Ensure independent investigations into Nicaragua protest deaths – UN rights office
May 12, 2018, at 01:09 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights arm has called for investigations into all acts of violence in Nicaragua, where scores of people – the majority of them students – have been killed in protests that began in mid-April.
UN expert warns of “stark increase†in hate crimes across UK, post-Brexit
May 12, 2018, at 01:07 pm
New York, May 12(IBNS): Sounding an alarm over a “stark increase” in hate crimes across the United Kingdom as well as “widespread discrimination” faced by ethnic minorities, a United Nations independent rights expert has called on the country to “comprehensively” combat racism and bias.
Afghanistan: End attacks on civilians, prosecute perpetrators, says senior UN rights official
May 12, 2018, at 01:04 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): A top United Nations rights official has welcomed the Afghan Government’s “undeniable commitment” to improving an often “dire” human rights record, while also voicing concern over continued attacks on civilians ahead of key elections later in the year.
Mothers, children, lacking basic nutrition in North Korea: UN food aid chief
May 12, 2018, at 01:01 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations food relief agency said on Friday that many mothers and young children in North Korea are still relying on humanitarian assistance to meet their nutritional needs.
Service born from sacrifice: Rwanda’s commitment to UN peacekeeping
May 12, 2018, at 12:58 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Over the years, African governments have led the way in contributing troops and police to United Nations operations to help save lives and keep the peace around the world. Today, one of the continent’s smallest countries is also one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping.
May 12, 2018, at 12:50 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): Late last year, as violent repression in Myanmar sent Rohingyas fleeing to safety in Bangladesh, women from the mainly Muslim minority were subjected to what a United Nations official called “a frenzy of sexual violence”.
Children ‘are dying’ now in DRC’s Kasai from malnutrition, warns UNICEF
May 12, 2018, at 12:45 pm
New York, May 12 (IBNS): 400,000 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “are at risk of death” in the Kasais region from food shortages caused by conflict and displacement, according to a senior UN official who has just returned from the area, expressing shock at what he had witnessed.
Canada's Phoenix pay system becomes headache for federal public servants
May 12, 2018, at 05:25 am
Ottawa, May 11 (IBNS): Pending of more than 600K cases in Phoenix pay system has caused problems for more than half of all federal public servants, media reports said.
Canada: Live crabs occupy seats in Toronto subway train, witness shares story
May 12, 2018, at 04:01 am
Toronto, May 11 (IBNS): A Toronto woman has shared a unique experience of witnessing live crabs occupying seats in a Toronto subway train, drawing ire of a passenger.
Afghanistan: Raids in Laghman province kill 12 terrorists
May 12, 2018, at 12:03 am
Kabul, May 11 (IBNS): Afghan army Commandos and the Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS), Special Forces conducted operations in eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan, killing at least 12 terrorists, media reports said on Friday.
Canadian minister Navdeep Bains asked to remove turban at US airport
May 11, 2018, at 08:39 pm
Ottawa, May 11 (IBNS): Canadian minister Navedeep Bains was once asked to remove his turban at the US airport for security checking, media reports said.
US slaps new sanctions on people and companies to stifle Iran
May 11, 2018, at 06:18 pm
Washington, May 11 (IBNS): Days after pulling out of the much debated Iran nuclear deal, Washington has slapped new sanctions on six people and three companies with alleged links to Iran's elite military force, the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un to meet in Singapore on June 12
May 11, 2018, at 03:01 pm
Washington, May 11 (IBNS): The much-awaited meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place on June 12.
UN chief hails Japan-China-South Korea cooperation to ‘denuclearize’ Peninsula
May 11, 2018, at 02:45 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): United Nations chief António Guterres has welcomed the Japan-China-South Korea summit held on Wednesday and their effort to cooperate in ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons.
‘Durable solutions’ needed for durable peace in Darfur, UN envoy tells Security Council
May 11, 2018, at 02:42 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): The overall security situation in Sudan’s Darfur region “remains calm”, despite continuing low-level skirmishes, a top United Nations envoy said on Thursday; updating the Security Council on the UN mission’s work on the ground.
Avoid ‘new conflagration’ urges UN chief, in wake of military escalation in Golan
May 11, 2018, at 02:39 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): The United Nations chief has called for an immediate halt to all hostile acts and provocative actions to “avoid a new conflagration” in the Middle East, following reported exchanges of artillery fire over the Golan Heights.
UN rights expert welcomes return of detainees from DPRK, urges release of others
May 11, 2018, at 02:37 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): The release of three United States nationals by North Korea is “another important building block” towards peace, said a United Nations human rights expert on Thursday, while urging the release of six South Korean nationals who are still being held.
UN chief applauds Malaysians for ‘strong commitment’ to democracy
May 11, 2018, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated the people of Malaysia on Thursday, following the peaceful holding of national and provincial elections, and praised voters for their “strong commitment” to the democratic process.
Afghanistan: Violence at voter registration sites ‘assault on democracy,’ UN envoy warns
May 11, 2018, at 02:25 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): Afghanistan has suffered “a disturbing pattern” of attacks on voter registration facilities since the process began last month, which add up to an “assault on democracy”, the United Nations mission there said Thursday.
New UN agency guidelines aim to sustain forest benefits for future generations
May 11, 2018, at 02:19 pm
New York, May 11 (IBNS): New guidelines designed to give poor and isolated communities more of a say in how tropical forests are used and preserved around the world were published on Thursday, by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Toronto van attack: Accused man to appear in court today
May 11, 2018, at 12:14 am
Toronto, May 10 (IBNS): The accused man in Toronto van attack, which claimed 10 lives, will appear in the court on Thursday, media reports said.
Canada: Elections Ontario to use electronic voting machines and voter lists in Jun 7 polls
May 10, 2018, at 11:57 pm
Ottawa, May 10 (IBNS): The use of electronic voting machines and voter lists for the first time in Jun 7 Ontario elections, would help speed up both the voting and ballot-counting process, media reports said.
Canadian Tire signs deal to buy Norway's Helly Hansen
May 10, 2018, at 11:48 pm
Ottawa, May 10 (IBNS): Canadian Tire has signed a deal to buy Norway-based Helly Hansen, which is a maker of sportswear and workwear, for $985 million, media reports said.
Complex and deadly new threats mean UN missions must adapt, argue Force Commanders
May 10, 2018, at 09:04 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Evolving and increasingly deadly threats, together with deepening humanitarian crises mean that United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world need more support for ‘blue helmets’ on the ground, Force Commanders told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Honouring Second World War victims, UN chief calls neo-Nazism ‘a spreading cancer’
May 10, 2018, at 08:54 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Paying tribute to all victims of the Second World War – on whose ashes the United Nations was founded – Secretary-General António Guterres described this year’s commemoration as more meaningful than any that has gone before.
'Uphold international humanitarian law' UN chief tells parties to Yemen conflict
May 10, 2018, at 08:52 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern on Wednesday over the “recent and sharp escalation” in the Yemen conflict, calling on all parties to make civilian protection a priority.
Libyans deserve justice, as war crime suspects remain at large: Prosecutor
May 10, 2018, at 08:51 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, a Libyan war crimes suspect remains at large and could have committed further murders, the ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Iran deal represents ‘significant verification gain’ – UN atomic energy chief
May 10, 2018, at 08:47 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Speaking the day after the United States withdrew from an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency made it clear that Iran has consistently stuck to its commitments.
‘Gender-sensitive’ trade policies help empower East African women
May 10, 2018, at 08:45 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Trade and employment laws which give women greater access to the economy across East Africa, can pave the way for more inclusive development and prosperity, according to a new report from the United Nations trade body.
State of emergency must be lifted for ‘credible elections’ in Turkey, says UN rights chief
May 10, 2018, at 08:44 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Long-term restrictions on “freedoms of expression, assembly and association” are incompatible with the holding of “credible elections” in Turkey, said the United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday, calling on the Government to lift its extended state of emergency.