General News

Are machines taking over the work of people and if so is this a good or a bad thing?

The book “Race Against The Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy” tackles the topic.

It was written by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, who offer an analysis of how technology is and will, shape the future.

The Syrian government has told Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan that it has started withdrawing its troops from civilian areas in line with his six-point peace plan.

But the UN is concerned that the violence continues and the death toll which it estimates to be at 9,000, is rising.

Meanwhile, Mr. Annan is calling for a UN presence on the ground to monitor the situation. He briefed the UN General Assembly Thursday by video conference from Geneva.

Julie Walker reports.

Duration: 2'06

In Mali, the ongoing military hostilities have forced the World Food Programme (WFP) to temporarily halt operations in a number of areas mainly in the north of the country.

Several of the UN food agency’s offices and depots have been closed after they were looted and food stocks stolen from warehouses.

WFP spokesperson in Geneva, Elizabeth Byrs tells Patrick Maigua that populations in the north have fled the fighting.

Duration: 4'05"

The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against Women is calling on the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to do a better job when it comes to protecting women.

Rashida Manjoo was recently in both places urging the governments to launch programmes that to keep women safe and reinforce the laws that govern violence against them.

Myanmar is facing a number of challenges as it transitions to a freer and fairer society according to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the country.

Tomás Ojea Quintana says the democratic election was a positive step forward. He hopes the outcome, which includes a parliamentary seat won by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, will help the country with its reforms. The Special Rapporteur says human rights in Myanmar have to be respected and the fighting in parts of the country has to stop.

In Pakistan, a first ever ‘united against polio’ football tournament raises awareness for polio vaccination.

The country is one of three in the world where polio remains endemic.

Despite 20 years of sustained efforts to eradicate the disease, 198 cases were reported in 2011.

Julie Walker reports.

Duration: 2'52"

A global agreement has been reached to try and put an end to tobacco smuggling.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the practice makes smoking cheap and cheats countries out of profits from tobacco.

WHO says tobacco kills nearly six million people a year from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and other illnesses.

The deal was established by health officials from more than 100 countries meeting in Geneva.

Derrick M’batha reports.

Duration: 2'28"

The United Nations estimates that more than one million people have been killed or injured by landmines in the past 30 years.

April 4 is landmine awareness day and the Lift Your Leg campaign wants everyone to get into the act by rolling up their pant leg to bring awareness to the problem.

Although landmine injuries have declined dramatically, by as much as 75 percent from 1996 to 2010, it is thought that 110 million active landmines are still scattered across the globe in 68 different countries.

It is estimated that, across the globe, 2.4 million people are forced to endure the crime of human trafficking at any one time.

They do so in forced labour, in domestic servitude, in sexual exploitation, and in every country and every region of the world.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the illegal activity is a global enterprise worth approximately US$ 32 billion dollars.