US considering sanctions against China over imprisonment of Muslims: State Dept

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:05 am

Washington, Mar 15 (Sputnik/UNI) The United States is considering targeted sanctions over human rights violations against Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province, Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said during a press briefing on Thursday.

Israel's Netanyahu convenes military consultation after rocket attack from Gaza

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:02 am

Jerusalem, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Thursday night an urgent consultation with the country's top military commanders following a rocket attack on Tel Aviv from Gaza.

Nine IS militants killed in airstrike in northern Iraq

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:57 am

Baghdad, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Nine Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike by Iraqi airforce and international coalition aircraft in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said.

Gunmen kill 17 in northern Nigeria

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:54 am

Lagos, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI): Nigerian police in the northern state of Kaduna on Thursday said unidentified gunmen shot dead 17 members of a local vigilante group following an attack on Jan Ruwa village Tuesday.

Service and Sacrifice: Guinean peacekeepers make their mark in Mali

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:50 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): As the sun rises over Mali’s vast desert, a group of 20 peacekeepers prepare their equipment and line up to receive instructions before heading out for their first patrol of the day on one of the most dangerous roads in the region.

Drug laws must be amended to ‘combat racial discrimination’, UN experts say

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:47 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): At every stage of the criminal justice system, people of African descent around the world are discriminated against, including death sentencing for drugs-related crimes, United Nations human rights experts said on Thursday, calling on Member States to do more to “combat racial discrimination”.

DR Congo Ebola centre attacks could force retreat against the deadly disease, warns UN health chief

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:44 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): Attacks on Ebola treatment centres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), risk reversing the gains made during the current outbreak in the north-east of the country, the head of the UN health agency said on Thursday.

Make this the year of 'transformative solutions' to avert disastrous climate change: UN Deputy Chief

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:41 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): It is within our power to make 2019 the “year of transformative solutions” and “avoid the disastrous effects of climate change“, which threaten ecosystems, the global economy, health and security, the UN Deputy Secretary-General told delegates gathered in Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly, on Thursday.

UN welcomes 'record' Brussels conference pledge of nearly $7 billion to support Syrians

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:31 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries gathered on Thursday at a joint European Union-UN pledging conference, and pledged to provide a record $6.97 billion, to support millions of Syrians in need both inside the country, and sheltering in host communities beyond its borders.

New Zealand mosques attacks: Several feared dead after shooting in Christchurch

Mar 15, 2019, at 08:57 am

Christchurch, Mar 15 (IBNS): Several people are feared to have lost their lives as gunmen opened fire at two Christchurch mosques in New Zealand on Friday.

Around 260,000 children in DR Congo’s Kasai region suffering severe acute malnutrition

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:59 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): More than a quarter of a million children in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – and thousands of others who have fled with their families to nearby provinces – are suffering severe and acute malnutrition, and need lifesaving treatment, said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday.

UN must provide redress for minorities placed in toxic Kosovo camps, says rights expert

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:55 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): An independent rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council has called on the United Nations to “provide justice and remedies” to displaced people who suffered lead poisoning after being housed in UN camps on toxic wasteland in Kosovo.

‘Power is not given, power is taken’, UN chief tells women activists, urging push-back against status quo

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:48 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): After hearing from many of the world’s top women politicians on Tuesday in a session on “Women in Power”, Secretary-General António Guterres, held a Town Hall meeting for civil society activists where he underscored the importance of women seizing the initiative in the struggle for gender equality.

Syrians still living on ‘razor edge’ as UN launches $8.8 billion dollar appeal

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:44 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): An $8.8 billion funding appeal has been issued by the UN to help millions of Syrians who live a “razor-edge existence” inside and outside the war-torn country, along with the communities struggling to host them.

Baloch activists assemble in Geneva, highlight Pakistani atrocities

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:36 am

Geneva, Mar 14 (IBNS):  Baloch Human Rights defenders, activists, and their international supporters assembled in Geneva and adopted a resolution where they asked the international community to come forward and urge the government of Pakistan to refrain from the use of oppressive measures leading to human rights violations in Balochistan.  

US accuses Russian govt of restricting freedom of expression - State Dept

Mar 13, 2019, at 10:06 pm

Washington, Mar 13 (Sputnik) The United Sates believes Russia is restricting freedom of expression, the State Department said on Wednesday in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018.

Kosovo SF engaged in attacks against ethnic minorities - US State Dept.

Mar 13, 2019, at 10:04 pm

Washington, Mar 13 (Sputnik/UNI): Kosovo's security forces have engaged in attacks against ethnic communities and other marginalized groups, the State Department said on Wednesday in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Iranian president meets Shiite spiritual leader in Iraq

Mar 13, 2019, at 06:14 pm

Baghdad, Mar 13 (Xinhua) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday met with Iraq's most revered Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Najaf, a provincial source said.

New Zealand introduces bill to improve organ donation rates

Mar 13, 2019, at 04:57 pm

Wellington, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI) New Zealand's Health Minister David Clark said on Wednesday the government is progressing legislation aimed at increasing the number of life-saving organ transplants for New Zealanders through improved donation rates.

Lebanon bans Boeing 737 aircraft after Ethiopian Airlines crash

Mar 13, 2019, at 03:12 pm

Beirut, Mar 13 (UNI): After Singapore and Germany, Lebanese on Wednesday announced its ban on the Boeing 737 aircraft using Lebanon's airspace, the National News Agency reported.

All eyes on China as US links UNSC move on Azhar to regional peace

Mar 13, 2019, at 11:07 am

Washington, Mar 13 (UNI) : All eyes will be on China globally on Wednesday as the powerful UNSC will take up the proposal for designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

US lawmakers introduce bill to force Trump publish visitor logs

Mar 13, 2019, at 10:01 am

Washington, Mar 13 (Sputnik/UNI): A new bill in the US Congress would force President Donald Trump to publish official visitor logs of the White House and other locations where he regularly conducts official business, Congressman Mike Quigley and Senator Tom Udall said in a joint news release.

Venezuela investigates Guaido for electrical sabotage

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:58 am

Caracas (Xinhua/UNI): Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is under investigation for sabotage following a massive blackout, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on Tuesday.

Lebanon to sign new economic agreements with Saudi Arabia soon: PM

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:34 am

Beirut, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI): Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday that Lebanon will sign new economic agreements with Saudi Arabia soon to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Norwegian airline grounds all 18 Boeing 737 Max aircraft

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:31 am

Oslo, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI) Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA cancelled flights of all of its 18 Boeing 737 Max aircraft after the recommendation of European aviation authorities, online newspaper E24 reported Tuesday.  

Proportion of women ministers all-time high, IPU/UN Women map shows

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:27 am

United Nations, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI) The proportion of women ministers is at an all-time high at 20.7 percent, 2.4 percentage points higher than that in 2017, according to data in the 2019 edition of the biennial IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union)-UN Women map released Tuesday.

UAE grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:24 am

Dubai, Mar 13 (Xinhua) The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday decided to ground Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets in the country as of Wednesday until further notice.

In South Sudan, mothers teaching daughters ‘safer’ ways to survive rape

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:21 am

New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Sexual attacks in South Sudan are so common that mothers now teach their daughters how to survive the ordeal of being raped, in such a way as to minimize the violence. That’s according to Yasmin Sooka, chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, who was speaking on Tuesday in front of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, during its latest session.

Europe and UN form bulwark against ‘might makes right’ worldview, EU foreign affairs chief tells Security Council

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:14 am

New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): “The concept of global governance risks being replaced by the old law that ‘might makes right’”, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, told the Security Council on Tuesday, during a meeting looking at on-going cooperation between the UN and the 28-member body.

Political power of women suffering 'serious regression', General Assembly President warns

Mar 13, 2019, at 09:09 am

New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): There has been a “serious regression” in the political power of women across the world in recent years, UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa told delegates to the annual summit of women activists at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.