Nov 16, 2014, at 05:36 am
Jakarta, Nov 15 (IBNS) An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale hit North Maluku Province of Indonesia on Saturday.
'Highly fragile' humanitarian situation in Mali demands urgent assistance-UN officials
Nov 15, 2014, at 08:20 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) Mali is at a critical humanitarian crossroads and failure to act immediately in response to the country’s urgent needs may ultimately jeopardize its path towards peace and stability, three senior United Nations relief officials warned on Fridayfollowing a three-day visit to the country.
Burkina Faso: UN chief welcomes adoption of framework for civilian-led transition
Nov 15, 2014, at 08:12 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Fridaycongratulated the people of Burkina Faso on the consensus adoption of a Charter of the Transition, which will provide the legal framework for a civilian-led transition culminating in elections in November 2015.
Number of Eritrean asylum-seekers in Europe soars from past year-UN
Nov 15, 2014, at 08:03 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS)The number of asylum-seekers in Europe from Eritrea during the first 10 months of 2014 has tripled compared with last year, with large numbers of refugees from the country also fleeing to neighbouring Ethiopia and Sudan, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said today.
UN welcomes Malaysia's court ruling to decriminalizes transgender women
Nov 15, 2014, at 08:00 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Fridaywelcomed the recent judgment by the Court of Appeal of Malaysia that declared unconstitutional the criminalization of Muslim transgender women for cross-dressing.
Amid surging violence in Libya, UN warns of potential displacement crisis
Nov 15, 2014, at 07:51 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) In the wake of car bombings in Tripoli and deadly clashes between rival armed groups in cities across long-troubled Libya, the United Nations human rights office on Fridayvoiced alarm over escalating violence in the long-troubled country, while the Organization’s refugee agency warned that mounting insecurity is taking a toll on humanitarian operations.
Mexico: UN rights office notes 'deep concerns' over case of missing students
Nov 15, 2014, at 07:48 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) on Fridaycautioned against jumping to conclusions regarding the “complex and ongoing†investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico, amid reports that a number badly burned bodies have been recovered from sites in Guerrero state.
UN mission continues investigation into alleged mass rape in North Darfur town
Nov 15, 2014, at 07:46 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) Allegations of the mass rape of 200 women and girls in a town in North Darfur continue raise concerns in the war-torn Sudanese region as the African Union-United Nations hybrid mission there presses ahead with its efforts “to shed further light†on the reports.
New UN report depicts 'relentless assault' on civilians inside ISIL controlled Syria
Nov 15, 2014, at 07:43 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) Shocking accounts of the use of terror by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to subjugate Syrians living under its control were revealed by United Nations human rights investigators on Fridaywho said the group’s “calculated use of public brutality†to spread fear routinely includes public beheading, shooting and stoning of civilians and captured fighters.
Lacking funds, UN agency turns to 'last resort,' cuts food rations for refugees in Kenya
Nov 15, 2014, at 07:35 pm
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS) Starting on Saturday, about half a million refugees, mainly from Somalia and South Sudan, living in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps in remote areas in northern Kenya will receive reduced rations from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as a result of insufficient funding.
ISIS declares to start own currency
Nov 14, 2014, at 11:32 pm
Cairo, Nov 14 (IBNS): The Islamic State in Iraq and Levante (ISIL), which is also known as ISIS has revealed plans to start its own currency, media reported.
New UN guidelines issued to counter 'critically high' levels of elephant poaching in Africa
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS): The illegal killing of elephants for their ivory is now at "critically high levels" in Africa with increased involvement by organized crime groups, leading to their possible extinction in parts of the continent, the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Thursday.
UN mission condemns bombings in Libya, calls for accountability, dialogue
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:47 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has strongly condemned the rising violence in eastern and western Libya, including the bombings this morning in Tripoli of the embassies of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the ongoing fighting in the city of Benghazi and in Jabal Nafusa, reminding all parties to respect international law.
Ban welcomes deal between Iraq, Kurdish region on resolving budget, oil export issues
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:44 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon has welcomed an agreement reached between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government aimed at finding a solution to the issues related to the general budget and oil exports.
World will benefit greatly from more future-oriented, integrated Asia – Ban
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) Asia – and indeed the world – will benefit greatly from a future-oriented Asian region that is ever more integrated, engaged and assuming greater responsibilities commensurate with its clout, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday, addressing a regional summit in Myanmar.
Palestinian students in UN relief agency schools meet with success in face of adversity
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) Palestinian students attending United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools for refugees in the West Bank, Gaza and Jordan are achieving higher-than-average results in international assessments despite their challenging circumstances, a new World Bank report said on Thursday.
Ceasefire in Ukraine under 'continuous, serious strain,' UN official warns
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:33 pm
New York, Nov 13 ( IBNS): Prevailing hostilities in Ukraine in recent days are putting the ceasefire agreed to in September under “continuous and serious strain,†a senior United Nations political official told the Security Council today, warning against the possibility of a return to full-scale fighting despite prospects of hope offered by recent parliamentary elections.
UN conference adopts declaration calling for urgent action on education for sustainable development
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:30 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, closed today with a declaration urging action to mainstream education in the United Nations post-2015 development agenda.
Somalia: Security Council urges Member States to strengthen efforts against piracy
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:26 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council today reaffirmed its condemnation of all acts of piracy and robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, reiterating its calls for the international community to intensify their efforts in fighting what it said was a threat to the East African country’s stability.
In Myanmar, Ban urges greater capacity in Southeast Asia to promote human rights, justice
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:23 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The United Nations stands ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member States in strengthening national capacity to protect human rights, provide justice and promote accountability in the region,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.
Marking World Pneumonia Day, UN calls for greater efforts in preventing child deaths
Nov 13, 2014, at 08:52 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): Although significant declines in child deaths from pneumonia demonstrate that strategies to defeat the disease are working, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stressed today that much more is needed to stop hundreds of thousands of children from succumbing to the preventable illness as it marked the fifth World Pneumonia Day.
Indo-US agreement on public stockpiling of food reached: Minister
Nov 13, 2014, at 05:04 pm
New Delhi, Nov 13 (IBNS): Union commerce minister Nirmala Sithamaran on Thursday said that India has reached an agreement with the United States on public stockpiling of food, media reports said.
Middle East: UN chief urges calm as Israeli-Palestinian tensions flare
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS):Amid an outburst of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesdayurged all parties to do everything they can to reduce the simmering hostilities and continue, through dialogue, on the path to peace.
Out of the 'darkness': UN War Crimes Commission records go public in Washington
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:17 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): On the heels of an announcement on Monday that the records of the United Nations War Crimes Commission were made open to the public for the first time in 70 years, a panel discussion examining the historical significance and potential use of the records was held this afternoon at UN Headquarters in New York.
Nigeria: UN agency reports ongoing refugee crisis amid Boko Haram threat
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:16 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): Thousands of Nigerians are escaping the deadly threat posed by the terrorist group Boko Haram and fleeing into neighbouring Cameroon, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned.
Libya: ICC Prosecutor warns court's work faces 'deleterious impact' of ongoing instability
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:15 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): A deteriorating security situation and growing political instability in Libya are creating an environment that "clearly cannot be conducive" to closing the impunity gap, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warned the United Nations Security Council today.
At UN, Palestinian-born designer uses fashion to show ‘another face’ of homeland
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:14 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): Through fashion – "a universal language" – Palestinian-born designer Jamal Taslaq unveiled his Fall-Winter collection at United Nations Headquarters in New York last night, spotlighting his long-troubled homeland, but also revealing "another face of Palestine," inspired and inspiring, yearning to be at peace.
Plan to 'freeze' conflict in Aleppo 'concrete, realistic,' says UN Syria envoy
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:13 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): The proposal to “freeze†the Syrian conflict in the besieged city of Aleppo is gaining traction, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria confirmed today, as he explained that the new plan, if successful, could form the basis of a wide-ranging peace proposal.
As funds dry up, UN agency warns of 'very tough' winter for displaced in Syria, Iraq
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:03 pm
New York, Nov 12(IBNS):An ongoing funding shortage coupled with a sharp growth in recent internal displacements is placing increasing pressure on United Nations efforts to assist millions of refugees across Iraq and Syria as they prepare for the onset of a long and cold winter, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned.
UN envoy lauds collective progress in Somalia, urges unity, stability from leaders
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:02 pm
New York, Nov 12( IBNS) Hailing the political and economic gains made in Somalia through the partnerships and collective efforts of Somalis and the international community, the United Nations envoy for the country urged political leaders there to resolve their differences or risk undermining the progress thus achieved.