Security Council approves 6-month extension for UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:43 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) The Security Council on Thursday extended the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) – one of the longest running UN missions still in operation – until 31 July 2015, noting that despite some progress made in negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, a “comprehensive and durable settlement†is still lacking.
UNESCO chief denounces killing of journalists in South Sudan, Iraq
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:41 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations agency mandated to defend freedom of expression and press freedom on Thursday denounced the killing of five journalists in South Sudan and an Iraqi broadcaster, who was killed while covering fighting in the north of the country.
Parties agree 'in principle' to move UN-mediated political talks to Libya
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:28 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) Participants in the United Nations-facilitated Libyan political dialogue in discussions in Geneva this week have agreed "on the principle" of convening future dialogue sessions in Libya, provided that logistical and security conditions are available.
Malaysia officially declares MH370 crash an accident, says no one survived
Jan 29, 2015, at 11:55 pm
Kuala Lumpur, Jan 29 (IBNS): Malaysia's Civil Aviation Authority on Thursday officially declared the MH370 crash an accident after it could not locate the missing aircraft.
ISIL threatens to kill Jordanian pilot by Thursday sunset
Jan 29, 2015, at 08:45 pm
Amman, Jan 29 (IBNS) Setting a fresh deadline, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has said it would kill the captive Jordanian pilot if the Al-Qaeda-linked female bomber in prison was not released by sunset on Thursday.
UN Assembly hears Holocaust survivor's plea to never forget 'all human life is sacred'
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:25 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) As part of the annual events at the United Nations to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the General Assembly on Wednesday heard a Holocaust survivor and a former World War II veteran recount the horrors they had witnessed some 70 years ago as they urged the world “not to forget that all human life is sacred.â€
After Davos, UN paves way forward in addressing 'most pressing global challenges'
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:23 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) On the heels of the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the United Nations has reiterated its commitment to leading the charge on development, gender equality and climate issues by including the voices of the global citizenry in the decision-making process and leveraging breakthrough technologies to create more participatory syste
Libya: UN Secretary General condemns 'in the strongest terms' attack on hotel in Tripoli
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:23 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) The United Nations Secretary-General has condemned today, in the strongest terms, the attack that took place at the Corinthia Hotel, in Tripoli on Tuesday.
Mali: UN Mission to investigate deadly protests against compound
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:18 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has launched an investigation into the events surrounding a violent protest in the northern city of Gao on Tuesday during which several people were reportedly killed and a number of others injured.
Lack of funding hampering humanitarian aid to war-affected Syrians – UN relief official
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:15 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) More funding is urgently required for humanitarian organizations to help people in desperate need in Syria, the United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on Wednesday during a briefing on the situation in the country.
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:13 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) The decision by El Salvador to pardon a woman convicted of aggravated homicide after suffering a miscarriage must "mark a turning point" for the authorities to review the sentences against all women jailed for pregnancy-related complications, a group of United Nations human rights experts said today.
Caribbean and Latin American Summit take up UN agency anti-hunger plan
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:12 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) A new plan to combat hunger in the Caribbean and Latin America presented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is being considered for adoption at a summit of the region’s leaders taking place on Wednesday and on Thursday in the Costa Rican capital.
UN rights experts applaud Netherlands Government decision to help homeless migrants
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:11 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) A group of United Nations human rights experts has welcomed the decision by the Government of the Netherlands to grant funding for municipalities that provide emergency shelters to homeless migrants in a reversal from the Dutch authorities' earlier position.
UN 'blue helmet' killed near site of Lebanon-Israel cross-fire; investigation under way
Jan 29, 2015, at 04:00 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) Amid what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has described as a “serious deterioration of the security situation in Southern Lebanon,†the United Nations Interim Force there (UNIFIL) has launched an investigation into the death of a peacekeeper on Wednesday near the border with Israel, according to a statement released by the Mission.
Farmers in southern Malawi in urgent need after intense flooding, UN agency warns
Jan 29, 2015, at 03:50 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) The United Nations agriculture agency is working closely with Malawi’s Government on a $16 million response plan aimed at protecting farmers from severe flooding that has destroyed fields and homes, washed away animals and crops, and threatens local food security.
Middle East envoy Serry 'outraged' by attack on UN Gaza compound
Jan 29, 2015, at 03:48 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, Robert Serry, has expressed outrage by the assault on the UN premises in Gaza this morning.
UN expert urges Kazakhstan to boost rights of peaceful assembly, association
Jan 29, 2015, at 03:47 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) An independent United Nations rights expert on Wednesday urged the Government of Kazakhstan to match the country's economic successes of the past quarter century with a ramped-up focus on human rights by opening up the Central Asian state's democratic spaces.
Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack on hotel in Libyan capital
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:10 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack against the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, Libya, and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of such “reprehensible†acts to justice.
Yemen: UN special envoy welcomes release of abducted presidential aide
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:08 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy on Yemen has welcomed the release today of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's chief of staff, and urged the opposition group Ansarallah which had abducted the official last week "to undertake steps that would be in the best interest of all political sides and the people of Yemen."
As shelling batters Ukraine's cities, country's children increasingly in danger-UN
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:05 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The continued shelling of Ukraine's urban centres serves as a shocking reminder of the price being paid by the country's children and families, a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) official said today as she warned that the intensifying violence in the Eastern European country was increasingly putting children's lives in danger.
'We are being tested again,' Ban warns as UN marks 70 years since Auschwitz liberation
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:03 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS)Seventy years ago today, allied forces liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, urging renewed vigilance to eradicate the deep roots of hatred as anti-Semitic attacks continue and vulnerable communities around the world bury their dead while living in fear of further violence.
South Sudan: UN welcomes demobilization of child soldiers amid signs of peace
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:01 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is celebrating the release of some 3,000 South Sudanese child soldiers today in what is being hailed as one of the largest ever demobilizations of children in a zone of conflict.
Lack of funds forces UN agency to halt Gaza programme for repairs to destroyed homes
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:45 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS): The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East announced today that a major funding shortfall has forced the suspension of its cash assistance programme that would have helped families in Gaza repair their homes and provide rental subsidies to people left homeless after last year's conflict in the enclave.
Nine killed in Libya hotel attack
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:34 pm
Tripoli, Jan 28 (IBNS) At least nine people were killed as militants attacked a hotel in Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday, media reports said on Wednesday.
UN agency sounds warning over Iraqis displaced to country's South
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:30 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations has said today that many recently displaced Iraqis in the south of the strife-riven country are facing a “critical†humanitarian situation.
As police, protesters clash in Egypt, UN rights chief urges end to excessive use of force
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:27 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS): “Deeply disturbed†by the deaths resulting from recent clashes between security forces and protesters in Egypt, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has urged for an end to the excessive use of force, his spokesperson said today.
UN South Sudan Mission condemns killing of civilians in roadside ambush
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:25 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hsa strongly condemned the killing of eleven civilians, five of them journalists, in a roadside ambush on Sunday.
Emirates suspends flights to Baghdad after shooting
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:23 pm
Dubai, Jan 28 (IBNS) Several airlines , including Emirates, have suspended flights to Baghdad after a flydubai flight was hit by bullets while it was landing at Baghdad airport.
World must 'wake up' to enormity of Central African Republic crisis, warns UN relief official
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:20 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The top United Nations humanitarian official in the Central African Republic (CAR) is calling for increased protection of displaced communities in the northern town of Batangafo, where relief agencies are working hard to ease suffering as the country's ongoing conflict drives a steady stream of terrified people into the area seeking safety.
3 killed in Libya hotel attack
Jan 28, 2015, at 02:00 am
Tripoli, Jan 27 (IBNS) At least three people were killed and 12 others were injured as several gunmen attacked a hotel in Libya's Tripoli city on Tuesday, media reports said.