10 October 2014 Last updated at 07:05
Debt includes $2.6bn for international peacekeeping efforts, with France owing the most at $356m, followed by the US at $337m
When over 300 refugees drowned off the coast of Italy last October, the incident prompted widespread outcry and promises to save more lives. But 12 months later, the fates of the survivors show just how broken Europe's refugee system really is.
Fisah, who is from Eritrea, knew nothing about the man who pulled him out of the water one year ago except his name: Costantino Baratta. He asked some passersby, who sent him to the harbor. There, he was told that Baratta was at sea, so Fisah waited. After a few hours, the fisherman, a powerful man in his mid-50s, returned to port and tied up his boat. Fisah walked up to the man timidly, not knowing what to say. But Baratta understood him nevertheless. With tears in their eyes, the two men embraced.
Of all the prizes awarded during the Nobel week every October, none is more anticipated and talked about than the peace prize.
Ebola is 'entrenched and accelerating' in West Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Ebola is now entrenched in the capital cities of all three worst-affected countries and is accelerating in almost all settings.
WHO deputy head Bruce Aylward warned that the world's response was not keeping up with the disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The three countries have appealed for more aid to help fight the disease.
The outbreak has killed more than 3,860 people, mainly in West Africa.
More than 200 health workers are among the victims.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Aylward said the situation was worse than it was 12 days ago.
Member states owe UN $3.5bn
Debt includes $2.6bn for international peacekeeping efforts, with France owing the most at $356m, followed by the US at $337m
Member states owe the UN about $3.5bn (£2.2bn) for its regular operating budget and peacekeeping operations, its management chief has announced.
Yukio Takasu said after briefing the general assembly’s budget committee that “as a whole, the financial situation of the United Nations is very sound and generally good – except the regular budget”.
The funding gap is just over $950m including about $800m owed by the US, $77m by Brazil and $28m by Venezuela.
The general assembly approved a two-year budget of $5.53bn in December to cover the UN’s regular operations in 2014-15, cutting it for a second successive time.
What do the Hong Kong and Tiananmen protests have in common?
Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests are being regarded as the biggest challenge to Beijing since the 1989 Tiananmen movement. Analyst Jack Goldstone talks to DW about the similarities and differences of both campaigns.
In June 1989, several thousand Chinese college students and disgruntled citizens from all walks of life gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to publicly mourn the death of purged high-level official Hu Yaobang, as well as demand government accountability, freedom of the press, and a stop to the rampant corruption plaguing the country. As demonstrations escalated, the Chinese government deployed the military to crack down on the protesters, opening fire on unarmed civilians and killing unknown numbers.
They are indeed some similarities between the protests 25 years ago and the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong which are regarded by some as a new test to Beijing's authority in the special administrative region. Many Hong Kongers are angry at Beijing's refusal to allow genuine universal suffrage in the 2017 election of the city's Chief Executive.
'Aren't We Human Beings?': One Year After the Lampedusa Refugee Tragedy
By Juliane von Mittelstaedt and Maximilian PoppWhen over 300 refugees drowned off the coast of Italy last October, the incident prompted widespread outcry and promises to save more lives. But 12 months later, the fates of the survivors show just how broken Europe's refugee system really is.
A few weeks ago, Tadese Fisah returned to Lampedusa to thank the fisherman who had saved his life. He was shaking when he stepped onto the island, Fisah says. When he saw the shipwrecks and the sea, the images all came back to him, images of women crying for help and of tangled bodies.
Cuban migration surges over land and by sea
Thanks to eased travel restrictions, Cuban immigration has doubled since 2012 and almost tripled since 2011, say officials.
HAVANA — The number of Cubans heading to the United States has increased dramatically since the island lifted travel restrictions last year, eliminating a costly exit visa and making it easier for emigrants to return, new US government figures show.
With greater access to cash and legal travel documents, the vast majority are avoiding the risky journey by raft across the Florida Straits. Instead, most of the new arrivals are passing through Mexico or flying straight to the US.
More than 22,000 Cubans showed up on the US borders with Mexico and Canada in the fiscal year that ended last month. That was nearly double the number in 2012 and almost triple the 2011 figure, according to US Customs and Border Patrol.
Nobel Peace Prize: And the winner could be ...
October 10, 2014 -- Updated 0829 GMT (1629 HKT)
This year, the committee that picks the winner received 278 nominations, more than any other time in the past. And the buzz has steadily built leading to Friday's announcement.
The smart money is on Pope Francis. His win would be historic -- he'd become the first Roman Catholic pontiff to get the peace prize.
But the Nobel committee is notorious for making surprise choices. Think President Barack Obama's win the first year of his presidency.
Here are some of the most talked-about contenders for 2014. The winner could be someone from this group. Or it could go to someone we've completely overlooked.
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