Mozambique: Cabo Delgado displacement could reach 1 million, UN officials warn
Mar 24, 2021, at 12:58 am
New York: Senior leaders with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, warned on Monday of the urgent need to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, where an ongoing insurgency has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people.
Women ‘systematically excluded’ from COVID response, despite being worst affected
Mar 24, 2021, at 12:21 am
New York: Notwithstanding that women make up 70 per cent of healthcare workers globally, and have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also being “systematically excluded” from decision-making processes aimed at ending the pandemic, including government-run task forces around the world, according to the head of UN Women.
Collective commitment needed to end the ‘poison’ of racism: UN cultural chief says
Mar 24, 2021, at 12:09 am
New York: With the COVID-19 pandemic providing fertile ground for the resurgence of racism and discrimination, the head of the UN’s educational and cultural agency, UNESCO, called on Monday for countries to stand united in what she described as “these testing times”.
Chinese Foreign Ministry summons UK Ambassador
Mar 23, 2021, at 11:44 pm
Beijing/UNI: The Chinese Foreign Ministry informed on Tuesday that it had summoned the UK Ambassador to Beijing and lodged a protest against the UK's decision to impose sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights violations against Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
Russia to host 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June
Mar 23, 2021, at 12:07 am
Moscow: St. Petersburg: Russia will host the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the major Russian platform for interaction in the world of business and economics, under the motto “Together Again – a New World Economy” from June 2-5, 2021.
Russia-China cooperation not directed against other countries, says Beijing
Mar 22, 2021, at 10:16 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: Developing the relationship between Russia and China is not aimed at harming other countries, Hua Chunying, the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Monday.
Easter week in Venezuela will see strict quarantine measures, Maduro says
Mar 22, 2021, at 03:16 pm
Buenos Aires/Sputnik: A strict lockdown will be enforced in Venezuela for the week of Easter, President Nicolas Maduro has announced.
Estonia jails marine scientist for spying for China: Reports
Mar 22, 2021, at 04:38 am
Helsinki/Sputnik: A court in Tallinn sentenced famous Estonian marine scientist Tarmo Kouts to three years in prison for leaking information to China, local media reported on Friday.
Russia ready to address UK security concerns at negotiating table: Ambassador
Mar 21, 2021, at 02:54 pm
London/Sputnik: Russia prefers to deal with UK's accusations and security concerns through dialogue and argumentation, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin told London’s LBC radio.
Over 30 arrested during anti-lockdown protests in London: Police
Mar 21, 2021, at 02:41 pm
London/Sputnik: At least 33 people were arrested during anti-lockdown protests in London on Saturday, according to police.
Mar 21, 2021, at 06:54 am
Washington: On the occasion of the first high-level, in-person meeting between United States (US) and Chinese officials under the Biden administration on Thursday in Alaska, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has urged US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to adequately address the Uyghur genocide, along with several other recommendations.
Despite pandemic, UN continues to fight ‘scourge’ of sexual exploitation abuse
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:54 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, released his annual update on how the Organization is working to stamp out the “scourge” of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) through its zero-tolerance policy, which required special measures this year in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tigray crisis: Children must be protected from harm, urges UNICEF
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:45 pm
New York: The situation for children in Tigray is becoming increasingly serious as the conflict in the northern Ethiopian region continues to escalate, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
No ‘fix’ to police violence, without tackling scourge in society, says rights chief
Mar 20, 2021, at 10:09 pm
New York: The Human Rights Council embarked on a discussion over police violence against people of African descent on Friday, with a warning from UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet that “brutality and discrimination against people of African descent continue to occur”.
No winners but fewer losers in global economy from COVID than expected
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:16 pm
New York: The COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted all economies around the world last year, with trillions of dollars of lost earnings, UN trade and development experts UNCTAD said on Thursday, before highlighting how several countries also showed unexpected resilience, too.
Natural disasters occurring three times more often than 50 years ago: new FAO report
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:12 pm
New York: New and unprecedented forms of natural disasters are most heavily felt in the agricultural industry, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.
Rights experts demand Iran release academic ‘nearing death’ in solitary confinement
Mar 19, 2021, at 09:07 pm
United Nations independent human rights experts on Thursday called on Iran to immediately release Iranian-Swedish academic Ahmadreza Djalali, reported to be in a “near death” condition after months of prolonged solitary confinement.
Mar 19, 2021, at 05:09 pm
A defence and strategic policy think tank has said Chinese Communist Party (CCP) diplomatic accounts, Chinese state media, pro-CCP influencers and patriotic trolls are targeting the UK public broadcaster, the BBC, in a coordinated information operation.
COVID-19: Main French book fair canceled for 2nd year
Mar 19, 2021, at 03:54 pm
Paris/UNI: France’s biggest book fair Livre Paris will not take place for a second year in a row due to persisting COVID-19 concerns, the organizers said.
Russia recalls envoy over Joe Biden's killer comment on Putin
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:47 am
Moscow/UNI/IBNS: The Russian government announced on Thursday that it has decided to recall its ambassador to the United States for consultations, as relations between the two countries hit a new low after US President Joe Biden's comments on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Whistleblower Edward Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:24 am
Moscow/Sputnik: Edward Snowden, a fugitive, former CIA contractor who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
UN leaders speak out against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred
Mar 19, 2021, at 12:04 am
New York: Underlining that “diversity is a richness, not a threat”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for greater investment in promoting social cohesion and tackling bigotry in a message on Wednesday to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
UNICEF condemns ‘horrific killings’ of civilians in Niger
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:56 pm
New York: The recent “horrific killings” of dozens of civilians in two villages in western Niger have been condemned in the strongest terms by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Libya arms embargo ‘totally ineffective’: UN expert panel
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:48 pm
New York: An arms embargo imposed on Libya by the Security Council in 2011 remains “totally ineffective” a UN Panel of Experts has said, adding that civilians, including migrants and asylum seekers, continue to suffer widespread rights violations and abuses.
South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:42 pm
New York: Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday.
Fugitive Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship soon
Mar 18, 2021, at 11:26 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Fugitive Edward Snowden, former CIA contractor, who exposed massive online surveillance by the United States in 2013, will apply for Russian citizenship soon, his lawyer informed on Thursday.
IEA slightly upgrades forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 to 5.5 mbd: Report
Mar 17, 2021, at 10:20 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report on Wednesday slightly upgraded the forecast for world oil demand growth in 2021 by 0.1 million barrels a day (mbd) to 5.5 mbd as the global consumption is driven up by cold weather.
UN envoy warns of ‘dramatic’ deterioration in Yemen conflict
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:13 pm
New York: The UN’s top official in Yemen has warned of a “dramatic” deterioration in the country’s ongoing conflict, telling the Security Council on Tuesday that fighting has expanded on several fronts amid the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Gender equality means business, Secretary-General chief tells corporate leaders
Mar 17, 2021, at 09:06 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has urged corporate leaders to achieve gender equality, highlighting the benefits for the private sector and society at large.
Syria’s decade of conflict takes massive toll on women and girls
Mar 17, 2021, at 08:49 pm
New York: This week, Syria marks a grim anniversary: 10 years since the start of the country’s grinding conflict. Today, one decade into the catastrophe, about half the country’s population has been uprooted, with some 12 million people internally displaced or living as refugees.