UN says Palestinian refugees from Syria face 'increasingly grave' situation region wide
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:59 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) The plight of Palestine refugees from Syria in the Middle East is becoming increasingly grave caused by closed borders and a series of forced returns from neighbouring countries, Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Monday.
In Central African Republic, UN team investigates outbreak of sectarian violence
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:57 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) A United Nations humanitarian mission has visited a town in the Central African Republic (CAR) amid an outburst of violence that left at least 14 people injured and three killed, the Organization’s humanitarian relief office announced on Monday.
#OrangeUrHood campaign kicks off UN-led effort to end violence against women
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, Nov 25(IBNS) On Monday night, for the first time ever, both the iconic United Nations Headquarters complex and the Empire State Building in New York are bathed in orange light to kick off the “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood†campaign ahead of the International Day to End Violence Against Women.
UN committee to examine inscription requests for lists on intangible cultural heritage
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:54 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) A United Nations committee tasked with protecting the world’s oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, craftsmanship and knowledge of nature will begin examining requests on Monday for inscription on the two lists of intangible cultural heritage, as part of its current session meeting in Paris this week.
Ban urges dialogue as Burkina Faso interim Government holds first cabinet meeting
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:53 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all appointed transitional leaders in Burkina Faso to work in a “collaborative and harmonious manner,†as the inaugural Cabinet meeting of the transitional Government was held on Monday.
Trafficking in children on the rise, says new UN report
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) One in three known victims of human trafficking is a child, and girls and women are particularly targeted and forced into "modern slavery," according to the 2014 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, released on Monday by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
Amid 'anaemic' job creation, Greece risks prolonged social crisis – UN report
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:49 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) Faced with an “anaemic†pace of job creation and nearly 1.3 million unemployed citizens, Greece risks a prolonged social crisis unless urgent measures are taken, warns a new report out on Monday from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
DR Congo: UN special envoy condemns 'trend of massacres' in eastern province
Nov 25, 2014, at 05:06 pm
New York, Nov 25 (IBNS) The security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is “worsening,†a senior United Nations official has warned, citing an escalating trend of massacres in the town of Beni – the site of continuing flare-ups of deadly violence between armed groups, including Ugandan-based rebels operating in the area.
Afghanistan suicide attack kills 50
Nov 24, 2014, at 05:09 am
Kabul, Nov 23 (IBNS): At least 50 people were killed in a suicide attack during a volleyball match in Afghanistan's Paktika province on Sunday, media reports said.
Japan earthquake leaves 40 injured
Nov 24, 2014, at 03:00 am
Tokyo, Nov 23 (IBNS): At least 40 people were injured in Prefecture after an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit central Japan on Saturday, media reports said on Sunday.
Explosion in London hotel, several injured
Nov 23, 2014, at 02:13 am
London, Nov 22 (IBNS): The London Fire Brigade on Saturday said firefighters attended an explosion at a hotel in Berkeley Mews at the junction of Seymour Street in central London on Friday night.
Nov 23, 2014, at 01:26 am
Tokyo, Nov 22 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit central Japan on Saturday, officials said.
Al-Shabab militants shot dead 28 in Kenya
Nov 22, 2014, at 10:23 pm
Nairobi, Nov 22 (IBNS): In a horrific incident, Al-Shabab militants from Somalia have reportedly hijacked a bus in northern Kenya and killed 28 non-Muslims on Saturday.
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:31 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) On a tour of the United Nations Accessibility Centre for the audio, visual, and physically impaired on Friday, United States Senator Tom Harkin said that "when you make a system better for a person with a disability its makes it better for people without disabilities."
UN agency unveils push to make cooking safe for 10 million people by 2020
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:28 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Every year, household air pollution from cooking kills over four million people and sickens millions more, the United Nations spotlighted at a New York conference on cookstoves, as it urged Governments to take action to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions.
Slovenia: UN expert urges focus on 'vulnerable' ostracized older persons
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:25 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Following her first official visit to Slovenia, the United Nations independent expert on the human rights of older persons hailed efforts by the country's Government in ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, but urged authorities to focus on those being ostracized, as they are "the vulnerable of the vulnerable."
Burkina Faso: UN chief urges continued dialogue as transitional Government takes power
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:21 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday reiterated his call for all Burkinabé stakeholders to ensure Burkina Faso’s seamless transition to democracy amid an ongoing constitutional crisis in the West African country, a United Nations spokesperson has confirmed.
UN conference generates renewed global momentum to eradicate malnutrition
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:17 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) In a move hailed as renewed global momentum to end hunger, leaders from over 170 countries attending a United Nations nutrition conference which concluded on Friday, pledged to establish national policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition in all its forms from, hunger to obesity and transform food systems to make nutritious diets available to all.
Sectarian clashes displace thousands in south-eastern Central African Republic, UN warns
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:04 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) An upsurge in violent attacks this week between communities in a town near the Central African Republic’s border with South Sudan has left at least 10 people injured and thousands more displaced, marking the first major inter-community incident in the region since the country’s crisis began in 2012, the United Nations humanitarian relief office said on Friday.
Middle East: UN-backed reconstruction efforts set to kick-off in Gaza next week
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:01 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The next phase in reconstruction efforts for war-ravaged Gaza is slated to begin as early as next week following an updated "understanding" between Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders, the United Nations special envoy in the region has announced.
As challenges mount for displaced in eastern Ukraine, UN agency ramps up food voucher plan
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Key steps have been taken recently to deliver food vouchers to some 10,000 internally displaced people in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Friday, while underscoring that ensuring access to food in the country's crisis-gripped eastern region remains a "priority concern."
South Sudan: UN relief official urges respect for ceasefire, scaling up of aid operations
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Concluding a three-day mission to South Sudan, a senior United Nations relief official has called on all parties to the conflict there to respect their ceasefire commitments, while urging the international community to continue providing support to enable humanitarians to scale up and expand critical aid operations.
UN agency's innovative standards to boost TV viewing experience for millions
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:49 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The technological advancement of the television medium a critical tool for "informing, channelling, and affecting" public opinion is necessary for the improvement of communication and globalization, the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) declared on Friday, as it announced new measures aimed at heightening television viewing for millions of people around the world.
'Time is growing short,' UN warns as it boosts delivery of winter kits to displaced in Iraq
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is stepping up its efforts in Iraq to deliver winter aid to people displaced by this year’s conflict including Thursday with the landing in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region the first in a series of flights carrying supplies aimed at mitigating the impact of the harsh months ahead.
Venkaiah Naidu shares his encounter with thief in Barcelona
Nov 21, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New Delhi, Nov 21 (IBNS): Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu on Friday shared his experience in Barcelona where a thief stole his bag but later threw it back in panic, media reports said.
UN humanitarian news service to be spun off
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:31 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): The humanitarian news service IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks), after nearly 20 years as part of the United Nations, announced on Thursday that it will spin off to become an independent, non-profit media venture, with the support of a major private donor.
Ban urges Israeli, Palestinian leaders to stand up to extremists on both sides, end surging violence
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:29 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he was shocked by the recent deadly attack on a synagogue in West Jerusalem and “at this delicate and dangerous juncture†both leaders must show the courage to do everything necessary to end the surging violence.
Iraq: UN envoy sees inclusive political process as critical to resolving crisis
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:27 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) As Iraq struggles to deal with the increasing security threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as with dire financial and humanitarian conditions, the United Nations envoy to the country has cited an inclusive political process as vital to finding comprehensive solutions.
Security Council adopts first-ever resolution on 'invaluable role' of UN police operations
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:21 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Thursday adopted its first-ever resolution focusing on the world body’s policing operations, stressing their invaluable contribution to peacekeeping, civilian protection and the rule of law, and pledging to give clear mandates as well as appropriate resources to UN police-related work.
UN champions children as 'fundamental building blocks,' marking 25th anniversary of historic treaty
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:19 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) As countries around the world celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations family on Thursday hailed the landmark treaty as a powerful human rights tool, while taking stock of the long-standing disparities that must be addressed to propel actions for the well-being of all children into the future.