Negotiated two-State solution still ‘the only option’ for Palestine: Guterres
Nov 29, 2018, at 08:43 am
New York, Nov 29 (IBNS): A two-State solution where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side as sovereign nations is still “the only option” for lasting peace, and “containing the situation is not sufficient,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
World cannot be transformed without ‘ingenuity of the countries of the South’: UN Chief
Nov 29, 2018, at 08:34 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the plan to transform the world agreed at the UN by 193 countries, cannot happen without “the ideas, energy, and tremendous ingenuity of the countries of the South,” said UN chief António Guterres on Wednesday, speaking at the opening session of the 2018 Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo), alongside María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the General Assembly, and other senior UN officials.
Increasingly under attack, women human rights defenders need better back up
Nov 29, 2018, at 08:31 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): A group of United Nations human rights experts issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling on States to live up to their commitments to protect women human rights defenders, as they come under increasing attack, and with inadequate protection.
Central American migrants must be protected, urge UN experts
Nov 29, 2018, at 08:29 am
New York, Nov 29 (IBNS): Migrants who have made, or who are making the journey to the United States border in caravans confront increasing threats to their lives, liberty and security, United Nations independent experts said on Wednesday, calling for their full protection.
Attack on Karachi consulate will not affect relationship between China and Pakistan: Officials
Nov 28, 2018, at 05:46 pm
Beijing, Nov 28 (IBNS): In the wake of the recent attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi city of Pakistan, China on Tuesday said such an incident will not affect the relationship between the two countries.
China: Blast near chemical plant kills 22
Nov 28, 2018, at 09:26 am
Beijing, Nov 28 (IBNS): At least 22 people were killed as a blast occurred near a chemical factory in northern China on Wednesday, media reports said.
Migration deal U-turns ‘reflect poorly’ on countries concerned: UN Special Representative
Nov 28, 2018, at 09:12 am
Dubai, Nov 28 (IBNS): In an exclusive interview with UN News, Louise Arbour, the UN Special Representative for International Migration, said on Tuesday that the stated intention of several countries (including Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria) to pull out of the Global Compact for migration reflects poorly on them, and has seriously affected the spirit of multilateralism.
‘At risk’ Mediterranean forests make ‘vital contributions’ to development
Nov 28, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): Between 2010 and 2015, forests around the Mediterranean have expanded by two per cent, but that has come at the price of significant degradation and increasing vulnerability to climate change, population pressures, wildfires and water scarcity, warned a new UN report launched on Tuesday.
UN chief highlights action across borders for ‘stable and prosperous Eurasia’
Nov 28, 2018, at 09:00 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): Challenges such as climate change, violent extremism, illegal drugs and people trafficking, all require countries to work together across borders, to formulate creative and coordinated solutions, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Tuesday.
Suffering of thousands of war-affected Syrian children ‘unprecedented and unacceptable’
Nov 28, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): Well over 7,000 child casualties in Syria’s brutal armed conflict have been verified over the last five years, but this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” the United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the crisis lamented on Tuesday, with thousands more cases likely going unreported.
UN launches new fund to advance sustainable development in Aral Sea region
Nov 28, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to fund a new initiative designed to reduce vulnerability, advance sustainable development and create decent living conditions for millions of people living around the Aral Sea, whose basin encompasses Uzbekistan, and six other countries in Central Asia.
‘Dire consequences’ for a million children in the Middle East, North Africa, as funding dwindles
Nov 28, 2018, at 08:45 am
New York, Nov 28 (IBNS): Amidst a $33 million funding shortfall, plunging temperatures in the Middle East and North Africa pose a major threat to children in the region, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
Climate Change Focus: Lake Chad trees keep deadly drought at bay
Nov 27, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): Tens of thousands of drought-resistant trees are being planted with the support of the UN in the Lake Chad region to restore vegetation cover around the lake, help farmers adapt to climate change, and support women's economic initiatives.
Somalia: UN mission head condemns deadly terrorist attacks in Mogadishu, Galkayo
Nov 27, 2018, at 08:50 am
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Somalia has “strongly condemned” terrorist attacks in the north-central city of Galkayo and in the Somali capital on Monday, which left a prominent cleric and a number of other civilians dead.
Top UN official urges Russia and Ukraine to step away from further confrontation at sea
Nov 27, 2018, at 08:47 am
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): An “immediate de-escalation” of tensions is needed in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the United Nations top political official has said, underlining the importance of “earnest attempts” to find a peaceful resolution to years of simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Take-home pay growing at lowest level since 2008, as gender-gap persists: UN labour agency
Nov 27, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): Wages grew higher and faster in less well-off countries last year than in richer nations, but salaries are still far too low in the developing world, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Monday, with growth overall at its lowest since the 2008 global recession.
Guterres censures terrorist attacks in Nigeria, pledges UN ‘solidarity’
Nov 27, 2018, at 08:41 am
New York, Nov 27 (IBNS): Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the recurrent attacks by terrorists and other extremist groups in northern Nigeria that have taken a heavy toll on civilians and security forces.
UN chief ‘following very closely’ reports of chemical weapons use in Syria’s Aleppo
Nov 26, 2018, at 09:36 am
New York, Nov 26 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined that any use of chemical weapons against civilians and under any circumstances is a clear violation of international law, amid reports of their alleged use in Syria’s war-battered Aleppo.
Violence against women a ‘mark of shame’ on our societies, says UN chief on World Day
Nov 26, 2018, at 09:33 am
New York, Nov 26 (IBNS): Violence against women and girls is not only a fundamental human rights issue but also a “moral affront” against them and a “mark of shame” on all societies, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said, calling greater action by everyone around the world to root out the scourge.
Toxic gas attack in Syria leaves over 100 people hospitalised
Nov 25, 2018, at 06:15 pm
Aleppo, Nov 25 (IBNS): At least 107 people were hospitalised after a toxic gas attack hit government-controlled city of Aleppo in Syria, local media reports said on Sunday.
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:43 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): The United Nations should “actively and urgently” pursue negotiations for a leading role in aiding the humanitarian crisis in Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah, the top UN envoy for the war-torn country urged Friday.
Respect people’s peaceful assembly and fair trail rights, UN human rights wing urges Nicaragua
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:40 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): Nicaragua must respect the rights to free opinion and expression and to peaceful assembly, the United Nations human rights wing said on Friday, amid reports that authorities are continuing to criminalize legitimate actions of social leaders and others associated with protests that erupted in the country earlier this year.
UN agencies call for more resettlement and end to detention of asylum seekers in Libya
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): Denouncing the dangers faced by migrants and asylum seekers in Libya, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) called on Friday for an end to their detention and advised those intercepting or rescuing them at sea against returning them to a country where they face “squalid conditions”.
Guatemala Dos Erres massacre conviction welcomed by UN human rights office
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:34 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): The conviction of a former Guatemalan soldier involved in the mass killing of villagers in an infamous massacre during the country’s civil war has been welcomed by the UN human rights office, OHCHR.
UN chief commends African Union on adoption of institutional reforms
Nov 24, 2018, at 08:31 am
New York, Nov 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has commended the African Union, a UN peace partner, and its leadership for progress achieved on institutional reform, adopted at the continental organization’s Assembly meeting.
Top UN officials sound alarm as Yemen fighting nears vital hospital in port city of Hudaydah
Nov 23, 2018, at 08:55 am
New York, Nov 23 (IBNS): As fighting in Yemen edges closer to the main healthcare practice in the port city of Hudaydah, the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joined the world body’s humanitarian chief on Thursday to urge the warring parties not to target or occupy any civilian sites – including Al Thawrah Hospital.
5 killed as car ploughs into crowd of children outside China school
Nov 22, 2018, at 04:05 pm
Huludao,China, Nov 22 (IBNS) : A car ploughed into a crowd of children outside a primary school in northeastern China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 18, state media reported.
Burundian must take lead in launching inclusive dialogue to end political crisis – UN envoy
Nov 22, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS): The absence of an inclusive political dialogue in Burundi has left country fragile amid the humanitarian, economic and financial difficulties and ongoing security threats, the United Nations Special Envoy there told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Future of our planet hinges on action by today’s youth – UN deputy chief
Nov 22, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS): Protecting the planet rests on this generation’s youth and their inclination “to hold leaders and decision-makers accountable,” especially in the combat against climate change, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told university students in China today.on Wednesday.
UN police officer recognized for protecting vulnerable Somali women from abuse
Nov 22, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS): United Nations Police Officer Phyllis Osei has been awarded the 2018 UN Female Police Officer Award, in recognition for her outstanding work with the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), at a ceremony in New York on Monday.