Syria constitutional reform talks, hold promise for new social contract
Aug 20, 2020, at 05:10 pm
New York: Constitutional reform talks between Syria’s Government and opposition leaders next week in Geneva, offer an opportunity to reconcile differences and establish a social contract with people across the country, who are desperate for progress after more than nine years of war, the Special Envoy told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Libya: UN human right chief appoints independent investigators to probe abuses
Aug 20, 2020, at 04:31 pm
New York: UN-led efforts to address serious rights violations in Libya, received a boost on Wednesday with the appointment of three independent investigators to document abuses in the war-torn country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina should recognise sex crime survivors’ rights, say experts
Aug 20, 2020, at 04:02 pm
New York: In Bosnia and Herzegovina, tens of thousands of victims of sexual violence committed during conflict in the 1990s still await justice, UN-appointed rights experts said on Wednesday.
Mongolia reports 3 more COVID-19 recoveries
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:46 pm
Ulan Bator/Xinhua: Mongolia reported three more COVID-19 recoveries, taking the total recoveries to 281, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.
Japan's Abe back to work amid ongoing Health rumors
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:33 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to work on Wednesday following three days off that included a hospital visit and gave rise to speculations about the state of his health.
Beijing condemns foreign attempts to Fan unrest in Belarus
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:31 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: China opposes any external forces' attempts to create a split and trigger unrest in Belarus, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said on Wednesday.
Bridging Asia-Pacific ‘digital divide’ vital to realize tech benefits
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:17 pm
New York: Countries across Asia and the Pacific are using new technologies to contain the global pandemic and mitigate its impact, the UN’s regional socio-economic development arm has said, as governments and experts work together to identify ways to innovate further, and build back better, after COVID-19.
Mali: UN chief demands ‘immediate and unconditional release’ of President, cabinet members
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:02 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law in Mali, after mutinying troops arrested the country’s leader and other senior officials on Tuesday.
Hariri assassination: UN-backed tribunal finds one guilty, three acquitted
Aug 19, 2020, at 09:56 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General took note on Tuesday of the guilty verdict delivered by a special UN-backed court, in the case of one of the defendants accused of killing former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in a bomb attack 15 years ago. Three other defendants, also reportedly members of militant group, Hezbollah, were acquitted.
One million flee escalating violence in Burkina Faso
Aug 19, 2020, at 09:42 pm
New York: Mounting violence in Burkina Faso has forced more than one million people to flee their homes: 453,000 so far this year alone, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Tuesday, citing government figures.
Supporting communities and refugees in Lebanon a ‘top priority’: UNHCR chief
Aug 19, 2020, at 04:02 pm
New York: The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is in Lebanon to drive home the message of solidarity with all those affected by the devastating blast a fortnight ago, reaching out to both Lebanese and the many refugees and migrants sheltering in the country.
Death Valley temperature, likely highest since 1931: UN weather agency
Aug 19, 2020, at 03:57 pm
New York: “All indications” suggest that the extreme temperature reading of 54.4 degrees Celsius recorded in California’s Death Valley on Sunday, is legitimate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.
Taking a lead against genocide, ‘no society is immune’ warns Adama Dieng
Aug 19, 2020, at 03:11 pm
New York: Adama Dieng assumed the position of the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide in 2012, after a long and distinguished career in law and human rights, stepping down from the post at the end of July.
Aug 19, 2020, at 03:03 pm
Bamako/UNI: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Wednesday announced that he is resigning from his post following a military mutiny in the state.
Explosion kills Russian officer in Syria
Aug 19, 2020, at 02:55 pm
Damascus/Xinhua: A Russian officer was killed and two soldiers were wounded on Tuesday by an explosion in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
Expert believe deterioration in relationship between Pakistan-Saudi Arabia will harm Islamabad
Aug 19, 2020, at 06:05 am
Islamabad: Expert believe that the recent deterioration in relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan may add to Islamabad's fiscal worries in the coming days.
Ten People wounded in Kabul rocket fire ahead of independence day - Reports
Aug 18, 2020, at 10:37 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: At least ten people have been wounded in rocket fire that hit several districts of the Afghan capital city of Kabul on the eve of the 101th National Independence Day, Tolo News broadcaster reported Tuesday.
Covid-19: 186 schools in Saudi Arabia cut fees by half
Aug 18, 2020, at 10:30 pm
Riyadh/UNI: The owners of 186 private schools have agreed to cut their fees by half in the first semester of the new academic year. the Saudi news agency SPA reported
Terrorism victims must never be forgotten: UN Secretary-General
Aug 18, 2020, at 02:49 pm
New York: Secretary-General António Guterres has underscored UN solidarity with all victims of terrorism and urged people everywhere to ensure they are never forgotten.
Terrorists shell localities in Syria's Aleppo province - Reconciliation Center
Aug 18, 2020, at 02:41 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia) has attacked settlements in Syria's Aleppo province, Rear Adm Alexander Shcherbitsky, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, said at a briefing.
Somalia: UN condemns ‘brazen’ terrorist attack on beachside hotel
Aug 18, 2020, at 02:23 pm
New York: The UN in Somalia has strongly condemned a terrorist attack that took place on Sunday at the Elite Hotel in the capital Mogadishu, which reportedly killed at least 16 people and left many others injured.
Belarus crisis: Top UN official concerned over torture allegations
Aug 18, 2020, at 02:00 pm
New York: In the wake of ongoing electoral-related unrest in Belarus, the top UN official in the country has requested an urgent meeting with authorities focused on the issue of human rights, according to a statement from her office.
Chinese debt trap policy is making Nigeria 'lose' sovereignty?
Aug 18, 2020, at 03:56 am
Abuja: African nation Nigeria is feared to be losing its sovereignty to China over bad debts, media reports said.
Turkey funding surrendered ISIS cadres to radicalise Indian Muslims: Reports
Aug 16, 2020, at 03:59 am
Istanbul: The Turkish government has allocated huge funds to the Turkish intelligence to radicalize Indian Muslims, media reports said.
UN chief: Belarusians must be able to exercise their ‘civil and political rights’
Aug 15, 2020, at 10:34 pm
New York: Closely following the developments in Belarus, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement on Friday underlining the importance of enabling all Belarusians to “exercise their civil and political rights”.
UN and partners launch $565 million appeal for Lebanon
Aug 15, 2020, at 10:26 pm
New York: The UN and aid partners are seeking $565 million to address the overwhelming needs in Lebanon following the deadly explosions that flattened large areas of the capital, Beirut, nearly two weeks ago.
Guterres ‘deeply concerned’ over environmental threat posed by stricken oil tanker off Yemen coast
Aug 15, 2020, at 10:23 pm
New York: The UN chief is “deeply concerned” about the condition of the FSO Safer oil tanker, moored off the western coast of Yemen, his spokesperson said on Friday.
Landmine explosion kills 4 in Syria's Idlib
Aug 15, 2020, at 10:12 pm
Damascus/Xinhua: Four civilians were killed and five others wounded on Saturday when a landmine exploded in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, state news agency SANA reported.
Millions ‘on the edge’ in DR Congo, now in even greater danger of tipping over: WFP
Aug 15, 2020, at 03:41 pm
New York: Millions of lives could be lost to hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), amid escalating conflict and worsening COVID-19 transmission, the UN emergency food relief agency has warned, urging the international community to step up support for the African nation.
Interception, no solution to address migrants crossing English Channel
Aug 15, 2020, at 03:11 pm
New York: Intercepting boats full of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, is not the solution to deter them from attempting to reach the United Kingdom, UN agencies have stressed, warning that deployment of large naval vessels to block small, flimsy dinghies could lead to fatal incidents.