detained photographer Shahidul Alam shifted to hospital, Raghu Rai urges Sheikh Hasina for his release

Aug 08, 2018, at 02:15 pm

Dhaka, Aug 8 (IBNS): Internationally acclaimed photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, taken into custody by Bangladesh police for his criticism of the Government, was on Wednesday shifted to the hospital for treatment, media reports said quoting officials.

Pakistan: Supreme Court suspends HC ruling for recount in Imran's constituency

Aug 08, 2018, at 01:27 pm

Islamabad, Aug 8 (IBNS): The Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended the Lahore  High Court's (LHC) order to re-tabulate results of NA-131 constituency and accepted PTI chief Imran Khan's petition against the ruling for hearing.

Entire New South Wales now drought affected: Government

Aug 08, 2018, at 01:06 pm

Sydney, Aug 8 (IBNS): The entire state of New South Wales in Australia is affected by drought, its government has said on Wednesday.