In central Mali, community fighting and impunity, ‘overwhelming’ efforts to protect civilians

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:47 pm

New York/IBNS: Feeding an entrenched cycle of violence and reprisal, 580 civilians have been killed in Mali so far this year, as worsening security conditions and widespread impunity undermine efforts to protect people caught in intercommunal fighting, the UN Human Rights chief said on Friday.

Syrians ‘face unprecedented hunger amid impending COVID crisis’

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:45 pm

New York/IBNS: Syrian communities devastated by years of civil war now face an “unprecedented” hunger crisis, just as urgent action is needed to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

‘Historic’ Caribbean dust storm shows value of forecast services: UN weather agency

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:44 pm

New York: A massive dust storm currently blanketing many parts of the Caribbean, posing a significant threat to regional health, has revealed the importance of having effective warning systems in place, the World Meteorological Office (WMO) said on Friday.

UN marks 75-year milestone anniversary of founding Charter

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:42 pm

New York/IBNS: The UN Charter “brought rules and hope to a world in ruins”, Secretary-General António Guterres told a virtual ceremony on Friday, commemorating 75 years since the Organization’s foundational text was signed.

Speak out against torture, an ‘abhorrent denial of human dignity’, urges UN chief

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:38 pm

New York: Torture is an “egregious abuse of human rights”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, the International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture. 

Chinese Embassy calls on US to lift visa restrictions imposed over situation in Hong Kong

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:20 pm

Moscow/Sputnik:  The Chinese Embassy in the United States called on Washington on Saturday to lift the newly introduced visa restrictions for Chinese officials over the situation in Hong Kong.

Facebook to ban hateful content in ads, label newsworthy posts over rules breaches – CEO

Jun 27, 2020, at 04:15 pm

Moscow/Sputnik: Facebook will ban hateful content in ads published in the social network as well as label newsworthy posts that are violating the rules company's rules, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

Pakistan announces re-opening of Kartarpur corridor on June 29

Jun 27, 2020, at 03:46 pm

Islamabad/UNI:  Pakistan on Saturday announced reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from June 29.

Many U.S. states halt reopening amid sudden surge of COVID-19 infections

Jun 27, 2020, at 03:44 pm

Washington/Xinhua: Many states in the United States have moved to halt or backtrack their economic reopening following a sudden surge of new COVID-19 infections this week.

France's security law significant measure to counter terrorism, safeguard national safety

Jun 27, 2020, at 03:34 pm

Paris/Xinhua: France's security law has been "implemented in a balanced way" and fulfilled its due role in fighting terrorism and maintaining internal security, according to a government report.

Pakistan to re-open Kartarpur corridor on Jun 29

Jun 27, 2020, at 01:01 pm

Islamabad/UNI: Pakistan on Saturday announced the reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on Jun 29.

COVID-19 boosted chance for Trudeau's Liberal Party to secure majority govt in Canada: Poll Tracker

Jun 26, 2020, at 11:38 pm

Ottawa/IBNS: Canada's Liberal Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to enjoy great support at present, not seen post-2015 election, boosting his chance of securing a majority government in the country, media reports said citing the latest projections from the CBC's newly re-launched Poll Tracker.

COVID-19’s far reaching impact on global drug abuse

Jun 26, 2020, at 10:04 am

New York/IBNS: More than 35 million people around the world now suffer from drug addiction, according to the latest annual report on the scourge, from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released on Thursday, which also analyzes the far-reaching impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global drug markets.

DR Congo: eastern Ebola outbreak defeated, ‘mission impossible’ now a ‘sign of hope’

Jun 26, 2020, at 10:01 am

New York/IBNS: After nearly two years and 2,280 deaths, the world’s second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is finally over, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

US sanctions against international court staff a ‘direct attack’ on judicial independence

Jun 26, 2020, at 10:00 am

New York/IBNS: The decision by the United States to authorize sanctions targeting staff at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is “a direct attack to the institution’s judicial independence”, UN human rights experts said on Thursday.

Coronavirus casts ‘huge shadow’ over Afghan life as multi-dimensional crisis continues

Jun 26, 2020, at 09:59 am

New York/IBNS: The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health emergency, but a multi-dimensional crisis for Afghanistan, dealing its people a painful blow just as Kabul and the Taliban prepare for peace talks in Qatar, the top UN official in the country says.

$1.8 billion pledged to assist Sudan’s people on the road to peace and democracy

Jun 26, 2020, at 09:55 am

New York/IBNS: A High-Level Sudan Partnership Conference took place on Thursday gathering some 50 countries and international organizations together in Berlin, generating pledges to bolster the African nation’s economic and political transformation to the tune of $1.8 billion, and discuss the challenges that lie ahead.

Yemen: millions of children facing deadly hunger, amidst aid shortages and COVID-19

Jun 26, 2020, at 09:52 am

New York/IBNS: Millions of children in the heart of the world’s worst humanitarian disaster could be pushed to the brink of starvation, due to huge shortfalls in humanitarian aid funding amid the coronavirus pandemic, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.

Speak out against torture, an ‘abhorrent denial of human dignity’, urges UN chief

Jun 26, 2020, at 09:50 am

New York/IBNS: Torture is an “egregious abuse of human rights”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, the International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan faces backlash for calling Osama Bin Laden 'martyr'

Jun 26, 2020, at 09:15 am

Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan PM Imran Khan is facing criticisms in the country after he described former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden a 'martyr'.

Alberta becomes first Canadian province to invest in serology testing of Covid-19

Jun 25, 2020, at 11:14 pm

Alberta/IBNS: Alberta has announced an investment of $10 million for targeted serology testing to help to track the spread of Covid-19 across the province, media reports said.

Hong Kong new law: Beijing targeting schools to impose its policies

Jun 25, 2020, at 10:38 pm

Beijing: It seems that China is apparently trying to target school students to silence them as the system has emerged as a battleground over Beijing's move to impose  national security legislation in the city.

Female minor student protester accuses Hong Kong Police officer of sexual assault

Jun 25, 2020, at 10:30 pm

Hong Kong: A minor girl in Hong Kong has claimed that one police officer sexually assaulted her during her arrest at a protest in the city last September, media reports said.

About 6,500 Pakistan nationals operating as terrorists in Afghanistan, claims UN report

Jun 25, 2020, at 10:15 pm

Brussels: A  UN Security Council report has claimed that about 6,500 Pakistani's are operating as terrorist ranks in Afghanistan, media reports said.

Police arrest students who protest to demand for internet to attend online classes in Balochistan

Jun 25, 2020, at 10:05 pm

Quetta: Police on Wednesday arrested  over two dozen students in Quetta as they protested from Quetta Press Club to Balochistan Assembly to demand for access to the internet to attend online classes.

Two journalists tortured for reporting on a coronavirus quarantine centre in Pakistan, probe ordered

Jun 25, 2020, at 09:53 pm

Islamabad: Authorities in Pakistan have launched an investigation into the torture of two journalists in Chaman region of the country.

Human rights experts discuss plights of minorities in Pakistan

Jun 25, 2020, at 09:44 pm

Washington: Human rights experts recently discussed the condition of minorities in Pakistan and expressed their hardships and sufferings in the south Asian nation at a time when the world is combating COVID-19.

Security law puts Hong Kong pastors at risk of being extradited to China, warns Watch Dog

Jun 25, 2020, at 09:27 pm

Beijing: China is pushing to implement the national security law on Hong Kong and in such a scenario pro-democracy activists and religious leaders face a risk of being extradited to mainland China for trial, as per a US-based Christian watchdog.

Around 40 percent pilots in Pakistan have ‘fake’ flying licences, reveals Aviation Minister

Jun 25, 2020, at 09:04 pm

Islamabad:  Pakistan's Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has claimed that around  40 per cent of the pilots in the country have fake flying licences.

Imran Khan refers terrorist Osama bin Laden as 'martyr' in Pakistan parliament

Jun 25, 2020, at 09:03 pm

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan apparently shocked many as he referred dreaded terrorist and former Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden as a 'martyr' on Thursday. He made the comment on the floor of the country's Parliament.