UN updates guidelines to ensure successful return to civilian life for former combatants

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:51 am

New York/IBNS: Increasing hurdles which prevent former combatants from returning to a peaceful civilian life have prompted the UN to update its standard practices, in an effort to ensure they remain “fit-for-purpose for years to come”.

UN ‘regrets’ new US position on legality of Israeli settlements

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:44 am

New York/IBNS: The longstanding position of the UN regarding Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory – that they are in breach of international law – is unchanged, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during a press briefing on Tuesday in New York, reacting to the policy reversal announced by the United States.

Reconciliation helps ‘repair fractures’, enable lasting peace, Security Council hears

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:40 am

New York/IBNS: The UN Security Council this Tuesday has been debating what one activist labeled “the toughest and arguably most important part of the peace-building cycle”: reconciliation.

‘Three-country crisis’ across central Sahel puts whole generation at risk, warns UN food agency

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:38 am

New York/IBNS: Violent attacks by extremists “almost every day” in the Sahel nations of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have displaced nearly one million people and caused emergency levels of malnutrition, UN humanitarians have said.

Iran protests: Live ammunition reportedly used, says UN human rights office

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:33 am

New York/IBNS: Reports indicating that dozens of people have been killed in continuing protests across Iran – some by live ammunition - are of deep concern, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said on Tuesday.

Dhaka: Drug dealer killed during 'gunfight' with RAB

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:18 am

Dhaka/IBNS: During a 'gunfight' with  Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Hajaribagh area of Dhaka, an alleged drug dealer was killed, media reports said.

White House welcomes release of two Western hostages by Afghanistan Taliban

Nov 20, 2019, at 09:09 am

Washington/IBNS: The White House has welcomed the release of kidnapped professors Kevin King and Timothy Weeks by the Taliban.

Pakistani Sikh girl conversion: High Court directs officials to record her statement, let her go as per her wish

Nov 20, 2019, at 01:43 am

Islamabad/IBNS: The Pakistan High Court has directed officials to record the statement of Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur who was allegedly converted and married to a Muslim man in the country a few months ago, officials said. The incident had triggered an outrage of the Sikh community worldwide and clamour for safety of the minority communities in Pakistan riven by religious fundamentalism.

Swedish authorities drop investigation against Julian Assange

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:42 pm

London/IBNS: Swedish authorities have announced that they are ending all investigations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in connection with the rape allegation, media reports said.

Fourteen killed in NW Nigeria village attack

Nov 19, 2019, at 05:24 pm

Abuja/Xinhua/UNI: Fourteen people were killed and 10 others wounded in an attack by suspected gunmen at a village in northwest Nigeria, local police said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan: Taliban frees two Western hostages

Nov 19, 2019, at 04:49 pm

Kabu/IBNS: The Afghanistan Taliban have freed two Western hostages in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants, media reports said on Tuesday.

Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif leaves for London in air ambulance 

Nov 19, 2019, at 04:13 pm

Islamabad/Lahore/IBNS: Accompanied by sibling Shehbaz Sharif and personal physician Dr Adnan Khan, Pakistan's former PM Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday departed for London in an air ambulance for his treatment.

About 70 injured students from besieged PolyU surrender to Hong Kong police: Reports

Nov 19, 2019, at 10:19 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: About 70 injured students trapped at the besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) surrendered on their own on Monday evening, the Apple Daily reported.

South Korea confirms 16 people, 3 ships captured by Houthi rebels: Reports

Nov 19, 2019, at 10:15 am

Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens are among the 16 people captured by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, media reported Tuesday.

Israeli Air Defense intercepts 4 'launches' from Syria: Army

Nov 19, 2019, at 10:07 am

Tel Aviv/Sputnik/UNI: Israeli air defense systems intercepted four unspecified launches from Syria against the north of the country, Israeli Defense Forces said Tuesday.

Afghanistan: Grenade attack close to military training facility leaves five hurt in Kabul

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:58 am

Kabul/IBNS: Unknown gunmen threw hand grenades close to a military training facility in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul and left five people hurt, media reports said on Tuesday.  

Sustainable fishing staying afloat in developed world, sinking in poorer regions

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:43 am

New York/IBNS: More people than ever rely on fisheries and aquaculture for food, and income, but the seafood industry is facing a “dangerous” sustainability divide when comparing trends in the developed world versus those in poorer regions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed on Monday. 

At UN, Middle East countries discuss steps towards regional nuclear-free zone

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:29 am

New York/IBNS: Representatives from across the Middle East are meeting at UN Headquarters this week in efforts to negotiate a legally binding treaty establishing a regional zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

One-third of Afghans need urgent humanitarian aid, millions suffer ‘acute food insecurity’

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:19 am

New York/IBNS: Over the last three months (August to October 2019), around one-third of the Afghan population required urgent humanitarian action, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert, released on Monday, which declares that some 10.23 million people are living in a state of “severe acute food insecurity”.

Ankara contributed to elimination of IS leader Al-Baghdadi: Turkish Foreign Minister

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:13 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says that the elimination of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State terrorist organization (IS, also known as ISIS, banned in Russia), became possible after his confidant, detained in Ankara, pointed to the leader's location.

Anti-terror measures against youngsters’ online posts ‘linked to spike in child detention globally’

Nov 19, 2019, at 09:09 am

New York/IBNS: More than 5.4 million children are detained around the world, rights experts said on Monday, highlighting “aggressive” State counterterrorism measures for the spike in youngsters held for alleged links with armed conflict or national security concerns based on their social media posts.

UNICEF reports uneven progress in 30 years of child rights treaty

Nov 19, 2019, at 08:56 am

New York/IBNS: Although the world has made historic gains over the past three decades in improving children’s lives, urgent action is required if the poorest children are to feel the impact, a new UN report published on Monday warns.

US: Three killed in shooting at Walmart store in Duncan

Nov 18, 2019, at 11:20 pm

Washington/IBNS: Three people were killed in a shooting incident at a Walmart store in Duncan, Oklahoma of the United States on Monday morning.

Israel launches energy efficiency plan in factories, municipalities

Nov 18, 2019, at 05:28 pm

Jerusalem/Xinhua/UNI: Israel has launched a plan to streamline energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Ministries of Economy, Energy and Environmental Protection announced on Monday.

Bangladesh shootout: 'Extremist’ killed

Nov 18, 2019, at 04:42 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: In a shootout incident, a leader of an outlawed group was killed in Bangladesh's Harinakundu area, media reports said.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa takes oath as Sri Lankan President

Nov 18, 2019, at 04:39 pm

Colombo/UNI/IBNS: A day after he scripted victory in the polls, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as the seventh Executive President of Sri Lanka on Monday.

Fresno shooting: Four people killed

Nov 18, 2019, at 04:30 pm

California/IBNS: At least four people were killed as a suspected gunman attacked a group of family and friends who had gathered in a backyard Sunday to watch a football game in US city of Fresno.

Donald Trump tells Kim to get de-nuclearisation deal done, 'Act Quickly'

Nov 18, 2019, at 10:14 am

Washington/Sputnik/UNI: US President Donald Trump addressed the North Korean leader on his Twitter feed, saying that Kim Jong Un should get the denuclearization deal done and "act quickly."

Blaze starts near Hong Kong Polytechnic University following police's assault: Reports

Nov 18, 2019, at 10:11 am

Moscow/SputnikUNI: A massive fire broke out on Monday near the building of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University following the police storming the campus, seized by protesters, RTHK broadcaster reports.

Dutch Queen Maxima to visit Pakistan this month

Nov 18, 2019, at 10:04 am

Islamabad/UNI: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is scheduled to visit Pakistan from November 25-27 in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for inclusive finance for development.