UN chief condemns abduction of school girls in north-east Nigeria, calls for their immediate release
New York, Mar 1 (JEN): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has denounced the abduction of more than one hundred school girls by suspected Boko Haram insurgents during an attack on an educational institution in north-eastern Nigeria and called for their safe return to their families.
Ghani extends amnesty for Taliban, says ready to open a new chapter with Pakistan
Kabul, Feb 28 (IBNS): Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani announced on Wednesday that Taliban will be amnestied if the militants give up weapons and return to civilian life, while officially opening the peace process in Kabul.
Air Canada passengers face check-in problems due to computer outage
Montreal, Feb 28 (IBNS): Air Canada passengers on Tuesday faced problems to check-in at the airport due to the computer issues, media reports said.
Syria: ‘Actions, not words’ needed to save lives in East Ghouta – UN humanitarian wing
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): Following Sunday’s military operations in Syria’s east Ghouta, which claimed 30 lives, including women and children, reliable reports indicate that fighting continued and that shelling between East Ghouta and Damascus was ongoing in both directions, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported Tuesday.
With proposed reforms, UN closer than ever to a development system that is ‘fit for purpose’
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): There are serious threats to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations, especially its development system, must be effectively reformed in order to be able to limit the impact of those threats Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday.
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): A destructive pattern of zero-sum politics has plunged Yemen into ever deeper poverty and desolation, the United Nations envoy for the war-torn country said Tuesday, emphasizing that while the UN and the wider international community can try to bring about a favourable environment for a path to peace, Yemeni decision-makers must stop the fighting and bloodshed.
UN peacekeeping chief wraps up three-day visit to Lebanon
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): The head of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations has wrapped up a visit to Lebanon with a call on leaders from Lebanon as well as Israel to take advantage of the role UN peacekeeping can play in finding political solutions to conflict.
Dry, hot weather likely to reduce harvests in southern Africa, UN warns
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): Southern Africa’s water sources and crops are under serious pressure as a long dry spell and high temperatures have taken hold in the region, the United Nations agriculture agency said Tuesday, warning that after record maize production in 2017, food shortages are set to worsen this year.
New York, Feb 28 (JEN): Against the backdrop of the fast approaching wet season in Bangladesh, United Nations relief agencies are working flat out to strengthen vital infrastructure and boost resilience among hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees living in rudimentary shelters as well as for local communities hosting them.
Canada: Patrick Brown quits Ontario PC leadership race
Toronto, Feb 27 (IBNS): Resigned Ontario Progressive Conservative party leader Patrick Brown has quit the race to become the face of his party in the June 7 poll.
Pakistan: Lifter collapses at Islamabad airport, 5 injured
Islamabad, Feb 27 (IBNS): An ambo-lifter, which is used for carrying patients who can't walk, collapsed at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Tuesday, leaving at least five people injured, media reports said.
ISIS attack repulsed in North of Afghanistan, 9 militants killed, 13 wounded
Afghanistan, Feb 27 (IBNS) : A major attack by the militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria /ISIS) terrorist group was repulsed in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan, leaving 22 militants dead or wounded.
Donald Trump takes jibe at PM Modi over import duty on Harley Davidson motorbike
Washington, Feb 27 (IBNS): Expressing disgust over the trade pacts, US President Donald Trump on Monday said his country is suffering loss due to the import duty imposed on Harley Davidson bike by India, media reports said.
Xi Jingping's term limit 'up to Beijing', says Donald Trump
Washington, Feb 27 (IBNS): China on Sunday announced that it is mulling to abolish the Presidential term limit to facilitate Xi Jingping to remain in power for life, thus giving his growing cult a boost.
In Geneva, UN chief urges new push to free world from nuclear weapons
New York, Feb 27 (JEN): Warning that nuclear weapons pose catastrophic risks to human life and the environment, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called on the international community to make a reinvigorated push to rid the world of such weapons.