It’s ‘time for concrete action’ says UN chief, welcoming inter-Korean agreement
Sep 21, 2018, at 08:20 am
New York, Sept 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, on Thursday welcomed the outcome of the third inter-Korean summit this year, and the “important agreements” contained in the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, issued by the leaders of the two Koreas.
Sep 20, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Sept 20 (IBNS): Progress that destroys traditional culture, language, land and human heritage “is not development, but willful destruction”, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday, in defence of indigenous peoples everywhere.
Sep 20, 2018, at 08:48 am
New York, Sept 20 (IBNS): Childhood is a time for growth, a time for school. But conflict or disaster are depriving 104 million young people between the ages of five and 17 of that foundation, according to a new study by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Yemen: ‘Time is running out’ to head off devastating famine, warns UN food agency chief
Sep 20, 2018, at 08:39 am
New York, Sept 20 (IBNS): As conflict continues to rage in Yemen, leading to widespread economic hardship and a rampant inflation, the World Food Programme (WFP) is sounding the alarm over soaring food prices that are affecting millions of Yemenis.
Sep 20, 2018, at 08:26 am
New York, Sept 20 (IBNS): The South Sudanese soldier who shot and wounded a UN peacekeeper on Saturday is facing a court martial, said David Shearer, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), during a press conference in the capital, Juba.
China warns Taiwan against spying; TV show details latter's plan
Sep 19, 2018, at 12:25 pm
Beijing/Taipei, Sept 19 (IBNS): Beijing has warned Taiwan against spying, as a television show in China detailed plans made by the latter.
South Korean President says Pyongyang ready to ditch missile site
Sep 19, 2018, at 12:16 pm
Pyongyang/Seoul, Sept 19 (IBNS): South Korea President Moon Jae-in said that the neighbouring North Korea has decided to shut down a missile testing site.
Australia: Chemical leak at Sydney hotel triggers panic, 24 patients treated
Sep 19, 2018, at 09:48 am
Sydney, Sept 19 (IBNS): At least 24 people were treated by paramedics after a chemical leak incident occurred at a hotel in Australia's Sydney city on Wednesday, media reports said.
Bring the United Nations closer to the people, urges Assembly President in her inaugural speech
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): The new session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on Wednesday with its President pledging to use her year in office to bring the world body closer to the people and strengthen their sense of ownership and support for the UN.
Eritrea: Peace deal prompts hope of internal reforms, to improve fundamental human rights
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia has raised hopes that improving human rights will be front and centre on Eritrea’s path forward, according to a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Tuesday.
Agreement over buffer zone to spare civilians in Syria’s Idlib welcomed by top UN officials
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): The agreement between Turkey and Russia to create a demilitarized buffer zone protecting civilians living in Idlib, Syria, has been welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the world body’s humanitarian chief, who called on all warring parties and countries supporting them to make it effective.
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:47 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): Despite improvements for persons with Albinism in Kenya who have historically suffered attacks and discrimination, a United Nations expert has signaled that “much remains to be done”, especially when it comes to accessing equal treatment under the law.
UN chief welcomes meeting between leaders of Djibouti and Eritrea
Sep 19, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Sept 19 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has welcomed the meeting between the Presidents of Djibouti and Eritrea, held on Monday in Saudi Arabia, as “yet another step in the consolidation of recent peace and security gains in the Horn of Africa region”.
Somewhere, every five seconds, a child under-15 dies: new UN report
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): Around 6.3 million children under the age of 15, died from mostly preventable causes last year, the equivalent to 1 child dying every 5 seconds, according to a new report compiled by a group of United Nations agencies. Newborn babies account for half of the deaths.
In a complex world, ‘we need to take the right road’: outgoing General Assembly President
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:38 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): The outgoing UN General Assembly President, Miroslav LajÄák, called on the global community on Monday to remain steadfast in support of multilateralism, reiterating that it is the only way to address the complex and growing challenges facing the world.
Signs that North Korea is ‘maintaining nuclear weapons programme’ – UN political affairs chief
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:32 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): There are signs that North Korea (formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK), is “still maintaining and developing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes”, Rosemary di Carlo, United Nations political affairs chief, told the Security Council on Monday.
Sustainable farming, ‘key’ to world free of hunger, malnutrition, says UN agriculture chief
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:29 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): There will be “no sustainable future without eradicating poverty and hunger,” the United Nations agriculture agency chief spelled out on Monday, launching the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) latest flagship publication, on the world’s Agricultural Commodity Markets.
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:26 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, condemned on Monday the killing of an aid worker who had been held captive by a non-state armed group in north-east Nigeria since March.
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:23 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): If you’re a keen observer of the United Nations General Assembly, you may have noticed the body’s President wields a very unusual looking gavel. It is a gift from Iceland, and there’s a very interesting story behind it.
Human Rights Council hears plea to protect victims of ‘brutal’ sexual violence in South Sudan
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:20 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): The plight of South Sudan’s women and girls “should no longer be ignored”, UN investigators told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, citing the disturbing testimonies of sexual abuse victims who have been treated by soldiers and militias as the “spoils” of the more than five-year conflict.
Senior UN official calls on Israel to stop demolition of Palestinian village in the West Bank
Sep 18, 2018, at 08:16 am
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, expressed concern on Monday “at the intention of the Israeli authorities to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan Al-Ahmar/Abu Al-Helu” in the West Bank, where 181 Palestinians currently live, more than half of whom are children.
Sep 17, 2018, at 10:04 am
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): There is a powerful wind of hope blowing across the Horn of Africa region, said UN chief António Guterres on Sunday, in Saudi Arabia to witness the signing of a peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, ending decades of simmering conflict.
Sep 16, 2018, at 04:35 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A “lack of command and control” on the part of South Sudan’s government, just days after signing a new peace agreement to end years of brutal civil conflict, is one of the factors which led to the shooting of a United Nations peacekeeper on Saturday, the UN mission chief in the country has said.
Gunmen kill three in Mexico City, 7 injured
Sep 15, 2018, at 03:31 pm
Mexico City, Sept 15 (IBNS): At least three people were killed as gunmen, who were dressed as traditional mariachi musicians, attacked them here on Saturday.
Democracy ‘showing greater strain’ than at any time in decades, UN chief
Sep 15, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): Tackling economic and political inequality is at the root of strengthening democratic institutions at a time when they are under huge strain, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday, marking the official International Day of Democracy.
I’ve been listening, and problem-solving ‘all my life’ says new UN Ombudsman
Sep 15, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): With only eight days on the job so far, Shireen Dodson, the new United Nations Ombudsman, brings with her a wealth of experience dealing with people from all walks of life, including setting up the first-ever Ombudsman office for the US State Department.
‘Shadow’ of persistent inequality is growing, key UN human development report reveals
Sep 15, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): While health, education, and income levels have improved overall across the globe, “wide inequalities” both among and within countries, are casting a shadow on sustained human development, a new United Nations report shows.
Yemen: Mortar attack on UN food silo ‘could affect vital aid deliveries to millions’
Sep 15, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): Fighting in the Yemen port city of Hudaydah which has damaged a World Food Programme (WFP) storage facility, threatens to hamper efforts to feed millions of people in the war-torn country, it said on Friday.
Security Council extends mandates of UN peace operations in Libya, Colombia through next September
Sep 14, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): By unanimous agreement on Thursday, the Security Council extended the mandates of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Organization’s Verification Mission in Colombia.
Somalia’s destiny lies in the hands of the people, highlights outgoing UN envoy
Sep 14, 2018, at 08:51 am
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): Despite remarkable achievements in Somalia in the recent past, structural challenges remain and continue to undermine the country’s security and political stability, the United Nations envoy for the country has warned.