UN chief deplores “paralysis and deadlock” at global disarmament body

Geneva, Switzerland Reuters UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the world’s top disarmament negotiating body on Monday it needed to make urgent reforms, accusing it of “paralysis” and failing to compel countries to cut weapons stockpiles. Addressing the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Guterres said its failure to fulfil its mandate had created an atmosphere […]
Karabakh Armenians seek promises before giving up weapons to Azerbaijan

Goris, Armenia Reuters Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh need security guarantees before giving up their weapons, an adviser to their leader said on Thursday, a day after Azerbaijan declared it had brought the breakaway region back under its control. Karabakh Armenian authorities accused Azerbaijan of violating a ceasefire agreed on Wednesday after a lightning Azerbaijani offensive […]
Colombia must speed dismantling of armed groups – United Nations

Bogota. Colombia Reuters Colombia should speed the dismantling of armed groups to reduce violence and human rights violations, and implement the country’s 2016 peace accord with the FARC rebels, the in-country representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday. Colombia’s nearly six decades of armed conflict between the armed forces, […]
Tigray forces begin handing over heavy weapons to Ethiopian army

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reuters Tigray forces, who fought a two-year war against Ethiopia’s Federal Government, began handing over heavy weaponry to the national army as part of an African Union-led peace process on Tuesday. The demobilisation of Tigray forces is seen as central to the 2nd November ceasefire agreement, alongside the restoration of services, resumption […]
Pope and UN chief appeal for environment, religious tolerance

Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appealed for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection and religious tolerance. The Pope and Guterres met privately for about 40 minutes in the papal library. Pope Francis meets with Secretary-General of the United Nations, Portugal’s Antonio Guterres, for a private audience at the Vatican, on […]
UN report recommending negotiations begin on treaty banning nuclear weapons a “high point”, says WCC
A UN working group report recommending a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons be negotiated next year has been hailed as the “highest point” in a campaign to outlaw nuclear weapons on humanitarian grounds, according to Peter Prove, international affairs director of the World Council of Churches. The final report, which was adopted on 19th August […]