Jul 18, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): There have been “positive developments” when it comes to democratization across the vast West Africa and Sahel region, but that has been “competing with the volatile security situation” particularly around areas where terrorist groups are active such as the Lake Chad Basin, the head of the UN Office for the region (UNOWAS) told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:27 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): Following further restrictions on goods and supplies that can be moved across the border of the Gaza Strip, the top United Nations humanitarian official there has called for urgent measures to prevent an already critical humanitarian situation from getting worse.
‘Unlock full power of business’ to achieve Global Goals, UN deputy chief tells forum
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:24 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): Businesses can contribute in important ways to the realization of a world free of poverty and hunger by 2030, including through job creation, technological innovation and the provision of finance resources, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General said on Tuesday.
UN marks 100 years since Mandela’s birth with a vow to continue struggle for equality
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:21 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): Taking stock of his “vast” legacy for mankind, the United Nations will mark 100 years since the birth of the late anti-Apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, on Wednesday.
The world ‘must rally’ to support one million Rohingya refugees, UN Migration chief says
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): A failure to remain focused on the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh “would have tragic outcomes” for the nearly one million children, women and men living in Cox’s Bazar, said William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Tuesday.
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:08 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has called on the Nicaraguan Government to end violence against demonstrators which has cost an estimated 280 lives, and begin a national “political dialogue” to end the crisis which has gripped the country for nearly three months.
Erdogan order forces closure of Turkey's State Theatre
Jul 17, 2018, at 11:35 am
Ankara, July 17 (IBNS): After consolidating power following the recently concluded elections, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the closure of State Theatre via a decree.
Lava bomb hits Hawaii tour boat, 23 injured
Jul 17, 2018, at 09:35 am
Honolulu, July 17 (IBNS): At least 23 people were injured when a flying lava hit a tour boat in Hawaii, media reports said on Tuesday.
At Partnership Forum, UN officials highlights need for continued support for Somalia
Jul 17, 2018, at 09:11 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): Speaking at the first day of the Somalia Partnership Forum in Brussels on Monday, senior United Nations officials commended the country’s government for its efforts in political reform, security, economic development, and recovery and humanitarian assistance – while flagging the need for further progress and international support for these efforts.
Dress the world in wood, UN says in its ‘Forests for Fashion’ initiative
Jul 17, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): The fashion industry is valued upward of 2.5 trillion dollars, and employs some 75 million people globally – so it makes good sense to shift textile production from fossil fuel-based synthetic fibers to renewable, biodegradable textiles, made from wood, according to a new United Nations initiative that aims to make forests literally more fashionable.
Sand and dust storms, a 'human well-being' issue, says high level panel
Jul 17, 2018, at 09:02 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): From higher morbidity and mortality rates to reduced economic growth, the impact of sand and dust storms can be major, especially for lower-income nations and vulnerable communities. However, with stronger collaboration and improved information-sharing, much of the risk could be managed and mitigated, a UN meeting heard on Monday.
Progress has been made, but 'not at a sufficient speed to realize the SDGs': UN ECOSOC President
Jul 17, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): One week after zeroing-in on how to build sustainable, resilient societies, key players from around the world debated on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, how to keep up the momentum to turn the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into a reality.
UN chief condemns violence against civilian protesters in Nicaragua
Jul 17, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday deplored and condemned the ongoing violence against civilians, including against students, in Nicaragua.
-1531797789.jpg "'Status quo in Libya cannot be sustained', UN Envoy tells Security Council")
'Status quo in Libya cannot be sustained', UN Envoy tells Security Council
Jul 17, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, July 17 (IBNS): Despite encouraging signs on the political and humanitarian front, efforts must be sustained and intensified in Libya to avoid further “economic collapse, the breakdown of public services, and more frequent and intense outbreaks of violence”, said the United Nations Special Envoy for the country on Monday.
Discovery to release Operation Thai Cave Rescue
Jul 16, 2018, at 04:45 pm
Bangkok, July 16 (IBNS): From the moment the news broke that 12 young Thai soccer players and their 25-year-old coach were stuck in a cave complex near the Myanmar border, the world has been glued to the rescue and recovery details.
Jul 16, 2018, at 09:37 am
New York, July 16 (IBNS): With a ceasefire largely holding after a day-long flare-up in fighting between Israel and Gaza militants, the United Nation envoy on the Middle East peace process was in the enclave on Sunday urging Israelis and Palestinians to pull back from the brink of a confrontation “that nobody wants…and everybody will lose.”
Donald Trump adviced me to sue EU: Theresa May
Jul 15, 2018, at 04:47 pm
London, July 15 (IBNS): British Prime Minister Theresa May has said US President Donald Trump adviced her to sue the European Union rather than negotiate over Brexit.
China authorities issue restricted entry of visitors to Mount Fanjingshan
Jul 14, 2018, at 04:13 pm
Beijing, July 14(IBNS): Mount Fanjingshan, which is China’s latest entrant in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has been asked to restrict the entry of visitors in an effort to protect the place, local media reports said.
Dump Trump: Scotland protests US President's visit to the country
Jul 14, 2018, at 03:06 pm
Edinburgh, July 14 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump faced massive protests upon his arrival in Scotland, where he will be spending the weekend, reports said.
UN Forum examines three pillars of 2030 Global Goals
Jul 14, 2018, at 08:02 am
New YorK, July 14 (IBNS): The first week of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded on Friday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, with a review of the progress made so far by countries on nature preservation, partnerships for development, and the need to ensure no one is excluded, during the drive towards the 2030 deadline.
Iceland to take vacated US seat on Human Rights Council
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): Iceland has for the first time been elected to the Human Rights Council, filling the seat vacated by the United States, which withdrew from the body last month, citing bias.
Fresh airstrikes kill dozens in conflict-ravaged Syria
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:55 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): Despite the return of tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) to Syria following local agreements and changes in territorial control, the United Nations said on Friday that fresh airstrikes have reportedly killed dozens of civilians “in several areas” of the country.
Security Council downsizes AU-UN mission in Darfur, eying eventual exit
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:52 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): The Security Council on Friday extended the mandate of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping operation in Sudan’s Darfur until the end of June next year, but reduced the number of troops deployed in the field with an eye towards the mission’s eventual exit.
‘Historic moment’ for people on the move, as UN agrees first-ever Global Compact on migration
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:49 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): For the first time ever, United Nations Member States have agreed an all-encompassing Global Compact to better manage international migration, address its challenges, strengthen migrant rights and contribute to sustainable development.
Security Council imposes arms embargo on South Sudan
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:45 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): The Security Council on Friday narrowly passed a measure aimed at stopping the flow of weapons to armed groups in South Sudan, with those Members in favour saying it would protect civilians, while abstainers voiced concerns that it would undermine the ongoing peace process in the world’s youngest country.
Villages ‘reduced to ash’ amid ‘barbaric violence’ in DR Congo, reports UN refugee agency
Jul 14, 2018, at 07:42 am
New York, July 14 (IBNS): Humanitarian needs are enormous in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has reported accounts of “barbaric violence”.
At least 19 killed, 31 injured in China chemical plant explosion
Jul 13, 2018, at 03:18 pm
Beijing, July 13 (IBNS) : At least 19 people were killed and a dozen injured after a chemical plant exploded in southwest China' Sichuan province on Thursday, media reports said.
Safe and orderly migration is ‘in everybody’s interest’, says senior UN official
Jul 13, 2018, at 09:18 am
July 13 (IBNS): International migration “has been with us forever”, and a safe and orderly means of facilitating it is “in everybody’s interest”, said a UN envoy.
Jul 13, 2018, at 09:08 am
New York, July 13 (IBNS): A reckoning on the importance of maximising the world’s resources is taking place across the world, and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 depends heavily on reeling in our global consumption and production patterns, a key United Nations forum heard on Thursday.
UN emergency fund releases $15 million to help Ethiopians affected by inter-communal violence
Jul 13, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, July 13 (IBNS): A United Nations emergency fund on Thursday released $15 million to urgently scale up humanitarian assistance to people affected by escalating inter-communal violence in Ethiopia.