Aug 22, 2020, at 10:09 pm
New York: An estimated 3.3 million people in Burkina Faso are facing acute food insecurity, two United Nations agencies warned on Friday.
Traumas of terrorism cannot be erased, but victims' voices must never be forgotten
Aug 22, 2020, at 10:07 pm
New York: The impact of terrorism on victims can “last a lifetime and reverberate across generations”, the UN chief said on Friday during a virtual commemoration for International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
UN refugee chief underlines continued support to Lebanon
Aug 22, 2020, at 10:01 pm
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Friday urged the international community to continue to stand by the people of Lebanon as they recover from the blast that devastated the capital, Beirut, earlier this month.
UN rights office ‘appalled’ at violence against human rights defenders in the Philippines
Aug 22, 2020, at 09:59 pm
New York: The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has called for effective measures to protect rights defenders in the Philippines, amid a spate of deadly attacks against them.
Iraq: UN Mission condemns killings of activists in Basra
Aug 22, 2020, at 09:58 pm
New York: The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has strongly condemned the killing of two activists and attacks against others in the southern city of Basra, urging increased efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
'With China and Pakistan's backing, Turkey's Erdogan is eyeing Islamic world leadership'
Aug 22, 2020, at 03:53 am
Istanbul: With the backing of China and Pakistan, Turkey is aiming to achieve a leadership role in the Islamic world and oust Saudi Arabia from this place, according to an opinion piece published in a prominent news portal.
Namaste: French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Anegela Merkel in Indian style, video goes viral
Aug 21, 2020, at 11:50 pm
Paris: A video shared by French President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter is winning hearts as the leader could be seen welcoming German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Mediterranean holiday retreat, the Fort of Bregancon, in southern France, by folding his hands in traditional Indian 'Namaste' style.
Somali forces kill 10 militants in the northern region
Aug 21, 2020, at 10:59 pm
Mogadishu/Xinhua: Somali security forces on Thursday evening killed 10 al-Shabab extremists in a fierce fight on the outskirts of Bosaso town in the northern region of Bari, an official said Friday.
Nigeria says kills 3 gunmen in restive northwest
Aug 21, 2020, at 10:48 pm
Abuja/Xinhua: The Nigerian military on Friday confirmed the killing of three gunmen and the arrest of 10 others in recent clearance operations in the country's restive northwest region.
Somalia at a critical juncture, as federal, state leaders, meet to break election impasse
Aug 21, 2020, at 06:17 pm
New York: With elections slated for November delayed due to COVID-19, Somalia is at a critical juncture, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Thursday, pressing federal and state leaders to agree on voting modalities, and bolster the capacity of forces which are meant to assume full control of national security, next year.
Mali coup: Democratic order must be restored ‘as fast as possible’
Aug 21, 2020, at 05:29 pm
New York: The UN on Thursday called for the “constitutional and democratic order” to be restored as soon as possible across Mali, following the military coup, and reiterated a call to respect the rule of law, and refrain from violence.
Mauritius oil spill highlights importance of global maritime laws: UN trade body
Aug 21, 2020, at 04:55 pm
New York: The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlighted the need for global adoption of international legislation that govern the seas and protect small island states and their vulnerable marine ecosystems against ship pollution, UN trade body UNCTAD has stated.
Use COVID lessons to ‘do things right’ for the future, urges UN chief
Aug 21, 2020, at 04:41 pm
New York: Lessons learnt from efforts to address the global pandemic must be used to “do things right for the future”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, addressing a gathering of leading parliamentarians.
‘Urgent need’ to scale up search and rescue in the Mediterranean
Aug 21, 2020, at 04:09 pm
New York: UN agencies have called for search and rescue to be stepped up in the central Mediterranean, in the wake of a tragic shipwreck that claimed the lives of 45 migrants and refugees, including five children.
European govts mustn’t stay mum over Baloch Journalist’s death: Expert
Aug 21, 2020, at 05:29 am
Singapore: Referring to the death of Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain in Sweden, a geopolitics expert has asked European governments to be responsible for the safety of their citizens.
Jordan: Closing teachers’ union, detaining officials, ‘serious’ rights violations
Aug 20, 2020, at 07:06 pm
New York: Jordan must reverse the decision to close a 140,000-strong teachers’ union and detain its leaders, independent UN human rights experts said on Wednesday, while also urging the authorities to lift gag orders prohibiting public discussion of the case.
Mali coup: UN peacekeeping mission ‘must and will continue’ operations
Aug 20, 2020, at 06:54 pm
New York: The United Nations continues to monitor the ongoing situation in Mali, where soldiers arrested the President and several members of his cabinet in a military coup on Tuesday.
Gmail down: Users complain they are unable to send emails and even attach files
Aug 20, 2020, at 06:09 pm
California: Several users of Google’s email client, Gmail, are complaining that they are unable to use the platform properly on Thursday.
Syria constitutional reform talks, hold promise for new social contract
Aug 20, 2020, at 05:10 pm
New York: Constitutional reform talks between Syria’s Government and opposition leaders next week in Geneva, offer an opportunity to reconcile differences and establish a social contract with people across the country, who are desperate for progress after more than nine years of war, the Special Envoy told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Libya: UN human right chief appoints independent investigators to probe abuses
Aug 20, 2020, at 04:31 pm
New York: UN-led efforts to address serious rights violations in Libya, received a boost on Wednesday with the appointment of three independent investigators to document abuses in the war-torn country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina should recognise sex crime survivors’ rights, say experts
Aug 20, 2020, at 04:02 pm
New York: In Bosnia and Herzegovina, tens of thousands of victims of sexual violence committed during conflict in the 1990s still await justice, UN-appointed rights experts said on Wednesday.
Mongolia reports 3 more COVID-19 recoveries
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:46 pm
Ulan Bator/Xinhua: Mongolia reported three more COVID-19 recoveries, taking the total recoveries to 281, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.
Japan's Abe back to work amid ongoing Health rumors
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:33 pm
Moscow/Sputnik: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to work on Wednesday following three days off that included a hospital visit and gave rise to speculations about the state of his health.
Beijing condemns foreign attempts to Fan unrest in Belarus
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:31 pm
Beijing/Sputnik: China opposes any external forces' attempts to create a split and trigger unrest in Belarus, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said on Wednesday.
Bridging Asia-Pacific ‘digital divide’ vital to realize tech benefits
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:17 pm
New York: Countries across Asia and the Pacific are using new technologies to contain the global pandemic and mitigate its impact, the UN’s regional socio-economic development arm has said, as governments and experts work together to identify ways to innovate further, and build back better, after COVID-19.
Mali: UN chief demands ‘immediate and unconditional release’ of President, cabinet members
Aug 19, 2020, at 10:02 pm
New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law in Mali, after mutinying troops arrested the country’s leader and other senior officials on Tuesday.
Hariri assassination: UN-backed tribunal finds one guilty, three acquitted
Aug 19, 2020, at 09:56 pm
New York: The UN Secretary-General took note on Tuesday of the guilty verdict delivered by a special UN-backed court, in the case of one of the defendants accused of killing former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in a bomb attack 15 years ago. Three other defendants, also reportedly members of militant group, Hezbollah, were acquitted.
One million flee escalating violence in Burkina Faso
Aug 19, 2020, at 09:42 pm
New York: Mounting violence in Burkina Faso has forced more than one million people to flee their homes: 453,000 so far this year alone, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Tuesday, citing government figures.
Supporting communities and refugees in Lebanon a ‘top priority’: UNHCR chief
Aug 19, 2020, at 04:02 pm
New York: The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is in Lebanon to drive home the message of solidarity with all those affected by the devastating blast a fortnight ago, reaching out to both Lebanese and the many refugees and migrants sheltering in the country.
Death Valley temperature, likely highest since 1931: UN weather agency
Aug 19, 2020, at 03:57 pm
New York: “All indications” suggest that the extreme temperature reading of 54.4 degrees Celsius recorded in California’s Death Valley on Sunday, is legitimate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.