Australia recognises West Jerusalem as capital of Israel
Dec 15, 2018, at 06:58 pm
Sydney, Dec 15 (IBNS): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday confirmed that his government is going to recognize West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
UN countries unanimously support initiative of the Uzbekistan President on tolerance and harmony
Dec 15, 2018, at 05:18 pm
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): On December 12, 2018, the UN General Assembly has adopted a special resolution “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” at its plenary session. The document, the draft of which was developed by Uzbekistan, was unanimously supported by all UN member states.
Peacekeeping chief honours Tanzanian troops in Zanzibar, a year on from deadly DR Congo attacks
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:28 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): A year on from the brutal killings of 15 United Nations peacekeepers from Tanzania in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the head of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) paid a visit to some of the victims’ families on Friday, to honour the memory of the soldiers who died in what was the biggest single loss of ‘blue helmets’ in recent history.
Preparing Africa for ravages of climate change ‘cannot be an afterthought’ – COP24
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:26 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Africa is at a “tipping point” as global warming increases, and urgent action needs to be taken across the continent now, to mitigate risks and safeguard a decade of social and economic gains, according to a new report launched on Thursday by the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) at the COP24 climate conference, in Katowice, Poland.
Security Council welcomes Yemen breakthrough, but lasting peace remains a ‘daunting task’
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:24 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Senior UN officials briefed the Security Council on the details of a UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen on Friday in and around the key port city of Hudaydah, which is expected to restore a humanitarian lifeline to millions across the country, and kickstart imports of commercial goods.
UN investigates systematic sexual violence across South Sudan
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:20 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): Widespread and systematic sexual violence across South Sudan, just a few months after the country’s top two politicians signed a renewed commitment to peace, was at the top of the UN Commission on Human Rights in the country’s agenda on Friday, as members ended their first fact-finding mission.
DR Congo elections: ‘Excessive use of force’ in campaign must be avoided, says Bachelet
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:17 am
New York,Dec 15 (IBNS): Deadly pre-election violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sparked by police reportedly firing live ammunition at opposition supporters, has been condemned by the UN’s top rights official, Michelle Bachelet.
Yemen ceasefire deal: ‘Potential’ now to restore humanitarian lifeline to millions
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:15 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): The freshly agreed Yemen ceasefire deal covering the key Red Sea governorates of Hudaydah and Taiz has been welcomed by the World Food Programme (WFP), which on Friday expressed hope that it would improve access for humanitarians and, just as crucially, commercial shipping.
UN agencies launch emergency plan for millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants
Dec 15, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Dec 15 (IBNS): A new plan to cover the urgent needs of millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, coordinated by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), was launchedin Geneva on Friday.
French security officials kill Strasbourg's Christmas market suspect
Dec 14, 2018, at 09:41 am
Paris, Dec 14 (IBNS): The key suspect in Strasbourg's Christmas market on Tuesday has been shot dead by the French police, media reports said on Friday.
Civilian death toll continues to mount in Syria, UN relief chief tells Security Council
Dec 14, 2018, at 09:03 am
New York, Dec 14 (IBNS): Although the overall intensity of violence in Syria has decreased, civilians continue to be killed by air and ground-based strikes, Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs told the Security Council on Thursday, during a briefing on the current situation in Syria.
Rising insecurity in Central Africa Republic threatens wider region, Security Council told
Dec 14, 2018, at 09:00 am
New York, Dec 14 (IBNS): Rising violence in the Central African Republic threatens to spill across the border into neighbouring countries, creating further instability, a senior United Nations official warned on Thursday, urging continued and coordinated regional efforts to bolster peace and security.
Four million Syrian children have only known war since birth: UNICEF
Dec 14, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Dec 14 (IBNS): Half of Syria’s children, that’s four million, have grown up only knowing a life of violence, as the war-battered country enters its eighth year of conflict, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
Yemen talks: Truce agreed over key port city of Hudaydah
Dec 14, 2018, at 08:48 am
New York, Dec 14 (IBNS): The announcement of a ceasefire between Yemen’s warring parties in and around the key port of Hudaydah, was hailed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday as a deal which would improve the lives of millions of people.
Haiti: ‘Laden with challenges’ but also hope, Mission chief tells Security Council
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:22 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): Haiti is “laden with challenges, but also hope”, the head of the UN Mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, against the backdrop of on-going political unrest in the Caribbean country.
‘Fire-fighting approach’ to humanitarian aid ‘not sustainable’: Deputy UN chief
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:19 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): With around one in every 60 people across the world caught up in a crisis that requires urgent humanitarian assistance, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a top panel on the issue on Wednesday that maintaining a “fire-fighting approach is not sustainable” in the long term.
‘Staunch support’ for Iran nuclear deal tempered by concern over missile testing
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): While there is “staunch support” among Member States for the 2016 Iran nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, that is tempered by concerns over some of its other activities, which Iran “should carefully consider and address” according to the latest report on the deal from the UN Secretary-General.
Prisoner executions in Belarus ‘simply unacceptable’, says UN rights body
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): The continued use of the death penalty in Belarus has been condemned by an authoritative UN rights body after three men were reportedly executed there, despite its requests for clemency.
Easing US-China trade tensions could save millions of jobs: Asia-Pacific UN report
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): Millions of jobs in the Asia and Pacific region have been put at risk by conflicts over trade, despite a recent agreement not to escalate tit-for-tat tariffs by the United States and China, according to a new regional UN report.
UK PM Theresa May to face vote of no confidence from Tory MPs
Dec 12, 2018, at 04:41 pm
London, Dec 12 (IBNS): In a major development, British Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of confidence in her leadership on Wednesday.
Ex-Canadian diplomat 'detained' in China
Dec 12, 2018, at 03:48 pm
Beijing, Dec 12 (IBNS):A former Canadian diplomat has been 'detained' in China on Monday, International Crisis Group said on Wednesday.
Canadian court grants bail to Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou
Dec 12, 2018, at 03:22 pm
Vancouver, Dec 12 (IBNS): A Canadian court on Tuesday granted bail to arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
UN should be ‘exemplary’ in defending judicial independence, top Judge tells Security Council
Dec 12, 2018, at 10:21 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The United Nations should be a role model when it comes to repelling attempts to weaken the rule of law and undermine independent judiciaries around the world, a senior UN judge told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Governments urged to put first ever UN global migration pact in motion, post-Marrakech
Dec 12, 2018, at 10:01 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The adoption by more than 160 governments of the first-ever global migration pact is a triumph of multilateralism and highlights the importance of dispelling “myths” and fear-mongering over the issue, said the UN’s senior migration official on Tuesday, bringing the key two-day Marrakech conference to a close.
France: Shooting in Strasbourg Christmas market kills 3, gunman at large
Dec 12, 2018, at 09:52 am
Paris, Dec 12 (IBNS): At least three people were during a shooting in eastern France's Strasbourg city on Wednesday, media reports said.
UN working with both sides, after hidden tunnels confirmed along Lebanon-Israel ‘Blue Line’
Dec 12, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations peace mission in Lebanon has urged an end to “rumours and speculations” over tunnels which have been discovered along the UN-drawn “Blue Line” – the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel.
‘Global sisterhood’ tells perpetrators ‘time is up’ for pandemic of violence
Dec 12, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): From #MeToo to #HearMeToo, the fight to end violence against women continues as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Nicole Kidman, joined survivors, activists and other Hollywood celebrities to spotlight the lack of resources that exist to help women push back against violence and abuse.
Brazil: Gunman opens fire in cathedral, five killed
Dec 12, 2018, at 09:22 am
Sao Paulo, Dec 12 (IBNS): At least five people were killed as a gunman opened fire in a Catholic cathedral near Brazil's Sao Paulo city on Wednesday, media reports said.
Progress made in UN talks to end Yemen war, Envoy lauds ‘positive and serious spirit’
Dec 12, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): United Nations-sponsored political consultations in Sweden, involving the warring parties in the Yemen war, have led to progress “on a number of issues,” said Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy for Yemen, at a press conference on Monday.
Uzbekistan to focus on strengthening principles of marketing economy
Dec 11, 2018, at 08:12 pm
Tashkent, Dec 11 (IBNS): President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev speaking at the ceremony dedicated to the 26th anniversary of the Constitution of the country outlined a range of tasks for the full support of entrepreneurship and creation of broad conditions for investors.