New Law: Ex- UN human rights chief demands for Hong Kong special envoy
Jun 29, 2020, at 09:49 am
Geneva: Hong Kong is witnessing protests in recent times as China is gearing up to impose its national security law on the city, making the United Nations’ former human rights chief and eight former U.N. special envoys to urge the body’s secretary-general to appoint a special envoy on the region.
Hong Kong police bans major protest on security law, organizers say
Jun 29, 2020, at 09:34 am
Hong Kong: Organizers have said Hong Kong police on Saturday banned a major demonstration against China's planned national security law for the city on the ground of following social distancing and previous unrest measures.
Britain must act against China's intention to destroy Hong Kong's autonomy: UK MP Stewart McDonald
Jun 29, 2020, at 09:27 am
London: United Kingdom MP Stewart McDonald has asked the UK government to act against the Chinese government's intention to destroy Hong Kong’s autonomy.
California closing bars as coronavirus infection spreads: Governor Newsom
Jun 29, 2020, at 08:51 am
Moscow/Sputnik: Bars in the US state of California are being closed amid a rise in the number of coronavirus cases, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced.
UN experts call for decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China Â
Jun 28, 2020, at 08:28 pm
Geneva: UN independent experts have repeatedly communicated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China their alarm regarding the repression of fundamental freedoms in China.
US places China in Tier 3 category in TIP report
Jun 27, 2020, at 11:04 pm
Washington: In its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the US has claimed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state-owned companies are making their employees work in "horrendous conditions" on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
Jun 27, 2020, at 10:58 pm
Hong Kong: Amid protests and tensions in the city, Hong Kong democrats have now voiced concern over the security secretary’s failure to clarify whether suspects arrested under the impending national security law could be detained indefinitely without trial or charge, media reports said.
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival: Police arrest protesters
Jun 27, 2020, at 06:47 pm
Hong Kong: Amid growing tension over the new law, the Hong Kong police on Thursday dispersed dozens of protesters who had assembled at the Yuen Long shopping centre to mark the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival holiday, media reports said.
Hong Kong security law: US Senate passes bill to impose sanctions on China
Jun 27, 2020, at 06:41 pm
Washington: The US Senate has passed a pair of bills by unanimous consent which would impose sanctions on China for its decision to implement the controversial national security law on Hong Kong that critics have said might erode the city's democratic rights.
Jun 27, 2020, at 04:52 pm
New York/IBNS: The repression of “fundamental freedoms” by the Chinese Government prompted nearly 50 UN independent experts on Friday to express their continuing alarm, urging the country to “abide by its international legal obligations”.
Jun 27, 2020, at 04:49 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN has launched an investigation into a video which surfaced on social media this week showing a clearly marked UN vehicle on a busy city street, while a woman straddles a man on the back seat engaging in a sex act, with others sitting inside.
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.
-1593256115.jpg "Speak out against torture, an ‘abhorrent denial of human dignity’, urges UN chief")
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.
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.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
Pakistan continues to serve as a safe haven for terror groups: US State Dept
Jun 25, 2020, at 12:07 pm
Washignton/IBNS: Pakistan continued to serve as a safe haven for certain regionally focused terrorist groups, observed the US State Department in its 2019 Country report on terrorism released on Wednesday.
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UN chief urges Israel to abandon annexation plans
Jun 25, 2020, at 09:58 am
New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General has called on Israel to scrap plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, a move that could occur as early as next week.