‘Ticking bomb’ health warning over deteriorating conditions facing Cyclone Idai victims
Mar 26, 2019, at 08:51 am
New York, Mar 26 (IBNS): Efforts are continuing to reach all victims of Cyclone Idai in southern Africa where a senior relief chief has warned of a “water, sanitation and hygiene ticking bomb”, as the scale of the emergency continues to unfold, and the official death toll rises.
It’s ‘time to #EndTB’, says UN on World Tuberculosis Day
Mar 25, 2019, at 09:32 am
New York, Mar 25 (IBNS): Tuberculosis, or TB, is not only the world's top infectious killer, it is also the leading cause of deaths among people with HIV and a major cause of antimicrobial resistance-related deaths, the United Nations health agency said on Sunday, World Tuberculosis Day.
UN chief welcomes establishment of inclusive government in Central African Republic
Mar 24, 2019, at 03:33 pm
New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the establishment in the Central African Republic (CAR) of a government in line with an early February peace deal struck with more than a dozen armed groups active in the country.
Mar 24, 2019, at 03:15 pm
New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): The UN body exclusively dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment wrapped up its annual session on Friday evening with agreement on ways to safeguard and improve women’s and girls’ access to social protection systems, public services and sustainable infrastructure.
Mar 23, 2019, at 09:33 am
New York, Mar 23 (IBNS): In the wake of a horrific mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced his intention to launch a UN action plan for the safeguarding of religious sites, declaring that “mosques and all places of prayer and contemplation should be safe havens, not sites of terror.”
Mar 23, 2019, at 09:28 am
New York, Mar 23 (IBNS): The Second High-Level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, known as BAPA+40, concluded on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a political declaration agreed by more than 160 Member States renewing the global commitment in the promotion and investment in this type of collaboration between countries.
UN chief calls for ‘far greater support’ for Cyclone Idai response
Mar 23, 2019, at 09:13 am
New York, Mar 23 (IBNS): The world needs to step up support for the survivors of Tropical Cyclone Idai, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday, in a strong personal appeal as relief workers rush to provide aid to people stranded across the storm countries in southern Africa.
UN experts stress for urgent action to end racial discrimination over Christchurch shooting
Mar 22, 2019, at 10:25 am
United Nations, Mar 22 (UNI): Several top UN officials and human rights experts have stressed to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by taking urgent action against the “stem the tide of hate and discrimination” and ramping up of “ethno-nationalist populism”, which helped fuel the deadly shootings in two New Zealand mosques last Friday by a self-declared white supremacist.
Trump signs executive order to protect free speech at US universities
Mar 22, 2019, at 07:54 am
Washington, March 22 (Sputnik/UNI) US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to ensure that American colleges and universities protect free speech on their campuses.
Mar 22, 2019, at 07:07 am
New York, Mar 22 (IBNS): Peacekeepers from Malaysia serving under the United Nations flag in Lebanon face a “a totally new experience” according to the commander of the Malaysian contingent in the country.
‘Growing alarm’ over Fall Armyworm advance, with cash crops ‘under attack’ across Asia
Mar 21, 2019, at 11:51 am
New York, Mar 21 (IBNS): The Fall Armyworm pest is continuing to sweep across the globe, having moved eastwards from their native Americas, onto Africa, before arriving in Asia only last summer, where they now threaten to cost farmers from India to Thailand, billions of dollars in lost production.
UN court increases sentence of former Bosnian-Serb leader to life imprisonment
Mar 21, 2019, at 11:30 am
New York, Mar 21 (IBNS): A United Nations appeals court on Wednesday increased the 40-year sentence initially imposed on Radovan Karadžić, former leader of the Republika Srpksa region of Bosnia and head of the Bosnian-Serb Army, to life imprisonment.
Libya stands at a ‘critical juncture’, UN mission head tells Security Council
Mar 21, 2019, at 11:21 am
New York, Mar 21 (IBNS): Predicting that the “days ahead will prove foundational to the years ahead for Libyans and the region”, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, that it was no exaggeration to describe the oil-rich nation as having reached “a crucial juncture”.
UN launches 'South-South Galaxy' knowledge-sharing platform in Buenos Aires
Mar 20, 2019, at 09:33 am
New York, Mar 20 (IBNS): When countries of the Global South forged an historic technical cooperation deal among themselves 40 years ago, digital technology was a thing of the future, but developing nations have come a long way since then.
Safe drinking water, sanitation, are ‘basic human rights’: new UN Water Development report
Mar 20, 2019, at 09:25 am
New York, Mar 20 (IBNS): Safe water and access to proper sanitation are essential to eradicate poverty, build peaceful societies and ensure that no one is left behind on the path towards sustainable development, according to the 2019 UN World Water Development Report, launched on Tuesday in Geneva.
What is ‘South-South cooperation’ and why does it matter?
Mar 19, 2019, at 09:56 am
New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): This week in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, over one thousand people, including high level government delegations and representatives from the private sector and civil society, will gather for the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, or BAPA+40.
Mar 19, 2019, at 09:55 am
New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Despite the relatively peaceful passage of December’s presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN Special Representative to the country told the Security Council she “remained concerned” over developments in the east, where dozens of armed groups continue to operate.
Mar 19, 2019, at 09:34 am
New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The United Nations recorded a total of 259 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) during 2018, according to the latest report by Secretary-General António Guterres presented to the General Assembly. Although the figures rose compared with the previous two years, the report shows increased awareness among UN and UN-related staff, and improved and harmonized reporting tools across the Organization.
UN chief expresses solidarity with Indonesian authorities after flash floods kill dozens in Papua
Mar 18, 2019, at 09:28 am
New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): More than 70 have died and dozens are missing in Indonesia’s eastern province of Papua, which was hit by flash floods and landslides on Sunday, and more than 4,000 have reportedly been displaced.
Mar 18, 2019, at 09:18 am
New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has strongly condemned the violent response by security forces in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip during the past three days, towards Palestinian protests over the deteriorating economic situation there.
Voices of young climate action activists ‘give me hope’ says UN chief
Mar 16, 2019, at 09:41 am
New York, Mar 16 (IBNS): In the wake of Friday’s demonstrations by schoolchildren across the world against climate change inaction, the UN Secretary-General has said he understands their fears, but is hopeful for the future.
Mar 16, 2019, at 09:38 am
New York, Mar 16 (IBNS): Ceremonies were held at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva on Friday, to remember and honour the staff who died on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed near Addis Ababa last Sunday, killing all 157 passengers and crew.
Make this the year of 'transformative solutions' to avert disastrous climate change: UN Deputy Chief
Mar 15, 2019, at 09:41 am
New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): It is within our power to make 2019 the “year of transformative solutions” and “avoid the disastrous effects of climate change“, which threaten ecosystems, the global economy, health and security, the UN Deputy Secretary-General told delegates gathered in Nairobi for the UN Environment Assembly, on Thursday.
United States: UN human rights office welcomes California moratorium on death penalty
Mar 15, 2019, at 09:36 am
New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has welcomed the signing of an executive order by the Governor of California, in the United States, to impose a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty, which grants a reprieve to 737 inmates, up to end of his term in office.
UN welcomes 'record' Brussels conference pledge of nearly $7 billion to support Syrians
Mar 15, 2019, at 09:31 am
New York, Mar 15 (IBNS): Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries gathered on Thursday at a joint European Union-UN pledging conference, and pledged to provide a record $6.97 billion, to support millions of Syrians in need both inside the country, and sheltering in host communities beyond its borders.
UN must provide redress for minorities placed in toxic Kosovo camps, says rights expert
Mar 14, 2019, at 08:55 am
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): An independent rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council has called on the United Nations to “provide justice and remedies” to displaced people who suffered lead poisoning after being housed in UN camps on toxic wasteland in Kosovo.
Mar 14, 2019, at 08:48 am
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): After hearing from many of the world’s top women politicians on Tuesday in a session on “Women in Power”, Secretary-General António Guterres, held a Town Hall meeting for civil society activists where he underscored the importance of women seizing the initiative in the struggle for gender equality.
Proportion of women ministers all-time high, IPU/UN Women map shows
Mar 13, 2019, at 09:27 am
United Nations, Mar 13 (Xinhua/UNI) The proportion of women ministers is at an all-time high at 20.7 percent, 2.4 percentage points higher than that in 2017, according to data in the 2019 edition of the biennial IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union)-UN Women map released Tuesday.
Mar 13, 2019, at 09:14 am
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): “The concept of global governance risks being replaced by the old law that ‘might makes right’”, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, told the Security Council on Tuesday, during a meeting looking at on-going cooperation between the UN and the 28-member body.
Political power of women suffering 'serious regression', General Assembly President warns
Mar 13, 2019, at 09:09 am
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): There has been a “serious regression” in the political power of women across the world in recent years, UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa told delegates to the annual summit of women activists at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.