UN chief strongly condemns latest attacks on civilians in Syria
May 01, 2014, at 04:16 am
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned ‘in the strongest terms’ the latest attacks in Syria – which left dozens of civilians dead or wounded from mortar fire and shelling in neighbourhoods in Homs and Damascus – and called on the government and opposition groups to resist provocations that could undermine peace efforts.
MH370: Malaysia to release initial report tomorrow
May 01, 2014, at 03:50 am
Kuala Lumpur, Apr 30 (IBNS): Malaysia's acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Wednesday said preliminary report on the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 aircraft's disappearance will be released on Thursday.
Blast hits China railway station
May 01, 2014, at 01:38 am
Beijing, Apr 30 (IBNS): A blast hit a railway station in China's Urumqi on Wednesday.
Upcoming national elections important for Iraq: Ban
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:23 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has highlighted the importance of Wednesday's national elections for peace and stability in Iraq and called for creating the necessary conditions to enable all citizens to participate in the polls.
UN urges ratification of chemical weapons convention
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:21 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Marking the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President John Ashe on Tuesday urged the six reticent Member States to sign and/or ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention which aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
UN deplores Egypt's mass death sentences
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:19 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday strongly condemned the imposition of the death penalty on hundreds of people in Egypt, after mass trials that she said clearly breached international human rights law.
After deadly attack, UN urges safety for displaced in CAR
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:13 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): At least two people were killed and six others injured in the Central African Republic (CAR) after an attack on an 18-truck humanitarian convoy relocating 1,300 Muslims to safety in the country's north, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday confirmed, renewing calls for protection of displaced people.
South Sudan: UN provides aid to displaced civilians ahead of rains
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:11 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency is preparing to airlift relief supplies to South Sudan on Tuesday for 100,000 displaced people ahead of the rainy season, while the top UN relief official there is calling for a month-long truce to enable people to move around safely and cultivate their fields.
UN urges Maldives to repeal regulation on death penalty
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:08 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday voiced deep concern about a new regulation in the Maldives that effectively overturns a 60-year moratorium on the use of capital punishment in the country and allows for children as young as seven to be sentenced to death for certain crimes.
UNSC extends mandate of Western Sahara mission
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:06 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday extended for another year the mandate of the United Nations mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Western Sahara and organizing a referendum on self-determination for the people of the territory.
UN urges Mid-east parties to salvage peace efforts
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): In the wake of Israel's decision to break off talks with the Palestinians after a Fatah-Hamas unity deal, and amid a "volatile" situation on the ground with negative trends in the West Bank and a fragile calm in Gaza, a United Nations envoy on Tuesday challenged the parties to use this "moment of truth" to reflect on the hard choices required to keep peace from slipping further away.
Chemical watchdog to probe chlorine gas attacks in Syria
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:58 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday it will seek to "establish the facts" surrounding allegations of the use of chlorine in Syria, where it is already working jointly with the United Nations to rid the country of its chemical weapons.
Cote d'Ivoire: UNSC lifts diamond ban, tweaks arms embargo
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday voted unanimously to lift a ban on importing rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire and to partially lift the arms embargo, differentiating between lethal and non-lethal arms.
Maryland man sentenced for attempted sex trafficking
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:01 pm
Minneapolis, Apr 30 (IBNS) United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Maryland man convicted of attempted trafficking with respect to involuntary servitude and forced labor was sentenced on April 22, 2014, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Ukraine: UN urges efforts to achieve stability, peace
Apr 30, 2014, at 04:55 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Describing "alarming" developments in Ukraine - from the capture of European observers and the violent takeover of Government buildings by separatist groups, to the shooting of the mayor of a major eastern city - a senior United Nations official this evening appealed to all sides to "work expeditiously" at putting the crisis-torn country on the path to stability.
UN urges control of harmful chemicals in workplace
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:40 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): While chemicals can be useful, necessary steps should be taken to prevent and control potential risks for workers, workplaces, communities and the environment, the United Nations labour agency reported, marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
UN seeks high-level participation in conference on LLDC
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Under Secretary-General Gyan Chandra Acharya has welcomed the adoption of resolution calling for the active participation of all Member States in the Second UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), set to take place from 3-5 November 2014, in Vienna.
Kosovo: UN seeks justice for perpetrators of attack on European mission
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official on Monday condemned a recent attack on two vehicles belonging to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and called for ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Honduras: UN urges measures to protect children from sexual abuse
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Honduras must immediately adopt measures to effectively protect children, without discrimination, from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, an independent United Nations human rights expert has urged.
Ban seeks efforts to remove weapons of mass destruction
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Ten years after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took "bold action" to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for intensified efforts to remove the threat posed by these weapons and to prevent terrorists from acquiring them.
South Sudan: UN urges safety to allow displaced to return home
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to respect the cessation of hostilities in order to stem the suffering of ordinary civilians and to ensure that it is safe enough for those uprooted by months of violence to return to their homes.
UNSC highlights critical role of military in peace efforts
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday called on countries emerging from conflict and all those assisting them to prioritize the development of domestic police and national defence forces that maintain rule of law and respect human rights, in its first-ever stand-alone resolution on security sector reform.
UN joins Olympic Committee to promote sport in development
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): With Norwegian professional biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Boston Marathon male winner Meb Keflezighi watching on, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach on Monday signed an agreement between their respective organizations, marking an "historic step" in their cooperation to promote the role of sport in development and peace.
Egypt: Ban alarmed by recent mass death sentence
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced alarmed at the news that another preliminary mass death sentence has been handed down in Egypt, where more than 680 people were reportedly on trial, a topic he will raise later this week in a meeting with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nabil Fahmy.
Ukraine: Ban demands release of OSCE military monitors
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:11 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the detention of international military monitors and staff in Ukraine, and demanded that they be released "immediately, unconditionally and unharmed."
US: Man pleads guilty to federal voluntary manslaughter
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:02 pm
Albuquerque, Apr 29 (IBNS) Jason Yazzie, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Fruitland, New Mexico, pleaded guilty Monday morning to voluntary manslaughter and assault charges.
Tornadoes strike US, 16 killed
Apr 29, 2014, at 03:41 am
Arkansas, Apr 28 (IBNS): At least 16 people were killed as tornadoes hit south-central United States, media reports said on Monday.
Egypt court sentences 683 people
Apr 29, 2014, at 03:04 am
Cairo, Apr 28 (IBNS): An Egyptian court recommended death sentences for 683 people on Monday.
Ukraine: US announces fresh sanctions against Russia
Apr 29, 2014, at 02:57 am
Washington DC, Apr 28 (IBNS) Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the US announced fresh sanctions against Russia on Monday.
UN urges Syria to complete chemical weapons removal
Apr 28, 2014, at 04:47 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): Nearly eight percent of Syria's declared chemical weapons material remains on its territory and should be removed in the shortest possible timeframe, despite the difficult security situation, the head of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations on Sunday urged.