UN health agency signals tobacco might be reaching burn-out among men

Dec 19, 2019, at 10:10 am

New York/IBNS: Two decades of increasing tobacco use around the world are set to go into reverse, UN health experts have predicted, after revealing data indicating that fewer men and boys are smoking than before.

‘Deliver justice’ for atrocity crimes in Darfur, top court prosecutor tells Security Council

Dec 19, 2019, at 10:06 am

New York/IBNS: “Concrete steps” must be taken towards ending impunity for atrocity crimes in Darfur, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the Security Council on Wednesday, during her briefing on Sudan.

Global Refugee Forum ends with hundreds of pledges

Dec 19, 2019, at 09:54 am

New York/IBNS: The first-ever Global Refugee Forum concluded in Geneva on Wednesday with more than 770 pledges of support, covering areas such as protection, employment, and education, for refugees and the communities which have taken them in.

Only ‘concrete action’ will stop fraying of Israel-Palestine peace prospects

Dec 19, 2019, at 09:38 am

New York/IBNS: Obstacles to any lasting deal between Israel and Palestine continue to mount, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told Security Council members on Wednesday, and only “concrete action” towards a two-State solution will change that dynamic.

‘New and dangerous’ global risks require multilateral solutions, Guterres tells Italian Senate

Dec 19, 2019, at 09:30 am

New York/IBNS: Shifting balances of power are triggering “new and dangerous risks”, the UN chief told the Italian Senate in Rome on Wednesday, pointing to the need for more coordinated international responses, focused on solutions.

Misery for Venezuelans continues ahead of 2020 elections: UN rights chief Bachelet

Dec 19, 2019, at 09:00 am

New York/IBNS: Demonstrations in Venezuela must be allowed to take place ahead of elections in 2020, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday, citing continued reports of harassment, threats, and detention by intelligence services and security forces.

Donald Trump impeached, to face Senate trial now

Dec 19, 2019, at 08:46 am

Washington/IBNS: The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached Donald Trump, making him only the third US President against whom such a move has been made.

IS using Afghanistan to prepare for Central Asia invasion - Russian Security Council Chief

Dec 18, 2019, at 06:13 pm

Tehran/Sputnik/UNI: The Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia) is consolidating its forces in Afghanistan in preparation for an invasion of the Central Asian countries, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said on Wednesday.

Car bomb goes off in rebel-held area in NE Syria, leaving casualties

Dec 18, 2019, at 05:41 pm

Damascus/Xinhua/UNI:  A car bomb went off in the countryside of the rebel-held Ras al-Ayn city in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, leaving unknown numbers of casualties, state news agency SANA reported.

Death toll from Hong Kong bus mishap toches six

Dec 18, 2019, at 05:40 pm

Hong Kong/Xinhua/UNI:  Death toll from the bus crash in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday afternoon has risen to six after a female succumbed to her injury, according to local authorities.

Three killed in gunmen attacks in Iraq

Dec 18, 2019, at 05:38 pm

Baghdad/Xinhua/UNI: A total of three people were killed in separate attacks in the Iraqi provinces of Diyala and Nineveh, security sources said on Wednesday.

CAA may trigger nuclear conflict: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Dec 18, 2019, at 04:59 pm

Geneva/IBNS: Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Tuesday issued a nuclear war threat to India over the last week passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act by the PM Narendra Modi-led government.

Bangladesh: 2 people arrested over murder of Chinese businessman

Dec 18, 2019, at 03:30 pm

Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh police have arrested two persons in connection with the murder of a Chinese businessman in Dhaka city recently.

Nearly 2 Mln Syrian refugees return home due to Russia's assistance - General Staff

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:29 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Nearly 500,000 Syrian refugees and 1.3 million internally displaced Syrians have returned home over the past one and a half year due to the assistance of the Russian Defense Ministry, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov said at a briefing for foreign military attaches.

Boris Johnson bans UK ministers from visiting world Economic Forum in Davos: reports

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:26 am

Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has banned ministers from attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos slated for January as the government plans to focus on national priority issues, media reported, citing a Downing Street source.

Twelve killed in prison shooting near Panama City

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:23 am

Panama City/Xinhua/UNI: At least 12 prisoners were killed and 13 others injured during a shooting Tuesday in a prison near Panama City, police said.

Nine children killed or maimed in Afghanistan every day: UN Children’s Fund

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:19 am

New York/IBNS: An average of nine children have been killed or maimed every day in Afghanistan so far this year, according to a new report from the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, which describes the country as “the world’s most lethal warzone”.

Two indigenous languages are dying every month: UN Assembly President

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:12 am

New York/IBNS: Despite UN efforts throughout this International Year of Indigenous Languages to highlight the daily disappearance of mother tongues across the world, the President of the General Assembly (PGA) warned on Tuesday that “challenges persist nonetheless”.

South Sudan: political will needed to form a unified government, on the road to peace

Dec 18, 2019, at 10:10 am

New York/IBNS: Extending the deadline for the establishment of a unity government in South Sudan has helped maintain a ceasefire but also disillusioned many  citizens, the Security Council heard on Tuesday.

Bring global migration compact ‘to life’, urges UN chief

Dec 18, 2019, at 09:54 am

New York/IBNS: As “policies shaped more by fear than fact” have caused untold suffering to migrants, the UN Secretary-General is urging countries to realize the goals of a global agreement that promotes enhanced international cooperation on migration.  

Lightning kills 10 in Africa's Malawi

Dec 17, 2019, at 10:58 pm

Lilongwe/Xinhua: At least 10 people have been killed by lightning in Malawi in East Africa since the rain season started in November, a situation weather experts and the police have described as worrisome.

Pakistan court awards death sentence to ex-military ruler in high treason case

Dec 17, 2019, at 04:57 pm

Islamabad/IBNS: A Pakistani court on Tuesday awarded death sentence to country's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Explosion in Balkh province leaves 18 hurt

Dec 17, 2019, at 03:24 pm

Balkh/IBNS: At least 18 people were injured in an explosion that rocked Afghanistan's Balkh province on Tuesday, media reports said.

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf gets death penalty in high treason case

Dec 17, 2019, at 01:50 pm

Islamabad/UNI: A special court in Pakistan on Tuesday handed down death penalty to former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case, Pakistan media reported.

US urges India to 'protect and respect right of peaceful assembly'

Dec 17, 2019, at 11:26 am

Washington/IBNS: In view of the attack on protesting students of Jamia Millia University and later Aligarh Muslim University, the United States has urged India 'to protect and respect the right of peaceful assembly'.

Trump, Boris Johnson speak over phone on bilateral ties

Dec 17, 2019, at 10:15 am

Washington/Xinhua/UNI: US President Donald Trump spoke over phone with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday on bilateral ties, said the White House.

Car blast kills at least one man in Damascus – Syria TV

Dec 17, 2019, at 10:12 am

Damascus/Sputnik/UNI: At least one man was killed in a car explosion in the Syrian capital in the early hours of Tuesday, Syria TV reports.

Peace will be ‘paramount’ issue for incoming Afghan Government: UN mission chief

Dec 17, 2019, at 10:05 am

New York/IBNS: The search for peace will remain of “paramount importance” to Afghanistan as the country awaits the outcome of the recent presidential election, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Monday. 

West Africa ‘shaken by unprecedented violence’, UN envoy tells Security Council

Dec 17, 2019, at 10:00 am

New York/IBNS: The UN envoy for West Africa and the vast Sahel region, told the Security Council on Monday that in recent months, the region has been “shaken by unprecedented violence”.

At this ‘critical moment’, UN chief urges anti-corruption conference to adopt united front

Dec 17, 2019, at 09:51 am

New York/IBNS: As we enter the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world must “unite against corruption” to stop precious resources from being drained by illicit financial flows, an international conference on the issue heard on Monday in Abu Dhabi.