First peaceful transfer of power in DR Congo ‘an extraordinary opportunity’ for advancing rights

Mar 20, 2019, at 09:21 am

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS): The election of President Felix Tshisekedi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marks “an extraordinary opportunity” for the country to advance civil and political rights, said a senior UN official, on Tuesday at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Qatar plans to host conference on Afghanistan with Russia's participation

Mar 19, 2019, at 04:49 pm

Doha Mar 19 (Sputnik/IBNS) Doha is planning to host a conference on the settlement of the Afghan conflict with the participation of Qatari and Russian representatives, Russian Ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov told Sputnik.

Russian, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Venezuela in phone talks

Mar 19, 2019, at 04:46 pm

Moscow, Mar 19 (Sputnik/IBNS) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif have addressed the situation in Venezuela in phone talks at the initiative of Tehran, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Escalation of US-China bilateral tariffs to shave off 1 tln dollars from US GDP in 10 years: study

Mar 19, 2019, at 10:04 am

Washington, Mar 19 (Xinhua/UNI) An escalation of US-China bilateral tariffs will shave off 1 trillion US dollars from the US economy in a decade and inflict a particular damage on the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, according to a recent study released by the US Chamber of Commerce.

What is ‘South-South cooperation’ and why does it matter?

Mar 19, 2019, at 09:56 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): This week in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, over one thousand people, including high level government delegations and representatives from the private sector and civil society, will gather for the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, or BAPA+40.

UN will do ‘utmost to prevent and mitigate any risk of violence’ in DR Congo, pledges Mission chief

Mar 19, 2019, at 09:55 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Despite the relatively peaceful passage of December’s presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN Special Representative to the country told the Security Council she “remained concerned” over developments in the east, where dozens of armed groups continue to operate.

Gaza investigators call on Israel to review ‘rules of engagement’ as Gaza protest anniversary looms

Mar 19, 2019, at 09:49 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Human Rights Council-appointed investigators urged Israel on Monday to revise its military rules of engagement, shortly before the one-year anniversary of the start of mass demonstrations at the country’s border fence with Gaza, that have left hundreds of Palestinians dead and thousands more injured.

Encouraging progress made in 2018, in ‘zero tolerance’ effort to end sexual exploitation and abuse across UN

Mar 19, 2019, at 09:34 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The United Nations recorded a total of 259 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) during 2018, according to the latest report by Secretary-General António Guterres presented to the General Assembly. Although the figures rose compared with the previous two years, the report shows increased awareness among UN and UN-related staff, and improved and harmonized reporting tools across the Organization.

Despite progress, companies face gender equality ‘backlash’: UN business body

Mar 19, 2019, at 09:29 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Although the drive to reach gender equality has picked up speed, and diversity initiatives have been put into place in companies and organizations, a significant level of resistance and backlash remains, according to a leading UN business group.

Three dead, nine injured in Netherlands shooting

Mar 18, 2019, at 08:33 pm

Utrecht, Mar 18 (IBNS/UNI): Three persons were died and nine injured when a gunman opened fire inside a tram and at other locations in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, police said.

11 arrested after mine accident kills 22

Mar 18, 2019, at 05:35 pm

Hohhot, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) Eleven people were arrested for their roles in a deadly mine accident that killed 22 people in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, authorities said on Monday.

Xi Jinping encourages Italian students to promote bilateral cultural exchanges

Mar 18, 2019, at 05:31 pm

Beijing, Mar 18 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday encouraged students at an Italian school to be cultural ambassadors between the two countries.

Dutch tram shooting: Several hurt, police say they are considering a 'terror motive'in the incident

Mar 18, 2019, at 05:20 pm

Utrecht, Mar 18 (IBNS): Several people were injured in a shooting incident in a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht, near Amsterdam, on Monday, police said.

Utrecht: Multiple injured in tram shooting incident

Mar 18, 2019, at 04:25 pm

Utrecht, Mar 18 (IBNS): Several people are feared to have been injured in a shooting incident in Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, media reports said.

New Zealand's gun shop confirms Christchurch suspect buying weapons online

Mar 18, 2019, at 04:11 pm

Christchurch, New Zealand, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) New Zealand's largest gun dealer, Gun City, said Monday that four out of the five firearms that the man charged with murder had during Christchurch mass shootings were purchased legally from the company.

Australian police raid homes in New South Wales linked to Christchurch gunman

Mar 18, 2019, at 10:01 am

Sydney, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) Australian counter-terrorism police raided two homes with links to the perpetrator of the Christchurch shooting in the State of New South Wales (NSW) on Monday.

Britain's Prince Charles to visit Cuba

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:53 am

Havana, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) Britain's Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla kicked off their Caribbean tour on Sunday during which they will become the first British royals to visit Cuba.

Severe floods kill at least 2 in US Midwest

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:50 am

Washington, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) Severe floods affecting a number of Midwestern US states have killed at least two people, local officials said on Sunday.

Malaysian police arrest 13 terror suspects in Sabah state

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:48 am

Kuala Lumpur, Mar 18 (Xinhua/UNI) Malaysian police said on Monday that 13 suspected militants were arrested in the country's eastern state of Sabah during operations last week.

Pentagon refutes reports about plans to leave 1,000 US troops in Syria - Statement

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:45 am

Washington, Mar 18 (Sputnik/UNI): Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford has refuted media reports stating that the US military are allegedly planning to keep nearly 1,000 troops in Syria.

UN chief expresses solidarity with Indonesian authorities after flash floods kill dozens in Papua

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:28 am

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): More than 70 have died and dozens are missing in Indonesia’s eastern province of Papua, which was hit by flash floods and landslides on Sunday, and more than 4,000 have reportedly been displaced.

UN standing with Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique as Southern Africa death toll from deadly cyclone mounts

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:24 am

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): The UN chief has expressed his sadness at the loss of life and displacement across Zimbabwe, as a result of the deadly Tropical Cyclone Idai, which has pounded Southern Africa in recent days, leaving at least 150 dead in Malawi alone, according to latest news reports.

UN Middle East Coordinator strongly condemns ‘arrests and violence’ by Hamas security forces during Gaza protests

Mar 18, 2019, at 09:18 am

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has strongly condemned the violent response by security forces in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip during the past three days, towards Palestinian protests over the deteriorating economic situation there.

China steps up protection of forests, grassland

Mar 17, 2019, at 10:31 pm

Beijing, Mar 17 (Xinhua/UNI) China channelled more energy into the protection of forests and grassland last year, an official report showed.

China posts rising power generation

Mar 17, 2019, at 04:01 pm

Beijing, Mar 17 (Xinhua/IBNS) China's power generation rose 2.9 percent year on year to hit 1.09 trillion kwh in the first two months of the year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Facebook removes 1.5 million videos of the New Zealand mosque attacks

Mar 17, 2019, at 03:37 pm

New York, Mar 17 (IBNS): Social media giant Facebook on Sunday said in the past 24 hours 1.5 million videos globally of the New Zealand mosques attacks have been removed.  

Afghanistan: Explosion hits Kandahar, four killed

Mar 17, 2019, at 03:12 pm

Kandahar, Mar 17 (IBNS): At least four people were killed when an explosion hit Afghanistan's  Kandahar province on Saturday evening, media reports said on Sunday.

Three out of 4 people detained after New Zealand shooting have no links to attack: Police

Mar 17, 2019, at 09:29 am

Moscow, Mar 17 (Sputnik/UNI) New Zealand police consider that three people out of four those detained after mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch have no links to the attack, New Zealand police commissioner, Mike Bush said at a press conference on Sunday.

1.7 mln Syrian refugees wish to return home: Russian center

Mar 17, 2019, at 09:17 am

Moscow, Mar 17 (Xinhua/UNI): Around 1.7 million Syrian refugees registered in foreign countries are hoping to return to their homeland, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring said Saturday.

Thousands in Croatia rally against domestic violence

Mar 17, 2019, at 09:12 am

Zagreb, Mar 17 (Xinhua/UNI): Thousands of protesters rallied on Saturday in Croatia against domestic violence following a recent tragic case on the Adriatic island of Pag where a father threw his four children from the balcony, causing them serious injuries.