From the Rohingya to South Sudan, hurricanes to famine, 2017 was full of disasters and crises. But 2018 is shaping up to be even worse. Here’s why.
The UN has appealed for record levels of funding to help those whose lives have been torn apart, bu…
Month: December 2017
UN and Africa: 2017 Year in Review
Make human trafficking “a real priority” urges UN chiefIn September, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to make the scourge of human trafficking “a real priority for international cooperation”. The call from the UN chief came…
Read MoreUN Chief Warns World Faces More Dangers in Year Ahead
GENEVA � U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres warns the world is likely to face many complex and new dangers in 2018. In a year-end message, Guterres appeals for greater unity to overcome these threats and create a more peaceful world.When Guterres…
Read MoreDefense, Intelligence Officials Warn Against Underestimating Islamic State
WASHINGTON �Despite suffering what appear to be debilitating defeats on the ground in Iraq and parts of Syria, the Islamic State terror group is far from dead, according to military and intelligence officials from several countries that have long been …
Read MoreCongo Forces Fire Tear Gas at Kabila Protesters
Democratic Republic of Congo security forces have fired tear gas at a Catholic church in Kinshasa, the capital, in hopes of preventing a planned demonstration.Protesters were gathering at the church Sunday to mount a rally against President Joseph Kabi…
Read MoreCongo Forces Fire Tear Gas at Kabila Protesters
Democratic Republic of Congo security forces have fired tear gas at a Catholic church in Kinshasa, the capital, in hopes of preventing a planned demonstration.Protesters were gathering at the church Sunday to mount a rally against President Joseph Kabi…
Read MoreDisasters Pounded North America in 2017 but Were Down Globally
NEW ORLEANS North America couldn’t catch a break in 2017. Parts of the United States were on fire, underwater or lashed by hurricane winds. Mexico shook with back-to-back earthquakes. The Caribbean got hit with a string of hurricanes.The rest of the w…
Read MoreFree and fair elections ‘confirm Liberia’s steady march towards lasting peace,’ says UN chief
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday congratulated George Weah on his election as the next President of Liberia, and commended Vice-President Joseph Boakai for conceding defeat.In a statement issued by the UN Spokesperson welcom…
Read MoreMedia Group: 81 Reporters Died, Threats Soared in 2017
At least 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs this year, while violence and harassment against media staff has skyrocketed, the world’s biggest journalists’ organization says.In its annual Kill Report, seen by The Associated Press, the Internation…
Read MoreAFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON FIGHTING CORRUPTION
ADDIS ABABA, The African Union (AU) will hold its 30th ordinary session of the assembly of Heads of State and Government from 22 to 29 January 2018 in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.The summit will be held under the theme ‘Winning the Fight against Co…
Read MoreWorld Cities on Alert Ahead of New Year’s Eve Festivities
Hundreds of thousands of law enforcement, military and security officials will be deployed in cities around the world to keep New Year’s Eve revelers safe as they gather to welcome 2018.In the United States, New York City officials announced they would…
Read MoreDRC Orders Internet, Texting Services Cut Ahead of Anti-government Protests
GOMA, DRC The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday ordered telecommunications providers to cut internet and texting servicesacross the country ahead of planned anti-government demonstrations.Grass-roots Catholic activists cal…
Read MoreCameroon Begins Handing Out Free Laptops to College Students
YAOUNDE Cameroon has begun giving out free computers to all university students in what the government says will boost education and research. But the distribution of what is said to be a gift from Paul Biya, one of the longest serving presidents in t…
Read MoreUN Gender Focus: 2017 Year in Review
“Many girls” want to “raise their voice”: Afghan radio journalistRadio Sana is the only radio station run by women in the Northern City of Pul-e-Khumri in Afghanistan. Meena Mostayed is the head of the radio station and jointly with her four other wome…
Read MoreTHREE KILLED IN SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM ATTACKS IN CAMEROON
YAOUNDE, At least three people, including two suicide bombers and one civilian, were killed in two attacks by suspected members of terror group Boko Haram on Thursday night and Friday morning in Cameroon’s Far North region, local sources told Xinhua.Th…
Read MoreCounterterrorism: Letter to D-ISIS Coalition Partners on the Progress of the Past Year
Dear Coalition Partners, I write to reflect on the accomplishments of our 74-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS over this past year, with a look ahead on much left to do in 2018. First, we congratulated the Government of Iraq for the full liberatio…
Read MoreAmid Divisions over Jerusalem, Korean Nuclear Programme, General Assembly Hears Defence of Diplomacy, Dialogue to End Crisis, Put World on Sustainable Path
Secretary-General, Other Leaders Raise Alarm about Climate Change, Terrorism, Warning Safety of Millions Dependent on Robust Action, FundingConvening for its seventy-second session amid a multilateral system overwhelmed by crises, the General Assembly …
Read MoreNO DECICISION MADE YET TO SELL STAKE IN SOUTH AFRICAN ARMS MANUFACTURER DENEL, SAYS DEFENCE MINISTER
PRETORIA, There is no government decision on the possible selling of a stake in South Africa’s State-owned arms manufacturer Denel to optimise its financial position and there is no option presented for consideration on this matter as yet, says Defence…
Read MoreAmid Divisions over Jerusalem, Korean Nuclear Programme, General Assembly Hears Defence of Diplomacy, Dialogue to End Crisis, Put World on Sustainable Path
Secretary-General, Other Leaders Raise Alarm about Climate Change, Terrorism, Warning Safety of Millions Dependent on Robust Action, FundingConvening for its seventy-second session amid a multilateral system overwhelmed by crises, the General Assembly …
Read MoreEx-soccer Star Weah Elected Liberia President by Wide Margin
MONROVIA, LIBERIA Former FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah has been elected Liberia’s new president by a wide margin as the West African nation faces its first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years.Vice President Joseph Boakai con…
Read MoreAt Least 9 Killed in Egyptian Church Attack
CAIRO A gunman opened fire Friday outside a church south of Cairo and at a nearby Christian-owned store, killing at least nine people, including a policeman.Egyptian authorities said the attacker was shot in an exchange of fire at the Mary Mina Church…
Read MoreCAPE TOWN RESIDENTS REMINDED THAT LEVEL 6 WATER RESTRICTION TAKE EFFECT FROM JAN 1
CAPE TOWN, The City of Cape Town has reminded all resident and visitors that level six water restrictions will apply from New Year’s Day 2018.The implementation of the latest, stricter water restrictions for the Western Cape Province water supply syste…
Read MoreReports: Turkey, Russia Sign Deal on Supply of S-400 Missiles
ANKARA Turkey and Russia have signed an accord for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 surface-to-air missiles, CNN Turk and other media reported on Friday, finalizing a deal the two countries have been working on for more than a year.The S-400 deal, r…
Read MoreLetter to D-ISIS Coalition Partners on the Progress of the Past Year
Dear Coalition Partners,I write to reflect on the accomplishments of our 74-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS over this past year, with a look ahead on much left to do in 2018.First, we congratulated the Government of Iraq for the full liberation …
Read MoreSOUTH AFRICAN CENTRAL BANK SAYS CHANGING ITS OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE CAN RAISE RISK LEVELS
PRETORIA, The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), stressing that it continues to function in the public interest, has stressed that proposals to change its ownership structure at this time may raise the level of risk and uncertainty for the country in b…
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