Former New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English quits politics

Feb 13, 2018, at 03:21 pm

Wellington, Feb 13 (IBNS): Former New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English on Tuesday announced he has decided to quit politics.

More than 5,000 child soldiers released in 2017, but tens of thousands still being used in conflict - UN

Feb 13, 2018, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 13 (JEN): The global commitment to end the use of children in armed conflict led to the release and reintegration of more than 5,000 children in 2017, but tens of thousands of boys and girls are still being recruited, kidnapped, and forced to fight or work for military groups or armed forces at “alarming rates,” according to the United Nations.

Some four million Iraqi children in need says UNICEF, ahead of investment conference in Kuwait

Feb 13, 2018, at 03:07 pm

New York, Feb 13 (JEN): About a quarter of all Iraqi children are living in poverty, and in the wake of more than four years of violence, families are being pushed to “extreme measures” in order to survive, said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday, as a major conference on rebuilding the country was set to open tomorrow in neighbouring Kuwait.

1 dies in Austrian trains collision, 22 injured

Feb 13, 2018, at 02:49 pm

Vienna, Feb 13 (IBNS): At least one person was killed and 22 others were injured as two passenger trains collided in central Austria on Tuesday, media reports said.

Focus on future, prioritize reconciliation for the region, UN envoy urges Western Balkans

Feb 13, 2018, at 02:19 pm

For Valentine’s Day, UN environment wing is urging everyone to ‘break up’ with single-use plastic

Feb 13, 2018, at 02:16 pm

‘Where peace begins’: helping Liberia turn the corner through the power of radio

Feb 13, 2018, at 02:12 pm

New York, Feb 13 (JEN): The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) will close at the end of March 2018.

Maldives: UN rights experts denounce detention of judges as ‘direct attack’ on Supreme Court

Feb 13, 2018, at 02:07 pm

New York, Feb 13 (JEN): Denouncing the detention of two Supreme Court judges in the Maldives, United Nations human rights experts warned that the independence of the judiciary is under “serious threat” in the country, as is the principle of separation of powers between the State and the courts.

Civilians in war-torn Yemen ‘under fire on all sides’ – UN rights chief

Feb 13, 2018, at 01:57 pm

New York, Feb 13 (JEN): The situation in Taizz governorate – located in south-west Yemen – is of particular concern.

ANC mulling Zuma's future, likely to be asked to step down

Feb 12, 2018, at 05:57 pm

CapeTown, Feb 12 (IBNS): South African President Jacob Zuma, who is facing a wave of criticism for alleged corruption, is likely to be asked to step down by the ruling ANC party.

World War 2 bomb recovered from Thames, London City Airport shut

Feb 12, 2018, at 04:40 pm

New York Attorney General sues Harvey Weinstein

Feb 12, 2018, at 02:55 pm

New York, Feb 12 (IBNS): At the end of an investigation into inappropriate sexual conduct,  New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against American film producer Harvey Weinstein his younger brother Robert and their firm.

Russian plane crashes near Moscow, 71 feared dead

Feb 12, 2018, at 03:11 am

Moscow, Feb 11 (IBNS): All 71 people, who were travelling, are feared to have died after a Russian flight crashed outside Moscow on Sunday, media reports said.

One killed in knife attack in Chinese mall

Feb 11, 2018, at 09:47 pm

iBeijing, Feb 11 (IBNS): At least one person was killed and 12 others were hurt in a knife attack incident at a mall in China's Beijing city on Sunday, media reports said.

South Korea's President holds historic meeting with Kim Jong-un's sister

Feb 10, 2018, at 04:30 pm

Seoul, Feb 10 (IBNS): South Korea's President Moon Jae-in held a historic meeting with Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, as relation between the two Korean nations are slowly inching toward normalisation.

Syria: Life 'living nightmare' for children in East Ghouta, UNICEF chief warns

Feb 10, 2018, at 02:21 pm

New York, Feb 10 (JEN): Following reports that dozens of children have been killed in violence this week alone in Syria, a senior United Nations official on Friday stressed the need for unconditional evacuations of sick and wounded children from East Ghouta and other sieged areas.

Yemen: Raging violence displaces more than 85,000 civilians, says UN refugee agency

Feb 10, 2018, at 02:13 pm

New York, Feb 10 (JEN): Surging violence across Yemen has resulted in the displacement of more than 85,000 people in just the last 10 weeks, the United Nations refugee agency reported Friday.

Olympic message of peace is universal, UN chief says in Pyeongchang

Feb 10, 2018, at 02:03 pm

New York, Feb 10 (JEN): As the world comes together for the Winter Olympics, which kicked off Friday in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on everyone to recognize and promote the Games’ universal message of peace and tolerance.

Ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UN calls for smashing stereotypes

Feb 10, 2018, at 01:58 pm

New York, Feb 10 (JEN): It is time to support and invest in women and girls who want to pursue careers in scientific research, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed annually on 11 February.

Women and children threatened by sexual violence at refugee reception centres in Greek islands – UN

Feb 10, 2018, at 01:52 pm

New York, Feb 10 (JEN): Asylum seekers are reporting sexual harassment and violence at some sub-standard reception centres on Greek islands – where even bathing during the daytime can be dangerous – despite Government measures to address the dire living conditions, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Friday.

US government shut down for the second time this year

Feb 09, 2018, at 04:51 pm

Washington, Feb 9 (IBNS): The US government has shut down after the Congress failed to decide on a key budget on time.

International community must stay ‘one step ahead’ of ISIL, stresses UN official

Feb 09, 2018, at 01:59 pm

ICC to open separate initial examinations of Philippines ‘war on drugs;’ Venezuela protests

Feb 09, 2018, at 01:55 pm

New York, Feb 9 (IBNS): The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Thursday that she will open preliminary examinations into the so-called “war on drugs” campaign launched by the Government of the Philippines and, separately analyze alleged crimes committed by Venezuela related to the demonstrations and ongoing political unrest there.

UN seeks $1.06 billion to help fragile countries create ‘firewall against famine’

Feb 09, 2018, at 01:50 pm

new York, Feb 9 (JEN): Ongoing conflicts and climate-related shocks have left millions of people on the brink of starvation, the United Nations agriculture agency warned on Thursday as it launched a $1.06 billion appeal to save lives and livelihoods, and tackle acute hunger in 26 countries.

UN releases $9.1 million to fill 'critical healthcare gaps' in Yemen

Feb 08, 2018, at 02:26 pm

New York, Feb 8 (JEN): With only 50 per cent of medical facilities fully functional in Yemen, the United Nations health agency is striving to fill a “critical” healthcare shortage and will use a $9.1 million emergency response grant to assist 630,000 vulnerable people in districts around Sana'a and al-Hudayda.

UNICEF helping to restore health services for children and families returning to war-torn Mosul

Feb 08, 2018, at 02:20 pm

New York, Feb 8 (JEN): Warning about the “alarming” state of Iraq’s healthcare system, especially in war-ravaged areas in and around Mosul, the United Nations children’s agency has stepped up its support to help the Government provide critical medical services so that children and families affected by violence and displacement can resume their lives.

Let Olympic Flame ‘shine as a beacon to human solidarity,’ UN says ahead of Pyeongchang Games

Feb 08, 2018, at 02:14 pm

TNew York, Feb 8 (JEN): his week the world will gather in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, unified in what United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called “the Olympic Spirit: in solidarity; mutual respect; and friendly competition.”

Kosovo: Despite differences, potential for trust among political leaders remains, Security Council told

Feb 08, 2018, at 02:07 pm

New York, Feb 8 (JEN): Even though significant differences persist between political leaders in Kosovo, the potential for trust and more forward-looking decision-making to address the challenges there should not be underestimated, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

Maldives: Democracy under ‘all-out assault,’ warns UN rights chief

Feb 08, 2018, at 12:32 pm

New York, Feb 8 (JEN): The declaration of the state of emergency in the Maldives by President Abdulla Yameen and the resulting suspension of constitutional guarantees have undermined the checks and balances necessary in any functioning democracy, the United Nations human rights chief warned Wednesday.

Singapore government tells citizens to avoid travelling to Maldives

Feb 07, 2018, at 08:05 pm

Singapore City, Feb 7 (IBNS): The Singapore government has urged all its citizens to avoid travelling to Maldives, as the latter is undergoing a state of emergency amid severe political crisis.