General News

Violence and criminality remain a challenge in the Central African Republic, but there are signs of improvement.

That’s the assessment of the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSCA), General Babacar Gaye.

MINUSCA is supporting the Central African Republic as it recovers from more than two years of sectarian violence between Muslim and Christian militias.

Policy-makers around the world need to work together to strengthen global economic growth, according to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Christine Lagarde was speaking ahead of the annual IMF-World Bank “Spring Meetings” which begin on Friday in Washington DC.

Thousands of participants, including government officials, business leaders and civil society organizations will discuss progress on the work of both international institutions.

Bruce Edwards has more on Ms Lagarde’s speech.

British actor Daniel Craig has been designated as the first UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.

The UN Secretary-General announced on Tuesday during a ceremony at UN Headquarters that the star perhaps best known for his role as James Bond will help draw attention to the cause of mine destruction and mine awareness.

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has programmes in 40 countries and three territories.

The Kenyan government has been urged by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to rethink its decision to close the Dadaab refugee camp in the north of the East African country.

Dadaab is home to 350,000 mainly Somali refugees.

The decision to close the camp within three months was made after an attack by alleged Somali militants on Garissa University which led to the deaths of at least 147 people.

Daniel Dickinson has been speaking to UNHCR’s Karin de Gruijl

Duration: 3’16”

As the conflict continues to worsen in Yemen the UN Security Council on Tuesday tightened measures against rebels who are trying to take over the country.

The Houthis, who occupied the capital Sana’a and seized power early this year, continue to fight with government forces.

A coalition, led by Saudi Arabia began air strikes against the Houthi in March at the invitation of the Yemeni government.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration: 2'36"

The lethal link between unsafe cars and tens of thousands of deaths every year on the world’s roads came under the UN spotlight on Tuesday.

In a call to manufacturers to apply agreed United Nations safety standards, the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) warned that millions of new cars sold in middle and low-income countries fall short of current regulations.

UNECE chief Christian Friis Bach said it was unacceptable that cars sold in poorer countries were “deliberately less safe” than those in developed nations.

Thirteen developing countries are being supported in their efforts to monitor their forests

A US$4.5 million project agreed between Norway and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is expected to facilitate access to data sources.

Many developing countries find it challenging to gather and process data for a wide variety of reasons; for example poor Internet connections or outdated computer systems.

Erik Lindquist is a forestry officer with FAO.

Sandra Ferrari asked him why there is a gap in data gathering

Forty-five armed groups in 19 countries around the world have been identified as probably responsible for rape or other acts of sexual violence.

The UN Secretary-General’s report on Sexual Violence in Conflict which is released on Tuesday contains, amongst others, accounts of violence by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and ISIL in Iraq and Syria .

Zainab Hawa Bangura, is the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the issue.

Radmilla Suleymanova sat down with Ms Bangura who first spoke about current developments.

Duration: 4’38’

Development is not possible without rule of law according to the President of the UN General Assembly.

Sam Kutesa was speaking at the 13th UN Crime Congress currently underway in Doha, Qatar.

One of the issues being discussed is wildlife crime, including the poaching and illicit trafficking of wild fauna and flora.

Reem Abaza asked Mr Kutesa how wildlife crime, development and the rule of law are interrelated.

Duration: 2’38”

The plight of 18,000 Palestinian and Syrian civilians living in a besieged camp in Syria continues to cause what has been described by the UN as “extreme worry.”

The Yarmouk camp, just south of the Syrian capital Damascus has in recent days been overrun by terrorists from the outlawed Islamic group, ISIL.

The UN agency which supports people living in the camp, UNRWA has been unable to deliver aid.

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl is in Syria to look at ways of providing relief to the people still there.