Iraqis returning home outnumber displaced for first time since 2013, says UN migration agency
Jan 13, 2018, at 01:53 pm
Washington, Jan 13 (JEN): The number of Iraqis returning to their area of origin has surpassed those internally displaced for the first time since December 2013, when the country became engulfed in conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), the United Nations migration agency said Friday.
UN rights office urges Tunisian authorities to ensure freedom of peaceful assembly
Jan 13, 2018, at 01:47 pm
New York, Jan 13 (JEN): The United Nations human rights office on Friday called on the authorities in Tunisia to ensure that protestors are not arrested in an arbitrary manner, and that all those detained are treated with full respect for their due process rights and other fundamental guarantees.
New Zealand restaurant triggers controversy, sparks off online criticisms over 'racist menu'
Jan 12, 2018, at 10:31 pm
Christchurch, Jan 12 (IBNS): In a bizarre incident that triggered an uproar in the world of social media, a New Zealand restaurant has been accused of using mocking racial clichés on its menu, media reports said.
US President Donald Trump cancels UK visit in February
Jan 12, 2018, at 09:32 pm
Washington, Jan 12 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was canceling his trip to the UK next month.
Trump's 'shithole' comment angers lawmakers
Jan 12, 2018, at 08:29 pm
Washington, Jan 12 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump did not take too kindly on immigrants from Africa, Haiti and El Salvador at a White House meeting recently, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Boko Haram attacks, human trafficking threaten progress in West Africa and Sahel – UN envoy
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:45 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): The security situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains of grave concern, the United Nations envoy for the region said Thursday, warning that while there had been progress on the political front over the past year, there had also been a worrying upsurge in Boko Haram attacks.
In Damascus, UN aid chief outlines measures to improve response to Syrian crisis in 2018
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:42 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): After seven years of bloody conflict, the Syrian war has wreaked a “colossal toll” on the country and its people, the United Nations relief chief said on Thursday from the capital, Damascus, where he outlined ways to sustain and improve humanitarian assistance and protection for everyone affected by the crisis this year.
In Hargeisa, UN envoy for Somalia calls for calm and dialogue following clashes
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:39 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): The top United Nations envoy for Somalia has called for calm and dialogue amid reports of clashes between security forces from ‘Somaliland’ and neighbouring Puntland.
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:34 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): Laying out his vision for concrete steps the world can take in 2018 to maximize the contribution millions of migrants are already making to our societies and to agree a set of actions to ensure that the rights of all migrants are fully respected, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday said the issue of migration calls for a truly global response.
UN agencies call for funds to reverse food ration cuts for refugees in Rwanda
Jan 12, 2018, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jan 12 (JEN): United Nations humanitarian agencies on Thursday called for more donor funding to reverse a 25 per cent reduction in food or cash assistance for more than 100,000 refugees in Rwanda.
Tragic start to New Year for migrants as hundreds feared dead in Mediterranean – UN
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:20 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): A little more than a week into the New Year, close to 200 migrants or refugees have reportedly died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea – with up to 100 unaccounted for since Saturday, the United Nations migration agency said Wednesday.
Colombia: Reintegrating 14,000 ex-combatants remains a challenge, Security Council told
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:15 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): Colombia's peace efforts remain challenged by the task of reintegrating 14,000 former rebel combatants, the top United Nations official in the country said Wednesday as he also reported to the Security Council that the UN will 'closely follow' reports of a just-broken ceasefire between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian Government.
Syria: UN rights chief condemns spike in civilian casualties in 'de-escalation' areas
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:11 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday condemned an upsurge in civilian casualties in Eastern Ghouta in Syria amid the recent escalation in airstrikes and ground-based attacks by Government forces and their allies, noting that at least 85 civilians have been killed since 31 December.
Darfur: Displacement slows but returns remain difficult, warns UN peacekeeping chief
Jan 11, 2018, at 01:06 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): Despite some recent voluntary returns among those displaced in Sudan's Darfur region, lack of security, services and sustainable livelihoods in return areas have become major impediments to returns, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council Wednesday.
UN regional forum for Latin America and Caribbean marks 70th anniversary
Jan 11, 2018, at 12:57 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) celebrated its 70th anniversary on Wednesday with a high-level seminar at its headquarters in Santiago, Chile, reaffirming its commitment to working for the dignity and well-being of all the region's inhabitants.
At UN, universities spotlight hands-on approach to integrating refugees
Jan 11, 2018, at 12:52 pm
New York, Jan 11 (JEN): At a special summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York, universities, led by De Montfort University (DMU), spotlighted ideas for practical ways they can use the skills, experience and voluntary power on their campuses to support those in need in their local areas.
Trump deserves credit for talks between North, South Korea: Moon Jae-in
Jan 11, 2018, at 04:58 am
Seoul: South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has said his US counterpart Donald Trump 'deserves credit' for the talks between two warring neighbours North Korea and South Korea.
Amid criticisms, British PM Theresa May reshuffles cabinet
Jan 10, 2018, at 05:45 pm
London, Jan 10 (IBNS): Amid criticisms, British Prime Minister Theresa May completed her cabinet reshuffling on Tuesday giving a shake to her ministry, media reports said.
Rohingya children trapped in 'appalling' conditions in Myanmar's Rakhine state – UNICEF
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:41 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): While the eyes of the world are on Myanmar's northern Rakhine and Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, more than 60,000 Rohingya children remain nearly forgotten, trapped in appalling camps in central Rakhine where the shelters teeter on stilts above garbage and excrement, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported Tuesday.
Brinkmanship, lack of compromise will only deepen DR Congo political crisis, Security Council told
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:37 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): Political brinkmanship and a refusal to compromise will only result in further delays in preparations for elections and deepening of the political crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has been gripped by a recent spate of violent protests, the United Nations peacekeeping chief told the Security Council Tuesday.
As Syria war grinds on, Syrian refugees in Lebanon are becoming poorer, more vulnerable – UN
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:33 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): More than half the war-weary Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living in extreme poverty and borrowing money for food and to pay rent has become commonplace, the United Nations reported Tuesday.
UN chief welcomes progress on inter-Korean talks as vital to reducing tensions in region
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:30 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): Welcoming the progress made during Tuesday's high-level inter-Korean talks in the small border village of Panmunjom, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spotlighted, among others, the agreement to reopen military channels as critical to reducing tensions in the region.
UN refugee agency urges Israel to halt forced relocation of African asylum seekers
Jan 10, 2018, at 01:25 pm
New York, Jan 10 (JEN): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday appealed to the Israeli Government to not forcibly send Eritrean and Sudanese refugees or asylum seekers to sub-Saharan Africa.
Winter Olympics: North Korea to send delegation to South
Jan 09, 2018, at 04:32 pm
Seoul/Pyongyang, Jan 9 (IBNS): In a major development, North Korea said on Tuesday that it will be sending delegates to South Korea for the upcoming Winter Olympics, reports said.
Winter Olympics: South Korea, North Korea begin talks
Jan 09, 2018, at 02:40 pm
Seoul, Jan 9 (IBNS): In a significant development, North and South Korea on Tuesday commenced formal talks as they discussed North Korea's potential participation in the Winter Olympics.
Syria: 13 million people in desperate need as seventh war-torn winter sets in, UN warns
Jan 09, 2018, at 01:48 pm
New York, Jan 9 (JEN): With millions of desperate people across Syria now facing their seventh winter of war, the United Nations warned on Tuesday that intensified military operations in the country's north are forcing families to flee, in the cold, to areas without enough resources to support them.
India-South Korea minesweeper project sinks, a blow to Make in India plans
Jan 08, 2018, at 08:01 pm
New Delhi, Jan 8 (IBNS): India's Rs 32,000 minesweeper project has been called of, media reported on Monday, following differences with collaborating country South Korea over several issues.
Syria: Blast kills at least 23 in rebel stronghold Idlib
Jan 08, 2018, at 06:35 pm
Damascus, Jan 8 (IBNS): At least 23 people have been reportedly killed in a blast in Syria's Idlib city, reports said.
Western Sahara: UN chief urges easing of tensions in Guerguerat area
Jan 07, 2018, at 09:42 pm
New York, Jan 7 (JEN): Deeply concerned over rising tensions near Guerguerat in the buffer strip in southern Western Sahara between the Moroccan berm and the Mauritanian border, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday called for maximum restraint in the area.
UN announces special probe into attacks on peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo
Jan 07, 2018, at 09:37 pm
New York, Jan 7 (JEN): The United Nations is launching a special investigation into attacks on peacekeepers in restive eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one month after 15 'blue helmets' were killed and dozens wounded in the deadliest single assault on a UN mission in nearly a quarter century.