Nepal bus mishap kills 18

Mar 17, 2015, at 02:58 am

Jumla, Mar 16 (IBNS): At least 18 people were killed as a passenger bus dropped 200 metres down the road in Nepal's in Jumla district on Monday, media reports said.

Pakistan protests against blasts targeting churches

Mar 17, 2015, at 02:20 am

Lahore, Mar 16 (IBNS): A day after twin blasts targeting churches in Lahore city left 15 people dead, the Christian community protested against the attacks in various cities of Pakistan on Monday, media reports said.

Health at very center of disaster risk reduction: WHO

Mar 16, 2015, at 02:18 pm

New York, Mar 16 (IBNS): The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, powerful storms in the Asia-Pacific region and ongoing conflicts in Syria and elsewhere are all stark reminders that health and stronger health system capacities must be central to the new framework for managing disaster risk currently being discussed in Sendai, Japan, senior United Nations health agency officials emphasized on Sunday.

Ban praises Sendai earthquake recovery system

Mar 16, 2015, at 02:17 pm

New York, Mar 16 (IBNS): Integrating disaster risk reduction into development can save lives and livelihoods, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he toured Sendai, Japan, which was devastated four years ago by an earthquake and tsunami but which today, following an impressive rebuilding effort, is a reminder to the world that “we must turn all of the painful lessons of disasters into new policies for a better future.”

UN relief agencies ramp up support to cyclone-hit Vanuatu

Mar 16, 2015, at 02:15 pm

New York, Mar 16 (IBNS): Amid reports that powerful Cyclone Pam has impacted at least half the population of Vanuatu, the country's President, attending a United Nations conference under way in Japan aiming to reduce disaster risk, appealed for international support in anticipation of large-scale needs.

2 Indonesian planes crash during practice, pilots safe

Mar 16, 2015, at 12:33 am

Langkawi , Mar 15 (IBNS) Two Indonesian Air Forces Jupiter Aerobatic planes crashed during a practice session before an air show on Malaysia's Langkawi island on Sunday, media reports said.

Singh holds bilateral meeting with Ministers of Japan and Russia

Mar 16, 2015, at 12:13 am

Sendai, Mar 15 (IBNS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Ministers of Japan and Russia during his visit to the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction at Sendai in Japan on Sunday.

Pakistan church blasts kill 15

Mar 16, 2015, at 12:12 am

Lahore, Mar 15 (IBNS) Twin blasts rocked the Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church at Lahore's Youhanabad area in Pakistan which left at least 15 people dead and 70 others injured on Sunday, media reports said.

Pakistan: 14 killed, 68 injured in twin blasts at Lahore churches

Mar 15, 2015, at 09:31 pm

Lahore, Mar 15 (IBNS): At least 14 people were killed and 68 others were hurt as twin blasts rocked the Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church at Lahore's Youhanabad area in Pakistan on Sunday, media reports said.

Pakistan: 6 killed in twin blasts at Lahore churches

Mar 15, 2015, at 07:15 pm

Lahore, Mar 15 (IBNS): At least six people were killed as twin blasts rocked the Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church at Lahore's Youhanabad area in Pakistan, media reports said.

UN responding to 'devastating' impact of Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, Pacific region

Mar 15, 2015, at 05:47 pm

New York, Mar 15 (IBNS)The United Nations announced on Saturday that it is taking all necessary steps to respond to the catastrophic impacts of a devastating tropical cyclone that affected most of Vanuatu over the past two days.

US shuts down embassy, consulates in Saudi Arabia over security concerns

Mar 15, 2015, at 05:37 pm

Riyadh, Mar 15 (IBNS): Citing 'heightened security concerns at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia', the U.S. Embassy and Consulates have cancelled all consular services in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran for Sunday and Monday, officials said.

Cyclone hits Vanuatu, several feared dead

Mar 15, 2015, at 05:27 am

Port Vila , Mar 14 (IBNS): Dozens are feared dead as super tropical cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu on Saturday, reports said.

In Japan, UN chief urges global solidarity to strengthen disaster resilience, boost development

Mar 15, 2015, at 03:00 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): With global leaders gathered in Sendai, Japan, to agree a new framework for managing disaster risk which will reduce mortality and curb economic losses, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday declared that responding to the world's growing needs requires empowering individuals, supporting communities and backing promises with resources.

Sendai: Critical role of women in building disaster resilience focus of event at UN conference

Mar 15, 2015, at 02:57 am

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS) Spotlighting the positive actions of women in planning and decision-making to make their communities safer before, during and after disasters strike, senior United Nations, Government and civil society representatives on Friday emphasized that risk reduction efforts can never be fully effective or sustainable if the needs and voices of women are ignored.

Fresh detention orders to put Lakhvi in jail for another one month

Mar 14, 2015, at 07:28 pm

Islamabad, Mar 14(IBNS) Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, acquitted by a court on Friday, will remain in jail for at least a month following a fresh detention order from the Home ministry of Punjab province in Pakistan.

21 drown in Myanmar ferry mishap

Mar 14, 2015, at 07:10 pm

Yangon, Mar 14(IBNS) At least 21 passengers were dead and 26 missing when a ferry sunk off the coast in western Myanmar's the Rakhine state, reports said on Saturday.

US watching developments on Lakhvi's release

Mar 14, 2015, at 04:18 pm

Washington, Mar 14(IBNS) The United States has said it is closely watching developments in Pakistan related to the release of 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

Former Maldives President Nasheed jailed for 13 years

Mar 14, 2015, at 03:44 pm

Male, Maldives, Mar 14(IBNS) former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has been sentenced to 13-year imprisonment by a criminal court under the anti-terrorism laws.

Sendai: World leaders gather for UN conference

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:55 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): World leaders are gathering for a United Nations conference in Sendai, Japan, to agree on a new framework for managing disaster risk which will reduce mortality and economic losses.

As Syria crisis enters fifth year, UN leaders urge end to conflict

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:54 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): World leaders must put their differences aside and work to bring about meaningful change in Syria, where the country’s ongoing brutal conflict is preparing to enter its fifth year, senior United Nations officials have urged.

UN ready to assist as Tropical Cyclone Pam threatens Vanuatu

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:52 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): As the pacific island nation of Vanuatu braces for Tropical Cyclone Pam, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday that it is standing by to assist the Government.

Suriname, Côte d’Ivoire moves away from death penalty: UN

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:51 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has welcomed the decision by the parliaments of Suriname and Côte d’Ivoire to eliminate capital punishment from their penal codes in a move, it said, that may prompt other countries in their regions to do the same.

UN spotlights key role of evaluation in new development agenda

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:49 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Evaluation will become more necessary for the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, a United Nations body said on Friday, as it launched a new publication highlighting the critical role of assessment in enhancing the UN’s effectiveness, cultivating change and empowering nations.

Haiti: UN mission welcomes proposed calendar for 2015 elections

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:34 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Haiti welcomed on Friday the formal proposal of a calendar for elections that have been delayed since 2011 and are scheduled to take place this year and looked forward to its prompt publication.

Myanmar: UN officials pledge humanitarian, development assistance

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:33 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): The United Nations remains committed to helping Myanmar achieve its humanitarian and development needs in order to boost living standards for all its citizens, top UN officials have declared during their visit to the Asian country.

UN: Young activists for gender equality ready to play active role

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:31 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Youth delegates such as Momal Mushtaq, a self-described “feminist” from Pakistan who was banned from riding a bicycle back home, and Tunisian women’s advocate Aya Chebbi, who declared that her “bold” generation was already today’s leaders, engaged in a lively dialogue with their senior counterparts on the side lines of the annual Commission on the Status of Women underway at the United Nations.

Libya cannot wait for solution: UN envoy

Mar 14, 2015, at 01:30 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): Meetings in Morocco arranged by the United Nations that brought together participants in the Libyan political dialogue have concluded on Friday, having covered substantive and procedural issues on the way forward.

Pakistan test fires drone 'Burraq'

Mar 14, 2015, at 04:40 am

Islamabad, Mar 13 (IBNS): Pakistan on Friday test-fired indigenous developed armed drone Burraq and laser guided missile Barq, officials said.

UN: Geena Davis warns 700 years to reach gender parity in kids’ media

Mar 13, 2015, at 01:21 pm

New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Actress Geena Davis on Thursday told a standing-room only event on gender and the media at the United Nations that the paucity of female characters in entertainment media for young children can be changed overnight, saying, “We don’t have to fix the ‘unconscious bias’ they are raised with later on. We can fix it from the very beginning.”