Asia Pacific

Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks on the US-DPRK Summit at UN Headquarters in New York. 11 June 2018.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

US-North Korea summit in Singapore ‘a promising development’ says Guterres

11 June 2018
Peace and Security

The summit between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is “a promising development for global peace and security,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.

Flash flooding has damaged key infrastructure including this bridge in Balukhali camp.
IOM 2018

Rohingya refugee shelters ‘washed away’ in Bangladesh monsoon rains: UN agency

11 June 2018
Migrants and Refugees

Two days of heavy monsoon rains have caused severe structural damage to camps in Bangladesh hosting one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday

The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed (centre) visits Qingdao Port in China
UN in China

Central Asia bloc has important role in 'peace, stability and prosperity' beyond region, says Deputy UN chief

10 June 2018
Economic Development

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed addressed the Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Sunday, stressing that the organization's impact in the political, economic and security realm, extends well beyond the large Eurasian region that its members represent.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

India-UN fund gets 22 development projects off the ground in first year

8 June 2018
SDGs

An India-United Nations fund aimed at supporting sustainable development for low-income nations marked its first anniversary on Friday, with 22 projects having already been approved in 25 partner countries.

Secretariat Building at United Nations Headquarters
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

UN welcomes temporary ceasefire announcement by Afghan Government; urges Taliban to reciprocate

7 June 2018
Peace and Security

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the week-long ceasefire announced by the Government of Afghanistan with the Taliban and called on the militant group to reciprocate the temporary pause.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (file)
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

DPRK should release political prisoners ahead of summit with US – UN expert

7 June 2018
Human Rights

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) should begin to release political prisoners ahead of denuclearization talks with the United States and engage with the United Nations on human rights, a UN expert on the country said on Thursday.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Bangladesh ‘drug-offender’ killings must stop, says UN human rights chief

6 June 2018
Human Rights

The alleged extra-judicial killing of suspected drug offenders must be “immediately halted” and their perpetrators brought to justice, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Wednesday.

Thousands of Rohingya refugees line the roads of the Kutupalong mega refugee settlement as the United Nations Security Council visit takes place. Many hold signs welcoming the visit and saying they want justice, as well as stating their key demands for repatriation. (file)
UNHCR/Caroline Gluck

UN agencies and Myanmar ink agreement, setting stage for Rohingya return

6 June 2018
Migrants and Refugees

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the understanding reached between UN agencies and Myanmar on creating conditions that would allow hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to voluntarily and safely return to their homes in the country’s Rakhine province.

Secretary-General António Guterres speaks to the media at UN Headquarters. (file)
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Suicide attack on clerics in Afghanistan condemned by UN

4 June 2018
Peace and Security

United Nations chief António Guterres has condemned Monday’s suicide attack in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, that reportedly killed at least seven religious scholars who had gathered from across the country to promote peace. 

In Afghanistan, UNICEF focuses on the enrolment and retention of the most vulnerable children, specifically those who are out of school, and girls.
UNICEF/Rezayee

Half of Afghan children out of school, due to conflict, poverty, discrimination: UNICEF

2 June 2018
Peace and Security

Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are missing out on school, due to on-going conflict, grinding poverty, and discrimination against girls, according to a new report from the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.