US shuts down embassy, consulates in Saudi Arabia over security concerns
Mar 15, 2015, at 05:37 pm
Riyadh, Mar 15 (IBNS): Citing 'heightened security concerns at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia', the U.S. Embassy and Consulates have cancelled all consular services in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran for Sunday and Monday, officials said.
Cyclone hits Vanuatu, several feared dead
Mar 15, 2015, at 05:27 am
Port Vila , Mar 14 (IBNS): Dozens are feared dead as super tropical cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu on Saturday, reports said.
In Japan, UN chief urges global solidarity to strengthen disaster resilience, boost development
Mar 15, 2015, at 03:00 am
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): With global leaders gathered in Sendai, Japan, to agree a new framework for managing disaster risk which will reduce mortality and curb economic losses, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday declared that responding to the world's growing needs requires empowering individuals, supporting communities and backing promises with resources.
Sendai: Critical role of women in building disaster resilience focus of event at UN conference
Mar 15, 2015, at 02:57 am
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS) Spotlighting the positive actions of women in planning and decision-making to make their communities safer before, during and after disasters strike, senior United Nations, Government and civil society representatives on Friday emphasized that risk reduction efforts can never be fully effective or sustainable if the needs and voices of women are ignored.
Fresh detention orders to put Lakhvi in jail for another one month
Mar 14, 2015, at 07:28 pm
Islamabad, Mar 14(IBNS) Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, acquitted by a court on Friday, will remain in jail for at least a month following a fresh detention order from the Home ministry of Punjab province in Pakistan.
21 drown in Myanmar ferry mishap
Mar 14, 2015, at 07:10 pm
Yangon, Mar 14(IBNS) At least 21 passengers were dead and 26 missing when a ferry sunk off the coast in western Myanmar's the Rakhine state, reports said on Saturday.
US watching developments on Lakhvi's release
Mar 14, 2015, at 04:18 pm
Washington, Mar 14(IBNS) The United States has said it is closely watching developments in Pakistan related to the release of 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Former Maldives President Nasheed jailed for 13 years
Mar 14, 2015, at 03:44 pm
Male, Maldives, Mar 14(IBNS) former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has been sentenced to 13-year imprisonment by a criminal court under the anti-terrorism laws.
Sendai: World leaders gather for UN conference
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): World leaders are gathering for a United Nations conference in Sendai, Japan, to agree on a new framework for managing disaster risk which will reduce mortality and economic losses.
As Syria crisis enters fifth year, UN leaders urge end to conflict
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): World leaders must put their differences aside and work to bring about meaningful change in Syria, where the country’s ongoing brutal conflict is preparing to enter its fifth year, senior United Nations officials have urged.
UN ready to assist as Tropical Cyclone Pam threatens Vanuatu
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): As the pacific island nation of Vanuatu braces for Tropical Cyclone Pam, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday that it is standing by to assist the Government.
Suriname, Côte d’Ivoire moves away from death penalty: UN
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has welcomed the decision by the parliaments of Suriname and Côte d’Ivoire to eliminate capital punishment from their penal codes in a move, it said, that may prompt other countries in their regions to do the same.
UN spotlights key role of evaluation in new development agenda
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Evaluation will become more necessary for the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, a United Nations body said on Friday, as it launched a new publication highlighting the critical role of assessment in enhancing the UN’s effectiveness, cultivating change and empowering nations.
Haiti: UN mission welcomes proposed calendar for 2015 elections
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:34 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Haiti welcomed on Friday the formal proposal of a calendar for elections that have been delayed since 2011 and are scheduled to take place this year and looked forward to its prompt publication.
Myanmar: UN officials pledge humanitarian, development assistance
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:33 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The United Nations remains committed to helping Myanmar achieve its humanitarian and development needs in order to boost living standards for all its citizens, top UN officials have declared during their visit to the Asian country.
UN: Young activists for gender equality ready to play active role
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:31 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Youth delegates such as Momal Mushtaq, a self-described “feminist†from Pakistan who was banned from riding a bicycle back home, and Tunisian women’s advocate Aya Chebbi, who declared that her “bold†generation was already today’s leaders, engaged in a lively dialogue with their senior counterparts on the side lines of the annual Commission on the Status of Women underway at the United Nations.
Libya cannot wait for solution: UN envoy
Mar 14, 2015, at 01:30 pm
New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Meetings in Morocco arranged by the United Nations that brought together participants in the Libyan political dialogue have concluded on Friday, having covered substantive and procedural issues on the way forward.
Pakistan test fires drone 'Burraq'
Mar 14, 2015, at 04:40 am
Islamabad, Mar 13 (IBNS): Pakistan on Friday test-fired indigenous developed armed drone Burraq and laser guided missile Barq, officials said.
UN: Geena Davis warns 700 years to reach gender parity in kids’ media
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:21 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Actress Geena Davis on Thursday told a standing-room only event on gender and the media at the United Nations that the paucity of female characters in entertainment media for young children can be changed overnight, saying, “We don’t have to fix the ‘unconscious bias’ they are raised with later on. We can fix it from the very beginning.â€
Somalia: UN condemns attack that killed security personnel
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:19 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy in Somalia has strongly condemned Thursday’s attack in Baidoa town in the Interim South West Administration, which resulted in the death and injury of security personnel and civilian bystanders.
UN disaster risk reduction conference in Sendai
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:18 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Government and civil society leaders from around the world are gathering in the Japanese city of Sendai for a United Nations conference that will take stock of ten years of global work to better prepare for and curb the impact of disasters, and to agree on an updated global response framework.
UN and Haitian partners appeal for aid to reduce vulnerability
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations, the Haitian Government and its partners have launched a $401 million appeal to reduce extreme vulnerability, while building resilience on the small Caribbean nation.
Effects of Ebola outbreak felt outside affected countries: UN report
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:14 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The effects of Ebola, which has infected nearly 24,000 people and killed nearly 10,000, mainly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, extend beyond the people who suffer from the virus and even beyond the borders of the worst-affected countries, says a new United Nations report released on Thursday.
New UN appointments announced for political affairs, civil aviation
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has appointed Fang Liu of China to head up the Montreal-based agency, while Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon has appointed Miroslav Jenca of Slovakia as Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
UN proposes measures by Europe to reduce lives lost at sea
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:11 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency announced on Thursday that it has sent a letter to the European Union asking for a robust search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea as part of a number of “bold and innovative†solutions to prevent more refugees and migrants losing their lives at sea.
UN's aim to simplify care for millions infected with hepatitis B
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:09 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): With 650,000 deaths caused by hepatitis B each year, and with up to 240 million people worldwide infected with the virus’s chronic strain, the United Nations health agency on Thursday issued its first ever official guidance for treating the disease.
UN chief stresses collective responsibility to resolve Syria conflict
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:07 pm
New York, mar 13 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday stressed the need to bring to an end the conflict in Syria, which has been raging for four years, while United Nations humanitarian agencies urged greater support to help the millions of people caught up in a “nightmare of suffering.â€
Bangladesh: Cement warehouse collapse, 6 killed
Mar 13, 2015, at 04:23 am
Dhaka, Mar 12 (IBNS) At least six people were killed as a roof of a cement warehouse collapsed in Bangladesh's Bagerhat district on Thursday, media reports said.
US: 2 police officers shot in Ferguson
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:38 pm
Ferguson, Mar 12 (IBNS) : At least two police officers were shot outside the Ferguson police department here on Thursday, media reports said.
On visit to Syria, senior UN official appeals for more support for humanitarian work
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:13 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) Wrapping up a three-day visit to Syria, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations agency mandated to assist Palestinian refugees across the Middle East requested more support for work being carried out across the country, stressing that in Yarmouk "safe, uninterrupted, substantial humanitarian distributions must become the norm."