Asia Pacific

Iran not a ‘bargaining chip’, President Rouhani tells world leaders at UN

Iran is not a “bargaining chip” to be factored into elections and domestic policy in the United States, the country’s President, Hassan Rouhani has said, stressing that the overall era of dominance and hegemony by a few world powers is “long over.” 

Republic of Korea stresses support for developing nations during COVID-19

The President of the Republic of Korea has signaled his country’s support to developing nations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes ensuring they have equitable access to any vaccines against the deadly new coronavirus.  

Myanmar: Mounting child death toll during Rakhine village assaults must end, urges rights expert

The assaults by security forces in Myanmar on villages in Rakhine state “need to stop”, and a ceasefire should be declared immediately, said the UN independent rights expert on the situation across the country on Tuesday.

At UN General Assembly, Philippines’ Duterte denounces groups ‘weaponizing’ human rights

While every country has its own strategy to fight coronavirus, the world needs coordinated international efforts and a common purpose to end the crisis, the President of the Philippines said on Tuesday, underlining the importance of universal access to anti-COVID-19 technologies in the recovery from global pandemic. 

‘Enhance solidarity’ to fight COVID-19, Chinese President urges, also pledges carbon neutrality by 2060

The Chinese President Xi Jinping called for enhanced international solidarity to fight the coronavirus on Tuesday during his UN General Assembly address, declaring that his country would aim to become carbon neutral, in the wider battle against climate change, by 2060. 

Fighting drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle: a UN Resident Coordinator blog

Drug trafficking has long been a problem in the Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand’s Chiang Rai province meets Myanmar and Laos. In this blog, Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, and Jeremy Douglas, who represents the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, explain how the United Nations and the Thai government are working together to tackle the issue.

Iran: ‘Secret execution’ of champion wrestler ‘deeply disturbing’ – UN rights experts

A group of five independent UN human rights experts have strongly condemned the summary execution in Iran on Saturday of a former champion wrestler convicted of murdering a security guard during anti-government protests in 2018.

Historic Afghan talks present ‘major opportunity’ for peace: UN Secretary-General

The first ever direct talks between Afghan Government representatives and the Taliban which began on Saturday, present “a major opportunity” to finally realise the “long-held aspirations” of the people, for a peaceful future, the UN chief has said.

UN denounces Kabul attack targeting Afghan Vice President

The United Nations has strongly condemned Wednesday's attack in the Afghan capital Kabul, targeting the official convoy of the country's First Vice President, Amrullah Saleh. 

Inaction has been fatal, says UNHCR, as dozens of Rohingya refugees perish at sea

Dozens of Rohingya refugees are believed to have died in the Andaman sea after spending more than 200 days afloat, owing to a “collective unwillingness” of countries to take them in, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.