UN-backed tribunal sentences Khmer Rouge leaders to life in prison
Aug 08, 2014, at 01:49 pm
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS) A United Nations-backed court has found the two most senior surviving leaders of Cambodia's brutal Khmer Rouge regime guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to life in prison.
UN flags at half-mast to honour staff killed in Gaza conflict
Aug 08, 2014, at 01:46 pm
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS) The United Nations flag is flying at half-mast on Thursdayat the world body's New York Headquarters in memory of the UN staff members killed since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza on 8 July, and in solidarity with the families and friends of those injured.
Russia extends Snowden's asylum for 3 years
Aug 08, 2014, at 04:41 am
Moscow, Aug 7 (IBNS): The Russian government has extended the temporary asylum for former National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden for three years starting from Aug 1, reports said on Thursday.
Ahead of constitutional deadline, UN envoy calls on Iraq to form new government
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:55 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Iraq on Wednesday urged the country’s political leadership to set aside its difference and work together to form an inclusive government that could overcome "the grave challenges" faced.
South Sudan on brink of a 'humanitarian catastrophe,' warns senior UN peacekeeping official
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:54 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) A senior United Nations peacekeeping official on Wednesday warned that after just three years of independence, South Sudan is now on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted internal conflict.
Briefing UN Assembly, Ban urges political talks to end 'senseless cycle of suffering' in Gaza
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:53 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) As the temporary ceasefire continues to hold in Gaza, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday urged Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, and called on the 193 Member States to respond to calls for emergency humanitarian funding.
Ebola: emergency UN meeting underway as death toll surpasses 900
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:51 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) The UN health agency on Wednesday began an emergency meeting of international medical and health experts in Geneva to review the current Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa amid reports that new cases and deaths continue to be reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Japan's stance on 'comfort women' issue violates victims' rights – UN official
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:49 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday expressed profound regret that Japan has not provided effective redress to victims of wartime sexual slavery leading back to the end of the Second World War.
Tragic past of Hiroshima atomic bombing must inspire future free of nuclear weapons – Ban
Aug 07, 2014, at 03:46 pm
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS) Remembering all those who died in the bombing of Hiroshima and, later, Nagasaki, some 69 years ago, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that the atrocious memories of that tragedy must inspire new generations to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
Pakistan: Militants killed in drone attack
Aug 07, 2014, at 05:25 am
Peshawar, Aug 6 (IBNS) At least five militants were killed in a US drone attack in North Waziristan's Dattakhel area on Wednesday, media reports said.
Australia: Passengers join to tilt train, free man trapped against platform
Aug 07, 2014, at 02:02 am
Perth, Aug 6 (IBNS): In a show of unity, commuters on Wednesday helped to free a man after his leg was trapped between the platform and the train in western Australia.
Afghanistan: UN envoy praises international troops after deadly attack
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:48 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS)A “tragedy†is how the top United Nations official in Afghanistan summed up an attack on international forces on Tuesday outside of Kabul in which a man wearing an Afghan military uniform reportedly gunned down at least 15 troops, including a high-ranking officer.
Last group of Congolese refugees return to their homes in DR Congo:UN
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York , Aug 6 (IBNS) A final group of Congolese refugees have returned to their homes in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under a voluntary repatriation programme by the United Nations refugee agency.
Desperate Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram arriving on deserted island in Chad, UN warns
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:32 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday sounded the alarm on behalf of the nearly 1,000 people who recently arrived in the uninhabited Chadian island of Choua after fleeing attacks by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.
Iraq: UN expresses 'extreme concern' as Sinjar violence reportedly claims lives of 40 children
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:29 pm
Newe York, Aug 6 (IBNS) The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) expressed "extreme concern" on Tuesday over reports that some 40 children from northern Iraq’s Yazidi minority group died as a result of the violence being carried out in the Sinjar region by militants belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other armed groups.
UN peacekeepers in South Sudan headed to site of deadly attacks on aid workers
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:25 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) A unit of United Nations peacekeepers is heading to South Sudan’s Maban County after at least five South Sudanese humanitarian workers were killed earlier on Tuesday by a community-based self defence militia calling itself the Mabanese Defence Forces.
Tens of thousands of besieged Syrians receive food aid for first time, UN reports
Aug 06, 2014, at 06:06 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) More people in besieged and difficult-to-reach areas of Syria are getting food due to a Security Council resolution approved last month that allows delivery trucks to more easily cross borders and conflict lines, the United Nations emergency food agency on Tuesday confirmed.
UN rights office urges probe of alleged torture of 'Red Shirt' activist
Aug 06, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday called for an independent investigation into the alleged torture of Kritsuda Khunasen, a Thai student activist who was working for a key member of the “Red Shirts†group when she was detained and held in custody for nearly a month.
As Gaza ceasefire begins, UN Chief urges parties to commence peace talks in Cairo
Aug 06, 2014, at 04:33 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) Following the announcement on Monday of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all parties to commence talks in Cairo for a durable peace.
Manchester:Military jets escort plane to airport
Aug 06, 2014, at 05:14 am
Manchester, Aug 5 (IBNS): The Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat after Royal Air Force jets escorted a Qatar Airways plane to Manchester Airport here, the police said.
Afghan academy attack leaves U.S. general killed
Aug 06, 2014, at 04:59 am
Kabul, Aug 5 (IBNS): A US major-general was killed as a man, who was dressed in Afghan military uniform, attacked on International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in Kabul on Tuesday, media reports said.
South Sudan: After killing of aid worker in Bunj, UN calls for militias to be reined in
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:22 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan on Monday strongly condemned the killing of a humanitarian worker, as peace talks to end fighting in the world’s newest country resumed in Addis Ababa.
Ban urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to observe ceasefire agreement
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:21 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced his opposition to the renewed fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus, urging the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to respect a ceasefire agreement.
UNESCO chief denounces killing of Mexican journalist, urges investigation
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:20 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Monday denounced the killing of a Mexican television journalist in his hometown of Guadalupe, in the north-central part of the country.
UN aids response efforts in Nepal, India after monsoons trigger landslides
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:19 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS)With more than 200 people dead or missing, the United Nations and its partners are supporting the Governments of India and Nepal in search-and-rescue operations, and to care for thousands of people displaced by landslides triggered by monsoon rain.
Temporary ceasefire allows UN to restock water, food, following another school attack
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:17 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) Amid a seven-hour ceasefire announced by Israel in Gaza, the Unite Nations and aid partners are restocking supplies in schools and other buildings being used as temporary shelters for the nearly 270,000 displaced people throughout the Gaza Strip.
Afghanistan: UN urges respect for continuing audit as process resumes in Kabul
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:15 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The process to check thousands of ballot boxes in the Afghan presidential election run-off is now underway after several delays, the United Nations mission in the country confirmed, calling for local commitment to complete the audit without any more postponements.
Doctors, nurses and health staff urgently needed to combat ebola – UN health agency
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:06 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The United Nations health agency on Monday appealed for urgently needed contributions to combat the deadly Ebola disease in West Africa, saying hundreds of doctors, nurses, health staff and materials are needed in the region "as fast as possible."
As new parliament opens in Libya, UN mission renews calls for ceasefire
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:04 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The Libyan parliament convened for the first time on Monday, a move welcomed by the United Nations mission assisting the country which said it hopes that the politicians can lead the north African nation away from continuing bloody battles in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Ban deplores recent upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents since start of Gaza conflict
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:03 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks, particularly in Europe, in connection with protests concerning the escalation of violence in Gaza.