UN report links processed meats to cancer in humans
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS):The cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the consumption of processed meats like hotdogs, ham, sausages and meat-based sauces causes colorectal cancer, while eating red meat like beef, pork and lamb is "probably carcinogenic to humans."
El Niño will 'test' disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region: UN
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Amid growing fears that the irregular climatic activities of El Niño will result in severe weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls in the Pacific, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) on Monday addressed a gathering in Suva, Fiji, of disaster reduction and humanitarian response partners from across the region at a joint programme of events around regional resilience to disasters and emergency management.
UN human rights chief sends assessment mission to South Sudan
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): After reports of alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in South Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is deploying a 10-member mission to the country to assess the situation.
UN official welcomes EU agreement on plan for Western Balkans migration route
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): As European leaders met this week to hammer out a 17-point plan of action on the Western Balkans migration route for refugees and migrants fleeing Syria and other strife-torn regions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commended the fact that a consensus had been reached.
First nine months of 2015 are hottest on record, UN agency reports
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Earth has just had the hottest January-September on record, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday, adding that the average air and sea temperatures in September logged the greatest rise above monthly average in the 136-year historical record.
Mali: UN says three civilians killed, two peacekeepers wounded by mine explosions
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Mali has condemned the explosion of a mine or an explosive device in the Kidal region of the country Saturday, killing three civilians and wounding two peacekeepers.
Valuing women's work key to achieving new global goal on gender equality: UN agency
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Applauding the decision by Member States to include gender equality as a key plank of the newly-adopted 2030 Agenda, a senior United Nations labour agency official has stressed the importance of empowering women in employment, salaries and the working environment, urging governments to commit to this achievable, basic right.
Lawful civil society groups are not enemies of democracy, but key allies: UN expert
Oct 27, 2015, at 01:58 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations human rights expert Ben Emmerson on Monday urged governments across the world to ensure that civil society be included in global, co-ordinated efforts to counter the spread of terrorism.
UN special envoy condemns attack against Palestinian politician
Oct 26, 2015, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 26 (IBNS): Condemning Sunday's attack in Ramallah against a prominent Palestinian political figure, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and has reiterated the call by top United Nations officials to reduce tensions in the region and avoid actions that would spark further violence.
Tony Blair apologises for Iraq war 'mistakes'
Oct 26, 2015, at 04:41 am
London, Oct 25 (IBNS): Former British PM Tony Blair has apologised for the 'mistakes' committed during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor detained
Oct 25, 2015, at 04:24 am
Male, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Maldives Police on Saturday arrested the country's Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor in connection with an explosion aboard a boat carrying the Indian Ocean archipelago's president last month, media reports said.
ECOSOC President urges curtailing flow of illegal finances that cost Africa billions
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): In a "timely and necessary" meeting on illicit financial flows and their impact on development in Africa, Oh Joon, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday urged broader efforts to combat such flows, of IFFs from the continent could amount to a staggering $50 billion each year.
Burundi: UN warns of 'rapidly worsening' human rights and security situation
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday expressed its concern over the "rapidly worsening" security and human rights situation in Burundi, where at least 198 people have been killed since April, including the execution of at least nine civilians ten days ago.
Yemen: UN rights office says civilians paying 'terrible toll'
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that the humanitarian situation in Yemen's highland Taiz governorate is deteriorating rapidly in the wake of a recent attack by members of the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis which targeted residential areas and left 15 civilians dead, injured 73 others and left homes, shops, a clinic and a school partially destroyed.
UN remains 'beacon for all humanity,' says Ban ahead of 70th anniversary
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): Marking the 70th anniversary of the Organization ahead of UN Day on 24 October, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said there is only one flag that belongs to everyone – the blue flag of the United Nations.
'Still time to step back from brink,' says Ban, returning from Middle East
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): Upon his return from an emergency visit to the crisis-torn Middle East where he reported having "long and detailed" discussions with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said "there is still time to step back from the brink," despite anger and polarization in the region.
Europe: UNHCR appeals for protection against sexual abuse of women and children
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday expressed concern over the reported abuse of refugee and migrant women and children on the move in Europe, including "instances of children engaging in survival sex to pay smugglers to continue their journey," appealing to all concerned to take measures to ensure their protection.
As Côte d’Ivoire prepares for presidential polls, Ban urges peaceful process
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely following developments in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of this weekend’s presidential elections and has welcomed the commitment of national stakeholders to participate in the process in a peaceful and transparent manner.
UN and Middle East partners express concern over Israeli-Palestinian tensions
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): Underscoring the urgent need to restore calm amid escalating Israeli-Palestinians tensions, the United Nations and its Middle East Quartet partners on Friday encouraged Israel to work together with Jordan to uphold the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem.
Security Council extends arms embargoes imposed on Somalia and Eritrea
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday extended the arms embargo on Somalia until 15 November 2016 while reaffirming the country’s sovereignty over its natural resources, while also reaffirming its arms embargo on Eritrea.
Smugglers will adapt as long as there is a market to exploit: UN experts
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): Two United Nations experts on the human rights of migrants on Friday called on the European Union to open regular and safe channels for migrants, saying "attempting to seal borders and the over-emphasis on the securitisation of borders is not going to reduce irregular migration in the long run."
Children's right to freedom of religion or belief must be protected: UN expert
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations expert on religious freedom is calling on all Governments represented at the UN General Assembly "to respect religious practices by children and their families and support families in fulfilling their role in providing an enabling environment for the realisation of the rights of the child."
Cameroon: UN relief official calls for increased support to families fleeing conflicts
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations relief official on Friday urged the international community to increase their support for the humanitarian response in Cameroon, which is hosting more than 310,000 people who have fled conflicts in neighbouring Central African Republic and Nigeria.
Libya: UN mission condemns terrorist attack against Benghazi demonstration
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack which targeted a peaceful demonstration in Benghazi, killing and injuring many civilians.
UN agencies boost aid efforts to flood-hit Tindouf refugees, call for urgent funding
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are scaling up aid efforts after devastating floods widely damaged Sahrawi refugee camps in southwest Algeria, working to provide food and relief supplies, while urgently appealing for emergency funds to fill the 80 per cent gap in order to reach the most vulnerable.
Bus-truck collide in France, 40 killed
Oct 23, 2015, at 09:05 pm
Paris, Oct 23 (IBNS): At least 40 people were killed as a bus and a truck collided near Bordeaux in southwestern France on Friday, media reports said.
South Sudan: UN calls for access to conflict-affected areas to prevent catastrophe
Oct 23, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): Three United Nations agencies on Thursday warned that extreme hunger is pushing people to the brink of a catastrophe in parts of South Sudan, as a new analysis found that 3.9 million people nationwide now face severe food insecurity.
UN human rights chief urges Czech Republic to halt detention of migrants and refugees
Oct 23, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Thursday strongly criticized the detention of migrants and refugees in the Czech Republic, drawing attention to the violations of the rights of children among them and to credible reports that authorities are routinely strip-searching migrants to confiscate the $10 a day they are charged for their own detention.
UN official warns funding shortages could be disastrous for food-insecure Mauritania
Oct 23, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): On her two-day visit to Mauritania, Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), saw at first hand the challenges faced by nearly 1 million food insecure people amid rising malnutrition in the country.
'Silence is too often the only safe option left,' UN report on sources and whistleblowers
Oct 23, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): Governments and international organizations are failing to ensure adequate protections to whistleblowers and sources of information, according to a new report by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression.