Latest United Nations News & Updates

Dhaka, April 6 (IANS) Bangladesh faces significant challenges in preparing to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) list amid current macroeconomic instability and weak performance even as discussions continue on pre-graduation risks, local media reported. Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired a meeting on LDC graduation held in Dhaka on Sunday. During the meeting, the UN-OHRLLS (United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Co…

Tehran, April 6 (IANS) India has stressed the importance of restoring stability and security in West Asia, and expressed support for ongoing efforts aimed at stopping the war, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Sunday and discussed the recent developments about the situation in West Asia. “Iran’s Foreign Minister, referring to what he described as grave crimes committed by…

Addis Ababa, April 6 (IANS) The African Union (AU) and its partners have warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict poses a “serious risk” to African economies.In a joint policy brief, the AU, the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the UN Development Program warned that the longer the conflict lasts and the more severe the disruption on shipping routes, energy, and fertilizer supplies, the greater the risk of a significant growth slowdown acro…

Beirut, April 5 (IANS) The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said that it will file a formal protest after Israeli soldiers destroyed surveillance cameras installed at its headquarters in Naqoura. UNIFIL spokesperson Candice Ardell said in a statement on Saturday (local time) that Israeli troops had, since Friday, destroyed all cameras facing the Menghi road at the mission’s general headquarters in Naqoura.The cameras were positioned solely to monitor the UNIFIL compound’s imm…

Washington, April 5 (IANS) World leaders are moving to contain the Strait of Hormuz crisis without direct US leadership, as deepening divisions emerge between Washington and its European allies over the Iran war and its global fallout.Countries heavily dependent on Gulf energy supplies are scrambling to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as frustration grows over the US approach to the conflict, according to The Hill .The United Kingdom convened more than 40 nations this week to coordinate effort…

Washington, April 4 (IANS) The Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget seeks a sharp overhaul of US diplomacy and foreign aid, with steep cuts to international programmes and a renewed focus on strategic competition and national interests, according to the official White House document.The budget requests $35.6 billion for the Department of State and other international programmes, a “30-per cent decrease from the 2026 enacted level,” signalling a major retrenchment in US g…

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, said that the country’s foreign policy is increasingly reflecting the aspirations of its young population and the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens, and while India matters to the world, the reverse is also true and and therefore, it must adopt a more careful and measured approach in its responses. Speaking on the YouTube channel of young Indian podcaster and entrepreneur Raj Shamani, A…

Kabul, April 3 (IANS) At least two children were killed and nearly 30 people were injured due to shelling and drone strikes carried out by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, local media reported on Friday, citing officials. Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the attacks targeting residential areas in Kunar, Paktika, and Khost provinces began on Wednesday, Afghanistan’s Ariana News reported.”Since yesterday, Pakistani forces have carried out continuous mortar, rocket and drone a…

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, on Friday noted that claims that India follows the United States are “unfair” and “not reflective of reality”. In an interaction with young Indian podcaster and entrepreneur, Raj Shamani, on his YouTube channel, Akbaruddin said: “No, I think it’s unfair to say that we follow (the US). Look at the Board of Peace. (US President Donald) Trump has put up a Board of Peace; Pakistan has put up a…

Geneva, April 3 (IANS) Several United Nations human rights experts have expressed serious concern over the deteriorating and life-threatening health condition of Pakistani human rights defender Idris Khattak, urging the Pakistan government to immediately release him from his “unjust detention”, highlighting the urgent need for medical care and protection of his fundamental rights.“Pakistan must stop disregarding and must abide by their international human rights obligations and immediately…