Setting out to ‘transform the world’ in the General Assembly's Second Committee
Dec 26, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, Dec 26 (IBNS): How is the UN tackling its most ambitious and far-reaching project: the 2030 Agenda to “transform the world”? This is the mammoth responsibility of the UN’s General Assembly’s Second Committee – the body which deals with “economic and financial matters”. Here is the second in our series on what happens at the UN when the world leaders have gone home at the end of September, and the Committees get going on turning pledges and ideas into action.
Gunmen attack Libyan Foreign Ministry Headquarter, 1 killed
Dec 25, 2018, at 06:50 pm
Tripoli, Dec 25 (IBNS): Gunmen stormed the foreign ministry office of Libya and killed at least one person, media reports said on Tuesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping condoles of loss of lives in Indonesia tsunami
Dec 25, 2018, at 03:56 pm
Beijing, Dec 25 (IBNS): Chinese president Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a message to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo over the tsunami tragedy which hit the nation and leftover 400 people killed.
UN ceasefire monitoring chief tours Yemeni port of Hudaydah
Dec 25, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Dec 25 (IBNS): The head of the UN team which is monitoring and helping implement a ground-breaking ceasefire across Yemen’s crucial port city of Hudaydah, had his first face-to-face meeting with authorities there on Monday.
Indonesia tsunami: Many still missing as death toll rises
Dec 25, 2018, at 09:01 am
New York, Dec 25 (IBNS): Indonesians are being warned to stay away from beaches along the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Sumatra and Java, following this weekend’s devastating tsunami in the area, which government and humanitarian agency reports indicate has claimed hundreds of lives, with the total likely to rise.
UN rights expert urges full investigation into death of migrant girl, held in US
Dec 25, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 25 (IBNS): A United Nations rights expert has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a Guatemalan migrant child, while she was in the custody of United States immigration authorities.
Disarmament for a peaceful world, defines work of UN General Assembly's First Committee
Dec 25, 2018, at 08:46 am
Washington, Dec 25 (IBNS): Every year in September, the United Nations General Assembly makes the headlines as world leaders gather at UN headquarters to set the agenda for the year ahead.
Terror group Al Qaeda is plotting plane attacks in Europe, warns UK Security Minister Ben Wallace
Dec 24, 2018, at 04:26 pm
London, Dec 24 (IBNS): UK Security Minister Ben Wallace has warned that terrorist group Al Qaeda might carry out terror attacks on passenger planes and airports in Europe.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visits Kabul
Dec 24, 2018, at 03:14 pm
Islamabad, Dec 24 (IBNS): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi accompanied by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua visited Kabul to discuss further strengthening of bilateral relations and to brief President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani on the recent developments on peace process after the meeting between Taliban and United States in Dubai, in which Saudi Arabia, UAE also participated.
Indonesia tsunami: Anak Krakatau volcano seethes, fear of new waves grips people
Dec 24, 2018, at 10:05 am
Jakarta, Dec 24 (IBNS): Amid fears that another tsunami might lash Indonesian beach, coastal residents near the country's Anak Krakatau volcano have been directed to stay away from beaches, media reports said.
Nigeria: Unidentified gunmen kill 17 in Zamfara state
Dec 24, 2018, at 09:31 am
Abuja, Dec 24 (IBNS): At least 17 people were killed as unidentified gunmen attacked Nigeria's Zamfara state on Saturday, media reports said on Monday.
Mogadishu bombings a ‘cowardly assault’ on Somalis’ right to peace – UN envoy
Dec 24, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Saturday’s twin bombings in the nation’s capital, Mogadishu, which claimed a number of lives.
UN ready to support tsunami-hit parts of Indonesia – Secretary-General Guterres
Dec 24, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed “deep sadness” at the loss of life, injuries and damages caused by the tsunami that struck the Indonesian coast late Saturday, local time.
Indonesia tsunami: Waves rips through stage during band performance, video goes viral online
Dec 23, 2018, at 07:16 pm
Carita, Dec 23 (IBNS): A short video footage of a tragedy has gone viral on the social media where the tsunami waves could be seen smashing into an open-air concert in Indonesia and hurling the members of the pop band from the stage and slamming them on the audience.
Indonesia: Over 220 people die as Tsunami hits Sunda Strait
Dec 23, 2018, at 05:40 pm
Jakarta, Dec 23 (IBNS): At least 222 people were killed as a tsunami triggered by volcanic eruption hit Indonesia's Sunda Strait region on Saturday, media reports said on Sunday.
Two people arrested following drone incursions at Gatwick Airport released without charge
Dec 23, 2018, at 05:16 pm
London, Dec 23 (IBNS): Two people arrested in conjunction with the widespread disruption of flights at Gatwick Airport through the illegal use of drones have been released without charge on Sunday, Sussex Police said.
Drone Trouble: Two arrested over flight disruption
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:37 am
London, Dec 22 (IBNS): Sussex Police on Friday said they have arrested two people over the string of drone sightings which hit air traffic movement in Gatwick Airport of the UK.
Warring parties in Yemen must ‘fully respect’ Hudaydah ceasefire – UN Security Council
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:10 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday endorsed the agreement reached between the Government of Yemen and leaders of the opposition Houthi movement, at the recent UN-backed talks in Sweden, and authorized the deployment of an advance team to facilitate the monitoring and implementation of the Stockholm Agreement.
Bamboo-boring beetles wreak havoc in Rohingya refugee camps, UN agency races to respond
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:05 am
New York,Dec 22 (IBNS): Beset by millions of bamboo-chomping beetles, almost every shelter in the vast Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, in Bangladesh, needs replacing. With just over four months to go until the beginning of the monsoon season, the race is on for IOM, the United Nations migration agency which is managing the camp, to provide families living in the worst-affected temporary dwellings, with new and more durable bamboo.
Nicaragua: UN rights chief ‘alarmed’ by imminent expulsion of key human rights groups
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:02 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): After the Nicaraguan Government announced that it has asked two key human rights institutions to leave the country, the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, said on Friday that she was “extremely alarmed” by a decision that means, in effect, there will be “no functioning independent human rights bodies left in Nicaragua”.
Dozens of migrants dead and missing, adds to mounting toll off Spanish coast
Dec 22, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): A group of migrant boats stranded at sea, was rescued off the Spanish coast on Thursday, and at least 25 people are believed to be dead or missing, including a pregnant woman, the UN Refugee Agency, UNCHR, has reported.
Drone chaos: Gatwick Airport's runway reopens
Dec 21, 2018, at 06:47 pm
London, Dec 21 (IBNS): The Gatwick Airport's runway has reopened once again, days after it remained closed for drone spotting incidents.
Drone Trouble: Gatwick Airport to remain closed today
Dec 21, 2018, at 05:14 pm
London, Dec 21 (IBNS): Amid reports of drone sightings, Gatwick Airport in the UK will remain closed on Friday, officials said.
Suspect linked to Charlie Hebdo attackers taken to French custody: Reports
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:39 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS):The French Police have taken to custody a suspect linked to the brothers who carried out the 2015 Charlie Hebdo killings, media reports said on Friday.
Instability in Africa’s Sahel, spreading outwards, Security Council told
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Efforts to address the multiple challenges facing Africa’s Sahel region should be driven by local, regional and national leadership, with the support of international partners as required, the United Nations Special Adviser for the region said on Thursday.
New migration pact highlights key role of business in protecting migrants, say UN experts
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:27 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): A group of UN experts welcomed a call for Member States and businesses to join forces in protecting the rights of migrants on Thursday, following the recent adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) on 10 December.
Donald Trump government considering reduction of troops in Afghanistan
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:27 am
Washington, Dec 21 (IBNS): The US government is planning to reduce its troops posted in Afghanistan, media reports said on Friday.
2018 ‘terrifying’ for Yemenis but ultimately a ‘year for hope’ says UN Special Envoy
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:25 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): It has been a “terrifying” year for Yemenis but ultimately one of hope, as December talks in Sweden yielded a ceasefire around a key port city with the promise of further substantive consultations between the warring parties next month, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told UN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
Remain united for Syrians, UN envoy de Mistura urges Security Council
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:10 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Addressing the problems plaguing Syria and bring years of brutal fighting to an end, requires further “genuine effort” on the part of influential countries, to talk to each other and work constructively, the veteran United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has said.
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Migrants and refugees are being subjected to "unimaginable horrors" from the moment they enter Libya, throughout their stay in the country and – if they make it that far – during their attempts to cross the Mediterranean, according to a report released on Thursday, by the United Nations political mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UN human rights office (OHCHR).