Tag: UN

At least 15 peacekeepers killed in Congo; dubbed worst attack on UN in recent history

  by Albert Kambale with Philippe Rater at the United Nations Agence France Presse The United Nations suffered its worst attack on a peacekeeping mission in nearly a quarter of a century on Friday when suspected Ugandan rebels attacked a base in the restive Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 15 peacekeepers. The UN Security Council said the peacekeepers, who were all from neighboring Tanzania, were killed in the North Kivu province late Thursday, […]

World’s nations adopt plan ‘towards a pollution-free planet’

by Mariëtte Le Roux Agence France Presse NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — The world’s nations vowed Wednesday to curb plastic and chemical contamination of the air, soil, rivers and oceans, calling for a steep change in how goods are produced and consumed. Government envoys issued a political declaration outlining the path to “a pollution-free planet” at the third UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). “Pollution is cutting short the lives of millions of people every year,” said the […]

Possible ‘elements of genocide’ in Myanmar: UN

  by Nina Larson Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — UN member states said Tuesday that Myanmar was likely committing “crimes against humanity” against its Rohingya minority, while the UN rights chief voiced alarm over possible “elements of genocide”. Following a special session of the UN Human Rights Council, the nations overwhelmingly voted in favour of a resolution expressing grave concern over widespread abuses committed against the largely Muslim minority. Thirty-three of the council’s […]

UN climate envoys agree on way forward, despite Trump

by Mariette le Roux and Marlowe Hood Agence France Presse BONN, Germany (AFP) — Negotiations to bolster the climate-saving Paris Agreement, crafted over two decades, closed in Bonn Saturday, deflated but not derailed by Donald Trump’s rejection of the treaty and defense of fossil fuels. The US President’s decision to yank the United States from the hard-fought global pact cast a long shadow over the talks, which ran deep into overtime. Negotiations were marked by […]

‘Very disappointed’ UN chief urges Saudis to lift Yemen blockade

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “very much disappointed” that the Saudi-led coalition is refusing to lift its blockade of Yemen and has written directly to Riyadh’s representative, his spokesman said Thursday. The coalition shut down Yemen’s sea and air ports as well as borders on November 6 in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh. After repeated appeals by UN officials were ignored, Guterres […]

World leaders plead for climate action at UN forum

by Mariette le Roux and Marlowe Hood Agence France Presse BONN, Germany  — World leaders shared the spotlight with a 12-year-old Pacific islander on Wednesday to drive home a plea for urgent climate action despite the Trump administration’s rejection of a planet rescue plan. UN chief Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the diplomatic push in Bonn, but it was a small boy with a big smile who got the message […]

Canada announces rapid response force for peacekeeping

 by Michel Comte  Agence France-Presse OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canada will boost its support for United Nations peacekeeping missions by mobilizing a rapid response force of 200 soldiers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. Details of the plan — part of a long-awaited announcement by the government in Ottawa — however still need to be sorted out with the UN, and the troop numbers fall far short of the 600 pledged one year ago. “The conflicts we […]

UN condemns N. Korea for firing missiles as people starve

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — UN member-states on Tuesday condemned North Korea for gross human rights violations and for conducting missile and nuclear tests while its people suffer from severe hunger. The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee adopted by consensus a resolution drafted by the European Union and Japan that expressed international concern over Pyongyang’s rights record. The measure will now go to the General Assembly for debate next month. North Korea conducted its sixth […]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi meets Tillerson, UN chief on Rohingya crisis

  by Ayee Macaraig Agence France Presse Manila, Philippines (AFP) — Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced rising global pressure Tuesday to solve the crisis for her nation’s displaced Rohingya Muslim minority, meeting the UN chief and America’s top diplomat in the Philippines. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the Nobel laureate that hundreds of thousands of displaced Muslims who had fled to Bangladesh should be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar. […]

UN chief meets Myanmar’s Suu Kyi on Rohingya crisis

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to return, when they met Tuesday at a summit in the Philippines, his office said. The meeting added to global pressure on Suu Kyi to take action to end the crisis for the Muslim minority, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson due Tuesday also to hold talks with her in Manila then travel […]

Iran still complying with nuclear deal: UN watchdog chief

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The UN’s nuclear watchdog director Yukiya Amano Thursday reaffirmed Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal in a meeting with US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the agency said. It was the second meeting between Haley and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief — with the first taking place in August during Haley’s visit to the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, where she called for more controls […]

Developing world says rich nations shirking on climate

 by Marlowe Hood Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The failure of wealthy nations to deliver on short-term climate commitments could hinder the rollout of a landmark treaty, a bloc of 134 developing countries, including India and China, warned Thursday at UN negotiations in Bonn. The diplomatic spat has underscored the difficulty of reaching a consensus at the 196-nation talks. “If we do not respect decisions that we have made, then how can we build trust among the […]