Rohingya refugees: UN agency urges immediate rescue to prevent tragedy on Andaman Sea
Feb 22, 2021, at 09:45 pm
New York: The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), on Monday, called for immediate efforts to search and rescue a group of Rohingya refugees, who have been adrift on the Andaman Sea for over a week.
Myanmar: UN, US express concern regarding reports of violence
Feb 21, 2021, at 09:52 pm
Washington: The United Nations and the US State Department have both condemned the Myanmar's military rulers for their reported use of force against protesters.
UN chief to security meeting: ‘2021 must be the year to get back on track’
Feb 20, 2021, at 04:59 pm
New York: By exposing deep fissures and fragilities, “COVID-19 has x-rayed the world”, the UN chief told the Munich Security Conference on Friday, while acknowledging that today’s vulnerabilities go “well beyond” pandemics and public health.
UN chief calls for ‘new social contract’ as part of post-pandemic recovery
Feb 19, 2021, at 05:01 pm
New York: With the COVID-19 pandemic exposing social and economic inequalities rooted in racism, discrimination and xenophobia, recovery must lead to more inclusive societies, the UN Secretary-General told Member States on Thursday.
UN chief condemns attack on school in Nigeria
Feb 19, 2021, at 04:48 pm
New York: The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned Wednesday’s attack on a boarding school in north-central Nigeria in which one student was killed and several students, as well as relatives and staff, abducted.
Mali: UN chief says ‘complex attack’ against blue helmets may constitute war crime
Feb 14, 2021, at 09:44 pm
New York: Secretary-General António Guterres condemned on Saturday, a “complex attack” against the UN mission in the West African country of Mali.
Feb 13, 2021, at 04:08 pm
New York: More children could be pushed into the joining armed forces and armed groups due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, senior United Nations and European Union (EU) officials said on International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, observed on Thursday.
Mali: Around 20 UN peacekeepers injured in major attack on MINUSMA base
Feb 12, 2021, at 05:53 pm
New York: Some 20 UN peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, were injured on Wednesday, after their temporary base came under attack in the restive central region of the country.
Guterres welcomes US decision to re-engage with the Human Rights Council
Feb 09, 2021, at 09:39 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General has welcomed a commitment from the new US administration to “re-engage immediately and robustly” with the Human Rights Council, following the withdrawal of the United States from the multilateral body nearly three years ago.
UN rights experts alarmed by rise in use of lèse-majesté laws in Thailand
Feb 09, 2021, at 04:31 pm
New York: United Nations independent human rights experts on Monday voiced grave concerns over increasingly severe use of lèse-majesté laws in Thailand, warning that a rise in their usage is further restricting civic space and the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms in the country.
Paraguay: UN rights chief calls for ‘prompt, independent’ probe into girl deaths and disappearance
Feb 06, 2021, at 04:15 pm
Dubai: Following the disappearance in Paraguay of a teenage girl and killing of two 11-year-olds, the UN human rights chief has expressed her deep concern, also noting on Friday other disturbing elements of abuse against women and girls, surrounding the cases.
Elections vital to building democratic Palestinian State: UN chief
Feb 05, 2021, at 05:40 pm
New York: Elections this year in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will be “a crucial step” towards Palestinian unity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.
Russia: UN rights office ‘deeply dismayed’ by Navalny sentencing
Feb 05, 2021, at 01:37 am
New York: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, expressed dismay on Wednesday over the sentencing of Russian opposition politician and activist Aleksei Navalny, and urged the authorities to release scores of his supporters arrested during rallies protesting his detention.
COVID-19 impact exposes millions to the risk of trafficking, UN agency says
Feb 03, 2021, at 06:03 pm
New York: Although almost 50,000 victims of human trafficking were detected and reported in 2018 by 148 countries, the “hidden nature” of the crime means that the actual number of victims could be “far higher”, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Tuesday.
Deep fears of violent crackdown in Myanmar, UN rights chief warns
Feb 03, 2021, at 05:56 pm
New York: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has voiced “deep fears” of a violent crackdown on dissenting voices in Myanmar, where the military assumed all powers and declared a state of emergency after overthrowing the civilian government and arresting top political leaders, on Monday.
Feb 02, 2021, at 07:29 pm
New York: An independent UN human rights expert condemned on Monday the murder of an indigenous environmental defender in Nicaragua, calling for those responsible to be “duly investigated and brought to justice”.
‘End the scourge of neglected tropical diseases’: UN health chief
Jan 29, 2021, at 03:22 pm
New York: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) vowed on Wednesday to “end the scourge of neglected tropical diseases”, which affect more than a billion mainly poor people, and thrive where there is little access to quality health services, clean water, and sanitation.
UN ready to support Palestinian elections, new envoy tells Security Council
Jan 27, 2021, at 05:33 pm
New York: Palestinian elections scheduled for later this year will be a crucial step towards unity, the new UN envoy in the region, Tor Wennesland, said on Tuesday in his first briefing to the Security Council.
UN rights experts urge Israel to respect international obligations
Jan 27, 2021, at 05:24 pm
New York: UN independent rights experts on Tuesday, described Israel’s conviction of human rights defender Issa Amro earlier this month, as showing disdain for the country’s international obligations.
Security Council reforms must reflect 21st century realities, says UN Assembly President
Jan 27, 2021, at 03:18 pm
New York: The President of the General Assembly, on Monday, underscored the importance of effectiveness and efficiency for all bodies of the United Nations so that the Organization can deliver results for people everywhere.
Employee reveals UN passed dissidents’ info to China
Jan 26, 2021, at 07:23 am
Geneva: The UN Human Rights Office is facing the heat for sharing the names of Chinese government opponents, including Uighur activists, Tibetans and Hongkongers, who took part in UN activities, for a long period of time, triggering a massive controversy.
Mali in transition: UN peacekeeping chief takes stock of political and security developments
Jan 23, 2021, at 03:42 pm
New York: Against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region, the UN peacekeeping chief concluded a visit to the restive northwest African nation on Thursday.
‘Swift action’ needed in Tigray to save thousands at risk, UNHCR warns
Jan 20, 2021, at 03:54 pm
New York: Two months after conflict forced humanitarian workers to withdraw from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), on Tuesday, stressed the need for “swift action” to restore safe access to “save thousands of lives at risk”.
Israel: ‘Halt and reverse’ new settlement construction: UN chief
Jan 20, 2021, at 03:45 pm
New York: Israel’s decision to advance plans for some 800 new settlement units, most of which are located deep inside the occupied West Bank, has sparked the concern of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Two UN peacekeepers killed in an ambush in Central African Republic
Jan 19, 2021, at 10:33 pm
Bangui/New York/New Delhi/Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed after their convoy was ambushed by members of the UPC and anti-Balaka armed groups in southern Central African Republic (CAR), the UN Mission in the country said on Monday.
UN steps up support for thousands left homeless after fire at Rohingya refugee camp
Jan 16, 2021, at 03:04 pm
New York: UN agencies have stepped up efforts to help thousands of Rohingya refugees left without shelter after a devastating fire tore through a crowded refugee camp in south-eastern Bangladesh on Thursday.
Four UN peacekeepers killed, five wounded in attack in Mali
Jan 15, 2021, at 03:05 pm
New York: Four United Nations peacekeepers in Mali were killed and five others wounded in an attack by unidentified armed elements on Wednesday, the UN mission in the country has said.
UN counter-terrorism chief urges continued vigilance against ‘real’ ongoing threat
Jan 13, 2021, at 04:49 pm
New York: Despite important strikes against terrorism over the past two decades, including in bringing perpetrators to justice and disrupting additional attacks, countries cannot afford to let down their guard, the UN’s counter-terrorism chief told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday.
UN refugee agency calls for ‘new chapter for refugee protection’ across Europe
Jan 13, 2021, at 04:32 pm
New York: As Portugal assumes the presidency of the European Union (EU), to be followed by Slovenia later this year, the UN refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday called on them to lead the effort to forge a better protection system for those seeking refuge across the continent and beyond.
Guterres to seek second five-year term as UN Secretary-General
Jan 12, 2021, at 04:52 pm
New York: António Guterres confirmed on Monday that he will be seeking a second five-year term as UN Secretary-General, which would begin in January 2022.