Aug 16, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): The court decision to award nearly $290 million to a terminally-ill man from the United States who claimed his cancer was caused by a herbicide in a commercial weed killer, has been welcomed by two United Nations human rights experts as a “significant recognition” of the responsibilities that chemical companies have to consumers.
INTERVIEW: ‘Defend the people, not the States’, says outgoing UN human rights chief
Aug 16, 2018, at 08:46 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): For four years, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been taking governments across the world to task, exposing human rights violations and robustly advocating for the rights of victims.
UAE condemns terror attack in London
Aug 15, 2018, at 04:24 pm
Dubai, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday condemned the terror attack that took place in London's Westminster on Tuesday.
Italy bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 37; rescue operations still on
Aug 15, 2018, at 02:01 pm
Genoa, Aug 15 (IBNS): Rescuers are still looking for survivors after the collapse of a bridge in Italy's Genoa on Tuesday.
Caspian Sea deal an invaluable step towards easing regional tensions, says UN Chief
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has welcomed the historic signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which took place on Sunday, marked by a ceremony which brought together the leaders of the five countries bordering its coastline.
Multilateralism: The only path to address the world’s troubles, signals Guterres
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): As the world’s problems grow, multilateralism represents to best path to meet the challenges that lie ahead, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday, launching his annual report.
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:31 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Libyan militias have forced nearly 2,000 people from an ethnic minority likely targeted for their alleged links to the former Gadaffi Government, to flee long-established shelters in the capital Tripoli, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.
UN chief appeals for calm as Mali presidential election draws to a close
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:21 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Following the conclusion of the second round of presidential elections in Mali, political leaders in the West African country are being encouraged by the UN Secretary-General to promote a peaceful atmosphere and avoid incendiary rhetoric.
Italy: Genoa bridge collapses, 11 dies
Aug 14, 2018, at 07:10 pm
Manila, Aug 14 (IBNS): At least 11 people were killed as a motorway bridge has collapsed near the Italian city of Genoa, media reports said on Tuesday.
Nepal: Bombs defused at various places in Kathmandu, 2 arrested
Aug 14, 2018, at 05:10 pm
Kathmandu, Aug 14 (IBNS): The Nepal Army's bomb disposal squads on Tuesday defused bombs from Naikap Balkhu Bridge in Chandragiri Municipality and Nayapati in Gokarneshwar Municipality of Kathmandu district, media reports said.
Car crashes outside Parliament in London, man arrested over terrorism suspicion
Aug 14, 2018, at 04:41 pm
London, Aug 14 (IBNS): Several people were injured as a car crashed outside the House of Parliament here on Tuesday, the police said.
South Korea, North Korea to hold talks in Pyongyang in September
Aug 14, 2018, at 02:44 pm
Seoul/Pyongyang, Aug 14 (IBNS): Neighbours South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold talks at the latter's capital city, Pyongyang, in September, according to a report by the former's Yonhap news agency.
Former Adelaide Archbishop accused of sexual harassment cover-up faces house arrest
Aug 14, 2018, at 12:17 pm
Canberra, Aug 14 (IBNS): Philip Wilson, the former Archbishop of Adelaide, Australia, has been ordered a 12-month house arrest, after a national court found him guilty of concealing child sex abuse.
UNICEF appeals for end to ‘war on children’ in Syria and Yemen
Aug 14, 2018, at 09:08 am
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS): Attacks against children caught in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen must stop, the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, appealed on Monday.
Aug 14, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS): In a report released on Monday, the United Nations urged Somalia to take steps to ensure future elections are not marred by the human rights violations and abuses committed during the 2016-2017 electoral process.
To beat hunger and combat climate change, world must ‘scale-up’ soil health – UN
Aug 14, 2018, at 08:55 am
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS): Healthy soils are essential to achieve ‘Zero Hunger’ – and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – peace and prosperity, the United Nations agriculture agency chief underscored in Brazil at the World Congress of Soil Science.
Spain: Over 100 injured as wooden promenade collapses during festival
Aug 13, 2018, at 04:23 pm
Madrid, Aug 13 (IBNS): Over 100 people have sustained injuries after a wooden promenade collapsed during a festival in Spain, reports said on Monday.
Manchester shooting leaves 10 injured
Aug 13, 2018, at 09:16 am
London, Aug 13 (IBNS): At least 10 people were injured in a shooting in the Moss Side area of Manchester on Sunday, police said on Monday.
Blast in Syria kills 39 people: Reports
Aug 12, 2018, at 09:49 pm
Idlib, Aug 12 (IBNS): At least 39 people were killed in a blast that brought down a building in Syria's mainly rebel-held north-western province of Idlib, a monitor agency said on Sunday.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The world’s young people need safe spaces – both physical and digital - where they can “freely express their views” and “pursue their dreams” was the core message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to mark this year’s International Youth Day.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:41 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): With Central African countries beset by ongoing terrorist activity, instability and the effects of climate change, the Security Council has asked the United Nations Secretary-General to review the work of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and recommend areas for improvement.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): After a vote on Friday by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, former two-time President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, hailed a “pioneer” by the UN Secretary-General, has officially been appointed as High Commissioner for Human Rights, effective from 1 September.
UN chief welcomes DR Congo President’s promise to stand down
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:33 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has commended the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila’s decision on Thursday, not to stand in elections scheduled to take place on 23 December.
Venezuelan exodus to Ecuador reaches record levels: UN refugee agency steps up aid
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:24 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): One of the largest population movements in Latin American history is under way from Venezuela, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, which on Friday confirmed that it is increasing assistance to neighbouring Ecuador, where more and more Venezuelans are arriving each week.
UN should never be a target, Baghdad bombing survivors stress, 15 years after deadly attack
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:20 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): On 19 August 2003, a suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives to the United Nations headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Iraq, and blew it up, killing 22 people – among them Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the head of the UN mission in Iraq.
Yemen bus attack just the latest outrage against civilians: UN agencies
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:02 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): An air strike on a busy market area in Yemen that reportedly killed scores of people including more than 20 children on a bus, is likely the worst attack on youngsters in the conflict so far, and the latest in a recent spate of violence targeting civilians, UN agencies said on Friday.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 11, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:16 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN Envoy urges Burundi leaders to ‘seize opportunities for national unity and peace’
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafando, has called on the country’s leaders to “seize the opportunity” offered by the recent adoption of a new constitution, to create a new political environment that is “conducive to the consolidation of national unity and peace”.
UN chief condemns air strike that hit school bus in northern Yemen, killing scores of children
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:02 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned an air strike by pro-Yemini Government coalition forces, which killed scores of children who were on board a bus travelling through a busy market area in the northern province of Saada.