United Nations

December 13, 2024 10:23 PM

Could UN sanctions on Syrian rebels HTS be removed?

The rebel group that led the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - has long been under United Nations sanctions, which the U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen has described as "a complicating factor for all of us." Formerly known as the Nusra Front, HTS was al Qaeda's official wing in Syria until breaking ties in 2016. Since May 2014 the group has been on the United Nations Security Council al Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions list, and subjected to a ...

November 22, 2024 3:47 PM

India’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors critical for its nutrition security: FAO

India’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are critical for its nutrition security. Explaining the significance of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, Professor Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and Director, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), also reckoned the opportunities and challenges in the process. An event on the World Fisheries Day was hosted by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India (GoI...

October 29, 2024 7:26 PM

Bangladesh: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk arrives in Dhaka

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, arrived in Dhaka early this morning on a two-day official visit. During the visit, Turk will hold a number of meetings with top government officials and civil society representatives. The high commissioner is scheduled to meet with Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, said a press release disseminated by the UN Resident Coordinator office in Dhaka. The UN HR chief will also hold meet...

October 18, 2024 11:08 PM

Azores create largest marine protected area in North Atlantic

The regional assembly of Portugal's Azores Islands approved the creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals well ahead of time. The approval late on Thursday places the archipelago at the forefront of global ocean conservation that aims to achieve the goals set by the United Nations of protecting 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030 under a global pact adopted last year. The network will encompass almost 300,000 square kilome...

October 14, 2024 6:57 PM

Nepal participates in the World Food Forum to showcase achievements in food safety

Nepal's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, along with a Nepali delegation, has arrived in Rome, Italy, to attend the World Food Forum (WFF) meeting. Nepal will highlight its initiatives and progress in food safety and food purity at the global event. Organized by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the forum will run from October 14 to 18. The theme of this year’s flagship WFF event is "Good Food for All, for Today and Tomorrow." The...

October 14, 2024 11:51 AM

UN says Israeli tanks burst into peacekeeper base, while Hezbollah drones kill four

The United Nations said Israeli tanks had burst into its base in southern Lebanon on Sunday, the latest accusation of Israeli violations against peacekeeping forces, as Hezbollah unleashed a deadly "swarm of drones" on an Israeli military camp. Israel disputed the U.N. account and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the peacekeepers to withdraw, saying they were providing "human shields" for Iran-backed Hezbollah during an upsurge in hostilities. The UNIFIL peacekeeping force ...

October 7, 2024 1:43 PM

Criminal networks in Southeast Asia flourish in Telegram’s ‘underground markets’, UN says

Powerful criminal networks in Southeast Asia extensively use the messaging app Telegram which has enabled a fundamental change in the way organised crime can conduct large-scale illicit activity, the United Nations said in a report on Monday. The report represents the latest allegations to be levied against the controversial encrypted app since France, using a tough new law with no international equivalent, charged its boss Pavel Durov for allowing criminal activity on the platform. Hacked dat...

September 28, 2024 12:31 PM

India hits back at Pakistan’s PM over Kashmir statement at UNGA, calls it ‘Travesty’ and ‘Hypocrisy at its worst’

India termed it a "travesty" that Pakistan, which has "a global reputation for terrorism," has the "audacity to attack" the world's largest democracy and raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir on the platform of the United Nations. In a pointed rebuttal, Bhavika Mangalanandan, First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, said, "This assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics, trade, and transn...

September 13, 2024 12:33 PM

Can the Palestinians become a full United Nations member?

When Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas travels to New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations this month, he will for the first time be seated on the floor of the General Assembly among other U.N. member states. But the Palestinian Authority, which represents the Palestinian people at the U.N. where the delegation is known as the State of Palestine, is not a full member and does not have a vote in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly. WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS O...

September 12, 2024 6:11 PM

What is the UNGA and what will world leaders talk about?

Every September world leaders travel to New York to address the start of the annual United Nations General Assembly session. The six days of speeches to mark the beginning of the 79th session will start on Sept. 24. WHO SPEAKS WHEN? When the United Nations was formed in 1945 following World War Two, there were originally 51 members. That has since grown to 193 members. Leaders of two non-member observer states - known at the U.N. as the Holy See and the State of Palestine - and an observer me...