Ottawa shootings: One gunman killed
Oct 23, 2014, at 04:27 am
Ottawa, Oct 22 (IBNS): At least one shooter was killed as series of shootings occurred in an around Canada's parliament on Wednesday, media reports said.
Police report several shootings in Ottawa
Oct 23, 2014, at 04:20 am
Ottawa, Oct 22 (IBNS) A soldier was injured as series of shootings occurred in an around Canada's parliament on Wednesday, media reports said.
Canada: Shots fired on Parliament Hill
Oct 23, 2014, at 02:17 am
Ottawa, Oct 22 (IBNS) Unidentified gunman on Wednesday fired several shots at a war memorial near Canada's Parliament in Ottawa, media reports said.
China to launch lunar orbiter this week
Oct 22, 2014, at 11:25 pm
Beijing, Oct 22 (IBNS): China will launch its latest lunar orbiter later this week in its first attempt to send a spacecraft around the moon and back to Earth, media reported.
South Sudan: UN Mission transfers internally displaced persons to protection sites
Oct 22, 2014, at 04:08 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has opened new sites for about 28,000 internally displaced persons adjacent to its bases in three state capitals to improve living conditions of civilians who have been uprooted by the recent conflict, a senior UN official said in Juba on Tuesday.
DR Congo: Ban deplores expulsion of UN rights officer
Oct 22, 2014, at 03:58 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS) Secretary -General Ban Ki-moon has condemned last week's decision by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to expel from the country its top United Nations human rights official, saying that doing so can "only be harmful for the country's progress" and urged the Government to reconsider its position.
General Assembly elects 15 members to UN Human Rights Council
Oct 22, 2014, at 03:57 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS): The General Assembly on Tuesday elected 15 countries to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of three years beginning on 1 January 2015.
'Clock is ticking' for Gaza; pledges for aid, reconstruction must be honoured – Ban
Oct 22, 2014, at 03:56 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS) On the heels of last week's visit to Gaza, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on Tuesday that promises made at a recent donor conference on rebuilding the war-ravaged enclave must "quickly materialize" into concrete assistance on the ground, especially as winter approaches.
Syria: UN convoy crosses lines to reach children fleeing besieged Kobane
Oct 22, 2014, at 03:55 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS) Trucks carrying lifesaving supplies for Syrian children have managed to cross over the battle line in Aleppo for the first time in months, a spokesperson for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesdayin what was described as a “small but significant breakthrough†in the UN agency’s efforts to help children displaced by the fighting in Kobane.
Increased taxes, regulation key to fighting tobacco 'epidemic,' says UN health agency
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS): The implementation of higher taxes on tobacco products and greater regulation for electronic cigarettes are among the decisions passed by a United Nations-backed conference amid comprehensive efforts to clamp down on the tobacco "epidemic" and save millions of lives, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced.
In Detroit, city-backed water shut-offs 'contrary to human rights,' say UN experts
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:39 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS): The city of Detroit must restore access to water for its citizens who remain unable to pay their bills, two United Nations experts urged today, adding that a failure to do so would be a violation of the most basic human rights of those residents.
Somalia: UN envoy condemns attack on African Union troops in Hiiraan region
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:34 pm
New York Oct 21 (IBNS) The UN envoy for Somalia condemned on Mondayan attack on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in Hiiraan region and called for calm as rival clans caused insecurity in the area, which is near the centre of the East African country.
Community, religious leaders must condemn ISIL 'atrocities' – UN rights official
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:33 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS): Civilians continue to suffer atrocities and "dramatic" human rights violations at the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), warned United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, as he concluded his week-long mission to Iraq.
South Sudan at 'crossroads' as it seeks to combat sexual violence, says UN official
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS): Sexual violence has become a key feature of the continuing conflict in South Sudan, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, has declared, while affirming that the widespread use of rape could ultimately be stopped through greater political and legal efforts by the Government and civil society.
In Burundi, UN envoy lauds role of women, youths in bringing peace to Great Lakes
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS) Women and young people must play a central role in establishing a long-term peace for Africa’s Great Lakes Region amid the area’s renewed efforts to overcome a past scarred by conflict, a top UN official said on Monday.
Venezuela: UN rights chief calls for immediate release of opposition leader, politicians
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:17 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS) Expressing serious concern at the detention of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, as well as more than 69 other people who were arrested in February during mass public protests that took place across the country, the United Nations human rights chief called on the authorities for the “immediate release’ of all those being held.
UN urges winterization assistance for displaced Iraqis before cold weather sets in
Oct 21, 2014, at 02:13 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS) With Iraq soon expecting heavy winter rains and sub-zero temperatures, efforts to provide hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons in the Middle Eastern country with the necessary protections are already being implemented, an official with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has declared, adding that while much is being done, a more comprehensive approach would be required.
WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in Nigeria
Oct 21, 2014, at 04:49 am
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS) The Ebola virus was introduced into Nigeria on 20 July when an infected Liberian man arrived by aeroplane into Lagos, Africa's most populous city.
Car bombings, suicide blast kill 33 in Iraq
Oct 21, 2014, at 01:03 am
Baghdad, Oct 20 (IBNS): Terror re-visited Iraq on Monday when a series of car bombings and a suicide blast claimed at least 33 lives, media reported.
With Mali peace talks set to resume, Security Council urges 'spirit of compromise' among parties
Oct 18, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Welcoming the scheduled resumption on 19 October of the inter-Malian negotiation process in Algiers, the United Nations Security Council on Fridaycalled on all parties in Mali “to engage in good faith and in the spirit of compromise†in the talks towards the ultimate end of agreeing a “comprehensive and inclusive†peace deal.
Erasing infrastructure deficit key to Africa's growth, development – UN official
Oct 18, 2014, at 05:26 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Africa’s continued progress on growth and development targets will hinge on concerted efforts – from partnerships inside and outside the continent – to enhance infrastructure, a vital area that will facilitate diversification of African economies and unleash their full productive capacity, the President of the United Nations General Assembly said on Friday.
UN agency reports growing number of refugees as Nigeria insurgency continues
Oct 18, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Amid an intensifying campaign of violence committed by insurgent groups in north-eastern Nigeria, the number of refugees fleeing the conflict into the West African country’s neighbouring States has steadily increased significantly, the UN refugee agency warned on Friday.
Global media giants, UN agency team up in ongoing fight against hunger
Oct 18, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Two new partnerships between the United Nations food agency and independent media outlets will help promote greater awareness about food and nutrition-related issues while providing greater ammunition in the global fight against hunger, the Organization has announced.
Central African Republic: UN officials deplore militia’s targeting of hospitals, patients
Oct 18, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Armed groups must respect medical facilities and allow patients and medical staff unhindered and safe access to hospitals, two United Nations officials in the Central African Republic (CAR) urged as fighting continued in the embattled nation.
UN demands safe release of abducted personnel in South Sudan
Oct 18, 2014, at 04:58 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan on Friday strongly condemned the recent abductions of the world body's personnel at the airfield in Malakal and demanded the safe release of those still being detained.
UNESCO chief denounces killing of Cambodian journalist, urges investigation
Oct 18, 2014, at 04:52 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Fridaydenounced the killing of a Cambodian reporter shot while investigating illegal logging in the eastern part of the country.
Maldives: UN 'deeply concerned' as Supreme Court prosecutes rights advocates
Oct 18, 2014, at 04:52 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office has voiced deep concern about a criminal case initiated by the Supreme Court of the Maldives against members of the country’s Human Rights Commission.
On international Day, Ban declares eradication of poverty a 'most fundamental obligation'
Oct 18, 2014, at 04:48 pm
New York, Oct 18 (IBNS) Amid pronounced increases in global inequality, the United Nations marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Fridaywith calls to accelerate efforts in eliminating poverty in all its for
South Korea: 14 feared dead in accident during concert
Oct 17, 2014, at 11:40 pm
Seoul, Oct 17 (IBNS): At least 14 people are feared dead and 11 others got injured after a facility covering a ventilation window at an outdoor theater crashed during a concert near South Korea's capital city Seoul on Friday, media reports said.
Ban deplores attacks on UN peacekeepers amid simmering tensions in Darfur region
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:52 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday strongly condemned a deadly attack against the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur, known by the acronym UNAMID, which claimed the lives of three peacekeepers.