New Zealand witnesses 'darkest day' as twin mosque attacks kill 49 in Christchurch

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:12 pm

Christchurch, Mar 15 (IBNS): New Zealand lived a horrifying Friday when gunmen attacked two mosques in Christchurch city and killed at least 49 people, evoking worldwide condemnation as Prime Minister Jacinda Arden called it the country's darkest day. At least 48 people were hurt in the attacks.  

Nearly 55,000 visas granted to Chinese businessmen in 2018: Pakistan

Mar 15, 2019, at 06:38 pm

Islamabad, Mar 15 (UNI) Around fifty-five thousand Chinese businessmen and workers were issued visas by Pakistan Embassy in Beijing and its four consulates, last year.

China's border region says drug crimes contained after crackdown

Mar 15, 2019, at 06:27 pm

Nanning, March 15 (Xinhua) Police in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said they seized 2 tonnes of illegal drugs in 2018 in crackdowns that curbed the outflow of drugs from the border region.

Turkey's Erdogan condemns New Zealand mosque attacks

Mar 15, 2019, at 03:59 pm

Ankara, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly condemned the attacks on two mosques in New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday.

New Zealand mosque attack: Death toll at 49, darkest day, says Arden

Mar 15, 2019, at 03:40 pm

Christchurch, Mar 15 (IBNS): At least 49 people have died in New Zealand's worst terror attack in which gunmen stormed two city mosques on Friday and opened fire, police commissioner Mark Bush said.

In support of India's fight against terror, France to freeze assets of JeM chief Azhar

Mar 15, 2019, at 01:29 pm

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI): In a major display of strategic partnership with India and solidarity on the issue of terror, France on Friday announced that it will "freeze" all assets of JeM chief Masood Azhar in application of the country's Monetary and Financial Code.

New Zealand shooting toll rises to 40 as PM Arden calls it one of our 'darkest days'

Mar 15, 2019, at 12:42 pm

Wellington, Mar 15 (UNI) With the death toll in mosque shootings in New Zealand's Christchurch rising to about 40, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern held a press conference about the carnage in the country's east coast city of Christchurch and termed the incident one of New Zealand's darkest days.

Shooting inside 2 mosques, dozens feared dead in Christchurch, New Zealand

Mar 15, 2019, at 11:54 am

Christchurch, Mar 15 (IBNS): Dozens of people are feared killed in shootings inside at least two city mosques on Friday, media reports said.

China adopts foreign investment law

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:11 am

Beijing, Mar 15 (Xinhua) China's national legislature on Friday passed the foreign investment law at the closing meeting of its annual session.

Nigeria confirms 55 Boko Haram militants killed in multilateral operation

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:09 am

Abuja, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Fifty-five Boko Haram militants were killed in the past two days following a joint operation by forces from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger, the Nigerian military said Thursday.

Islamic Cooperation Organization members reaffirm solidarity with Palestinians

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:07 am

Rabat, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) The Parliamentary Union of Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) reaffirmed Thursday in Rabat its solidarity with the Palestinian people.

US considering sanctions against China over imprisonment of Muslims: State Dept

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:05 am

Washington, Mar 15 (Sputnik/UNI) The United States is considering targeted sanctions over human rights violations against Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province, Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said during a press briefing on Thursday.

Israel's Netanyahu convenes military consultation after rocket attack from Gaza

Mar 15, 2019, at 10:02 am

Jerusalem, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Thursday night an urgent consultation with the country's top military commanders following a rocket attack on Tel Aviv from Gaza.

Nine IS militants killed in airstrike in northern Iraq

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:57 am

Baghdad, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI) Nine Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike by Iraqi airforce and international coalition aircraft in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said.

Gunmen kill 17 in northern Nigeria

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:54 am

Lagos, Mar 15 (Xinhua/UNI): Nigerian police in the northern state of Kaduna on Thursday said unidentified gunmen shot dead 17 members of a local vigilante group following an attack on Jan Ruwa village Tuesday.

Service and Sacrifice: Guinean peacekeepers make their mark in Mali

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:50 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): As the sun rises over Mali’s vast desert, a group of 20 peacekeepers prepare their equipment and line up to receive instructions before heading out for their first patrol of the day on one of the most dangerous roads in the region.

Drug laws must be amended to ‘combat racial discrimination’, UN experts say

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:47 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): At every stage of the criminal justice system, people of African descent around the world are discriminated against, including death sentencing for drugs-related crimes, United Nations human rights experts said on Thursday, calling on Member States to do more to “combat racial discrimination”.

DR Congo Ebola centre attacks could force retreat against the deadly disease, warns UN health chief

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:44 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): Attacks on Ebola treatment centres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), risk reversing the gains made during the current outbreak in the north-east of the country, the head of the UN health agency said on Thursday.

Make this the year of 'transformative solutions' to avert disastrous climate change: UN Deputy Chief

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:41 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): It is within our power to make 2019 the “year of transformative solutions” and “avoid the disastrous effects of climate change“, which threaten ecosystems, the global economy, health and security, the UN Deputy Secretary-General told delegates gathered in Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly, on Thursday.

UN welcomes 'record' Brussels conference pledge of nearly $7 billion to support Syrians

Mar 15, 2019, at 09:31 am

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries gathered on Thursday at a joint European Union-UN pledging conference, and pledged to provide a record $6.97 billion, to support millions of Syrians in need both inside the country, and sheltering in host communities beyond its borders.

New Zealand mosques attacks: Several feared dead after shooting in Christchurch

Mar 15, 2019, at 08:57 am

Christchurch, Mar 15 (IBNS): Several people are feared to have lost their lives as gunmen opened fire at two Christchurch mosques in New Zealand on Friday.

Around 260,000 children in DR Congo’s Kasai region suffering severe acute malnutrition

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:59 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): More than a quarter of a million children in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – and thousands of others who have fled with their families to nearby provinces – are suffering severe and acute malnutrition, and need lifesaving treatment, said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday.

UN must provide redress for minorities placed in toxic Kosovo camps, says rights expert

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:55 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): An independent rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council has called on the United Nations to “provide justice and remedies” to displaced people who suffered lead poisoning after being housed in UN camps on toxic wasteland in Kosovo.

‘Power is not given, power is taken’, UN chief tells women activists, urging push-back against status quo

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:48 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): After hearing from many of the world’s top women politicians on Tuesday in a session on “Women in Power”, Secretary-General António Guterres, held a Town Hall meeting for civil society activists where he underscored the importance of women seizing the initiative in the struggle for gender equality.

Syrians still living on ‘razor edge’ as UN launches $8.8 billion dollar appeal

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:44 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): An $8.8 billion funding appeal has been issued by the UN to help millions of Syrians who live a “razor-edge existence” inside and outside the war-torn country, along with the communities struggling to host them.

Baloch activists assemble in Geneva, highlight Pakistani atrocities

Mar 14, 2019, at 08:36 am

Geneva, Mar 14 (IBNS):  Baloch Human Rights defenders, activists, and their international supporters assembled in Geneva and adopted a resolution where they asked the international community to come forward and urge the government of Pakistan to refrain from the use of oppressive measures leading to human rights violations in Balochistan.  

US accuses Russian govt of restricting freedom of expression - State Dept

Mar 13, 2019, at 10:06 pm

Washington, Mar 13 (Sputnik) The United Sates believes Russia is restricting freedom of expression, the State Department said on Wednesday in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018.

Kosovo SF engaged in attacks against ethnic minorities - US State Dept.

Mar 13, 2019, at 10:04 pm

Washington, Mar 13 (Sputnik/UNI): Kosovo's security forces have engaged in attacks against ethnic communities and other marginalized groups, the State Department said on Wednesday in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Iranian president meets Shiite spiritual leader in Iraq

Mar 13, 2019, at 06:14 pm

Baghdad, Mar 13 (Xinhua) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday met with Iraq's most revered Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Najaf, a provincial source said.

New Zealand introduces bill to improve organ donation rates

Mar 13, 2019, at 04:57 pm

Wellington, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI) New Zealand's Health Minister David Clark said on Wednesday the government is progressing legislation aimed at increasing the number of life-saving organ transplants for New Zealanders through improved donation rates.