Amid ‘inhumane’ conditions, Bachelet urges Nicaragua to release all detainees
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:54 pm
New York: The human rights situation in Nicaragua has continued to decline over the past three months, with detainees being held in appalling conditions, civic space shrinking, and an “unprecedented” rise in people fleeing the country, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday.
Urban warfare needs new curbs on explosive weapons, urge humanitarians
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:50 pm
New York: A UN-partnered bid to address the use of explosive weapons in towns and cities took a further step forward on Thursday, as Member States prepared to gather in Geneva to examine a concrete new plan of action.
Socio-economic meltdown leaves Lebanese ‘hanging on by a thread’
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:47 pm
New York: With livelihoods in tatters and hopes almost shattered, the Lebanese are “hanging on by a thread,” the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said on Thursday, announcing the extension of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to address the rapidly deteriorating situation.
More than 100 million now forcibly displaced: UNHCR report
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:39 pm
New York: A staggering 100 million people have now been forced to flee their homes globally, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Thursday, highlighting worldwide food insecurity, the climate crisis, war in Ukraine and other emergencies from Africa to Afghanistan as leading causes.
Sanctions on Russia already hitting remittance-dependent countries in Central Asia: IOM
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:31 pm
New York: As the UN marks the International Day of Family Remittances on Thursday, there is concern that economic contraction and job losses in Russia - likely to now rise further as a result of sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine - are already having an impact on remittance-dependent communities in Central Asia, according to experts with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Burkina Faso: UN chief condemns brutal attack that left scores dead
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:27 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned a weekend attack in Burkina Faso that left dozens of civilians dead and displaced scores more, his Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Rights experts alarmed by violent civil society crackdown in Iran
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:22 pm
New York: UN independent human rights experts have deplored the recent violent crackdown on civil society in Iran, calling on Wednesday for independent investigations into excessive use of force against protestors.
Promoting women’s rights, a ‘proven’ strategy for peace and stability
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:17 pm
New York: The Women, Peace and Security agenda is “one of our best hopes” for a more peaceful future and a liveable planet, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Wednesday.
New UN guide aims to tackle growing problem of elder abuse
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:11 pm
New York: Every year, one in six people aged 60 years and older experience some form of abuse – a trend that is expected to continue with rapid population ageing in many countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
UN’s Bachelet concerned over Ukraine orphans ‘deported’ to Russia for adoption
Jun 17, 2022, at 11:00 pm
New York: The UN’s top rights official expressed her concern on Wednesday at reports that Ukrainian children have been “forcibly deported” from the country’s embattled eastern regions, and taken to Russia for adoption.
Jun 16, 2022, at 01:38 am
Kuwait: A Kuwaiti court has sentenced activist Salman Al-Khalidi to a five years' imprisonment on charges that challenge his legitimate right to freedom of opinion and expression, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has said in a statement expressing deep concern.
Yemen truce holding, but full measures still not in place
Jun 15, 2022, at 11:14 pm
New York: The “unprecedented” truce in Yemen has so far led to a reduction in fighting and other positive developments, but action is needed on its full implementation and to address rising humanitarian needs and insecurity, the UN Security Council heard on Tuesday.
South Sudan: UN humanitarians forced to cut aid to 1.7 million people
Jun 15, 2022, at 04:54 pm
Food assistance to 1.7 million people in South Sudan has been suspended, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, citing a funding crunch and rising needs.
Hunger in Latin America: Whole continent is on the move, warns WFP
Jun 15, 2022, at 04:23 pm
New York: Ever greater numbers of vulnerable people are risking their lives on dangerous migration routes in Latin America, forced to move by the global food security crisis that’s been made worse by spiralling inflation linked to the war in Ukraine, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.
Ukraine and rising global insecurity, test for us all, says UN rights chief
Jun 14, 2022, at 11:53 pm
New York: War in Ukraine continues to cause mayhem and “destroy the lives of many”, and it is everyone’s responsibility to limit the global food, fuel and financial crisis” that it has sustained, the UN’s top rights official told the Human Rights Council on Monday, in her last session as High Commissioner.
'Tasty and that's it': Defiant Russia unveils McDonald's substitute
Jun 14, 2022, at 07:51 pm
Moscow: Russia is witnessing several changes since the start of war with Ukraine earlier this year and one such move is surely revamping a popular US icon like McDonald's to give it a Moscow-twist.
Two giant US banks suspended operations on servicing Russia's state debt: Reports
Jun 14, 2022, at 07:13 pm
Washington/Sputnik/UNI: The world's major banks - US JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs - have suspended operations on servicing Russia's debt obligations, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.
Israel asks its nationals to leave Turkey over possible Iran attack
Jun 14, 2022, at 06:03 am
Jerusalem/Ankara: Amid the latest surge in tensions between bitter rivals Israel and Iran, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday asked citizens in Turkey to leave "as soon as possible" over threats that an Iranian network operating in the country is actively planning attacks on Israelis in Istanbul.
Brussels hosts India-EU Security and Defence Consultations
Jun 14, 2022, at 03:28 am
Brussels: India and European Union (EU) authorities recently discussed increasing maritime security cooperation and the prospect of co-development and co-production of defence equipment, media reports said.
Bitcoin price drops below 25,000 USD
Jun 13, 2022, at 10:27 pm
George Town/UNI/Sputnik: The Bitcoin price is falling by 10.8 per cent on Monday and is now below $25,000 for the first time since December 2020.
Refugees at risk: UN uncovers human trafficking at camp in Malawi
Jun 13, 2022, at 08:59 pm
New York: The widespread exploitation of men, women, and children at a refugee camp in Malawi has been uncovered by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Malawian Police Service.
Pioneering Namibia MP, Indonesia family planning board, win 2022 UN Population Award
Jun 13, 2022, at 08:28 pm
New York: The UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, announced on Monday the winners of it’s 2022 UN Population Award, with the individual prize going to a young trailblazing parliamentarian from Namibia, while the institutional award went to Indonesia’s National Population and Family Planning Board.
Italy: All 7 passengers in Thursday helicopter crash dead
Jun 12, 2022, at 08:39 pm
Rome: Italian authorities said Saturday that a helicopter that disappeared from air traffic radar screens on Thursday was located and all seven on board were killed.
Myanmar: Death sentences ‘vile attempt at instilling fear’, rights experts charge
Jun 12, 2022, at 02:48 am
New York: The international community must increase pressure on Myanmar ‘s military rulers in the wake of their decision to move ahead with death sentences against four individuals, including two prominent opponents of the regime, UN independent human rights experts said on Friday.
Mediterranean Sea journeys for migrants have grown more deadly: UNHCR
Jun 12, 2022, at 02:45 am
New York: Migrants who risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe on flimsy boats often piloted by people-smugglers, are at greater risk of dying now than for years, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.
Brazil urged to step up search for missing journalist and indigenous activist
Jun 12, 2022, at 12:11 am
New York: Authorities in Brazil must step up efforts to find a British journalist and an indigenous rights activist who disappeared nearly a week ago in a dangerous remote area of the Amazon, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday.
Death sentence for Ukraine foreign fighters is a war crime: UN rights office
Jun 12, 2022, at 12:06 am
New Delhi: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday condemned the death sentence handed down to three foreign fighters in Ukraine by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. “Such trials against prisoners of war amount to a war crime,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
North Korea: Choe Son-hui becomes first woman Foreign Minister
Jun 11, 2022, at 07:26 pm
Seoul/UNI: North Korea on Saturday named nuclear negotiator Choe Son-hui as the nation's first female Foreign Minister.
US Prez Joe Biden plans 'full reset' of ties with Saudis
Jun 11, 2022, at 05:00 pm
Washington/UNI/Sputnik: The Joe Biden administration and the Saudi leadership have agreed to reset bilateral relations that includes moving past differences over the killing of columnist Jamal Khashoggi amid the need to boost oil production, CNN reported citing senior administration officials.
Israeli missile attack injures civilian in Syrian capital
Jun 10, 2022, at 11:45 pm
Damascus/UNI/Xinhua: A civilian was injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting sites south of the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday morning, a Syrian military statement said.