New UN rights report paints bleak picture in eastern DR Congo
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:59 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): A new United Nations human rights report has documented “hundreds” of extra-judicial killings and cases of torture and sexual violence against civilians over the last two years in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Confirmed ‘Blue Line’ tunnels ‘do not appear’ to surface in Israel – UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:56 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed the existence of at least two tunnels crossing the “Blue Line” – the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel – but they “do not appear thus far” to have exit points leading to the surface on Israeli territory, the United Nations top peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
General Assembly officially adopts roadmap for migrants to improve safety, ease suffering
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:53 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly officially endorsed the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration on Wednesday, a non-binding agreement adopted in Marrakech on 10 December by 164 Member States, and described by UN chief António Guterres as a “roadmap to prevent suffering and chaos”.
'Multiplicity’ of rights violations in Ukraine as fifth winter of conflict bites
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Rights violations have continued unabated and unaddressed in Ukraine and people are still dying amid ongoing conflict between Government forces and armed separatists in the east of the country, a top UN rights official said on Wednesday
China detains third Canadian citizen, bilateral tension grows
Dec 19, 2018, at 10:35 pm
Ottawa, Dec 19 (IBNS): Amid growing discord between the two countries, Canada on Wednesday said its third citizen has been detained by China, media reports said.
I respect parliamentary tradition: Sri Lankan President Sirisena
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:30 pm
Colombo, Dec 19 (IBNS): Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who had to eat his words and reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's Prime Minister, says he administered the PM's oath last Sunday because of his respect for the parliamentary tradition.
Dec 19, 2018, at 03:45 pm
London, Dec 19 (IBNS): The cost of heating and cooling the home, and increasing social isolation are significant factors in health risk of older adults during extreme weather, according to a new study by the University of Warwick.
Dec 19, 2018, at 03:33 pm
The RSF round-up figures have risen in all categories. Murders, imprisonment, hostage-taking and enforced disappearances have all increased. Journalists have never before been subjected to as much violence and abusive treatment as in 2018.
Afghanistan : Militant leader among 13 killed in U.S. drone strike
Dec 19, 2018, at 12:36 pm
Kabul, Dec 19 (IBNS) : At least 13 militants, including one of their local leaders, was killed in a drone strike conducted by the U.S. forces in southeastern Paktia province of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Security officials rescue abducted Afghan-German woman from Kabul
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:44 am
Kabul, Dec 19 (IBNS): Afghanistan security officials have rescued an Afghan-German woman, who was abducted two years ago, from Kabul city of the country, media reports said.
‘Chance for peace’ in South Sudan finally within reach, declares UN Peacekeeping chief
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The security situation in South Sudan has significantly improved since the recently signed peace deal between the opposing parties in the country’s civil war, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peacekeeping (DPKO), told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Human rights champions from across the world receive top UN prize
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The “clear and profound” guidelines enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “have made it the world’s most widely translated document”, the UN Secretary-General told the General Assembly on Tuesday at an event to commemorate the Declaration’s 70th Anniversary, marked 10 December.
UN rights chief welcomes new text to protect rights of peasants and other rural workers
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:07 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): As the most basic rights of rural people continue to be trampled on in many parts of the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, welcomed Monday the adoption on Monday by the UN General Assembly of a new declaration to help safeguard them.
Worth going 'extra mile' for a new Syrian constitution, UN envoy urges
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Efforts to establish a constitutional committee for Syria are worth going the “extra mile” for, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Tuesday, after meeting the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey - guarantors of a fragile ceasefire in the wartorn country – who agreed that it should convene for the first time early next year, in Geneva.
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Recent violence and rising tensions in the West Bank are fuelling a climate of hatred and fear, “driving both Israelis and Palestinians further away” from a resolution to the conflict, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East Peace Process has said.
South Sudanese refugees need $2.7 billion, as safe return remains elusive
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:54 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a $2.7 billion appeal on behalf of South Sudanese refugees on Tuesday, to address Africa’s largest displacement crisis, where millions have been uprooted by years of brutal civil war.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS):Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
World needs China for global prosperity: Xi Jinping
Dec 18, 2018, at 05:11 pm
Beijing, Dec 18 (IBNS): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said the world will need his nation for global prosperity.
Pakistan: School bus hits passengers train, 12 children hurt
Dec 18, 2018, at 05:09 pm
Islamabad, Dec 18 (BNS): At least 12 children were hurt when the vehicle in which they were travelling hit a passenger train close to Pakistan's Narowal city on Tuesday, media reports said.
Indian national Hamid Ansari freed from Pak jail, to be repatriated to Mumbai
Dec 18, 2018, at 03:18 pm
Islamabad, Dec 18 (IBNS) : Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari was on Tuesday released from a Pakistani jail to be repatriated to India, six years after he was detained by the country's intelligence agencies and subsequently sentenced to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card, according to a media report.
Moves to create a Kosovo army have ‘deteriorated relations’ with Serbia: UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:48 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The decision by Kosovo’s parliament to form a national army was described by the UN Peacekeeping chief on Monday as having “further deteriorated relations between Belgrade and Pristina,” which, he said, have been strained for some time.
Prospect of negotiated peace in Afghanistan ‘never been more real’ – UN mission chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:46 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): A negotiated end to the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan “has never been more real…than it is now”, the head of the United Nations peace mission in the country has said, highlighting a series of important milestones achieved over recent months.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:43 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
UN affirms ‘historic’ global compact to support world’s refugees
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:39 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly affirmed a non-legally binding Global Compact on Refugees on Monday, marking the latest move by Member States to support the rights of 258 million people on the move worldwide.
First full satellite survey of devastated ancient Aleppo raises recovery hopes
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:34 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The first comprehensive survey of the devastation inflicted on the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo by years of urban warfare, has been published thanks to ground-breaking satellite imaging tools, developed by UN agencies – an essential first step towards its eventual reconstruction.
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:17 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, on Monday announced that they had received the Government go-ahead to develop community projects in Myanmar’s Rakhine province, and called on authorities to provide “more effective access” to the area.
UN calls for funds to ease ‘deteriorating’ humanitarian situation in Gaza and West Bank
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The need for aid in the occupied Palestinian territory has increased, following a year that has seen a “serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation,” said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the region, in a statement on Monday.
Global Compact on Refugees: How is this different from the migrants’ pact and how will it help?
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The terms ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ have been used interchangeably to describe the millions of people worldwide that are either fleeing conflict or seeking better living conditions. As the United Nations sets out to secure global compacts to better protect them, it’s critical to understand the differences between the two.
Indian jailed in Pakistan to return home tomorrow
Dec 17, 2018, at 11:21 pm
Islamabad, Dec 17 (IBNS): Indian national Hamid Ansari, who was jailed in Pakistan in 2012, has been released. He will return to India through the Wagah border on Tuesday, reports said.
Canada wants way out of $13 billion armoured vehicle deal with Saudi Arabia, says Justin Trudeau
Dec 17, 2018, at 09:50 pm
Ottawa, Dec 17 (IBNS): Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has said his country is looking for a way out of the $13 billion deal of exporting armoured vehicle to Saudi Arabia, media reports said.