Vital UN peace and security work continues amid COVID-19 challenge
Jun 05, 2020, at 09:20 am
New York/IBNS: The military chiefs at three UN missions in Africa and the Middle East have shared how they are protecting peacekeepers from COVID-19 while also fulfilling their mandates in rapidly changing environments.
Security Council extends peacekeeping mission in Darfur, forges new presence in Sudan
Jun 05, 2020, at 09:06 am
New York/IBNS: The Security Council on Thursday extended the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and set out the parameters for a follow-on mission that will start its work on 1 January next year.
Philippines drug campaign directive seen as ‘permission to kill’: UN rights office
Jun 05, 2020, at 08:46 am
New York: A campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines that began in 2016 has led to the killing of at least 8,600 people but the real figure could be three times that number, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Thursday. In a report citing “near-impunity” for the killings, which have continued along with other alleged abuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN office noted that the High Commissioner for Human Rights stood ready to assist “credible efforts towards accountability”, both nationally and internationally.
Pakistan adheres to one-China policy: foreign ministry
Jun 05, 2020, at 08:08 am
Islamabad/Xinhua/UNI: Pakistan reiterated its longstanding position on Thursday that it adheres to one-China principle regarding a decision to make a national security laws for Hong Kong by the Chinese top legislation body.
Hong Kong's romantic fusion of East and West is evaporating: Chinese envoy to US Cui Tiankai
Jun 03, 2020, at 08:58 pm
Washington: Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the United States, feels that the country's government has the ultimate responsibility to uphold national security of Hong Kong and the proposed legislation for the city “will protect law-abiding citizens”.
Put human rights at the centre of coronavirus response urges Muhammad-Bande
Jun 03, 2020, at 09:42 am
New York: The nations of the world must put human rights at the heart of their ongoing response to COVID-19 and ensure that everyone can enjoy “justice and peace” wherever they may be, the President of the General Assembly said on Tuesday.
Jun 03, 2020, at 09:35 am
New York: More than five years of conflict have left Yemenis “hanging on by a thread, their economy in tatters” and their institutions “facing near-collapse”, the UN chief told a virtual pledging conference on Tuesday, calling for a demonstration of solidarity with some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
UN appeals for restraint, ‘social cohesion’ as protests across the US continue
Jun 03, 2020, at 08:08 am
Mumbai/IBNS: Responding to on-going protests that have spawned violence on all sides across dozens of US cities, the UN Spokesperson on Monday reiterated the Secretary-General’s appeal for grievances to be heard in “peaceful ways”, met with restraint by police and security forces.
Ecuador: Sustainable cattle farmer eases COVID-19 crisis with free milk for families
Jun 02, 2020, at 08:53 am
New York/IBNS: As the COVID-19 pandemic shuts down dairy supply hubs across the Amazon region of Ecuador, one local cattle farmer with an abundance of milk on his hands has stepped up to offer it free-of-charge to families in need, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Iraq: 2 soldiers, 2 IS militants killed in airstrike and bomb attack
Jun 02, 2020, at 08:22 am
Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI: Two soldiers and two Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Monday in an airstrike and a bomb attack in the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh and Diyala, Iraqi military said.
Jun 02, 2020, at 08:15 am
New York: As businesses struggle to cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, they need to remain aware of their responsibilities as partners in efforts to build a sustainable future, says the outgoing head of the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Armenia PM tests positive for coronavirus
Jun 01, 2020, at 01:54 pm
Yerevan/IBNS: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday said that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, said media reports
Major China-Europe freight train route sees surging deliveries
Jun 01, 2020, at 01:30 pm
Hangzhou/Xinhua: A major China-Europe freight train route linking Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and Madrid in Spain has seen deliveries surge 72 per cent in the first five months, according to the train operator.
China to strengthen medic protection with new law
May 31, 2020, at 04:04 pm
Beijing/Xinhua/UNI: A new law to be implemented from June 1 provides for heavier penalties for organizations or individuals threatening the safety of medics and harming their dignity.
New Zealand reports no new COVID-19 case for 9 consecutive days
May 31, 2020, at 08:41 am
Wellington/Xinhua: New Zealand has reported no new case of COVID-19 for nine days in a row, said a statement of the New Zealand Ministry of Health on Sunday.
China's national security law will snatch independent rights of Hong Kong: Barrister Wilson Leung
May 30, 2020, at 08:59 pm
Hong Kong-based barrister Wilson Leung has said it is feared that China will use a new law to suppress peaceful resistance, opposition and activism in Hong Kong in the same manner as authorities do it in mainland China to suppress dissidents.
As China continues clampdown, Britain is planning to give refuge to Hong Kong residents
May 30, 2020, at 08:54 pm
London: It seems Britain is slowly backing its former colony as it is planning to allow hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens to come to Britain if China clamps down further on the city.
UNSC might not lift sanctions on Taliban: Russian diplomat
May 30, 2020, at 08:45 pm
Moscow: The Afghan government released hundreds of Taliban prisoners as part of the peace deal with the United States but even at such a scenario UN Security Council might not lift sanction over the group, according to a Russian diplomat.
Uzbekistan extends quarantine till June 15
May 30, 2020, at 03:30 pm
Tashkent/Xinhua/UNI: Uzbekistan has extended quarantine measures until June 15 while easing some lockdown restrictions to allow many businesses to reopen, the Special Republican Commission to Combat Coronavirus said Saturday.
Israeli police shoot dead suspicious Palestinian in Jerusalem
May 30, 2020, at 03:28 pm
Jerusalem/Xinhua/UNI: A Palestinian man, spotted with a suspicious object in the Old City of Jerusalem, was shot dead during a police chase, the Israeli police said Saturday.
UN human rights office welcomes moves to curtail spread of hatred and violence online
May 30, 2020, at 09:21 am
New York/IBNS: The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has welcomed steps taken by social media companies to prevent their platforms from being used to promote hatred, violence and misinformation, Spokesperson Rupert Colville said on Friday.
Mongolia to send 8 flights to COVID-19-hit countries in June to evacuate nationals
May 29, 2020, at 08:47 pm
Ulan Bator/Xinhua/UNI: Mongolia will send eight chartered flights to COVID-19-hit countries in June to evacuate its nationals, the country's foreign ministry said on Friday.
Lockdown extended in Maldives as COVID-19 cases cross 1,500
May 29, 2020, at 08:43 pm
Male/Xinhua/UNI: The Maldives government announced that the lockdown over Maldives' capital region of Greater Male has been extended by two weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country crossed 1,500, local media reported here Friday.
Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and Qatar form alliance of Sunni political Islam, says expert
May 29, 2020, at 07:32 pm
Jerusalem: Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar and Malaysia have formed a new alliance in the Islamic world and they perceive India, Israel and the Christian nations in the West as their enemies, a noted expert on Middle East opined.
US, three other allies target China over Hong Kong national security law
May 29, 2020, at 07:10 pm
Washington: China's decision to impose the new national security law on Hong Kong has earned criticisms from the United States and its three major allies.
China’s leaders ‘arrogant and aggressive’ over Hong Kong security law, says EU politician
May 29, 2020, at 06:59 pm
Brussels: The head of European Parliament department that handles relations with China has said Beijing’s proposals for a national security law for Hong Kong are “aggressive and arrogant”.
China lodges protest with US regarding bill to sanction Beijing over treatment of Uyghurs
May 29, 2020, at 06:34 pm
Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: China has lodged a strong protest with the United States regarding the bill passed in the US Congress to impose sanctions on China for alleged violations of the rights of Uyghurs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Friday.
US must take ‘serious action’ to halt police killings of unarmed African Americans
May 29, 2020, at 10:06 am
New York/IBNS: The UN human rights chief on Thursday condemned the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd while in police custody in the city of Minneapolis, calling it the latest in “a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public”.
Latin America and Caribbean: Millions more could miss meals due to COVID-19 pandemic
May 29, 2020, at 09:59 am
New York/IBNS: Some 14 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean could experience severe food insecurity this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to projections released on Thursday by the World Food Programme (WFP).
May 29, 2020, at 09:53 am
New York/IBNS: The global coronavirus pandemic is testing the multilateral system like never before and the Security Council must stop the “infighting”, and step up to the challenge, the European Union’s foreign policy chief told the 15-member body on Thursday.