Aug 11, 2018, at 08:41 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): With Central African countries beset by ongoing terrorist activity, instability and the effects of climate change, the Security Council has asked the United Nations Secretary-General to review the work of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and recommend areas for improvement.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): After a vote on Friday by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, former two-time President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, hailed a “pioneer” by the UN Secretary-General, has officially been appointed as High Commissioner for Human Rights, effective from 1 September.
UN chief welcomes DR Congo President’s promise to stand down
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:33 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has commended the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila’s decision on Thursday, not to stand in elections scheduled to take place on 23 December.
Venezuelan exodus to Ecuador reaches record levels: UN refugee agency steps up aid
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:24 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): One of the largest population movements in Latin American history is under way from Venezuela, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, which on Friday confirmed that it is increasing assistance to neighbouring Ecuador, where more and more Venezuelans are arriving each week.
UN should never be a target, Baghdad bombing survivors stress, 15 years after deadly attack
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:20 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): On 19 August 2003, a suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives to the United Nations headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Iraq, and blew it up, killing 22 people – among them Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the head of the UN mission in Iraq.
Yemen bus attack just the latest outrage against civilians: UN agencies
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:02 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): An air strike on a busy market area in Yemen that reportedly killed scores of people including more than 20 children on a bus, is likely the worst attack on youngsters in the conflict so far, and the latest in a recent spate of violence targeting civilians, UN agencies said on Friday.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 11, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
At least four killed in Canadian shooting: Police
Aug 10, 2018, at 06:17 pm
Fredericton, Aug 10 (IBNS): At least four people were killed in a shooting in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, media reports said.
Unknown men kill military affairs expert Zalmai Wardak in Kabul
Aug 10, 2018, at 03:54 pm
Kabul, Aug 10 (IBNS): Unknown men killed military affairs expert General Zalmai Wardak in Afghanistan's Kabul city on Thursday, media reports said on Friday.
Canada: Northern Ontario wildfire no longer out of control
Aug 10, 2018, at 03:15 pm
Toronto, Aug 10 (IBNS): The wildfire in North Ontario is no longer considered to be out of control, media reports said.
Canada not considering retaliation against Saudi Arabia, says FM Bill Morneau
Aug 10, 2018, at 02:31 pm
Ottawa, Aug 10 (IBNS): Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau has said his government is not considering any retaliatory measure against Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic ties with the North American country owing to its interference in internal matters of the Middle Eastern country, media reports said.
Citing irregularities from US, North Korea halts denuclearisation programme
Aug 10, 2018, at 12:30 pm
Pyongyang, Aug 10 (IBNS): North Korea said on Thursday that it has halted its denuclearisation programme, citing irregularities from the United States of America.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:16 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN Envoy urges Burundi leaders to ‘seize opportunities for national unity and peace’
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafando, has called on the country’s leaders to “seize the opportunity” offered by the recent adoption of a new constitution, to create a new political environment that is “conducive to the consolidation of national unity and peace”.
Afghanistan: Blast in Herat kills 3
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:06 am
Herat, Aug 10 (IBNS): At least three people were killed in a blast which rocked Afghanistan's western Herat province on Thursday, media reports said on Friday.
UN chief condemns air strike that hit school bus in northern Yemen, killing scores of children
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:02 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned an air strike by pro-Yemini Government coalition forces, which killed scores of children who were on board a bus travelling through a busy market area in the northern province of Saada.
Thai citizenship means ‘dream of a brighter future’ for cave rescue boys, says UN Refugee Agency
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The decision of the Thai Government to grant citizenship to three of the boys recently rescued after being trapped in a flooded cave, along with their football coach, has been welcomed by UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, Aug 10(IBNS): The survivors of the atomic bombings, known in Japanese as the hibakusha, have become global “leaders for peace and disarmament”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at Thursday’s Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan, commemorating the 73rd anniversary of that devastating day.
Millions at risk if Syria’s war moves to last redoubt of Idlib, warns senior aid official
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Aid access to embattled Syrians may soon improve following recent military gains by the Government, but the war “cannot be allowed to go to Idlib”, the head of the UN’s Humanitarian Task Force said on Thursday.
Nicaragua must end 'witch-hunt' against dissenting voices – UN human rights experts
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:40 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Following weeks of civil unrest in Nicaragua, a group of 11 UN independent human rights experts urged the Government on Thursday to stop the violent repression of protestors, which has left at least 317 people dead and 1,830 injured, stressing that "no one should be detained for the exercise of their human rights”.
FROM THE FIELD: A mountain of indigenous knowledge in Peru
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Indigenous people in a remote mountain town in the Andes in Peru are being helped to boost their incomes by preserving a valuable but threatened breed of alpaca.
-1533837912.jpg "Canada: Ontario Ford Govt invests $25 million to wipe out gun violence and gangs")
Canada: Ontario Ford Govt invests $25 million to wipe out gun violence and gangs
Aug 09, 2018, at 11:35 pm
Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS): Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Thursday joined Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Michael Tibollo and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney to announce that Ontario's Government for the People is investing $25 million in new funding to fight gangs and guns, media reports said.
Yemen: Dozens of children killed in airstrike on bus
Aug 09, 2018, at 10:02 pm
Sana, Aug 9 (IBNS): Dozens of children lost their lives in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a school bus on Thursday.
Canada: Federal government planning to impose new restrictions to curb gun violence
Aug 09, 2018, at 07:07 pm
Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS): In the wake of several mass shootings in the country, the federal government in Canada is planning to impose some new restrictions to curb gun violence, media reports said.
Canada PM Trudeau takes 'firm' stance in dispute with Saudi Arabia
Aug 09, 2018, at 07:05 pm
Ottawa, Aug 9 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shown no sign of budging down in the ongoing dispute with Saudi Arabia over the humanitarian issue, media reports said.
Skripal attack: US to impose fresh sanctions against Russia over use of Novichok agent
Aug 09, 2018, at 11:44 am
Washington/Moscow, Aug 9 (IBNS): The US has said that it will impose fresh sanctions on Russia over the latter's use of Novichok nerve agent in the attempted murder of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Gaza border: Retaliatory fire from Israel kills pregnant woman, baby
Aug 09, 2018, at 10:44 am
Jerusalem, Aug 9 (IBNS): A pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter were among the three people killed in a retaliatory fire by Israeli soldiers on the Gaza border.
UN urges protection of indigenous peoples’ rights during migration
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:45 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, UN Secretary-General António Guterres put a spotlight on the factors pushing indigenous people to migrate “within their countries and across international borders” despite their “profound spiritual connection to their lands and resources”.
Former Chilean President Bachelet put forward by UN chief as next High Commissioner for Human Rights
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:42 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): She has twice been President of Chile, and on Wednesday, ground-breaking politician and women’s rights champion, Michelle Bachelet was nominated by the United Nations chief António Guterres for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Despite a myriad of “long-neglected social, economic and development needs”, the Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Wednesday said progress had been made towards recovery and stability in the battle-scarred country, and called for Iraqi political leaders to continue to “work for national reconciliation” through “inclusive” solutions.