Financial turmoil could usher in new ‘green’ era, says top UN climate official
The current global market crisis could provide an opportunity for the world financial system to reconstruct itself to promote “green” growth, the top United Nations climate change official said today in New York. “Governments now have an opportunity to create and enforce policy which stimulates competition to fund clean industry,” Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on..
Urgent aid needed as Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis worsens – UN relief chief
The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating and will continue to worsen into next year, according to the top United Nations humanitarian official, who has called for urgent aid to avert increased human suffering in the Southern African nation. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said that an estimated 3.8 million people would be classed as food insecure betw..
UN helicopters respond to rebel attack in eastern DR Congo
United Nations attack helicopters firing rockets went into action in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today after rebels attempting to advance against the Government opened fire on UN reconnaissance planes. The UN action was the latest in a series of strikes against the rebel Ituri Patriotic Resistance Front (FRPI) in Ituri province, and comes less than two weeks after peaceke..
Iraqi election law must provide for rights of minorities, says UN envoy
The top United Nations official in Iraq has called on the country’s legislature to reinstate a provision regarding the rights of minority communities into the provincial election law passed last week, stressing that protecting those rights is fundamental to a democratic Iraq. “Article 50 is a strong indication Iraq is a nation ready to protect the political rights of minorities as founded in th..
UN human rights chief spotlights plight of millions of detainees worldwide
The top United Nations human rights official today called for increased attention to the plight of those worldwide – including some one million children – who are deprived of their liberty and are being held in prisons and other places of detention, often illegally. “Every day, around the world, there are hundreds of new cases of men, women and children being placed in detention, when they shou..
Ban calls for more aid to landlocked developing countries
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the international community to show the same generosity in helping the world’s 31 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) overcome their trade-hobbling isolation as it did last week when it pledged significant new funding to help poor States in general achieve development goals. “Today we are sounding alarm bells for the Almaty Programme of Action,”..
Jamia Millia Islamia Using Indian Taxpayers Money to Defend Terrorists in Court
By announcing that it would provide legal aid to its students who have been arrested on terror charges, Jamia Millia Islamia has affronted the nation and the taxpayer. Mohammad Shakeel, a second-year MA student, and Zia-Ur-Rehman (third year BA) were arrested by Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in serial blasts in the national capital. Jamia’s media coordinator Rakhshanda Jalil said, ..
Greater accountability needed to boost women’s rights, UN agency says
Stronger accountability measures are needed to track progress governments and multilateral organizations have made in implementing their commitments to enhancing women’s rights, according to a new report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The publication – “Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009, Who Answers to Women? Gender and Accountability” – says that there is a lo..
Djibouti-Eritrea border tension could escalate, warns UN team
The situation on the Djibouti-Eritrean border remains volatile after a flaring of tensions on the border in June left over 35 dead and dozens wounded, a United Nations fact-finding mission reported today. The mission concluded that Djibouti is being drawn into a crippling and expensive military mobilization to deal with a situation that may threaten national, regional and international peace. ..
Israeli attack on Beit Hanoun a possible war crime – head of UN-backed probe
Israel’s shelling of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip in November 2006, which killed 19 Palestinian civilians, may constitute a war crime, the head of the United Nations-backed investigation into the incident said today. The attack “took lives, inflicted horrendous physical and mental injuries, tore families apart, destroyed homes, took away livelihoods and traumatized a population,” Arch..
Two new UN envoys chosen to spearhead progress on climate change
The former leader of Botswana and the immediate outgoing president of the United Nations General Assembly have been appointed as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s new Special Envoys on climate change, an issue that has been one of his top priorities since taking office last year. Festus Mogae, who was president of Botswana from 1998 until earlier this year, has extensive experience in economics a..
Top UN legal official urges stepped-up implementation of international pacts
Nearly three dozen Member States have indicated that they intend to sign, ratify or accede to at least one international treaty as part of the annual campaign to promote such conventions during the opening of the General Assembly session next week, the top United Nations legal official said today. “In a globalized world, where people, commerce and ideas cross borders with ever-increasing freque..
Civilian Government Faces Threat by Army in Highly Unstable Pakistan
Pakistan's new President Asif Ali Zardari may face threat from his country's army, which remains unwilling to counter a resurgent Taliban effectively, a leading think tank claimed on Thursday. "The Pakistani army remains unable or unwilling to counter effectively the resurgent Taliban and Zardari's major challenge is to gain the trust of the army, which in turn may pose a th..
Congress Minority Appeasement, Will Not Celebrate Hyderabad Liberaton Day Alleges BJP
Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of Hyderabad Liberation Day. I pay my respectful homage to all the martyrs and patriots who struggled for the liberation of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, which was under the oppressive rule of the Nizam. 17 September 1948 is indeed a watershed in the history of India’s Freedom Struggle. The collective will of the people of the Hyderabad State not merely repulse..
Delhi Terror Aftermath: Sonia Gandhi Can't Face Delhi, Cancels Rally Scheduled for Wednesday
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's rally at the Ramlila Maidan here Wednesday has been cancelled following the Saturday evening blasts. The party Sunday decided to cancel the rally at which Gandhi was to distribute provisional certificates to unauthorized colonies. 'The party has decided to cancel the rally to show solidarity with the blast victims. The new date will be announced later,&#..
All is right again, Still Roger Federer's Court
When Roger Federer won last year’s US Open in expectedly dominant fashion, the tennis world was on the cusp of unanimously declaring him the Greatest of All Time. Pete Sampras’s Grand Slam record would be smashed, perhaps, by June. Fast forward not quite a year, and Federer’s stock had crashed with a resounding thud. Really? Sure, Federer had shown himself to be vulnerable this year, suff..
Narendra Modi: India at the Crossroads of History
The Country stands at the cross-roads of an important phase in its life when the government of the day has become a threat to the unity and sovereignty of India. Historically the RSS, Jana Sangh and the BJP were parties of aggressive nationalism. The Communists, the Muslim league were subversive in their stand on issue of sovereignty and integrity. The Congress had a traditional centrist positi..
Narendra Modi Exposes UPAs Record on National Security
The following statements were made by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with reference to UPA/Congress Government's record on national security over the past four and a half years. "Those concerned about terror obviously support the GCOCA and those concerned about terrorists understandably oppose it." "The country stands at the crossroads of a crucial phase, when the g..
Five-Set Win Puts Roger Federer Into Quarterfinals
It was hard to tell who was more in shock, the crowd or Roger Federer. Right out of the gate Igor Andreev, the No. 23 seed from Russia, had the five-time US Open champion back on his heels. However, Federer showed why his is Federer, taking Andreev to five sets and earning a spot in the quarterfinals for the sixth straight year with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win. As he went up 3-0 in the first se..
Google Looks to Enter the Crowed Web Browser Market Taking on Microsoft IE8
Google Inc. is releasing its own Web browser in a long-anticipated move aimed at countering the dominance of Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Explorer and ensuring easy access to its market—leading search engine. The California-based company took the unusual step of announcing its latest product on the Labor Day holiday after it prematurely sent out a comic book drawn up to herald the new browser’s arr..
At ceremony for Baghdad victims, Ban renews pledge to protect UN staff worldwide
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his pledge to protect United Nations staff around the world, as he met in Geneva with the families of the victims and survivors of the deadly 2003 terrorist attack on the world body's headquarters in Iraq. The 19 August bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad claimed the lives of 22 staff, including the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mel..
Haiti: UN agencies working to meet urgent needs of Hurricane Gustav victims
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are teaming up to bring life-saving assistance to thousands of people living in temporary shelters in Haiti, after deadly Hurricane Gustav struck the country last week. The two agencies, along with local authorities and partners, are providing potable water, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets, high-energy bisc..
In Ethiopia, top UN relief official assesses drought-stricken areas
The top United Nations humanitarian official has begun his three-day visit to Ethiopia, where he is holding talks with Government officials, relief groups and individuals affected by the country's drought and food crisis. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, travelled to Ethiopia's Konso Special Woreda in Southern Nations N..
Greater efforts needed to provide safe water for more than 1 billion people, says Ban
More than one billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said today, calling for greater efforts to achieve the water and sanitation targets set by world leaders in 2000. As part of the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), countries pledged to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water by ..
Google to Release New Web Browser Google Chrome Today
The Google Blog yesterday accidentally announced their new web browser - Google Chrome - which is scheduled for a 2nd September 2008 release. Google Chrome promises to add value for users and, at the same time, help drive innovation on the web. The browser promises to have all the features existing browsers provide plus enhancing it with Google Gears and Webkit that will support the development of..
UN provides emergency aid to Afghans affected by recent military operations
A United Nations team has delivered emergency relief assistance to some 900 people in the country's western Herat province who were affected the recent military operations which the world body said resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including many children. Last week the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that an investigation by its human rights team found th..
Mines and unexploded ordnance taking heavy toll on Chad's children, says UN
Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) are taking a heavy toll on Chadian civilians, particularly children who make up the majority of the victims of the deadly scourge in the African nation, according to the United Nations. Some 95 people have been killed by mines and UXO this year in Chad, of whom 17 were killed and 78 injured, the majority of them children. In the most recent incident on 28 ..
Zimbabwe's lifting of aid agency restrictions 'positive' development, says Ban
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed Zimbabwe's announcement on lifting the suspension of field operations of aid agencies, which have a vital role in the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the southern African nation. “This positive development will help ensure that neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance is provided to the people of Zimbabwe,” Mr. Ban's spokesperso..
US Open 2008 - Roger Federer Serves His Way Into Round of 16
The last time Roger Federer met Radek Stepanek, it was on clay in Rome, a match Stepanek won in two tiebreak sets. This time, with the stakes higher in the year’s final Grand Slam, it was different result. Federer, the No. 2 seed, served well, returned well and hit key shots as he downed No. 28 Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in Arthur Ashe Stadium for his 30th straight US Open win and put him into t..
US Open 2008: With Fan Support Soaring, Querrey Faces Rafael Nadal
With the line for a Sam Querry autograph stretching across the courtyard out at the National Tennis Center this afternoon, it was clear that Querrey’s popularity and fan recognition has taken off here at the Open. It’s not just that he toppled the No. 14 seed Ivo Karlovic on Saturday to reach his first Round of 16 at a Grand Slam, or that he’s a 20-year-old, up-and-coming American star and one ..
