World Bank President steps down, Chief Executive assumes temporary role
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:17 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, announced on Monday that he is stepping down, after more than six years in the role. Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank CEO, will assume the role of interim President, from 1 February.
Saudi woman seeking asylum in Thailand ‘now in a secure place’ says UNHCR
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:14 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday that 18-year-old Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun, who had been stranded at Bangkok airport after fleeing her family in Kuwait, saying that she would be killed if forced to return, was “now in a secure place”.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commences his China visit
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:06 am
Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commenced his China visit from Tuesday.
Rising human trafficking takes on ‘horrific dimensions’: almost a third of victims are children
Jan 08, 2019, at 09:50 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): A new UN report published on Monday shows that human trafficking is on the rise and taking on “horrific dimensions”, with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver. Children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked, and far more girls are detected than boys.
UK visa costlier for Indians from tomorrow
Jan 07, 2019, at 09:13 pm
London, Jan 7 (IBNS): UK visa is set to cost more for Indian and other non-EU citizens from tomorrow, media reports said on Monday.
China kindergarten knife attack convict executed
Jan 07, 2019, at 04:14 pm
Beijing, Jan 7 (IBNS): China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday said a man, who was convicted in the kindergarten knife attack case in south China, was executed on Friday after his death sentence was approved, media reports said.
Human Rights Watch urges Thailand authorities to halt deportation of Saudi woman
Jan 07, 2019, at 10:02 am
Bangkok, Jan 7 (IBNS): Thailand authorities should immediately halt the planned deportation of a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing domestic abuse and fears for her safety if forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.
2019 'a critical year' for Somali politics and development says Security Council
Jan 07, 2019, at 08:42 am
New York, Jan 7 (IBNS): In the wake of the Somali Government's decision last week to expel the head of the UN's assistance mission, UNSOM, the Security Council on Saturday cautioned that 2019 would be "a critical year" for the east African nation that is reconsituting itself after decades of conflict.
Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks
Jan 06, 2019, at 05:06 pm
New York, Jan 6 (IBNS): More than 40 civilians have been reportedly killed during intercommunal clashes this week in northern Burkina Faso, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement on Friday night condemning the violence and “deteriorating security situation” in parts of the West African country.
The ‘abuse of food relief in Yemen’ must end now
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:15 am
New Delhi, Jan 5 (IBNS): On Friday, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) demanded that the stealing of food by warring factions in Yemen must stop immediately; and welcomed a statement from Houthi rebel leaders saying that the situation was now under investigation.
UN chief expresses ‘full confidence’ in top Somalia official following Government expulsion
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:13 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN Secretary-General said on Friday he “deeply regrets” the Somali Government’s decision to expel his Special Representative in the country, adding that he had “full confidence” in Nicholas Haysom’s abilities and track record as an international civil servant.
Rights defenders jailed in Bahrain and UAE should be released unconditionally, UN urges
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:11 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has called for the immediate release of a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain, after the country’s highest court rejected a final appeal for his release on Monday. Nabeel Rajab was jailed in 2016 for tweeting criticism of Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes on Yemen and allegations of torture inside one of Bahrain’s prisons.
DRC ‘calm but tense’ as country awaits presidential election result
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:01 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The post-election environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is “calm but tense” as the country waits for the results of the presidential poll, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.
Jan 05, 2019, at 08:50 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The criminal trial in Saudi Arabia of individuals suspected of being involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi does not meet the requirements of an independent and international probe requested by the UN’s top rights official, Michelle Bachelet, her office said on Friday.
First-ever World Braille Day underscores importance of written language for human rights
Jan 05, 2019, at 08:47 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): To raise awareness of the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment, on Friday the United Nations is observing the first official World Braille Day.
After US, China develops its own "Mother of All Bombs"
Jan 04, 2019, at 04:38 pm
Beijing, Jan 4 (IBNS): China's arms industry giant NORINCO recently displayed a new massive aerial bomb which they called as the Chinese version of the "Mother of All Bombs", media reports said.
First-ever World Braille Day underscores importance of written language for human rights
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:16 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): To raise awareness of the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment, on Friday the United Nations is observing the first official World Braille Day.
Deadly Mali attack to be investigated by UN rights experts
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): An attack on a village in central Mali earlier this week in which at least 37 civilians died, is to be investigated with the help of United Nations human rights experts, the UN stabilization mission in the country (MINUSMA), announced on Thursday.
Jan 04, 2019, at 08:54 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): Somali Government efforts to build a lasting peace through political reform and transformation have progressed along a “positive trajectory” but everyone involved in the process needs to “pull in the same direction”, the UN Special Representative in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Powering up health care in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): Solar power is helping make universal healthcare a reality in places where unreliable power supplies regularly affect access to vital services, and can out people’s lives at risk, thanks to support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Attack on UN compound in Somalia may be 'violation of international humanitarian law'
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:04 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.”
Denmark: Train mishap kills six people
Jan 02, 2019, at 03:58 pm
Copenhagen, Jan 2 (IBNS): At least six people died in a train mishap in Denmark on Wednesday, media reports said.
Man shouting "Allahu Akbar" stabs three in Manchester station, police treats attack as terrorism
Jan 02, 2019, at 11:56 am
Manchester, Jan 2 (IBNS) Manchester police in the UK is treating as terrorism a knife attack on people by a man who stabbed three, including a cop, shouting "Allahu Akbar" and ISIS slogan on Tuesday on a platform at Manchester Victoria Metrolink station.
15 fatal airliner accidents occurred in 2018: Aviation Safety Network
Jan 02, 2019, at 09:18 am
New York, Jan 2 (IBNS): The Aviation Safety Network on Tuesday released the 2018 airliner accident statistics showing a total of 15 fatal airliner accidents, resulting in 556 fatalities.
Attack on UN compound in Somalia may be 'violation of international humanitarian law'
Jan 02, 2019, at 09:13 am
New York, Jan 2 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.”
UN diplomacy: political conflicts to watch in 2019
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:32 am
New York, Jan 1 (IBNS): As the world – and the United Nations – continues to grapple with political crises, we look at the political landscape with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. We begin by asking her what it’s like to be the top UN political officer.
UN refugee agency presses States to aid 49 refugees stranded on Mediterranean
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:18 am
New York, Jan 1 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), on the last day of 2018, called on UN Member States to urgently offer safe ports of disembarkation for 49 refugees and migrants, including young children, aboard rescue vessels in the Mediterranean Sea.
‘Stealing’ food from hungry Yemenis ‘must stop immediately’, says UN agency
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:11 am
New York, Jan 1 (IBNS): After uncovering evidence that humanitarian food supplies are being diverted in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sana’a, and other parts of the country, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has demanded an immediate end to the practice.
Manchester Victoria station stabbing leaves three hurt
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:02 am
London, Jan 1 (IBNS): At least three people were injured after they were stabbed by a knife-wielding man at Manchester Victoria railway station in the UK on Monday, officials said on Tuesday.
Russia detains US citizen on suspicion of espionage
Dec 31, 2018, at 05:32 pm
Moscow, Dec 31 (IBNS): Russia’s Federal Security Service has detained a US citizen over suspicion of espionage from country's Moscow city, media reports said on Monday.