Australian Taliban hostage released after three years: PM Morrison
Nov 20, 2019, at 10:17 am
Canberra /XINHUA/UNI: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday welcomed the release of Australian Taliban hostage Tim Weeks after three years.
US charges citizen with aiding Islamic state online recruitment - Justice Dept.
Nov 20, 2019, at 10:14 am
Washington/Sputnik/UNI: A US citizen faces charges of helping the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia) develop computer code to preserve its recruitment propaganda following removal by social media censors, the Department of Justice said in a statement.
German police arrest man on suspicion of preparing terror attack
Nov 20, 2019, at 10:12 am
Berlin/Xinhua/UNI: German authorities arrested a man suspected "of preparing a serious violent act threatening the state", the German federal public prosecutor announced on Tuesday.
Canada’s Infrastructure Minister Champagne to replace Freeland as top diplomat - Reports
Nov 20, 2019, at 10:07 am
Toronto/Sputnik/UNI: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Francois-Philippe Champagne will become Canada’s next top diplomat replacing incumbent Chrystia Freeland, CBC-Radio-Canada reported on Tuesday.
Terror threat in Afghanistan may lead to attacks in neighboring states - SCO Chief
Nov 20, 2019, at 10:04 am
United Nations/Sputnik/UNI: The terror threat in Afghanistan and its border area is worrying and can spread instability and terrorist activities throughout Central and South Asian countries, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Vladimir Norov said in a UN-SCO high-level meeting.
UN strengthens ties with Eurasia regional body to tackle terrorism and crime
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:58 am
New York/IBNS: Improving understanding of the nexus between terrorism, transnational organized crime and drug trafficking is essential, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday in his address to a high-level meeting involving the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a leading player in diplomacy in Eurasia.
US pardons for accused war criminals, contrary to international law: UN rights office
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:55 am
New York/IBNS: A presidential pardon for two United States soldiers accused of war crimes, and a sentence reduction for a third, “run against the letter and the spirit of international law which requires accountability for such violations”, the United Nations human rights wing said on Tuesday.
UN updates guidelines to ensure successful return to civilian life for former combatants
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:51 am
New York/IBNS: Increasing hurdles which prevent former combatants from returning to a peaceful civilian life have prompted the UN to update its standard practices, in an effort to ensure they remain “fit-for-purpose for years to come”.
UN ‘regrets’ new US position on legality of Israeli settlements
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:44 am
New York/IBNS: The longstanding position of the UN regarding Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory – that they are in breach of international law – is unchanged, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during a press briefing on Tuesday in New York, reacting to the policy reversal announced by the United States.
Reconciliation helps ‘repair fractures’, enable lasting peace, Security Council hears
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:40 am
New York/IBNS: The UN Security Council this Tuesday has been debating what one activist labeled “the toughest and arguably most important part of the peace-building cycle”: reconciliation.
‘Three-country crisis’ across central Sahel puts whole generation at risk, warns UN food agency
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:38 am
New York/IBNS: Violent attacks by extremists “almost every day” in the Sahel nations of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have displaced nearly one million people and caused emergency levels of malnutrition, UN humanitarians have said.
Iran protests: Live ammunition reportedly used, says UN human rights office
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:33 am
New York/IBNS: Reports indicating that dozens of people have been killed in continuing protests across Iran – some by live ammunition - are of deep concern, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said on Tuesday.
Dhaka: Drug dealer killed during 'gunfight' with RAB
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:18 am
Dhaka/IBNS: During a 'gunfight' with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Hajaribagh area of Dhaka, an alleged drug dealer was killed, media reports said.
White House welcomes release of two Western hostages by Afghanistan Taliban
Nov 20, 2019, at 09:09 am
Washington/IBNS: The White House has welcomed the release of kidnapped professors Kevin King and Timothy Weeks by the Taliban.
Nov 20, 2019, at 01:43 am
Islamabad/IBNS: The Pakistan High Court has directed officials to record the statement of Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur who was allegedly converted and married to a Muslim man in the country a few months ago, officials said. The incident had triggered an outrage of the Sikh community worldwide and clamour for safety of the minority communities in Pakistan riven by religious fundamentalism.
Swedish authorities drop investigation against Julian Assange
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:42 pm
London/IBNS: Swedish authorities have announced that they are ending all investigations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in connection with the rape allegation, media reports said.
Fourteen killed in NW Nigeria village attack
Nov 19, 2019, at 05:24 pm
Abuja/Xinhua/UNI: Fourteen people were killed and 10 others wounded in an attack by suspected gunmen at a village in northwest Nigeria, local police said on Tuesday.
Afghanistan: Taliban frees two Western hostages
Nov 19, 2019, at 04:49 pm
Kabu/IBNS: The Afghanistan Taliban have freed two Western hostages in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants, media reports said on Tuesday.
Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif leaves for London in air ambulanceÂ
Nov 19, 2019, at 04:13 pm
Islamabad/Lahore/IBNS: Accompanied by sibling Shehbaz Sharif and personal physician Dr Adnan Khan, Pakistan's former PM Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday departed for London in an air ambulance for his treatment.
About 70 injured students from besieged PolyU surrender to Hong Kong police: Reports
Nov 19, 2019, at 10:19 am
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: About 70 injured students trapped at the besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) surrendered on their own on Monday evening, the Apple Daily reported.
South Korea confirms 16 people, 3 ships captured by Houthi rebels: Reports
Nov 19, 2019, at 10:15 am
Seoul/Sputnik/UNI: South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens are among the 16 people captured by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, media reported Tuesday.
Israeli Air Defense intercepts 4 'launches' from Syria: Army
Nov 19, 2019, at 10:07 am
Tel Aviv/Sputnik/UNI: Israeli air defense systems intercepted four unspecified launches from Syria against the north of the country, Israeli Defense Forces said Tuesday.
Afghanistan: Grenade attack close to military training facility leaves five hurt in Kabul
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:58 am
Kabul/IBNS: Unknown gunmen threw hand grenades close to a military training facility in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul and left five people hurt, media reports said on Tuesday.
Sustainable fishing staying afloat in developed world, sinking in poorer regions
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:43 am
New York/IBNS: More people than ever rely on fisheries and aquaculture for food, and income, but the seafood industry is facing a “dangerous” sustainability divide when comparing trends in the developed world versus those in poorer regions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed on Monday.
At UN, Middle East countries discuss steps towards regional nuclear-free zone
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:29 am
New York/IBNS: Representatives from across the Middle East are meeting at UN Headquarters this week in efforts to negotiate a legally binding treaty establishing a regional zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
One-third of Afghans need urgent humanitarian aid, millions suffer ‘acute food insecurity’
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:19 am
New York/IBNS: Over the last three months (August to October 2019), around one-third of the Afghan population required urgent humanitarian action, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert, released on Monday, which declares that some 10.23 million people are living in a state of “severe acute food insecurity”.
Ankara contributed to elimination of IS leader Al-Baghdadi: Turkish Foreign Minister
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:13 am
Moscow/Sputnik/UNI: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says that the elimination of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State terrorist organization (IS, also known as ISIS, banned in Russia), became possible after his confidant, detained in Ankara, pointed to the leader's location.
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:09 am
New York/IBNS: More than 5.4 million children are detained around the world, rights experts said on Monday, highlighting “aggressive” State counterterrorism measures for the spike in youngsters held for alleged links with armed conflict or national security concerns based on their social media posts.
UNICEF reports uneven progress in 30 years of child rights treaty
Nov 19, 2019, at 08:56 am
New York/IBNS: Although the world has made historic gains over the past three decades in improving children’s lives, urgent action is required if the poorest children are to feel the impact, a new UN report published on Monday warns.
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US: Three killed in shooting at Walmart store in Duncan
Nov 18, 2019, at 11:20 pm
Washington/IBNS: Three people were killed in a shooting incident at a Walmart store in Duncan, Oklahoma of the United States on Monday morning.