How to stay in shape and step up support for refugees
Jan 09, 2019, at 09:18 am
New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): At a time of year when many resolve to get fit, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the huge distances many are forced to cover to escape persecution, in search of a better life far from home.
THE COMMITTEES: ‘All roads lead to the Fifth’
Jan 09, 2019, at 09:16 am
New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): At the United Nations, there is a popular saying – all roads lead to the Fifth – the “Fifth” here is the General Assembly’s main Administrative and Budgetary Committee, where all financial and programme matters concerning the UN system, are discussed. In this feature series on the work of the General Assembly, the UN body made up of all 193 Member States, UN News gives you an inside look at the critical work of the Fifth Committee.
UN Chief ‘strongly rejects’ Guatemala decision to expel anti-corruption body
Jan 09, 2019, at 09:03 am
New York, Jan 9 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has “strongly rejected” the Guatemalan Government’s decision to unilaterally terminate the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), an independent body set up by the UN and Guatemala to investigate illegal security groups and high-level corruption in the country.
UK: Heathrow Airport stops departures for drone sighting
Jan 09, 2019, at 01:15 am
London, Jan 8 (IBNS): The Heathrow Airport in London on Tuesday temporarily stopped departure of flights after a drone was sighted.
China: Beijing school attack leaves 20 children hurt
Jan 08, 2019, at 03:34 pm
Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): At least 20 children were injured when a man attacked a primary school in China's Beijing city with a knife on Tuesday, media reports said.
Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun seeks asylum in Canada
Jan 08, 2019, at 02:22 pm
Bangkok, Jan 8 (IBNS): Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, who has claimed that she has escaped from her family in the Middle-east nation, on Tuesday sought asylum in Canada.
DR Congo: Restore internet services as 'a matter of urgency', urges UN expert
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:26 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): More than a week after voters went to the polls to choose a new President in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), results have yet to be announced and all primary telecommunications remain shut down – prompting a UN expert on Monday to urge the authorities to restore internet services as “a matter of urgency”.
Killing of aid worker in Syria part of ‘disturbing trend’
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:23 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The abduction and killing of an aid worker last week in Syria’s Idleb region, brings into focus the daily risks faced by humanitarians working in conflict zones, said the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, in a statement deploring the killing on Monday.
World Bank President steps down, Chief Executive assumes temporary role
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:17 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, announced on Monday that he is stepping down, after more than six years in the role. Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank CEO, will assume the role of interim President, from 1 February.
Saudi woman seeking asylum in Thailand ‘now in a secure place’ says UNHCR
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:14 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday that 18-year-old Saudi national Rahaf Mohammed Al-qunun, who had been stranded at Bangkok airport after fleeing her family in Kuwait, saying that she would be killed if forced to return, was “now in a secure place”.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commences his China visit
Jan 08, 2019, at 10:06 am
Beijing, Jan 8 (IBNS): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commenced his China visit from Tuesday.
Rising human trafficking takes on ‘horrific dimensions’: almost a third of victims are children
Jan 08, 2019, at 09:50 am
New York, Jan 8 (IBNS): A new UN report published on Monday shows that human trafficking is on the rise and taking on “horrific dimensions”, with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver. Children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked, and far more girls are detected than boys.
UK visa costlier for Indians from tomorrow
Jan 07, 2019, at 09:13 pm
London, Jan 7 (IBNS): UK visa is set to cost more for Indian and other non-EU citizens from tomorrow, media reports said on Monday.
China kindergarten knife attack convict executed
Jan 07, 2019, at 04:14 pm
Beijing, Jan 7 (IBNS): China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday said a man, who was convicted in the kindergarten knife attack case in south China, was executed on Friday after his death sentence was approved, media reports said.
Human Rights Watch urges Thailand authorities to halt deportation of Saudi woman
Jan 07, 2019, at 10:02 am
Bangkok, Jan 7 (IBNS): Thailand authorities should immediately halt the planned deportation of a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing domestic abuse and fears for her safety if forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.
2019 'a critical year' for Somali politics and development says Security Council
Jan 07, 2019, at 08:42 am
New York, Jan 7 (IBNS): In the wake of the Somali Government's decision last week to expel the head of the UN's assistance mission, UNSOM, the Security Council on Saturday cautioned that 2019 would be "a critical year" for the east African nation that is reconsituting itself after decades of conflict.
Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks
Jan 06, 2019, at 05:06 pm
New York, Jan 6 (IBNS): More than 40 civilians have been reportedly killed during intercommunal clashes this week in northern Burkina Faso, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement on Friday night condemning the violence and “deteriorating security situation” in parts of the West African country.
The ‘abuse of food relief in Yemen’ must end now
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:15 am
New Delhi, Jan 5 (IBNS): On Friday, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) demanded that the stealing of food by warring factions in Yemen must stop immediately; and welcomed a statement from Houthi rebel leaders saying that the situation was now under investigation.
UN chief expresses ‘full confidence’ in top Somalia official following Government expulsion
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:13 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN Secretary-General said on Friday he “deeply regrets” the Somali Government’s decision to expel his Special Representative in the country, adding that he had “full confidence” in Nicholas Haysom’s abilities and track record as an international civil servant.
Rights defenders jailed in Bahrain and UAE should be released unconditionally, UN urges
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:11 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has called for the immediate release of a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain, after the country’s highest court rejected a final appeal for his release on Monday. Nabeel Rajab was jailed in 2016 for tweeting criticism of Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes on Yemen and allegations of torture inside one of Bahrain’s prisons.
DRC ‘calm but tense’ as country awaits presidential election result
Jan 05, 2019, at 09:01 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The post-election environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is “calm but tense” as the country waits for the results of the presidential poll, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.
Jan 05, 2019, at 08:50 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): The criminal trial in Saudi Arabia of individuals suspected of being involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi does not meet the requirements of an independent and international probe requested by the UN’s top rights official, Michelle Bachelet, her office said on Friday.
First-ever World Braille Day underscores importance of written language for human rights
Jan 05, 2019, at 08:47 am
New York, Jan 5 (IBNS): To raise awareness of the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment, on Friday the United Nations is observing the first official World Braille Day.
After US, China develops its own "Mother of All Bombs"
Jan 04, 2019, at 04:38 pm
Beijing, Jan 4 (IBNS): China's arms industry giant NORINCO recently displayed a new massive aerial bomb which they called as the Chinese version of the "Mother of All Bombs", media reports said.
First-ever World Braille Day underscores importance of written language for human rights
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:16 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): To raise awareness of the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment, on Friday the United Nations is observing the first official World Braille Day.
Deadly Mali attack to be investigated by UN rights experts
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): An attack on a village in central Mali earlier this week in which at least 37 civilians died, is to be investigated with the help of United Nations human rights experts, the UN stabilization mission in the country (MINUSMA), announced on Thursday.
Jan 04, 2019, at 08:54 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): Somali Government efforts to build a lasting peace through political reform and transformation have progressed along a “positive trajectory” but everyone involved in the process needs to “pull in the same direction”, the UN Special Representative in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Powering up health care in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): Solar power is helping make universal healthcare a reality in places where unreliable power supplies regularly affect access to vital services, and can out people’s lives at risk, thanks to support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Attack on UN compound in Somalia may be 'violation of international humanitarian law'
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:04 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.”
Denmark: Train mishap kills six people
Jan 02, 2019, at 03:58 pm
Copenhagen, Jan 2 (IBNS): At least six people died in a train mishap in Denmark on Wednesday, media reports said.