About This Source - United Nations
The United Nations (UN) was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future wars. The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states.
The UN’s chief administrative officer is the Secretary-General, currently Portuguese politician and diplomat António Guterres, who began his five year-term on 1 January 2017.
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United Nations published this video item, entitled “Nobel Peace Prize to WFP & other topics – Daily Briefing (09 October 2020)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: – Nobel Peace Prize/World Food Programme – Secretary-General/Africa – Security Council/Cyprus – Mali – Nagorno-Karabakh – Sudan Floods – COVID-19/Malawi – COVID-19/Lebanon – COVID-19/Migrants – World Post Day – Conventional Weapons Convenion – Mental Health – Burkina Faso NOBEL PEACE PRIZE/WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME The Secretary-General is delighted by the decision of the Nobel Committee to award this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the UN World Food Programme. He warmly congratulates David Beasley, WFP’s Executive Director, and the entire staff of the World Food Programme. The Agency is the world’s first responder on the frontlines of food insecurity, the Secretary-General said, adding that he has seen our WFP colleagues in the most remote and dangerous locations, serving the most vulnerable of this world with enormous courage, dedication and competence. In a world of plenty, it is unconscionable that hundreds of millions go to bed each night hungry. Millions more are now on the precipice of famine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Guterres said. We know that achieving zero hunger is an imperative for peace. A hungry world is not a peaceful world, he concluded. Also, this morning, in a tweet, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, warmly saluted David Beasley and our WFP colleagues. She said the Nobel peace prize recognizes their tireless efforts to ensure children and families have access to life-saving sustenance. SECRETARY-GENERAL/AFRICA This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the second High-Level event on “Mobilizing with Africa” as part of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Secretary-General said that since the beginning of the crisis, African countries and the African Union have shown commendable leadership and unity in response to the pandemic. He stressed that the international community must continue to show commitment to Africa’s health and well-being. The Secretary-General said the pandemic has resulted in acute liquidity constraints for African countries that without bold measures could spiral into a solvency crisis. He called on development partners to broaden the eligibility of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative so that it includes all highly indebted and vulnerable countries that have been adversely affected by the emergency and also urged developed countries to support the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, and to support efforts to prioritize green growth and environmental conservation. He also reiterated the UN’s solidarity with the people and governments of Africa at this pivotal moment for the continent. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20October%202020
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In This Story: Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa that covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) and is bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
The July 2019 population estimate by the United Nations was 20,321,378. Previously called Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed “Burkina Faso” on 4 August 1984 by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabé, and its capital is Ouagadougou.
Due to French colonialism, the country’s official language of government and business is French, but this language is spoken by approximately only 10-15% of the population. There are 59 native languages spoken in Burkina, with the most common language, Moore, spoken by roughly 50% of Burkinabé.
The Republic of Upper Volta was established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community and on 5 August 1960 it gained full independence.
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The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
- a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
- shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)
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Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.
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The Republic of Cyprus is de facto partitioned into two main parts: the area under the effective control of the Republic, located in the south and west and comprising about 59% of the island’s area, and the north, administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, covering about 36% of the island’s area. Another nearly 4% of the island’s area is covered by a UN buffer zone.
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, remain under the UK’s control according to the London and Zürich Agreements.
The Republic of Cyprus has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1961 and joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.
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The official language, Arabic, is the most common language spoken by the citizens of Lebanon. Its capital is Beirut.
Lebanon was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and is a member of the Arab League (1945), the Non-Aligned Movement (1961), Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (1969), and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (1973).
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Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur, and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. The region is mostly mountainous and forested.