‘Chance for peace’ in South Sudan finally within reach, declares UN Peacekeeping chief
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The security situation in South Sudan has significantly improved since the recently signed peace deal between the opposing parties in the country’s civil war, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peacekeeping (DPKO), told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Human rights champions from across the world receive top UN prize
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The “clear and profound” guidelines enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “have made it the world’s most widely translated document”, the UN Secretary-General told the General Assembly on Tuesday at an event to commemorate the Declaration’s 70th Anniversary, marked 10 December.
UN rights chief welcomes new text to protect rights of peasants and other rural workers
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:07 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): As the most basic rights of rural people continue to be trampled on in many parts of the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, welcomed Monday the adoption on Monday by the UN General Assembly of a new declaration to help safeguard them.
Worth going 'extra mile' for a new Syrian constitution, UN envoy urges
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Efforts to establish a constitutional committee for Syria are worth going the “extra mile” for, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Tuesday, after meeting the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey - guarantors of a fragile ceasefire in the wartorn country – who agreed that it should convene for the first time early next year, in Geneva.
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Recent violence and rising tensions in the West Bank are fuelling a climate of hatred and fear, “driving both Israelis and Palestinians further away” from a resolution to the conflict, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East Peace Process has said.
South Sudanese refugees need $2.7 billion, as safe return remains elusive
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:54 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a $2.7 billion appeal on behalf of South Sudanese refugees on Tuesday, to address Africa’s largest displacement crisis, where millions have been uprooted by years of brutal civil war.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS):Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
World needs China for global prosperity: Xi Jinping
Dec 18, 2018, at 05:11 pm
Beijing, Dec 18 (IBNS): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said the world will need his nation for global prosperity.
Moves to create a Kosovo army have ‘deteriorated relations’ with Serbia: UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:48 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The decision by Kosovo’s parliament to form a national army was described by the UN Peacekeeping chief on Monday as having “further deteriorated relations between Belgrade and Pristina,” which, he said, have been strained for some time.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:43 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
UN affirms ‘historic’ global compact to support world’s refugees
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:39 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly affirmed a non-legally binding Global Compact on Refugees on Monday, marking the latest move by Member States to support the rights of 258 million people on the move worldwide.
First full satellite survey of devastated ancient Aleppo raises recovery hopes
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:34 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The first comprehensive survey of the devastation inflicted on the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo by years of urban warfare, has been published thanks to ground-breaking satellite imaging tools, developed by UN agencies – an essential first step towards its eventual reconstruction.
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:17 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, on Monday announced that they had received the Government go-ahead to develop community projects in Myanmar’s Rakhine province, and called on authorities to provide “more effective access” to the area.
UN calls for funds to ease ‘deteriorating’ humanitarian situation in Gaza and West Bank
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The need for aid in the occupied Palestinian territory has increased, following a year that has seen a “serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation,” said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the region, in a statement on Monday.
Global Compact on Refugees: How is this different from the migrants’ pact and how will it help?
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The terms ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ have been used interchangeably to describe the millions of people worldwide that are either fleeing conflict or seeking better living conditions. As the United Nations sets out to secure global compacts to better protect them, it’s critical to understand the differences between the two.
Turkey gives citizenship to 72,000 Syrian refugees
Dec 17, 2018, at 07:21 pm
Ankara, Dec 17 (IBNS): The Turkish government has granted citizenship to as many as 72,000 Syrians refugees, media reports said on Monday
Explosion rocks Greece TV station, no casualty
Dec 17, 2018, at 06:41 pm
Athens, Dec 17 (IBNS): An explosion outside Skai TV premise in Greece has left the building extensively damaged, media reports said on Monday.
Japan restaurant explosion leaves 42 hurt
Dec 17, 2018, at 10:16 am
Tokyo, Dec 17 (IBNS): At least 42 people were hurt when a suspected gas explosion in Sapporo city left wooden buildings housing a Japanese-style pub, a real estate agency and a clinic, collapse on Sunday, media reports said.
100 Christians detained in China
Dec 17, 2018, at 10:07 am
Beijing, Dec 17 (IBNS): Hundred Christian pastors have been detained by authorities in China, media reports said on Monday.
Dec 17, 2018, at 09:10 am
New Delhi, Dec 17 (IBNS): Following a productive two weeks of global dialogue for the United Nations and its Member States, alongside governments and advocates, Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking in the Qatar capital, Doha, underscored the importance of international cooperation in the “enormous challenges” of our time, drawing the curtain on a job finished at Sunday’s Doha Forum.
41 injured in Japan restaurant explosion
Dec 16, 2018, at 09:38 pm
Tokyo, Dec 16 (IBNS): At least 41 people have been injured in an explosion that took place at a restaurant in northern Japan's Sapporo city on Sunday, reports said.
France: Security beefed up as Paris gears up for another weekend of protest
Dec 15, 2018, at 07:35 pm
Paris, Dec 15 (IBNS): Security officials have arrested several people as Paris is gearing up for a fifth straight week of protest on Saturday.
Australia recognises West Jerusalem as capital of Israel
Dec 15, 2018, at 06:58 pm
Sydney, Dec 15 (IBNS): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday confirmed that his government is going to recognize West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
UN countries unanimously support initiative of the Uzbekistan President on tolerance and harmony
Dec 15, 2018, at 05:18 pm
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): On December 12, 2018, the UN General Assembly has adopted a special resolution “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” at its plenary session. The document, the draft of which was developed by Uzbekistan, was unanimously supported by all UN member states.
Peacekeeping chief honours Tanzanian troops in Zanzibar, a year on from deadly DR Congo attacks
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:28 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): A year on from the brutal killings of 15 United Nations peacekeepers from Tanzania in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the head of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) paid a visit to some of the victims’ families on Friday, to honour the memory of the soldiers who died in what was the biggest single loss of ‘blue helmets’ in recent history.
Preparing Africa for ravages of climate change ‘cannot be an afterthought’ – COP24
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:26 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Africa is at a “tipping point” as global warming increases, and urgent action needs to be taken across the continent now, to mitigate risks and safeguard a decade of social and economic gains, according to a new report launched on Thursday by the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) at the COP24 climate conference, in Katowice, Poland.
Security Council welcomes Yemen breakthrough, but lasting peace remains a ‘daunting task’
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:24 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Senior UN officials briefed the Security Council on the details of a UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen on Friday in and around the key port city of Hudaydah, which is expected to restore a humanitarian lifeline to millions across the country, and kickstart imports of commercial goods.
UN investigates systematic sexual violence across South Sudan
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:20 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Widespread and systematic sexual violence across South Sudan, just a few months after the country’s top two politicians signed a renewed commitment to peace, was at the top of the UN Commission on Human Rights in the country’s agenda on Friday, as members ended their first fact-finding mission.
DR Congo elections: ‘Excessive use of force’ in campaign must be avoided, says Bachelet
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:17 am
New York,Dec 15 (IBNS): Deadly pre-election violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sparked by police reportedly firing live ammunition at opposition supporters, has been condemned by the UN’s top rights official, Michelle Bachelet.
Yemen ceasefire deal: ‘Potential’ now to restore humanitarian lifeline to millions
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:15 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): The freshly agreed Yemen ceasefire deal covering the key Red Sea governorates of Hudaydah and Taiz has been welcomed by the World Food Programme (WFP), which on Friday expressed hope that it would improve access for humanitarians and, just as crucially, commercial shipping.