UN highlights power of social media in modern diplomacy during day-long New York event
Jan 31, 2015, at 08:25 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) The United Nations is holding its first ever Social Media Day at its New York Headquarters today, in an event featuring social media professionals, digital diplomacy practitioners and academics who are sharing their experiences, discussing trends and proving insights into their work.
Ban voices optimism on Colombia peace as talks scheduled to resume
Jan 31, 2015, at 08:16 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursdayvoiced encouragement as Colombian stakeholders prepare to resume peace talks in Havana, Cuba, next week in an effort to end the country's decades-long internal conflict.
Scourge of sexual violence in armed conflict 'far from being rooted out,' Security Council told
Jan 31, 2015, at 08:11 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) Despite some positive developments across the United Nations system, the task of protecting civilians has become more onerous as conflicts have become increasingly vicious, with the brutalization of women a deplorable persisting trend, a senior UN relief official said today, as she urged the Security Council to press all conflict parties to abide by their international obligations towards civilian protection.
UN refugee agency commends Greece on asylum reforms, urges more to be done
Jan 31, 2015, at 08:04 pm
New York, Jan 31 ((IBNS) Greece has made progress in reforming its asylum system despite challenging economic and political circumstances, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed today, adding nonetheless that much more needed to be done to accommodate the influx of asylum-seekers and refugees.
In Addis Ababa, senior UN officials pledge ongoing cooperation with Africa on all fronts vital
Jan 31, 2015, at 07:35 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) Addressing the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the start of what he called a “crucial year for global action to secure our global future,†the United Nations Secretary-General on Thursdaysaid he looked forward to African countries realizing their massive cultural, human and economic potential.
UN appeals for funds as ongoing violence sends desperate Nigerians fleeing to Cameroon
Jan 31, 2015, at 06:43 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is appealing for more funds to help address the recent exodus of refugees into Cameroon from Nigeria, saying that a risk in attacks on both sides of that border has made it increasingly risky for humanitarian agencies to operate there.
After intense flooding, Malawi desperately needs scale-up in international aid–UN experts
Jan 31, 2015, at 06:32 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) The international community must rapidly respond to the devastating flooding affecting Malawi with critical humanitarian aid and appropriate funding, a group of United Nations human rights experts affirmed on Friday, warning that the African country was facing “its worst flooding in living memory.â€
South Sudan: UN warns surge in Sudanese refugees pushes camp capacity to limit
Jan 31, 2015, at 06:26 pm
New York, Jan 31 (IBNS) Sudanese refugees continue to pour into South Sudan as they flee aerial bombardments and ground attacks in the war-torn Nuba Mountains in Sudan, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday, as it warned that many of the settlement camps are quickly reaching full capacity.
Pakistan: 33 killed, 55 injured in Shia mosque explosion
Jan 30, 2015, at 11:52 pm
Shikarpur, Jan 30 (IBNS): At least 33 people were killed and 55 others were injured in an explosion inside a Shia mosque in Pakistan's Sindh province while the weekly Friday prayers were on, media reports said.
Ban condemns destruction of villages, displacement of thousands in Darfur
Jan 30, 2015, at 08:06 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the reported aerial bombardment and destruction of villages in the Golo locality of Central Darfur, and expressed concern over the worsening security situation, which has seen thousands of civilians displaced.
Iraq: UN mission applauds Government investigation into sectarian massacre
Jan 30, 2015, at 08:02 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) has welcomed the Government's decision to conduct a full investigation into the alleged sectarian killing of dozens of civilians by armed groups in Iraq's eastern Diyala province.
Haiti: Security Council visit sheds important light on situation as elections loom, members say
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:55 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) Members of the Security Council heard briefings on Thursday from the co-leads of a trip taken by the body to Haiti, where they saw first-hand the critical work being done by the United Nations Mission there in support of a better future for the country’s people.
As fallen peacekeeper honoured in Lebanon, UN expresses concern over security situation
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:53 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) A memorial service was held this morning at Lebanon’s International Airport in Beirut in honour of a peacekeeper from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) who lost his life on Wednesday in the line of duty in the southern part of the country.
Mali: Ban deplores violent protests against Mission compound, launches inquiry
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:51 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the deadly protests against a United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) compound in the northern city of Gao, which left several people dead and a number of others injured.
Children face 'new generation' of crises, UNICEF warns launching record $3 billion appeal
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:50 pm
The United Nations on Thursday launched its biggest ever humanitarian appeal to fund globe-spanning responses to emergencies and threats “stalking children in ways never before seen†and putting them in extraordinary danger of violence, hunger, disease and abuse.
UN forecasts 'worrisome' 2015 outlook on humanitarian front for Somalia
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:48 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) Malnutrition rates are “stubbornly high†in Somalia with more than 200,000 children requiring emergency nutrition, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the African nation said on Thursday as he projected a “worrisome†outlook for 2015.
DR Congo: Security Council renews sanctions, extends mandate of expert monitoring group
Jan 30, 2015, at 07:45 pm
New York, Jan 30 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Thursday renewed its sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to prevent the supply, sale or transfer of arms, training, and financing, to armed groups.
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.
Afghanistan: Blast in funeral ceremony kills 5
Jan 30, 2015, at 01:49 am
Kabul, Jan 29 (IBNS): At least four people were killed in a bomb blast during the funeral ceremony for an Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander in Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province on Thursday, media reports said.
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.