Australia urged to evacuate offshore detainees amid widespread, acute mental distress
Oct 13, 2018, at 07:17 am
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Australia should end its offshore processing policy on the Pacific islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea amid reports of widespread, acute mental distress and attempted suicide by children and young adults, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday.
Afghanistan: Blast kills three children in Urgon district
Oct 12, 2018, at 03:59 pm
Kabul, Oct 12 (IBNS): A blast caused by an unexploded explosive in the Urgon district of southeastern Paktika province of Afghanistan on Thursday left at least three children killed, media reports said.
Canada PM Trudeau meets Switzerland President Alain Berset in Armenia
Oct 12, 2018, at 02:35 pm
Yerevan, Oct 12 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday met Switzerland President Alain Berset in Armenia on the sidelines of the la Francophonie Summit.
Oct 12, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): December elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain on course, but still face “major challenges”, including violence from armed groups in the country’s east, the top United Nations official in the country said on Thursday.
Mali not fulfilling its ‘sovereign role’ in protecting its people: UN human rights expert
Oct 12, 2018, at 09:28 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): In an effort to better protect people and their property throughout Mali, the international community must honour commitments to help reduce violent extremism, chronic insecurity and ineffective government, said the United Nations expert on human rights in the country, Alioune Tine, on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia must halt air strikes in Yemen, says UN panel
Oct 12, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): The conflict in Yemen has been highlighted by a UN human rights committee which on Thursday urged Saudi Arabia to “put an end to the air strikes” against its southern neighbour, amid reports that they have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,248 children since March 2015.
Algeria must stop arbitrary expulsion of West African migrants in desert: UN migration rights expert
Oct 12, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): Atrocities suffered by child and adult migrants from West African States “should shock the conscience of humanity” into action, a UN rights investigator said on Thursday, before calling for Algeria to halt the collective expulsion of thousands of foreign nationals to Niger.
Oct 12, 2018, at 08:55 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): There are “multiple barriers” including “systemic discrimination” bias and lack of training, which are keeping the largest generation of girls in human history from reaching their full potential, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement on Thursday, marking International Day of the Girl Child.
International Day of the girl: Canada PM Trudeau shares image with daughter on social media
Oct 11, 2018, at 07:30 pm
Ottawa, Oct 11 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday shared an image of her daughter Ella-Grace Margaret on social media on the occasion of the international day of the girl.
Canada PM Justin Trudeau praises Michaelle Jean at Francophonie Summit
Oct 11, 2018, at 07:13 pm
Yerevan, Oct 11 (IBNS): In his speech at the opening of the la Francophonie Summit in Armenia, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday praised Michaelle Jean, who is seeking the second term as the Francophonie Secretary General, media reports said.
Oct 11, 2018, at 08:12 am
New YorK, Oct 11 (IBNS): There are “multiple barriers” including “systemic discrimination” bias and lack of training, which are keeping the largest generation of girls in human history from reaching their full potential, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement on Thursday, marking International Day of the Girl Child.
UN resolution paves way for mass use of driverless cars
Oct 11, 2018, at 08:09 am
New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): A resolution to ensure the safe use of automated vehicles was passed at the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Global Forum on Road Traffic Safety in Geneva, on Wednesday.
Reintegrating former rebels into civilian life a ‘serious concern’ in Colombia: UN Mission chief
Oct 11, 2018, at 08:07 am
New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): The reintegration of former members of the Colombian FARC-EP rebel movement, which signed an historic peace deal with the country’s government in 2016, remains a subject of serious concern, said the head of the UN Verification Mission set up to monitor the deal, on Wednesday.
Charges against Baha’i in Yemen must be dropped: UN experts urge release of detainees
Oct 11, 2018, at 08:04 am
New York, Oct 11 (IBNS): A group of UN independent human rights experts have called for the immediate release of 24 people, mostly from Baha’i minority, who have been held by authorities in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, since the middle of last month.
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.
-1539178343.jpg "Afghan civilians continue to be killed in record high numbers: UNAMA")
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.
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.
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.
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.