Stuck in Pakistan for 11 years, Geeta recognises family, to return soon

Oct 15, 2015, at 05:48 pm

Karachi/New Delhi, Oct 15 (IBNS) Geeta, a deaf and mute Indian woman, who has been stranded in Pakistan for 11 years after accidentally crossing the border, is likely to be flown home soon, media reports said.

After six years on the rise, Afghan opium crop cultivation declines: UN survey

Oct 15, 2015, at 03:08 pm

New York, Oct 15 (IBNS): Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan decreased 19 per cent in 2015, compared to the previous year, according to the latest Afghanistan Opium Survey figures released on Wednesday by the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Suicide attack in Pakistan's PML-N MNA's office kills 7

Oct 15, 2015, at 12:39 am

Islamabad, Oct 14 (IBNS): At least seven people were killed as a suicide bomber blew up his explosives at the office of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Amjad Farooq Khosa in Pakistan's Dera Ghazi Khan district on Wednesday, media reports said.

UN mission concerned by Taliban threats against Afghan media outlets

Oct 14, 2015, at 01:49 pm

New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): Expressing serious concerns at recent statements made from the Taliban that identified specific Afghan media outlets and its staff as targets, the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA) on Tuesday urged all parties to the conflict to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression.

UN relief official urges action to address urgent needs in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Oct 14, 2015, at 01:32 pm

New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): The head of Operations at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, called on Tuesday for renewed international commitment to address urgent humanitarian needs, and to shore up regional peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that the two countries were on differing humanitarian trajectories.

Pakistan: Landslide buries shanties in Karachi, 13 killed

Oct 13, 2015, at 10:39 pm

Karachi, Oct 13 (IBNS): AT least 13 people were killed in a landslide that buried shanties in Gulsitan-e-Jauhar area here on Tuesday, media reports said.

Afghanistan: UN urges prompt investigation into murder of mission staff member

Oct 13, 2015, at 02:23 pm

New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply troubled and saddened over Monday's killing in Kandahar of Toorpaki Ulfat, a staff member of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Nepal: Experts begin post-disaster work at damaged UNESCO heritage sites

Oct 09, 2015, at 02:54 pm

New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): International and national experts from the Nepalese Department of Archaeology and an archaeological team from Durham University have begun post-disaster excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Shahadat send to 3-day remand by Bangladesh court

Oct 08, 2015, at 08:47 pm

Dhaka, Oct 8 (IBNS): A Bangladesh court on Thursday sent cricketer Shahadat Hossain to three- day custody in connection with the case on torturing a domestic help.

UN refugee official calls for renewed international focus on Afghanistan

Oct 08, 2015, at 01:21 pm

New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations’ most senior refugee official is appealing to the international community to refocus its attention on Afghanistan, warning that it would be dangerous to ignore the country, and praised Iran and Pakistan for hosting so many Afghan refugees.

No humanitarian agencies left in Afghan city of Kunduz after bombing: UN

Oct 07, 2015, at 02:01 pm

New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): There are currently no humanitarian agencies left in Kunduz, the north-eastern Afghan city where an air strike hit the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital, causing the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

JMB leader killed in grenade blast

Oct 07, 2015, at 12:15 am

Dhaka, Oct 6 (IBNS): Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Mohammed Javed was killed in a grenade blast on Tuesday, media reports said.

No IS in Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina

Oct 04, 2015, at 11:20 pm

Dhaka, Oct 4 (IBNS): Amid reports of IS involvements in the killings of two foreign nationals in Bangladesh, country's PM Sheikh Hasina rejected the presence of the militant group in the Asian nation.

Afghanistan: UN strongly condemns 'tragic, inexcusable' Kunduz hospital airstrike

Oct 04, 2015, at 10:36 pm

New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials on Saturday condemned what they called a “tragic” and “inexcusable” air strike on the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, a city in northern Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians.

Afghanistan: US raid on Kunduz hospital kills 9

Oct 04, 2015, at 01:12 am

Kunduz City, Oct 3 (IBNS) A US airstrike has left nine people killed in Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) hospital in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province on Saturday,media reports said.

Sheikh Hasina returns to Bangladesh

Oct 03, 2015, at 08:56 pm

Dhaka, Oct 3 (IBNS): Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on Saturday returned to India after completing her visit to the US.

Japanese national shot dead in Bangladesh

Oct 03, 2015, at 08:35 pm

Dhaka, Oct 3 (IBNS): Unknown miscreants have shot dead a Japanese national in Rangpur district of Bangladesh, media reports said on Saturday.

Gandhi's dedication to non-violence still remains example for all: UN chief

Oct 03, 2015, at 02:26 pm

New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for a renewal of the commitment to non-violence and lives of dignity for all, noting that the example set by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi is relevant now as it has ever been.

Independent UN rights experts renew appeal to Pakistan to end death penalty

Oct 03, 2015, at 02:13 pm

New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts on Friday reiterated their call on Pakistan to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty and investigate cases where uncertain age determination processes have resulted in children being sentenced to death.

Nepalese Minister calls for enhanced partnerships to address global challenges

Oct 02, 2015, at 03:55 pm

New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Noting that the number of least developed countries (LDCs) has grown from 25 to 48 since 1971, with only four countries "graduating" from this status, the Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal on Thursday told the United Nations General Assembly that their struggle has been "unfairly long."

Afghanistan: U.S. C-130 plane crashes, 11 killed

Oct 02, 2015, at 03:14 pm

Kabul, Oct 2 (IBNS): A U.S. C-130 plane crashed at Jalalabad Airport near the Afghan-Pakistani border in Afghanistan leaving 11 people dead, media reports said on Friday.

President of Sri Lanka details country's vision built on sustainability and reconciliation

Oct 01, 2015, at 02:55 pm

New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): After years of conflict, "a new era of democracy" dawned in Sri Lanka this year, ushering in justice, freedom and equality, the country's President told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, reporting that his Government supports a "fresh universal approach" that deals honestly with the past while pursuing sustainable development.

Afghanistan: UN stresses need to protect civilians amid reported abuses in Kunduz

Oct 01, 2015, at 02:53 pm

New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Amid reports of extrajudicial executions, abductions and other abuses in Kunduz following this week's attack by the Taliban, the United Nations on Wednesday reminded all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan of their obligations to protect civilians and to respect human rights at all times.

Terrorism and climate change greatest threats to humanity: Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina

Oct 01, 2015, at 02:35 pm

New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): As the global community marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that two global challenges pose the greatest threat to the sustainability of humankind: terrorism and violent extremism, and climate change.

UN: Pakistan's Prime Minister proposes new peace initiative with India

Oct 01, 2015, at 02:32 pm

New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif proposed on Wednesday renewed peace talks with India, aimed at defining the relationship between the Asian countries 'as one of cooperation, not confrontation.'

Bangladesh: Foreign missions' alert for its citizens surprises PM Sheikh Hasina

Sep 30, 2015, at 11:12 pm

New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Amid directions given by UK, US and Australia governments to their nationals to limit their movements in Bangladesh, country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in the USA, expressed her surprise over the move.

Taliban attack: UN rights chief urges protection of civilians in Afghan city

Sep 30, 2015, at 02:43 pm

New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): Following Monday’s attack by the Taliban in the Afghan city of Kunduz, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday urged both parties to the conflict to take all measures to protect civilians from harm.

IS link not confirmed in Italian national killing, says Bangladesh government

Sep 29, 2015, at 11:16 pm

Dhaka, Sept 29 (IBNS) Bangladesh government on Tuesday said that the involvement of militant group Islamic State (IS) an Italian national, who was killed in capital Dhaka, has not confirmed so far.

UN mission deplores deadly suicide attack at volleyball game in Afghanistan

Sep 29, 2015, at 03:25 pm

New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned Sunday’s suicide attack at a volleyball game in the south-eastern province of Paktika that killed at least 17 civilians and injured at least 60 more, most of them children.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif meets Ban Ki- Moon, raises Kashmir issue

Sep 28, 2015, at 10:44 pm

New York, Sept 28 (IBNS) Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and raised the Kashmir issue with him.