At least 32 killed in eruption of ethnic violence in South Sudan | World

At least 32 people were killed and 26 others injured in clashes between ethnic groups last Sunday in a region of South Sudan, the UN reported today, urging action to prevent an escalation of tribal violence in the country.

“Some 32 people from the Dinka Bor community were killed, including three women who were shot to death and three children who reportedly drowned in the river while fleeing, and at least 26 others were injured, including women and children,” he said. in a statement the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Iran, Venezuela and Sudan Lose UN Voting Rights With 5 More

UNITED NATIONS — 

Iran, Venezuela and Sudan are in arrears on paying dues to the United Nations’ operating budget and are among eight nations that will lose their voting rights in the 193-member General Assembly, the U.N. chief said in a letter circulated Wednesday.

Also losing voting rights are Antigua and Barbuda, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the letter to General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid.

The suspension takes effect immediately.

The U.N. Charter states that members whose arrears equal or exceed the amount of their contributions for the preceding two full years lose their voting rights. But it also gives the General Assembly the authority to decide “that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member,” and in that case, a country can continue to vote.

The General Assembly decided that three African countries on the list of nations in arrears — Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia — would be able to keep their voting rights.

According to the secretary-general’s letter, the minimum payments needed to restore voting rights are $18,412,438 for Iran, $39,850,761 for Venezuela and $299,044 for Sudan. The five other countries each need less than $75,000 to restore their voting rights.

Iran also lost its voting rights in January 2021. It regained those rights in June after making the minimum payment on its dues and lashed out at the United States for maintaining sanctions that have prevented it from accessing billions of dollars in foreign banks. At that time, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq thanked banking and government authorities in various places, including South Korea, for enabling the payment to be made.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran after pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six major powers in 2018.

Alhurra TV focuses on Sudan with new program – USAGM

Alhurra TV focuses on Sudan with new program

December 22, 2021

Springfield, VA — Starting on Saturday, Dec. 25^th, Alhurra Television will launch Between Two Niles, a new show that highlights the latest news from Sudan. The program will delve into discussions and analysis of the political, economic, security, and social implications of the most prominent news events that occur each week, by interviewing leading politicians, activists, and journalists to share their perspectives and insights. The weekly program will also explore international reaction, including the American stance on issues regarding Sudan including the transition to democracy and the role of the military.

“Sudan has witnessed significant upheaval recently and there is a pressing need for the independent and balanced analysis that we will provide on Between Two Niles,” stated MBN Acting President Hassan Shwiki. MBN manages and oversees Alhurra Television. “As an unbiased pan-Arab network, we are able to host and deliver these important discussions to the Sudanese people, as well as the rest of the Arab world.”

In addition to hosting policy-makers and influencers, Between Two Niles will also incorporate the voices of Sudanese citizens, by sharing their opinions and answering their questions. Between Two Niles will air Saturday evenings at 10 p.m. (Khartoum time).

About MBN

The Middle East Broadcasting Networks is a non-profit corporation is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from USAGM. MBN operates Alhurra Television, an Arabic-language television network that broadcasts to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa via satellite, as well as Alhurra-Iraq Television. MBN also operates Sawa, radio and its two dedicated streams, one to Iraq and the other to the Levant. It is available via FM throughout these two areas and provides more than 15 hours of news and information daily on each stream.