Grave violations surge for children in conflict
Dec 31, 2021, at 05:20 pm
New York: Armed conflict, inter-communal violence and insecurity continued to take a devastating toll on thousands of children throughout 2021, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), warned on Friday.
Urgent action needed to save Rohingya refugees distressed at sea in Indonesia
Dec 31, 2021, at 04:40 pm
New York: The UN refugee agency called on Wednesday for the immediate, life-saving disembarkation of a group of Rohingya refugees in distress at sea off the coast of Indonesia.
Former ISIL prison transformed to bring joy and support to youth
Dec 31, 2021, at 04:22 pm
New York: Once used as a prison by the ISIL terror network in Iraq, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency and partners have converted a former grim detention centre into a sunny space for youth.
Yearender: A list of 2021's top 10 global events
Dec 31, 2021, at 01:45 am
With the world ringing into the New Year under the shadow of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the devastating Delta wave of COVID-19 in 2021 would haunt people despite a rapid vaccination worldwide. IBNS correspondent Supriyo Hazra looks back at the 10 mega events of the year which also saw a world forsaken Afghanistan overrun by Taliban as the foreign troops left the war-ravaged country.
Three separate shipwrecks leave dozens dead and more missing
Dec 29, 2021, at 04:52 pm
New York: At least 31 people lost their lives in three separate shipwrecks over the course of four days last week in the Aegean Sea, and an unknown number are still missing, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.
Some 3,000 flights canceled, 11,500 delayed worldwide on Tuesday
Dec 29, 2021, at 02:27 pm
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: Almost 3,000 flights have been canceled and more than 11,500 flights have been delayed worldwide on Tuesday amid the surge of the coronavirus Omicron variant, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
Rights experts hear how ‘racialized gatekeeping’ impacts development in France
Dec 28, 2021, at 09:37 pm
New York: France should consider the economic and development benefits of partnership with people of African descent, the head of a Working Group appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said in a statement on Monday.
UN Special Envoy calls for New Year’s ceasefire in Myanmar
Dec 28, 2021, at 09:27 pm
New York: The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar has appealed for a New Year’s ceasefire following weeks of escalating violence in the country.
Secretary-General, UN leaders, mourn Archbishop Desmond Tutu - ‘a towering global figure for peace’
Dec 27, 2021, at 09:29 pm
New York: Secretary-General António Guterres was among UN leaders paying tribute on Sunday to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, describing him as “an unwavering voice for the voiceless.”
DR Congo: Suicide attack in restaurant leaves 5 dead
Dec 26, 2021, at 11:35 pm
Beni: At least five people died as a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern city of Beni on Saturday.
South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies at 90
Dec 26, 2021, at 09:20 pm
Johannesburg/IBNS: South African anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is idealised as the country's moral compass, passed away on Sunday aged 90, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
Thousands of flights scrapped globally as Omicron spreads
Dec 26, 2021, at 02:38 pm
Moscow/UNI/Sputnik: More than 2,600 flights were cancelled on Christmas Day as COVID-19 continued to wreak havoc on the airline services, according to global flight data.
Two dead, many missing as refugee vessel sinks off Greek island: Reports
Dec 25, 2021, at 03:44 pm
Athens/UNI/Xinhua: Two bodies have been retrieved as a rescue operation was underway Friday night near the Aegean Sea island of Paros, after the sinking of a vessel carrying refugees and migrants, according to Greek media reports.
Libyan elections postponed, new date expected within 30 days
Dec 24, 2021, at 11:28 pm
New York: During a visit to help implement intra-Libyan political, security and economic dialogues and support recently postponed presidential and parliamentary elections, the UN envoy to the country issued a statement on Thursday, detailing her work over the last 10 days.
Authorities urged to protect women and children following violence and protests in Sudan
Dec 24, 2021, at 11:15 pm
New York: Authorities in Sudan must protect boys and girls from violence, a senior official with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, following recent deadly inter-communal clashes in West Darfur and protests in the capital, Khartoum.
Stepping up assistance to Venezuelans crossing Chile’s inhospitable northern border
Dec 24, 2021, at 11:05 pm
New York: In response to the critical needs of a growing number of Venezuelans arriving by foot to Chile’s northern border, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on Thursday that it is stepping up its presence and assistance in the South American country.
Iran: UN independent experts condemn secret execution of Kurdish prisoner
Dec 24, 2021, at 10:54 pm
New York: Two UN-appointed independent rights experts condemned the arbitrary execution in the strongest terms on Wednesday, of an Iranian Kurdish prisoner as a sign of “clear disregard for their obligations under international human rights law”.
Libya: Tensions as armed groups mobilize in Tripoli
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:35 pm
New York: The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Tuesday expressed concern over the unfolding security situation in the capital, Tripoli, where forces affiliated with different armed groups have been deploying.
Middle East: Positive steps needed to restore calm
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:27 pm
New York: The deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, took centre stage at the Security Council on Tuesday as the UN Special Coordinator for the peace process in the region, expressed his “continued concern” over recent developments.
Thousands head home voluntarily from Zambia to DR Congo
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:23 pm
New York: Nearly 5,000 refugees who fled violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) four years ago, are opting to head home voluntarily from Zambia over the coming months, with the first 100 people setting out on Tuesday.
Sudan protests: Security forces in spotlight over sexual violence allegations
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:17 pm
New York: In Sudan, reports of serious sexual violence and the use of live ammunition against protesters at the weekend must be investigated immediately, the UN rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
End ‘appalling’ Belarus-Poland border crisis, UN rights office urges
Dec 22, 2021, at 09:12 pm
New York: Belarus and Poland must resolve the migrant and refugee crisis at their mutual border, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, describing the on-going situation as “appalling”.
Hostage taker in Paris arrested: French Minister
Dec 21, 2021, at 10:36 pm
Paris/UNI/Sputnik: An armed man, who held two women hostage in Paris has been arrested and no one was injured, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Tuesday.
South Sudan: Senior UN official condemns killing of humanitarian worker
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:37 pm
New York: The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan has strongly condemned the killing of a UN-contracted aid worker on Sunday, that also left another injured, after the convoy they were travelling in came under attack.
Lives on the line as UN and partners launch 2022 humanitarian plan for Somalia
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:32 pm
New York: Roughly 7.7 million people in Somalia will need assistance and protection in 2022, a 30 per cent rise in just one year, the UN and partners said on Monday, launching a nearly $1.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the country.
UN humanitarians aid Philippines response to Super Typhoon Rai
Dec 21, 2021, at 04:28 pm
New York: Reports of “utter devastation” caused by Super Typhoon Rai have continued to come in from the Philippines, where the UN is helping respond to urgent needs.
Omicron spread: Netherlands initiates tight lockdown measures
Dec 19, 2021, at 10:44 pm
Amsterdam: The Netherlands government has started tight lockdown measures during Christmas to combat Omicron spread.
Death toll in Philippines from Typhoon Rai rises to 49: Local official
Dec 19, 2021, at 03:24 pm
Manila/UNI/Xinhua: At least 49 people have been killed in the Philippine province of Bohol after Typhoon Rai battered the country, a provincial official said on Sunday.
Germany tightens restrictions for UK travellers, does not apply to German citizens
Dec 19, 2021, at 02:59 pm
Berlin/UNI: Germany on Saturday banned most travellers coming from Britain, in an effort to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant which has been surging in Britain, the BBC reported on Sunday.
‘UN stands with the people of Lebanon’, declares Guterres
Dec 18, 2021, at 04:21 pm
New York: Elections next year will be key to a better future for Lebanon, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday ahead of an official visit to the country later this weekend.