How to stay in shape and step up support for refugees

Jan 09, 2019, at 09:18 am

New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): At a time of year when many resolve to get fit, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the huge distances many are forced to cover to escape persecution, in search of a better life far from home.

THE COMMITTEES: ‘All roads lead to the Fifth’

Jan 09, 2019, at 09:16 am

New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): At the United Nations, there is a popular saying – all roads lead to the Fifth – the “Fifth” here is the General Assembly’s main Administrative and Budgetary Committee, where all financial and programme matters concerning the UN system, are discussed. In this feature series on the work of the General Assembly, the UN body made up of all 193 Member States, UN News gives you an inside look at the critical work of the Fifth Committee.

UN Chief ‘strongly rejects’ Guatemala decision to expel anti-corruption body

Jan 09, 2019, at 09:03 am

New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has “strongly rejected” the Guatemalan Government’s decision to unilaterally terminate the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), an independent body set up by the UN and Guatemala to investigate illegal security groups and high-level corruption in the country.

UK: Heathrow Airport stops departures for drone sighting

Jan 09, 2019, at 01:15 am

London, Jan 8 (IBNS): The Heathrow Airport in London on Tuesday temporarily stopped departure of flights after a drone was sighted.

Canada: Truck driver involved in Humboldt Broncos crash pleads guilty

Jan 09, 2019, at 12:07 am

Melfort, Jan 8 (IBNS): Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the truck driver involved in Humboldt Broncos crash, pleaded guilty to all charges against him on Tuesday, CTV News reported.

Canada: Woman gets trapped in donation box in Toronto, dies

Jan 08, 2019, at 11:59 pm

Toronto, Jan 8 (IBNS): A 35-year old woman died after getting trapped inside a clothing donation box in Toronto city of Canada early morning on Tuesday, media reports said.

Sheikh Hasina to serve as Bangladesh PM for 20 years now

Jan 08, 2019, at 06:19 pm

Dhaka, Jan 8 (IBNS): Sheikh Hasina is all set to serve as the Bangladesh Prime Minister for 20 years now.  

China: Beijing school attack leaves 20 children hurt

Jan 08, 2019, at 03:34 pm

Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): At least 20 children were injured when a man attacked a primary school in China's Beijing city with a knife on Tuesday, media reports said.  

Anti-Pakistan sentiments being aroused in India for electioneering: Imran Khan

Jan 08, 2019, at 03:06 pm

Mumbai, Jan 8 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who came to power in the country last year, has said that anti-Pakistan sentiments were being aroused in India for the sake of campaigning for forthcoming elections.

Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun seeks asylum in Canada

Jan 08, 2019, at 02:22 pm

Bangkok, Jan 8 (IBNS): Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who has claimed that she has escaped from her family in the Middle-east nation, on Tuesday sought asylum in Canada.  

DR Congo: Restore internet services as 'a matter of urgency', urges UN expert

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:26 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): More than a week after voters went to the polls to choose a new President in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), results have yet to be announced and all primary telecommunications remain shut down – prompting a UN expert on Monday to urge the authorities to restore internet services as “a matter of urgency”.

Killing of aid worker in Syria part of ‘disturbing trend’

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:23 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The abduction and killing of an aid worker last week in Syria’s Idleb region, brings into focus the daily risks faced by humanitarians working in conflict zones, said the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, in a statement deploring the killing on Monday.

World Bank President steps down, Chief Executive assumes temporary role

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:17 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, announced on Monday that he is stepping down, after more than six years in the role. Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank CEO, will assume the role of interim President, from 1 February.

Saudi woman seeking asylum in Thailand ‘now in a secure place’ says UNHCR

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:14 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday that 18-year-old Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun, who had been stranded at Bangkok airport after fleeing her family in Kuwait, saying that she would be killed if forced to return, was “now in a secure place”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commences his China visit

Jan 08, 2019, at 10:06 am

Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commenced his China visit from Tuesday.

Rising human trafficking takes on ‘horrific dimensions’: almost a third of victims are children

Jan 08, 2019, at 09:50 am

New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): A new UN report published on Monday shows that human trafficking is on the rise and taking on “horrific dimensions”, with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver. Children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked, and far more girls are detected than boys.

UK visa costlier for Indians from tomorrow

Jan 07, 2019, at 09:13 pm

London, Jan 7 (IBNS): UK visa is set to cost more for Indian and other non-EU citizens from tomorrow, media reports said on Monday.

Nepal seeks exchange facility for high-denomination Indian currency

Jan 07, 2019, at 08:38 pm

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (IBNS): Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the country's central bank has asked Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to manage an exchange facility of high-denomination Indian currency notes in Nepal, the Himalayan Times said.

Canada considers Quebec woman's disappearance in Burkina Faso as kidnap

Jan 07, 2019, at 07:43 pm

Ottawa, Jan 7 (IBNS): Canadian officials on Sunday said they are treating a Quebec woman's disappearance in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in west Africa, as kidnapping, media reports said.

Sheikh Hasina takes oath as Bangladesh PM

Jan 07, 2019, at 05:38 pm

Dhaka, Jan 7 (IBNS): Sheikh Hasina took oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fourth time in her political career on Monday.

Afghanistan : 16 Taliban militants killed in airstrike

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:51 pm

Kabul, Jan 7 (IBNS) : At least 16 militants of the Taliban group were killed and an operations center of the group was destroyed in an airstrike conducted in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on Monday.

Afghanistan: Police thwart militant's bid to detonate a mosque in Herat

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:49 pm

Kabul, Jan 7 (IBNS): Saving several lives, the Afghan police forces have thwarted anti-government armed militants bid to detonate a mosque in western Herat province of the war-torn country, media reports said on Monday.

China kindergarten knife attack convict executed

Jan 07, 2019, at 04:14 pm

Beijing, Jan 7 (IBNS):  China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday said a man, who was convicted in the kindergarten knife attack case in south China, was executed on Friday after his death sentence was approved, media reports said.

Balochistan: Blasts leave 12 people injured

Jan 07, 2019, at 03:47 pm

Quetta, Jan 7 (IBNS): At least 12 people were injured as two blasts rocked Balochistan on Sunday, media reports said.

Imran Khan is going from country to country to beg for financial aid: Sindh CM

Jan 07, 2019, at 03:44 pm

Islamabad, Jan 7 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who stormed to power last year after his PTI registered a massive victory in the general polls, has drawn the criticism of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah over his recent foreign visits.

Human Rights Watch urges Thailand authorities to halt deportation of Saudi woman

Jan 07, 2019, at 10:02 am

Bangkok, Jan 7 (IBNS): Thailand authorities should immediately halt the planned deportation of a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing domestic abuse and fears for her safety if forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

2019 'a critical year' for Somali politics and development says Security Council

Jan 07, 2019, at 08:42 am

New York, Jan 7 (IBNS): In the wake of the Somali Government's decision last week to expel the head of the UN's assistance mission, UNSOM, the Security Council on Saturday cautioned that 2019 would be "a critical year" for the east African nation that is reconsituting itself after decades of conflict.

Afghanistan: Taliban abduct Wolesi Jirga candidate

Jan 06, 2019, at 07:02 pm

Kabul, Jan 6 (IBNS): Suspected Taliban terrorists abducted a Wolesi Jirga candidate from Afghanistan's Baghlan-i-Markazi district, media reports said on Sunday.

Afghanistan: Mine collapse kills 30 people in Badakhshan

Jan 06, 2019, at 05:18 pm

Kabul, Jan 6 (IBNS): At least 30 people died as a gold mine collapsed in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Sunday, media reports said.

Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks

Jan 06, 2019, at 05:06 pm

New York, Jan 6 (IBNS): More than 40 civilians have been reportedly killed during intercommunal clashes this week in northern Burkina Faso, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement on Friday night condemning the violence and “deteriorating security situation” in parts of the West African country.