COVID-19 fast becoming protection crisis, Guterres warns Security Council
Jul 03, 2020, at 10:31 am
The COVID-19 pandemic is “profoundly affecting” peace and security across the globe, the Secretary-General told the Security Council on Thursday, pressing the 15-member body to use its collective influence to protect the millions of people either trapped in, or fleeing conflict, and already facing acute vulnerabilities.
Helping youth enterprise take off, will bring sustainable returns, say UN economists
Jul 03, 2020, at 09:58 am
New York/IBNS: Young entrepreneurs who want their work to have a positive impact on their communities, urgently need more help from governments if they’re to succeed and resist the COVID-19-fuelled economic downturn, UN economists said on Thursday.
Iran's Atomic Energy body reports incident during construction work at Natanz facility
Jul 02, 2020, at 03:09 pm
Tehran/Sputnik: The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on Thursday reported an incident during construction work at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, which damaged one of the awnings under construction.
Jul 02, 2020, at 12:33 am
New Delhi/IBNS: Australia has increased its defence budget by a whopping 40 per cent to 270 billion dollars for a ten-year period, the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while he launched the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and the 2024 Structure Plan on Wednesday.
China Leverages Tibetan Plateau’s Water Wealth
Jul 02, 2020, at 12:12 am
While the international attention remains on China’s recidivist activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where it continues to incrementally expand its strategic footprint, Beijing is also quietly focusing its attention on the waters of rivers that originate in the resource-rich, Chinese-controlled territory of Tibet.
Jul 01, 2020, at 11:38 pm
As China imposes law on national security in Hong Kong, city's pro-democracy group Demosisto has announced it will disband, media reports said.
Kenyan court rejects China's BRI rail project
Jul 01, 2020, at 11:25 pm
In a big blow to China, a Kenyan court has ruled that the contract between the Kenyan government and China Road Bridge Corporation(CRBC) did not comply with the law.
Iran nuclear deal still best way to ensure peace, DiCarlo tells Security Council
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:34 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN regrets that the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is in doubt, but notwithstanding current challenges, that landmark deal is still the best way to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme proceeds along a peaceful path, the UN’s top political official said on Tuesday.
Impacts of COVID-19 disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable: UN chief
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:33 pm
Addressing poverty eradication on Tuesday in front of the General Assembly, UN chief António Guterres warned that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are falling “disproportionately on the most vulnerable: people living in poverty, the working poor, women and children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups”.
Syria: Top UN officials appeal to donors to help end ‘shocking’ scale of suffering
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:29 pm
New York/IBNS: The UN chief called on the world to step up “financial, humanitarian and political commitments”, to help end nearly a decade of brutal conflict and suffering across Syria, in a video message delivered to the fourth Brussels Donor Conference on Tuesday.
Bachelet renews call for accountability in Philippines war on illegal drugs
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:27 pm
New York/IBNS: The Human Rights Council should consider supporting new accountability measures against perpetrators of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines’ so-called war on illegal drugs, the UN’s top rights official said on Tuesday.
UN honours fallen colleagues and legacy of hope they leave behind
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:24 pm
New York: Fallen UN colleagues were honoured on Tuesday at a solemn ceremony commemorating their bravery, and having served the UN cause of saving future generations “from the scourge of war and to pursue better standards of living for all in larger freedom”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, paying tribute.
-1593604049.jpg "Harmful practices rob women and girls of ‘right to reach their full potential’")
Harmful practices rob women and girls of ‘right to reach their full potential’
Jul 01, 2020, at 05:17 pm
New York/IBNS: Urgent, and accelerated action is needed to end female genital mutilation, child marriage, and other “harmful practices” and abuses carried out against women and girls, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), said on Tuesday, in its latest major report on the state of the world’s population.
Hong Kong police make 1st arrest for Violating fresh National Security Law
Jul 01, 2020, at 04:44 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: The Hong Kong police on Wednesday announced the first arrest for violating the new national security law, just a day after Beijing enacted the legislation.
Hong Kong security law 'extremely worrying': German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
Jul 01, 2020, at 04:15 pm
Berlin/UNI: Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday said that the new 'national security law' which has been enforced on Hong Kong by the Chinese government will impact Europe's relations with China and felt that the European Union(EU) must "take a strong stand" on this matter.
More trouble for KP Oli as Nepal Opposition protests against 'discriminatory' Citizenship Bill
Jul 01, 2020, at 01:45 pm
Kathmandu/IBNS: In more trouble for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who was singing in the tunes of China days ago to target India, the Opposition in Nepal took to streets to protest against the new Citizenship Bill allegedly targeting the minority groups of the country.
Hong Kong security law enters into force, imposes penalties up to life imprisonment
Jul 01, 2020, at 10:08 am
Moscow/Sputnik: The Chinese law on national security in Hong Kong entails punishment of three-year to lifetime imprisonment for activities related to separatism, according to freshly-published details of the legislation that has reignited protests in the peninsula and caused a backlash abroad.
Social media giant Facebook bans US based extremist network 'Boogaloo'
Jul 01, 2020, at 09:46 am
Washington/UNI: Facebook banned a violent anti-government network from its platform, the social media giant said in a statement.
EU reopens border for 15 countries, excludes US and puts conditions for China
Jun 30, 2020, at 11:28 pm
Brussels/IBNS: The European Union on Tuesday decided to open its border for 15 'safe countries', excluding the United States while for China it is ‘subject to confirmation of reciprocity' by Beijing.
Two Zimbabwean workers shot dead by Chinese boss, ZELA condemns
Jun 30, 2020, at 10:48 pm
Harare: Two Zimbabwean workers were shot dead by a Chinese boss at Reden Mine in Gweru, triggering condemnation from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA).
Jun 30, 2020, at 10:40 pm
Exiled Chinese dissident Guo Wengei has alleged that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) “allocates $2 billion a year” to pay off the Vatican for its silence concerning atrocities carried out by Beijing.
China passes Hong Kong Security Law
Jun 30, 2020, at 05:12 pm
Beijing/UNI: Beijing on Tuesday unanimously passed the controversial security law for Hong Kong that will not only criminalise secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, but also effectively curtail protests and freedom of speech.
EU deplores China's approval of Hong Kong security bill - European Council
Jun 30, 2020, at 04:19 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: The European Union has deplored China's approval of the new national security bill for Hong Kong and criticized the legislation as detrimental to the Hong Kong autonomy, European Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday.
Food is best vaccine against chaos, insists UN World Food Programme head
Jun 30, 2020, at 09:19 am
New York/IBNS: Tens of millions more people are likely to go hungry this year because of the COVID-19 crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday, as it announced plans for a massive boost to its global aid operation so it can reach them.
Jun 30, 2020, at 09:17 am
New York: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned Israel on Monday not to proceed along the “dangerous path” of annexing a swathe of occupied Palestinian territory, urging the Government to listen to its own former senior officials along with the “multitude of voices around the world”.
Extend cross border 'lifeline' into Syria, Lowcock urges Security Council
Jun 30, 2020, at 09:12 am
New York: With COVID-19 cases in Syria multiplying, its economy in freefall, and some households cooking weeds to eat in order to survive, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator is pressing the Security Council to extend its authorization for cross-border aid deliveries from Turkey.
Water cooperation between States ‘key’ to Blue Nile dam project
Jun 30, 2020, at 09:10 am
New York/IBNS: The Blue Nile is “critical for the livelihoods and development” of Egyptians, Ethiopians and Sudanese, the top UN official for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council on Monday, urging those States to reach a construction agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Hong Kong police to deploy up to 4,000 officers due to possible protests : Reports
Jun 29, 2020, at 11:36 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: Police in Hong Kong intend to deploy up to 4,000 officers to the streets on July 1 in anticipation of possible protests over banned pro-democracy march, local media reported on Monday.
35 migrants rescued, 4 missing off Turkey's Aegean coast
Jun 29, 2020, at 05:17 pm
Istanbul/Xinhua: The Turkish coast guard on Monday rescued 35 illegal immigrants off Turkey's Aegean coast, while four others went missing, the force said in a statement.
New Law: Ex- UN human rights chief demands for Hong Kong special envoy
Jun 29, 2020, at 09:49 am
Geneva: Hong Kong is witnessing protests in recent times as China is gearing up to impose its national security law on the city, making the United Nations’ former human rights chief and eight former U.N. special envoys to urge the body’s secretary-general to appoint a special envoy on the region.