A major escalation in Yemen: the Houthi Movement has detained dozens of employees of the United Nations in rebel‑held territory, including five Yemeni nationals and 15 international staff who were seized during a raid.

Houthis Detain 20 UN Staff in Yemen Raid: Crisis In Yemen 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging debt crisis caused largely by Covid-19. 
 
"We are on the verge of a debt crisis. Today`s meeting, convened with our partners, the prime ministers of Canada and Jamaica, is a call for urgent action," he told a high-level event on debt and liquidity, Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
Six countries have already defaulted. One-third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crisis. And the situation is even worse for least-developed and low-income countries. They face a painfully slow recovery that will put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement completely out of reach, he warned. 
 
Developing countries need access to additional liquidity to respond to the pandemic and to invest in recovery. The international community must urgently provide the necessary support to all developing countries in need, said Guterres. 
 
From the start of the pandemic, the United Nations has advocated for a three-phase approach to debt: a moratorium on debt payments, targeted debt relief, reforms to the international debt architecture, he noted. 
 
He welcomed the steps that have been taken, including fresh financing by international financial institutions, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative of the Group of 20, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, but said they are far from enough. 
 
"I am, therefore, calling for much bolder and more ambitious measures. 
 
"We strongly believe that the Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into 2022, and made also available to highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries that request it.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging debt crisis caused largely by Covid-19. "We are on the verge of a debt crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for urgent, bold measures to address an emerging debt crisis caused largely by Covid-19. "We are on the verge of a debt crisis. Today`s meeting, convened with our partners, the prime ministers of Canada and Jamaica, is a call for urgent action," he told a high-level event on debt and liquidity, Xinhua news agency reported. Six countries have already defaulted. One-third of emerging market economies are at high risk of fiscal crisis. And the situation is even worse for least-developed and low-income countries. They face a painfully slow recovery that will put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement completely out of reach, he warned. Developing countries need access to additional liquidity to respond to the pandemic and to invest in recovery. The international community must urgently provide the necessary support to all developing countries in need, said Guterres. From the start of the pandemic, the United Nations has advocated for a three-phase approach to debt: a moratorium on debt payments, targeted debt relief, reforms to the international debt architecture, he noted. He welcomed the steps that have been taken, including fresh financing by international financial institutions, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative of the Group of 20, and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, but said they are far from enough. "I am, therefore, calling for much bolder and more ambitious measures. "We strongly believe that the Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into 2022, and made also available to highly indebted, vulnerable middle-income countries that request it.

UN chief calls for bold measures to tackle debt crisis

A United Nations report on Wednesday claimed that a third of those held by Afghan authorities for offences related to security and terrorism are undergoing mistreatment and torture in detention centres. 
 
The report was released jointly by the UN Mission to Afghanistan and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was found that the percentage of detainees facing torture had gone down over the last 15 months. Even then, the situation remains ''alarming".

From the previous two years, the percentage has fallen from 31.9 per cent to 30.3 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/afghanistans-ghani-urges-biden-to-up-pressure-on-taliban-360183" hreflang="en">Afghanistan's Ghani urges Biden to up pressure on Taliban</a>

"Torture can never be justified. It has lasting consequences for victims, their families and society," said Deborah Lyons, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Peace talks with the Taliban are proceeding in Qatar, but militant violence continues to plague the country.&nbsp;Militant violence has resurged around the country even as peace talks proceed with the insurgent Taliban in Qatar.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/with-2500-each-us-says-lowest-troops-deployed-in-iraq-afghanistan-in-about-two-decades-356978" hreflang="en">With 2,500 each, US says lowest troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan in about two decades</a>

Targeted killings occur in the country almost daily, with many blaming the killings on the Taliban, who have constantly denied responsibility. On Wednesday, a blast in Kabul ended up killing a police officer. Additionally, unknown assailants killed a religious leader in the southern city of Kandahar. In addition, a judge was also killed in the eastern city of Jalalabad. 
 
The report added that efforts have been made by the government to limit the use of torture. But it added that more work is needed to end torture. The report by UN was based on interviews with 656 detainees, which were held in 63 facilities across 24 provinces between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. 
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A United Nations report on Wednesday claimed that a third of those held by Afghan authorities for offences related to security and terrorism are undergoing mistreatment and torture in detention centres.

A United Nations report on Wednesday claimed that a third of those held by Afghan authorities for offences related to security and terrorism are undergoing mistreatment and torture in detention centres. The report was released jointly by the UN Mission to Afghanistan and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was found that the percentage of detainees facing torture had gone down over the last 15 months. Even then, the situation remains ''alarming". From the previous two years, the percentage has fallen from 31.9 per cent to 30.3 per cent. Also read: Afghanistan's Ghani urges Biden to up pressure on Taliban "Torture can never be justified. It has lasting consequences for victims, their families and society," said Deborah Lyons, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan. Peace talks with the Taliban are proceeding in Qatar, but militant violence continues to plague the country. Militant violence has resurged around the country even as peace talks proceed with the insurgent Taliban in Qatar. Also read: With 2,500 each, US says lowest troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan in about two decades Targeted killings occur in the country almost daily, with many blaming the killings on the Taliban, who have constantly denied responsibility. On Wednesday, a blast in Kabul ended up killing a police officer. Additionally, unknown assailants killed a religious leader in the southern city of Kandahar. In addition, a judge was also killed in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The report added that efforts have been made by the government to limit the use of torture. But it added that more work is needed to end torture. The report by UN was based on interviews with 656 detainees, which were held in 63 facilities across 24 provinces between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

Third of detainees in Afghanistan face torture, UN report says

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's&nbsp;claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control.

In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir."

UN Spokesperson did not identify it as an act of Indian troops as claimed by the Pakistani Army. Farhan said, "UNMOGIP personnel and the driver were not harmed but the vehicle sustained some damage" and the mission is "currently investigating the incident."

At the daily presser, in response to questions posed by Indian and Pakistani reporters, he said, "we are aware what both sides have been saying", reiterating, "at this stage, we are simply aware that vehicle was hit by an unidentified object"

Pakistan's Army had released pictures of damaged UN vehicles on Friday, claiming it was damaged by Indian forces. The Indian Army dismissed the Pakistani allegations saying it did not fire at the UN Vehicles.

Top Indian government sources termed the Pakistani allegations as "completely false, factually incorrect and baseless". The sources said no firing was done by Indian troops at the particular sector where UN vehicles were present since movements of "UN vehicles are known in advance" and therefore "the question does not arise of any such firing."

Interesting to point out that in 2017, Pakistan had claimed that Indian troops had targeted UN vehicles. At that time the UN said that there is "no evidence" of vehicles being targeted by gunfire

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control. In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control. In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir." UN Spokesperson did not identify it as an act of Indian troops as claimed by the Pakistani Army. Farhan said, "UNMOGIP personnel and the driver were not harmed but the vehicle sustained some damage" and the mission is "currently investigating the incident." At the daily presser, in response to questions posed by Indian and Pakistani reporters, he said, "we are aware what both sides have been saying", reiterating, "at this stage, we are simply aware that vehicle was hit by an unidentified object" Pakistan's Army had released pictures of damaged UN vehicles on Friday, claiming it was damaged by Indian forces. The Indian Army dismissed the Pakistani allegations saying it did not fire at the UN Vehicles. Top Indian government sources termed the Pakistani allegations as "completely false, factually incorrect and baseless". The sources said no firing was done by Indian troops at the particular sector where UN vehicles were present since movements of "UN vehicles are known in advance" and therefore "the question does not arise of any such firing." Interesting to point out that in 2017, Pakistan had claimed that Indian troops had targeted UN vehicles. At that time the UN said that there is "no evidence" of vehicles being targeted by gunfire

UN refuses to take position on Pakistan's claims of India firing at agency's vehicles

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Houthis Detain 20 UN Staff in Yemen Raid: Crisis In Yemen

UN chief calls for bold measures to tackle debt crisis

Third of detainees in Afghanistan face torture, UN report says

UN refuses to take position on Pakistan's claims of India firing at agency's vehicles