UN chief pushes for greater benefits from new technology, as he launches digital experts panel

Jul 13, 2018, at 08:39 am

New York, July 13 (IBNS): A high-profile group of tech experts has been assembled at the request of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, tasked with putting the benefits of digital technology to more effective use, while also protecting against unwanted or unexpected negative impacts.

UN forum spotlights cities, where struggle for sustainability ‘will be won or lost’

Jul 12, 2018, at 08:59 am

New York, July 12 (IBNS): Although cities are often characterized by stark socioeconomic inequalities and poor environmental conditions, they also offer growth and development potential – making them central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and a main focus of the third day of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Wednesday.

Visiting North Korea, UN relief chief spotlights funding shortfall to meet humanitarian needs

Jul 12, 2018, at 08:56 am

New York, July 12 (IBNS): The United Nations is seeking to raise $111 million to meet humanitarian needs in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), where millions of people face malnutrition, a shortage medicines, and lack of access to safe drinking water, the Organization’s top relief official said on Wednesday.

Rohingya cannot become ‘forgotten victims,’ says UN chief urging world to step up support

Jul 12, 2018, at 08:52 am

New York, July 12 (IBNS): Painting a grim picture of villages being burned to the ground and other “bone-chilling” accounts he heard from Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar, the UN chief has called on the world to answer their calls for help with real action. 

Fragile countries risk being ‘stuck in a cycle of conflict and climate disaster,’ Security Council told

Jul 12, 2018, at 08:49 am

New York, July 12 (IBNS): Climate change ­– and the shortages of water and food that come from it – is becoming increasingly linked to conflict, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council on Wednesday, warning that countries most vulnerable to drought and crop failure are also most vulnerable to conflict and fragility.

World Population Day: ‘A matter of human rights’ says UN

Jul 12, 2018, at 08:34 am

New York, July 12 (IBNS): Family planning was affirmed to be a human right 50 years ago, leading to what would become the annual observation of World Population Day, which focuses attention on the impact the number of children born, has on the world.

Vladimir Putin calls French President Emmanuel Macron after semi-final victory

Jul 11, 2018, at 04:46 pm

Moscow, July 11 (IBNS): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday congratulated his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron after his nation reached the final of the FIFA World Cup by beating Belgium in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Thailand cave rescue episode may become a movie

Jul 11, 2018, at 04:31 pm

Los Angeles, July 11 (IBNS): The daring rescue operation from the Thailand cave that witnessed the evacuation of 13 people might be turned into a movie, media reports said.

World Population Day: ‘A matter of human rights’ says UN

Jul 11, 2018, at 09:33 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Family planning was affirmed to be a human right 50 years ago, leading to what would become the annual observation of World Population Day, which focuses attention on the impact the number of children born, has on the world.

Health conditions for citizens of Yemen’s key port city ‘remain critical’ says UN agency

Jul 11, 2018, at 09:25 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Even before the escalation of conflict in Hudaydah, conditions in Yemen’s port city were some of “the most dire in the country,” according to the United Nations health agency on Tuesday.

Security Council hails ‘historic and significant’ joint peace declaration by Ethiopia and Eritrea

Jul 11, 2018, at 09:23 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday described the Joint Declaration, signed by the leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia, as “a historic and significant” move with “far-reaching consequences” for the whole Horn of Africa region and beyond.

Achieving targets on energy helps meet other Global Goals, UN forum told

Jul 11, 2018, at 09:14 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today, including poverty eradication, gender equality, adaptation to climate change, food security, health, education, sustainable cities, jobs and transport, speakers told a key United Nations forum on sustainable development on Tuesday.

Women vital for ‘new paradigm’ in Africa’s Sahel region, Security Council hears

Jul 11, 2018, at 09:06 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Women across Africa’s Sahel region can be agents for a “new paradigm” for peacebuilding and development that benefits all people there, the United Nations Security Council heard on Tuesday.

North Korea: ‘Time to talk human rights’, says UN expert

Jul 11, 2018, at 08:58 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged North Korea to open a dialogue with him in parallel to the ongoing diplomatic efforts being undertaken on peace and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea: ‘Time to talk human rights’, says UN expert

Jul 11, 2018, at 08:58 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged North Korea to open a dialogue with him in parallel to the ongoing diplomatic efforts being undertaken on peace and denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Thai cave boys spared thundershowers, highlighting extreme climate disruption: UN weather agency

Jul 11, 2018, at 08:54 am

New York, July 11 (IBNS): Thundershowers that have been forecast in northern Thailand luckily did not materialize, easing the extraordinary rescue of a boys’ football team and their coach, who spent well over two weeks trapped in a cave complex there, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.

Miraculous Thailand cave evacuation ends with the rescue of all 13 trapped

Jul 10, 2018, at 06:07 pm

Bangkok, July 10 (IBNS): Ending a three-day-long complex evacuation process and over a two-week ordeal, rescuers successfully brought out all the 12 boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded Thailand cave, officials said.

All 12 boys, coach evacuated from Thailand cave

Jul 10, 2018, at 05:28 pm

Bangkok, July 10 (IBNS): All the 12 students and their coach have been evacuated from the Thailand cave where they were trapped for the past two weeks, reports said.

Ninth trapped boy rescued from the Thailand cave, operation underway to evacuate the rest

Jul 10, 2018, at 03:44 pm

Bangkok, July 10 (IBNS): Continuing the complicated evacuation operation, rescuers have pulled out from the Thailand cave one more boy on the third day of the proceedings to take the number of rescued people to ten, the Thai Navy Seal said on Tuesday.

Security Council urges countries to factor child protection into conflict prevention efforts

Jul 10, 2018, at 09:23 am

New York, July 10 (IBNS): Countries have been urged to mainstream child protection into the policies they introduce aimed at preventing conflict, in line with a Security Council resolution adopted on Monday.

New UN agriculture agency report underscores value of fishing in fight against global hunger

Jul 10, 2018, at 09:20 am

New York, July 10 (IBNS): The vital role that fishing and fish-farming play in supporting some of the poorest families across the world, came under the spotlight on Monday with the publication of the annual United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report on the global industry.

‘Laser-sharp focus’ needed to achieve Global Goals by 2030, UN political forum told

Jul 10, 2018, at 09:17 am

New York, July 10 (IBNS): Progress has been made on achieving global goals to end poverty and hunger but meeting the targets by the deadline of 2030 will require a laser-sharp focus and a true sense of urgency, a key United Nations forum on sustainable development heard on Monday.

‘Wind blowing in the direction of peace’ in Africa: UN Secretary-General

Jul 10, 2018, at 09:13 am

New York, July 10 (IBNS): Recent developments in Africa indicate that the continent is increasingly moving in the “direction of peace” and enhanced security, the United Nations Secretary-General told journalists in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.

Brexit: Boris Johnson quits as UK Foreign Secretary

Jul 09, 2018, at 08:49 pm

London, July 9 (IBNS): Amid Brexit crisis, Boris Johnson has quit as Foreign Secretary of the UK, media reports said.

Thailand cave evacuation: Four more boys rescued by divers

Jul 09, 2018, at 07:34 pm

Bangkok, July 9 (IBNS): One more boy trapped for over two weeks inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand was evacuated by rescuers on Monday, taking the total number of rescued in the difficult operation to eight, media reports said.

Thailand cave evacuation: 3 more boys rescued

Jul 09, 2018, at 05:49 pm

Bangkok, July 9 (IBNS): Rescue workers on Monday pulled out to safety three more boys who were trapped inside a Thailand cave with their football coach for over two weeks now, taking the total number of rescued to seven, media reports said. 

Fifth boy rescued as divers re-enter Thai cave

Jul 09, 2018, at 04:15 pm

Bangkok, July 9 (IBNS): A fifth member of the Thai boys' soccer team that is trapped in a flooded cave in north Thailand was brought out on Monday as the second day of the underground rescue attempt began with eight more, including the coach, remaining trapped inside, media reports said.

Dominic Raab appointed as new Brexit Secretary

Jul 09, 2018, at 04:03 pm

London, July 9 (IBNS): UK Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed Dominic Raab as the Brexit Secretary, media reports said on Monday.

At least 94 dead as heavy rain inundates Japan

Jul 09, 2018, at 11:04 am

Tokyo, July 9 (IBNS): At least 94 people have died in flood affected Japan, reports said on Monday.

UK: Brexit Secretary David Davis quits

Jul 09, 2018, at 09:56 am

London, July 9 (IBNS):  Brexit Secretary David Davis has quit from the government of the United Kingdom.