Islamabad, Apr 9 (IBNS) At least 20 people were killed and over 100 others were injured in a bomb blast at a fruit market near Pir Wadhai town in Rawalpindi district of Pakistan on Wednesday morning, said reports.
UN condemns deadly attack in southern Afghanistan
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned an attack in the southern province of Kandahar which killed 15 civilians and injured another five.
Syria: Ban condemns spiralling violence, urges end to conflict
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): Amid surging violence across Syria, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing of an elderly priest in Homs and the ongoing brutality against the civilian population, and urged all Syrians and their outside supporters to put a stop to this conflict, "now".
Europe: UN urges inclusion of Roma people in decision-making
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): On International Roma Day, the United Nations independent expert on minority issues is calling on all European countries and institutions to fully include Roma people in their decision-making processes at all levels.
New Zealand: UN concerned by arbitrary detention of Maoris
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights panel has voiced concerns about issues related to the deprivation of liberty in New Zealand, including the "disproportionate incarceration rates" of the Maori population, despite legal safeguards against arbitrary detention.
UN assists Syrians amidst fears of drought impact
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): While noting that the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provided assistance to a record 4 million Syrians in March, a new report out on Tuesday highlights that, with only one month left in the rainy season, a potential drought may strain the country's already fragile food security situation.
US: Cop charged in cocaine trafficking conspiracy
Newark, Apr 9 (IBNS) An internal affairs officer of the Miami-Dade Police Department was arrested Tuesday morning in Miami Gardens, Florida, and charged with allegedly aiding a narcotics trafficking organization—distributing cocaine from the Dominican Republic in New Jersey and elsewhere—by orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot; providing firearms and sensitive law enforcement information; and facilitating the transport of drug proceeds, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Blast in Pakistan train kills 16
Sibi, Apr 8 (IBNS): At least 16 people were killed and several others were injured in a blast inside the bogie of Jaffer Express at Sibi Railway Station in Pakistan's Baluchistan province on Tuesday, media reports said.
UN condemns killing of two consultants in Somalia
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials on Monday voiced outrage at the killing of two consultants working for the world body's arm dealing with drugs and crime who were shot by unknown gunmen in Somalia's Puntland region.
Myanmar: UN alarmed at worsening human rights situation
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): An independent United Nations expert on Monday sounded the alarm on the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, adding that the evacuation of aid workers following recent attacks on the humanitarian community would have severe consequences for life-saving work in the area.
Kigali: Ban marks 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): Commemorating "one of the darkest chapters in human history," United Nations officials paid tribute this morning to the 800,000 men, women and children - overwhelmingly Tutsi, moderate Hutu and Twa - that were systematically killed 20 years ago in Rwanda, and urged the international community to work together and remain vigilant to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.
Afghanistan: Ban welcomes polls as transition of power
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the Afghan people for Saturday's historic presidential and provincial elections, which marked "an important step forward" in the country's path to democracy.
UN forum to address challenges faced by world population
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): Member States on Monday kicked off a week-long assessment at United Nations Headquarters of action taken over the past 20 years to improve people's lives and address population issues amid changes in ageing, fertility, mortality, migration and urbanization.
UN urges states to sign treaty on migrant workers' rights
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): The expert members of the United Nations panel dealing with the rights of migrant workers and their families renewed on Monday their appeal to all countries to sign the international treaty on the rights of those workers, which went into effect almost 11 years ago.
UN launches response for flood-affected Solomon islands
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): The United Nations and its partners in the Pacific have begun deployments to Honiara on Monday in support of the Solomon Islands' Government response to what is considered to be "the worst floods ever seen in the country," killing at least 23 people and affecting another 50,000 across the country.