General News

In recognition of the life and sustenance that the planet and its ecosystems provide to the earth’s inhabitants, International Mother Earth Day is observed on 22 April each year.

The United Nations marked the day for the third time in New York on Wednesday with an inter-active dialogue entitled “Harmony with Nature”.

The forum was hosted by the General Assembly as part of its on-going preparations for the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Brazil in June.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration: 3'07"

A deaf rap artist from Finland uses his music to change attitudes towards people with disabilities.

Signmark, also known as Marko Vuoriheimo was born deaf. His passion for music and determination has made him the first deaf person in the world to get a record deal with Warner Music.

He uses sign language to create his hip-hop music, which he performs with Brandon Bauer who serves as his voice for the hearing audience.

Prospects for the global economy are slowly improving but risks remain according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF warns about the danger of a renewed financial economic crisis in Europe.

The report also highlights the threat of disruptions to the world’s oil supply both of which it says could seriously undermine growth.

IMF’s Lika Gueye discusses the report with Olivier Blanchard, IMF’s Chief Economist who says it has been a tumultuous few months for the global economy.

Now that the Titanic has turned 100, it is being protected by a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.

On the night of 14 April 1912, the ship struck an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic and sank the next day.

No single country can claim the site, because the wreck is in international waters.

Continued hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan are causing growing concern at the United Nations.

In an incident Sunday at least seven people died and several others were wounded when Sudan bombed the town of Mayom in Unity State.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the leaders of the two countries to immediately end the fighting and to fulfil their responsibility to maintain peace.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration:  2'53"

The first group of UN monitors is in Syria to begin its work.

The unarmed observers will report on the implementation of the ceasefire brokered by joint UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan.

The team comes from the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Spokesman Kieran Dwyer says the monitors have been meeting with Syrian authorities, as well as the opposition to ensure that all sides understand their role and work.

He adds that by the end of the week 30 observers should be in Syria and that number could jump with up to 250 being requested.

The late President Bingu Wa Mutharika was remembered by the General Assembly as it met on Monday.

The late President Mutharika passed away on Thursday, 5 April 2012 after suffering from cardiac arrest at his official residence at Lilongwe.

An economist by training, he became the President of the Republic of Malawi in 2004 and was re-elected for a second term of office in a landslide victory in 2009.

The UN advance monitoring team is on the ground in Syria, getting down to the business of making sure that a fragile ceasefire holds.

Six team members arrived in Damascus on Sunday, with more to follow.

By the end of the week the UN expects to be about 30 observers from its peacekeeping department in Syria.

Meanwhile, violence in the country continues with the Syrian government shelling the city of Homs.

Julie Walker reports.

Duration: 2'39"

The people of Timor Leste went to the polls on Monday to elect their president in a second round of voting.

The two candidates are opposition leader Francisco Guterres and Taur Mtan Ruak.

Incumbent President Jose Ramos Horta came in third in the first round of the election last month.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended the people of Timor Leste for voting in what he described as “the peaceful and orderly manner.”

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Duration: 2'55"

Six members of the United Nations’ advance monitoring team have begun work in Syria as the violence there continues.

The advance party is from the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

They arrived in the capital of Damascus on Sunday, a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorizing their deployment.

More observers are expected to arrive later on Monday and numbers are expected to build up to about 30 by the end of the week.