Philippines radio journalist shooting, UN calls for investigation

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:07 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has denounced the latest killing of a journalist in the Philippines and urged authorities to investigate the murder and “provide the media with as safe an environment as possible to ensure the public’s right to be kept informed.”

Security Council renews Yemen sanctions panel

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:05 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Under the terms of a resolution unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, members decided to extend the mandate of the group of four experts on Yemen, which was established to oversee sanctions measures employed against individuals and entities designated as threatening peace, security or stability in the country.

Ban taps veteran diplomat Kubiš to head up UN Iraq mission

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:04 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Jan Kubiš of Slovakia as his new Special Representative for Iraq, a United Nations spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

WHO's appeal to tackle needs in four crisis-torn nations

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:02 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday appealed to donors to provide $1 billion for life-saving health needs ranging from childhood vaccinations to surgical care for the severely wounded for some 25 million people caught up in conflict across the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan and Syria.

South Sudan gripped by serious failure of leadership: UN official

Feb 25, 2015, at 02:59 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Amid a worsening humanitarian situation and a fragile security environment, the continuing tensions between South Sudan’s rival factions risk plunging the country into further violence, the United Nations peacekeeping official warned on Tuesday.

Event stresses on extractive industries to sustainable growth in Africa

Feb 25, 2015, at 02:58 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) held a meeting at Headquarters in New York on Tuesday on the role of the extractive industry in Africa.

Nigeria: Suicide bombings kill 27

Feb 25, 2015, at 05:08 am

Abuja, Feb 24 (IBNS): At least 27 people were killed as suicide bombings rocked bus stations at two areas in northern Nigeria on Tuesday, media reports said.

Czech Republic shooting kills 8

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:06 am

Prague, Feb 24 (IBNS): At least eight people have been killed during a shooting attack at Druzba restaurant in Czech Republic town of Uhersky Brod on Tuesday, media reports said.

Iraq: UN reports rights violations of increasingly sectarian nature

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:49 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): A report released on Monday by the United Nations documents widespread human rights violations of an increasingly sectarian nature in Iraq, as well as a deterioration of the rule of law in large parts of the country.

2015 pivotal for finalizing universal climate change agreement: Ban

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:33 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): "This year is pivotal for global action on climate change", United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday in New York, emphasizing that all the major advances of 2014 have set the stage for success in 2015.

Photo competition shines spotlight on UN's zero hunger goal

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:31 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): Scenes of families eating together in Burundi, Laos and the Philippines on Monday won a photo competition judged by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver aimed at demonstrating “the simple yet powerful role provided by sitting tougher and eating as a family,” the World Food Programme (WFP) announced.

Development system must adapt to post-2015 agenda: UN officials

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:30 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): The United Nations officials on Monday underlined the importance of ongoing review and reform of the Organization’s development system as Member States met to begin the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Operational Activities Segment.

WHO urges global switch to smart syringes by 2020

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:28 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for all countries to switch by 2020 to new ‘smart’ syringes that cannot be used more than once as an “absolutely critical” stop to protect millions of people from deadly infections acquired through unsafe injections.

Technology boost for UN peacekeepers essential: UN experts

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:26 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): From the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations’ peacekeeping missions must make greater use of technological advances in order to better confront the dynamic challenges of the 21st century, according to a group of UN experts.

UN chief discusses key issues with Russian officials

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:24 pm

Kolkata, Feb 24 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met on Monday, with the Foreign Minister of Russia to discuss among other issues, the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, expressing his expectation that all concerned parties would live up to their commitments to the truce agreed in Minsk on 12 February.

Ban stresses UN’s impact in past 70 years

Feb 24, 2015, at 02:22 pm

New York, Feb 24 (IBNS): In a Security Council meeting on Monday, in which Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Charter, the Secretary-General said the UN was an Organization with major achievements to its credit, multiple crises on its agenda, and tremendous opportunities ahead.

Girl suicide bomber kills five in Nigeria

Feb 24, 2015, at 05:44 am

Abuja, Feb 23 (IBNS): A girl suicide bomber, who was just seven year old, blew herself and killed five others in northeast Nigeria on Sunday, reports said.

Former Maldives President arrested

Feb 23, 2015, at 12:15 am

Male, Feb 22 (IBNS): In a significant development, the Maldives police have arrested country's former President Mohamed Nasheed, media reports said on Sunday

On Mother Language Day, UN spotlights role of native tongue in education

Feb 22, 2015, at 03:01 pm

New York, Feb 22 (IBNS) Mother tongue education is not only a force for quality learning, it is also essential to bolster multilingualism and respect for linguistic and cultural diversity at a time when societies are transforming quickly and many languages are under threat, the United Nations agency mandated with promoting education said today.

Security Council condemns 'heinous' bomb attacks in Libya

Feb 22, 2015, at 03:00 pm

New York, Feb 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned Friday's deadly bomb attacks in al-Qubbah, Libya, claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known by its Arabic acronym, Da'esh.

Experts urge technology boost for UN peacekeepers

Feb 21, 2015, at 04:20 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): A group of United Nations experts have urged the Organization’s peacekeeping presence to incorporate technological advances into its operations in order to better confront the dynamic challenges of the 21st century, the UN’s spokesperson’s office said on Friday.

Agriculture must change, FAO chief tells Paris summit

Feb 21, 2015, at 04:18 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): The model of agricultural production that predominates today is not suitable for the new food security challenges of the 21st century and the need to be more sustainable, inclusive and resilient, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday.

Ban spotlights role of United States and its youth in UN’s success

Feb 21, 2015, at 04:16 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): The United States and its young people, in particular, are essential to the success of the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said on Friday in his remarks to the UN Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) Members Day gathering at Headquarters.

Massive fire in Dubai skyscraper, no casualty

Feb 21, 2015, at 04:06 pm

Dubai, Feb 21 (IBNS) The major fire which had broke out at Torch skyscraper in Dubai has been brought under control, media reports said on Saturday.

Ban calls on Nigerian government to uphold new date for polls

Feb 21, 2015, at 03:46 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly urged the Government of Nigeria to ensure that the new dates set for the country’s general elections are maintained following the vote’s recent postponement, according to the United Nations spokesperson’s office.

UN deplores racist incident in build-up to European football match

Feb 21, 2015, at 03:44 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has strongly condemned the racist behaviour exhibited by fans of the English football club, Chelsea, during the lead-up to a European match in Paris, France, and urged authorities to “re-energize” their efforts in combatting intolerance.

Social Justice Day: UN spotlights human trafficking

Feb 21, 2015, at 03:42 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General said on Friday that the World Day for Social Justice comes at a pivotal moment for people and the planet, adding that this year's commemoration focuses on the scourge of human trafficking and the plight of approximately 21 million women, men and children in various forms of modern slavery.

Ban expresses hope of ceasefire to senior Ukrainian official

Feb 21, 2015, at 03:41 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday spoke by telephone with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, voicing his concern at the “still dangerous” situation on the ground and expressing hope that the ceasefire agreed to on 12 February in Minsk firmly takes hold across the region.

Rights of people with disabilities cannot be ignored: UN

Feb 21, 2015, at 03:38 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): “One billion people, 15 per cent of the world’s population, are persons with disabilities, and their rights cannot be ignored,” a group of United Nations human rights experts said on Friday, as they urged negotiators and UN Member States to include rights of such persons in the new development framework.

Syria: UN chief appeals for de-escalation of conflict

Feb 21, 2015, at 02:34 pm

New York, Feb 21 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has appealed on Friday to all warring parties in Syria to de-escalate the conflict in order to provide a reprieve for the country’s long-suffering civilians.