Jun 01, 2019, at 07:23 am
New York, June 1 (IBNS): After visiting Julian Assange in a London prison, an independent UN human rights expert expressed urgent concern on Friday, for the Wikileaks co-founder’s well-being, accusing “a group of democratic States” of “ganging up” on the prisoner to “isolate, demonize and abuse” him and warned against extraditing the controversial publisher to the United States.
World Food Programme accesses Yemeni frontline district for first time since conflict began
Jun 01, 2019, at 07:14 am
New York, June 1 (IBNS): Amid the world’s largest humanitarian crisis still unfolding in Yemen, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has gained access to the rebel-held northern district of Nihm, for the first time since the war between Houthis and the Saudi-backed Government coalition escalated in 2015.
From philanthropy to profit: how clean energy is kickstarting sustainable development in East Africa
Jun 01, 2019, at 06:53 am
New York, June 1 (IBNS): Until recently, Namacurra district, in the Zambezia province of Mozambique, some 1,500 km from the capital Maputo, did not have any basic services – such as schools, health centres, or even energy – connecting the region to the electricity grid would be extremely time-consuming, and costly.
US: 11 killed in mass shooting in Virginia Beach
Jun 01, 2019, at 06:35 am
Washington, June 1 (IBNS): At least 11 people were killed in a mass shooting incident in a Virginia Beach city building in the USA on Friday, officials said.
Thailand to pick new prime minister on June 5
May 31, 2019, at 06:01 pm
Bangkok, May 31 (Xinhua/UNI) Thailand is scheduled to pick a new prime minister on June 5, Chuan Leekpai, speaker of the House of Representatives, said on Friday.
New Australian opposition leader denies predecessor threat: Observers
May 31, 2019, at 05:25 pm
Canberra, May 31 (Xinhua) The new leader of the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) has denied that his predecessor poses a threat to his leadership.
Taliban claim responsibility for deadly car bomb blast in Kabul - Reports
May 31, 2019, at 05:17 pm
Moscow, May 31 (Sputnik/UNI) The Taliban radical movement claimed responsibility for the explosion of the bomb-laden car in Kabul that killed at least four civilians earlier on Friday, the TOLOnews broadcaster reported.
Pakistan: WHO supports response to HIV outbreak in Sindh
May 31, 2019, at 04:57 pm
An international team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) has arrived in Pakistan to support the response to an outbreak of HIV in Larkana in Sindh province, Pakistan, at the request of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination.
Retired Pakistan Army officers, civilian awarded death sentence for spying
May 31, 2019, at 04:56 pm
Islamabad, May 31 (UNI) Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa endorsed punishment to two senior retired Army officers and one civil officer "on the charges of espionage/ leakage of sensitive information to foreign agencies prejudice to the national security", a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations has said.
Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli forces in West Bank
May 31, 2019, at 04:52 pm
Ramallah, May 31 (Xinhua) Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Friday that a young Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces' gunfire in the West Bank.
Philippine military says Abu Sayyaf militants kill Dutch hostage
May 31, 2019, at 04:24 pm
Manila, May 31 (Xinhua/UNI) A Dutch man held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants since 2012 was shot dead on Friday while trying to escape during a rescue operation launched by Philippine security forces in the jungles of Patikul town in the southern Sulu province.
Kremlin says Putin's approval rating based on citizens' assessment of Presidential work
May 31, 2019, at 04:19 pm
Moscow, May 31 (Sputnik/UNI) Approval rating of Russian President Vladimir Putin is formed by the assessment of his work by Russian citizens, and sociology is often wrong calculating this approval, Kremiln spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Afghanistan: Explosion rocks Kabul city, four killed
May 31, 2019, at 03:32 pm
Kabul, May 31 (IBNS): At least four civilians were killed as a heavy explosion rocked Afghanistan capital Kabul city on Friday, media reports said.
3 people die after boat capsizes in eastern France: authorities
May 31, 2019, at 09:41 am
Paris, May 31 (Xinhua) Three people, including a six-year-old girl have died on Thursday after a pleasure boat capsized in Bas-Rhin eastern France, while a second kid was still missing, local authorities said.
Syria: Thousands of children ‘hemmed in’ by ‘brutal and gratuitous’ spike in violence
May 31, 2019, at 09:26 am
New York, May 31 (IBNS): A marked escalation in fighting has put tens of thousands of children in northwest Syria at “imminent risk of injury, death and displacement”, the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) chief warned on Thursday.
May 31, 2019, at 09:21 am
New York, May 31 (IBNS): “To reflect critical advances in science and medicine”, the World Health Organization, WHO, has removed so-called “gender identity disorder” from its official manual of diagnoses, which is being hailed as a major win for transgender rights.
The UN’s unyielding effort to tackle sexual abuse and exploitation: our quarterly update
May 31, 2019, at 09:15 am
New York, May 31 (IBNS): In the first quarter of 2019, according to latest figures released on Thursday, the United Nations recorded a total of 37 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) against UN personnel, including civilian and uniformed personnel from peacekeeping operations, agencies, funds and programmes. So far, most of these allegations remain under investigation.
A ‘strong and united Europe’ has never been more needed, declares UN chief Guterres
May 31, 2019, at 09:10 am
New York, May 31 (IBNS): With the post-world war international institutions eroded and under threat, a “strong and united Europe” standing alongside the United Nations, has never been more essential, said UN chief António Guterres in Germany on Thursday.
May 30, 2019, at 03:23 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): If the battle to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to be won or lost in cities, then they need to “achieve a lasting impact on communities and to ensure that no one is left behind,” the head of the UN agency dealing with sustainable urban development said on Wednesday.
US special envoy to discuss DPRK with Japanese and South Korean diplomats in Singapore
May 30, 2019, at 12:34 pm
Washington, May 30 (Xinhua): US Special Representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Stephen Biegun would travel to Singapore to discuss DPRK-related issues with South Korean and Japanese diplomats, US State Department said.
Japan announces $1.2 billion aid to Bangladesh
May 30, 2019, at 12:21 pm
Tokyo, May 30 (UNI): Japan announced 132.6 billion yen ($1.2 billion) in aid to Bangladesh on that will go toward economic development, a high-speed railway and other projects.
Presidents of Uzbekistan and Germany hold talks, sign agreements
May 30, 2019, at 12:04 pm
Tashkent: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier have held talks in contracted and extended formats.
President of Germany becomes familiar with Khorezm’s ancient monuments
May 30, 2019, at 11:47 am
Tashkent, May 30 (IBNS): Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier together with his spouse today visited the historical centre of Khiva, Ichan Kala in Uzbekistan.
May 30, 2019, at 08:53 am
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The top United Nations body in the Asia-Pacific region opened its annual session this week, calling for greater empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups if the region is to achieve the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and fulfill its promise to leave no one behind.
Police reveal details of Tokyo fatal stabbing rampage
May 29, 2019, at 05:50 pm
Tokyo, May 29 (Xinhua/UNI) Police investigators said on Wednesday that a stabbing rampage that took place near Tokyo a day earlier in which 17 children and two adults were attacked leaving two dead, took the assailant less than 20 seconds.
Security forces kill four al-Shabab fighters in southern Somalia
May 29, 2019, at 05:44 pm
Mogadishu, May 29 (Xinhua/UNI) Somali security forces on Tuesday killed a senior al-Shabab terrorist and three other fighters as they intensified assault against the insurgents in the Horn of Africa nation.
Bangladesh: Four suspected bandits killed during shootout with RAB in Sundarbans
May 29, 2019, at 04:34 pm
Dhaka, May 29 (IBNS): The Rapid Action Battalion have killed four suspected forest bandits during an alleged shootout in Bangladesh's Sundarbans area, media reports said.
Afghanistan: NDS Special Forces seize 2500 kilograms of explosives from Kabul city
May 29, 2019, at 03:42 pm
Kabul, May 29 (IBNS): The Special Forces of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) have recovered 2500 kilograms of explosives from kabul city in Afghanistan, media reports said.
In Afghanistan, attacks against schools have tripled in one year
May 29, 2019, at 09:08 am
New York, May 29 (IBNS): The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday that much greater protection for educational facilities was needed across Afghanistan where attacks against schools have increased three-fold in just one year. The call coincides with the third International Conference on Safe Schools, taking place this week in Mallorca, Spain.
May 29, 2019, at 09:04 am
New York, May 29 (IBNS): Artificial intelligence, or AI, is at the forefront of fighting hunger, mitigating the climate crisis and facilitating “the transition to smart sustainable cities", said the chief of the UN agency which specializes in information and communication technologies, Houlin Zhao, kicking off the third AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.