Mali: UN seeks continued support for peace and stability
Apr 24, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, Apr 24 (IBNS): Calling for continued cooperation with regional organizations to support Mali's steady efforts towards peace and stability through inclusive talks, a senior United Nations official on Wednesday told the UN Security Council that despite progress, the security situation in the country's restive north remains "very fragile" with increased activity by terrorist groups.
UN reaffirms support to peacebuilding in Somalia
Apr 24, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Apr 24 (IBNS): The top United Nations envoy in Somalia on Wednesday called on the country's international partners to boost support to aid peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts there, while reaffirming that the world body has no plans to withdraw amid attacks by Al-Shabaab militants.
DR Congo: UN pledges support to upcoming polls
Apr 24, 2014, at 05:35 pm
New York, Apr 24 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will provide technical and logistical support for upcoming elections, the top UN official in the country on Wednesday confirmed, stressing that the planning for the polls must be well organized and well-funded.
South Korean ferry mishap: Death toll crosses 150
Apr 24, 2014, at 04:11 am
Seoul, Apr 23 (IBNS): The death toll from the ferry mishap in South Korea has touched more than 150 people media reports said on Wednesday.
UNESCO denounces killing of journalist in Philippines
Apr 23, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has denounced the killing of journalist Rubylita Garcia and called on authorities in the Philippines to investigate the case.
UN urges respect for rights of persons with disabilities
Apr 23, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): People with disabilities have the same rights as everyone to make decisions about their lives, including the right to take risks and make mistakes, a United Nations committee has stressed in new guidelines.
Somalia: UN condemns murder of second lawmaker
Apr 23, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): Following the murder earlier on Tuesday of Somali parliamentarian Abdiaziz Isaaq Mursal - the second lawmaker to be killed in less than 48 hours in Mogadishu - the top United Nations official in the country strongly condemned the incident and pledged the world body's resolve in standing by the Somali people as they worked to build a stable, peaceful country.
South Sudan: UN concerned over surging violence, malnutrition
Apr 23, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): Confirming that children were killed in South Sudan during recent brutal attacks on displaced civilians or as a result of being recruited by armed groups, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that the surging violence is exacerbating an already "very dangerous" malnutrition crisis.
UN condemns murder of Somali parliamentarian
Apr 22, 2014, at 05:02 pm
New York, Apr 22 (IBNS): The top United Nations envoy in Somalia on Monday condemned the murder of parliamentarian Isaak Mohamed Rino and called for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice.
South Sudan: UN condemns ethnic killings in Bentiu
Apr 22, 2014, at 04:59 pm
New York, Apr 22 (IBNS): Opposition forces in South Sudan killed "hundreds of South Sudanese and foreign civilians" after determining their ethnicity or nationality when they captured Bentiu last week, the United Nations confirmed on Monday, calling for an immediate stop to the targeting of "innocent, unarmed" civilians.
Iraq: UN denounces attack on university in Baghdad
Apr 22, 2014, at 04:55 pm
New York, Apr 22 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has denounced the "vicious and cowardly" suicide attack that took place on Sunday against the Imam Kadhim University in the capital, Baghdad.
UN warns Syria against holding election amidst crisis
Apr 22, 2014, at 04:43 pm
New York, Apr 22 (IBNS): Urging Syrian authorities to reconsider plans to conduct a presidential election in early June, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Joint UN-League of Arab States Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday pledged to continue to seek and build on any opportunity to resolve the country's three-year civil war.
MH192 returns safely to Kuala Lumpur
Apr 22, 2014, at 02:18 am
Kuala Lumpur, Apr 21 (IBNS): Malaysia Airlines on Monday said its flight MH192, which departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 10.09 pm bound for Bangalore earlier, had turned back and landed safely in KLIA on Monday.
South Korean ferry sinking: Death toll touches 56
Apr 21, 2014, at 02:06 am
Seoul, Apr 20 (IBNS) More bodies were recovered on Sunday from inside the capsized South Korean ferry taking the death toll to 56, media reports said.
7.5 earthquake hits Papua New Guinea
Apr 20, 2014, at 06:54 am
Port Moresby, Apr 19 (IBNS): A strong earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale struck off Papua New Guinea on Saturday.
South Korea ferry: Death toll touches 32
Apr 20, 2014, at 03:20 am
Seoul, Apr 19 (IBNS): The death toll in the ferry sinking tragedy in South Korea on Wednesday touched 32 on Saturday, media reports said.
South Sudan: UNSC condemns latest attacks against civilians
Apr 19, 2014, at 04:54 pm
New York, Apr 19 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday voiced its outrage at the recent attacks by armed groups in South Sudan that have purposefully targeted civilians as well as the United Nations peacekeeping mission sites and personnel.
Apr 19, 2014, at 04:00 am
Mexico City, Apr 18 (IBNS): A strong earthquake measuring 7.2 on the richter scale rocked central and southern Mexico on Friday.
S Korea: Arrest warrant sought for ferry captain
Apr 19, 2014, at 03:43 am
Seoul, Apr 18 (IBNS): Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant against the captain of the ferry which sank earlier this week leaving above 20 people killed, media reports said on Friday.
Western Sahara: UN announces resumption of family visit flights
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency announced on Thursday that following many months of suspension, family visit flights between Sahrawi refugees living in camps near Tindouf, Algeria, and their families in the territory of Western Sahara has resumed.
Kenya: UN disturbed by arrests of Somali refugees
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): The United Nations on Thursday voiced concern over the arrest and detention of over 1,000 refugees and asylum-seekers who were rounded up during counter-terrorism operations launched by Kenyan security forces in Nairobi this month.
UN urges fresh talks with besieged Syrians, authorities
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): Regretting the abrupt halt in talks between the Syrian authorities and the negotiating committee representing civilians and fighters trapped in the Old City of Homs, United Nations-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Thursday urged all the parties to return to the negotiating table and complete the deal that had been on the verge of being signed.
Gaza: UN calls for end to Israeli blockade
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:23 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): On his first official visit to the Gaza Strip, the new head of the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East underscored the need to lift the seven-year Israeli blockade and end the "illegal collective punishment" unleashed on the population there.
South Sudan: Ban condemns attack on UN base in Jonglei
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:19 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): Amid escalating violence in northern and central South Sudan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Thursday's attack on civilians and peacekeepers at the UN mission base in Bor, the war-torn capital of Jonglei state, by a mob of armed civilians who forced their way into the facility and opened fire on displaced persons sheltering inside.
Geneva: Ban welcomes initial talks to defuse Ukraine crisis
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said he was encouraged by the initial round of diplomatic negotiations on the crisis in Ukraine held in Geneva, but stressed that all sides need to follow up words with deeds as the situation remains 'extremely volatile.'
CAR: Ban calls on all parties to end fighting
Apr 18, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, Apr 18 (IBNS): On the heels of his recent visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), where the deadly rift between Christians and Muslims continues to widen, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday in a radio message appealed to all Central Africans to build a unified country through peace.
UN urges UK to address violence against women
Apr 17, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): Violence against women remains a pervasive challenge in the United Kingdom and a more comprehensive and targeted response is needed to address the scourge, an independent United Nations human rights expert said on Wednesday after a two-week mission to the country.
Nigeria: UN seeks immediate release of abducted school girls
Apr 17, 2014, at 05:48 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have condemned the abduction of some 100 school girls from their hostel in north-eastern Nigeria on Tuesday and called for their immediate release.
Argentina violated rights of prisoner with disabilities: UN
Apr 17, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights panel said on Wednesday that Argentine authorities failed to ensure that a prisoner with disabilities was able to use prison facilities and services on an equal basis with other detainees, and urged them to take steps to rectify the situation.
UNSC marks 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide
Apr 17, 2014, at 05:35 pm
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide by calling on all countries to recommit to prevent and fight such serious crimes, as a senior United Nations official warned that many of on Wednesday's conflicts reveal that protection of populations from atrocities remains "lagging and elusive."