UNESCO launches Beirut recovery fund for culture, heritage and education
Aug 28, 2020, at 10:16 pm
New York: To support the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums and the creative economy, which suffered extensive damage in the deadly explosions that shook Beirut earlier this month, the head of the UN cultural agency on Thursday launched an international fund-raising appeal.
Aug 28, 2020, at 10:07 pm
New York: The UN’s expert on human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR) issued a series of recommendations on Wednesday to ensure that citizens – after years of civil unrest – can freely decide the future of their country during presidential elections on 27 December.
Chinese military says participation in army games to boost partnership with Russia
Aug 28, 2020, at 10:02 pm
Kubinka/Sputnik: The Chinese military's participation in the sixth International Army Games 2020 will contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership between China and Russia, as well as give an impetus to international military cooperation, Deputy Commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army group, Senior Col. Liu Zhaoming told Sputnik.
Committee to review global treaty on response to health emergencies
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:59 pm
New York: An independent expert committee will be established to examine various aspects of the international treaty that governs preparedness and response to health emergencies, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday.
Deliberate silencing of peaceful voices in Iraq ‘unacceptable’, says UN human rights chief
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:39 pm
New York: A new UN report launched on Thursday highlights human rights violations and abuses that were committed during recent demonstrations in Iraq and calls for immediate action for justice.
Trade agreement between UK, Japan postponed to September - Reports
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:28 pm
Tokyo/Sputnik: A post-Brexit agreement on foreign trade between Japan and the United Kingdom, which was set to be reached by the end of August, has been postponed to September, Japan's Kyodo new agency reported on Friday.
Human rights are the ‘means by which governments can successfully beat pandemics’, says UNAIDS chief
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:18 pm
New York: Some of the world’s most marginalized and defenseless communities have fallen victim to violence and other rights abuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the UN agency dedicated to tackling the AIDS virus to urge Governments to protect the most vulnerable, particularly key populations at higher risk of HIV.
Turkey seeks detention of 69 suspects over failed coup
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:15 pm
Istanbul/Xinhua: Turkish prosecutors on Friday issued detention warrants for 69 suspects at two separate investigations over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016.
Six US B-52 bombers to fly over all 30 NATO countries Friday - US European Command
Aug 28, 2020, at 09:00 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Six US B-52 bombers will fly over all 30 NATO member states in one day in a show of solidarity and as an interoperability practice on Friday, the United States European Command said in a statement.
Japan PM Shinzo Abe to step down over health problems
Aug 28, 2020, at 08:27 pm
Tokyo/UNI: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who suffers from a chronic illness, is to step down from his post owing to health issues.
3 rockets hit Green Zone in Iraq's Baghdad
Aug 28, 2020, at 02:56 pm
Baghdad/Xinhua: Three Katyusha rockets on Thursday landed in the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad without causing casualties, the Iraqi military said.
Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza strip again after new explosive balloon attacks – IDF
Aug 28, 2020, at 02:38 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The Israeli forces once again stroke facilities of the Hamas Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip after several explosive balloons had been launched from the Palestinian enclave, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
Aug 27, 2020, at 06:46 pm
New York: The COVID-19 pandemic is aggravating deep-rooted economic, social and political challenges in Iraq, but elections in 2021 – if credible - could open a new chapter for the Middle East nation after years of conflict and strife, the UN’s top official in the country said Wednesday.
UN again calls for full ratification of nuclear test-ban treaty
Aug 27, 2020, at 06:44 pm
New York: Achieving a nuclear-free world is the best way to honour lives devastated by these weapons, the UN disarmament chief told a virtual meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed annually on 29 August.
COVID-19: UN urges ramping up social protection programmes to safeguard those most vulnerable
Aug 27, 2020, at 06:42 pm
New York: The socio-economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted UN agencies on Wednesday to call on countries to increase social protection programmes to protect those most at risk.
Refugees at risk of hunger and malnutrition, as relief hit in Eastern Africa
Aug 27, 2020, at 06:35 pm
New York: UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce its food and cash assistance for refugees in Eastern Africa by up to 30 per cent, the agency has said, voicing fears that the reductions could worsen in the coming months unless urgent additional funding is received in time.
Address root causes of the Rohingya refugee crisis, urges UN chief
Aug 27, 2020, at 06:25 pm
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater attention to the Rohingya refugee crisis – which entered its fourth year – and for addressing the root causes of the conflict.
US Spy plane entered Chinese airspace during China's military drill - Foreign Ministry
Aug 26, 2020, at 10:14 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: A US spy plane entered a no-fly zone in China's airspace as Chinese soldiers were holding an exercise, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, said Wednesday.
Two civilians killed in Turkish drone airstrike in Northern Iraq – Official Media
Aug 26, 2020, at 10:11 pm
Baghdad/Sputnik: Two civilians were killed in the result of an airstrike launched by a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle late on Tuesday on a car in the town of Khana Sor located in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, the official Security Media Cell has said.
Aug 26, 2020, at 03:03 pm
New York: The recent agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has the potential to change dynamics across the Middle East, the UN’s top envoy in the region told the Security Council on Tuesday, urging Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in efforts to resolve their protracted conflict.
Rights expert denounces lack of investigation into 2017 killing of journalist in South Sudan
Aug 26, 2020, at 02:57 pm
New York: Lack of investigation into the killing of a journalist three years ago in South Sudan is indicative of a wider climate of hostility towards journalists in the country, an independent UN human rights expert has said.
Aug 26, 2020, at 02:51 pm
New York: Following a deadly explosion earlier this month, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered some 67 tons of critical humanitarian supplies to affected children and families in Beirut.
Janakpur-Jaynagar railway line : India officials to train Nepali technicians
Aug 26, 2020, at 05:06 am
New Delhi: In a step taken to help the neighbouring nation, Indian officials will provide training to Nepali technicians for the operation of the Janakpur-Jaynagar railway line, media reports said.
Three years on, Rohingya refugees ‘more vulnerable than ever’
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:54 pm
New York: Three years into the Rohingya refugee crisis, women, men and children – driven from their homes in Myanmar into camps across the border in Bangladesh – are more vulnerable than ever, UN agencies have reported.
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:41 pm
New York: With Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and other terrorist groups attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for their own ends, the international community must respond with stronger collective action and cooperation, the top UN counter-terrorism official said on Monday.
Majority of Australians back int'l flights ban, COVID-19 patients tracking: poll
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:39 pm
Canberra/Xinhua: A majority of Australians support banning all international flights to the country and compulsory tracking for COVID-19 patients to prevent the spread of virus, according to a poll.
One step at a time: UN women’s health agency helping shift dangerous social norms
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:37 pm
New York: One of the largest chiefdoms in Zambia’s Eastern Province is challenging harmful social norms, including child marriage, risky initiation and impunity for perpetrators of sexual abuse, according to the UN women’s health agency, UNFPA.
IS suspect detained in Istanbul has plans for "sensational" terror attack
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:06 pm
Istanbul/Xinhua: The suspected member of the Islamic State (IS) detained by the Turkish police in Istanbul has plans to carry out a "sensational" terror attack, Demiroren news agency reported Tuesday.
Imprisoned rights defenders in Egypt at ‘grave risk’ of COVID-19, warn UN experts
Aug 25, 2020, at 10:04 pm
New York: A group of independent UN rights experts have raised alarm over “grave and unnecessary” risks faced by imprisoned human rights defenders in Egypt due to lengthy pre-trial detention.
African American man shot in back by Wisconsin Police, hospitalized in serious condition
Aug 24, 2020, at 11:15 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: An African-American man was severely injured and hospitalized in a serious condition after being shot in the back by Wisconsin police at close range in the US city of Kenosha, sparkling protests, media and officials said on Monday.