States with power and influence to end suffering of Yemenis must take action ‘immediately’ – UN rights chief

Nov 11, 2018, at 04:20 pm

New York, Nov 11 (IBNS): “Outraged” by the “unconscionable toll” caused by the escalation of hostilities in Yemen, the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, on Saturday, urged the warring parties and those supplying them with weapons, to take immediate steps to end the suffering of civilians.

California wildfires: Nine killed, 250000 flee from homes

Nov 10, 2018, at 06:23 pm

California, Nov 10 (IBNS): A destructive fire hit north and south California and left at least nine people killed, media reports said on Saturday.

Parliament dissolved in Sri Lanka: US, UK express concern

Nov 10, 2018, at 04:26 pm

Washington, Nov 10 (IBNS): The US government has expressed its concern over the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's decision of dissolving the Parliament on Friday.

India says sharing table with Taliban on Afghanistan is at non-official level; Russia warns all against 'geopolitical games'

Nov 10, 2018, at 11:50 am

Moscow, Nov 10 (IBNS): For the first time since the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking in 1999, India on Friday shared a table with the Taliban to have talks on peace in Afghanistan hosted by Russia where for the first time the Taliban militants are participants.

UN nuclear watchdog will help verify DPRK nuclear programme, if agreement forthcoming

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:47 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): North Korea’s continuing nuclear programme is clearly in violation of Security Council resolutions and “deeply regrettable,” the United Nations top nuclear official has said.

Somalis ‘will not be deterred’ by Friday’s terror attacks – UN chief

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:44 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): Following Friday’s bomb attacks and gunfire in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, UN Chief António Guterres on Friday expressed his faith that Somalis “will not be deterred” in their pursuit of lasting peace and political stability.

On Kristallnacht anniversary, UN chief urges renewed fight against 'crime' of anti-Semitism

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:41 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): Political leaders have not yet taken up their responsibility to speak out loudly against neo-Nazism, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, warning that anti-Semitism is on the rise.

Fleeing violence, Cameroonian refugee arrivals in Nigeria pass 30,000, reports UN refugee agency

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:38 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): The number of Cameroonians fleeing violence and seeking refuge in neighbouring Nigeria has crossed the 30,000-mark, the United Nations refugee agency has said, highlighting that the needs on the ground are outpacing assistance efforts.

Humanitarian aid convoy to Syria’s Rukban camp: Mission Accomplished

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:35 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): The United Nations and partners concluded a six-day humanitarian aid operation, providing lifesaving aid to around 50,000 mostly women and children living in southeast Syria’s Rukban camp ­– the first supplies they had received since January.

Multilateralism more vital than ever, as World War centenary looms: Security Council

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:32 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): With the centenary of the end of the First World War just days away, the Security Council reaffirmed the crucial importance of multilateralism – or international cooperation and collective problem-solving – and highlighted the key role played by the United Nations since its creation 73 years ago.

Afghanistan: Woman kills her husband with axe

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:30 am

Kabul, Nov 10 (IBNS): A woman killed her husband by attacking him with an axe in Afghanistan's central Parwan province on Thursday, media reports said on Saturday.

Yemen: Major UN aid boost for ‘up to 14 million’ as country risks becoming a land of ‘living ghosts'

Nov 10, 2018, at 08:29 am

New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): Efforts are being made to step up life-saving aid from eight million, to 14 million stricken Yemenis a month, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday, before urging warring parties to spare the key Red Sea port of Hudaydah, which is a lifeline for the whole country.

Wildfires hit California, 5 killed, 150000 evacuated

Nov 10, 2018, at 07:32 am

California, Nov 10 (IBNS): At least five people were killed as two wildfires raged in US state of California, media reports said on Saturday.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves parliament

Nov 10, 2018, at 07:20 am

Colombo, Nov 10 (IBNS): In a major political development, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the Parliament on Friday, media reports said.

Sri Lanka President dissolves Parliament from midnight amid political crisis

Nov 09, 2018, at 10:38 pm

Colombo: Amid a political crisis, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is dissolving the Parliament with effect from midnight tonight, said media reports on Friday. Newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, considered a powerful politician in the island nation, failed to garner the 'magic number' of 113 to prove his majority in Parliament, necessisating the move by the President. 

Australian Police treating Melbourne stabbing incident as terror act

Nov 09, 2018, at 04:59 pm

Melbourne, Nov 9 (IBNS): The Australia Police have said they are treating the knife attack incident in Australia's Melbourne city as a 'terror act'.

Pakistan: Gunmen barge into Karachi Press Club

Nov 09, 2018, at 03:11 pm

Karachi, Nov 9 (IBNS): Several gunmen entered  Karachi Press Club (KPC) in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Thursday, media reports said.

Melbourne: Man sets car on fire, stabs people; arrested

Nov 09, 2018, at 03:09 pm

Melbourne, Nov 9 (IBNS): A man has been arrested after setting a car on fire and stabbing three people in central Melbourne, Australia, media reports said.

Canada PM Justin Trudeau grieves for victims of California shooting

Nov 09, 2018, at 02:20 pm

Ottawa, Nov 9 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has grieved for the victims of the shooting which took place at Thousand Oaks in California of the US on Wednesday night.

Ceasefire holds in Tripoli, but core problems remain, says UN Libya mission chief

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:23 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): The recent ceasefire in Libya’s capital Tripoli, brokered by the United Nations mission in the country, is holding, its head told the Security Council on Thursday, highlighting efforts to sustain the calm and help secure lasting peace.

Every bite of burger boosts harmful greenhouse gases: UN Environment Agency

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:15 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): Even though meat production is known to be a major contributor to climate change and environmental destruction, worldwide demand for meat continues to rise, said UN environment agency, UNEP, in a statement released on Thursday.

Civil society groups matter for Cambodia’s sustainable development: UN expert

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:12 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): The Cambodian Government must work in tandem with civil society groups and build its policies around citizens’ human rights, if the country is to see durable peace and sustainable development, a UN expert urged on Friday.

UN gender agency hails record-breaking number of women in new US Congress as ‘historic victory’

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:09 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): The record number of women who stood as candidates in the United States Congressional elections this week marks an “unprecedented” advance “critical for the achievement of gender equality and sustainable development,” the UN gender equality agency, UN Women, said in a statement on Thursday.

UN sounds alarm as Venezuelan refugees and migrants passes three million mark

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:02 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): The number of refugees and migrants who have left Venezuela worldwide has now reached three million, the two main United Nations agencies advocating for them announced on Thursday, flagging the need to increase support for the countries which are hosting large numbers of displaced Venezuelans.

Despite funding crisis, Palestine refugee classrooms set to stay open, says UNRWA

Nov 09, 2018, at 09:00 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): The Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) looks set to keep its classrooms open for the rest of the school year, despite earlier fears that they would have to close within the next few weeks, due to steep funding cuts, the agency told UN News in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Civilians suffering due to sanctions must be spared ‘collective punishment’ urges UN rights expert

Nov 09, 2018, at 08:57 am

New York, Nov 9 (IBNS): Innocent civilians must not be exposed to “collective punishment” in disputes between two States, a United Nations human rights expert has said, calling for greater protection for ordinary people affected by punitive sanctions imposed by one country on another.

Canada PM Trudeau delivers formal apology over the fate of St. Louis and passengers

Nov 08, 2018, at 10:21 pm

Ottawa, Nov 8 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a formal apology over the tragic fate of St. Louis and its passengers, who were denied an entry to the country in 1939.

California: Shooting at music bar in Thousand Oaks kills 13 people

Nov 08, 2018, at 08:09 pm

California, Nov 8 (IBNS): A shooting inside a music bar at Thousand Oaks in California of the US claimed 13 lives, media reports said.

White House suspends CNN reporter's press pass for alleged 'inappropriate behaviour'

Nov 08, 2018, at 07:33 pm

Washington, Nov 8 (IBNS): The White House has suspended CNN reporter Jim Acosta for allegedly behaving inappropriately with a female intern during a press conference of US President Donald Trump where the journalist concerned was rebuked by the US president repeatedly as he continued to ask questions.

Pakistan: Asia Bibi freed from jail

Nov 08, 2018, at 11:04 am

Islamabad, Nov 8 (IBNS): In a significant development,  a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy after spending eight years on death row has been freed from prison.