Yemen: UN relief official alarmed as renewed clashes displace thousands in country's north
Jul 10, 2014, at 04:14 pm
New York, July 10 (IBNS) The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen has voiced alarm at the recent escalation of violence in Amran Governorate which has displaced thousands of families in the past few days.
UN in Central African Republic condemns attack on civilians sheltering in church
Jul 10, 2014, at 04:13 pm
New York, July 10 (IBNS): In what it termed a “brutal†attack, the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday condemned the killing of dozens of displaced people at the site of Saint Joseph Cathedral and the Bishop's residence in Bambari.
UNESCO highlights freedom of expression, media development in new report
Jul 10, 2014, at 04:01 pm
New York, July 10 (IBNS) "Tectonic shifts" in technology are having mixed results for freedom of expression and media development – sparking unprecedented creativity and dialogue, while also ushering in increased use of censorship policies and measures that do not comply with international norms – the United Nations cultural agency reports in a study being launched on Wednesday at Headquarters.
Challenges facing Lebanon highlight urgent need to fill presidential vacuum: UN envoy
Jul 10, 2014, at 04:00 pm
New York, July 10 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Lebanon on Wednesday stressed the urgent need for the country's leaders to agree on the election of a new president as soon as possible in light of the situation on the ground, which is marked by renewed terrorist threats and the growing refugee population resulting from the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
New fish drying method in Burundi improves lives for local communities: UN
Jul 10, 2014, at 05:51 am
New York, July 10 (IBNS) It was a simple adjustment – drying fish on raised racks instead of the sand – but the United Nations food agency project in Burundi has cut fish waste by half, provided jobs for hundreds of families and sparked a surge in the prices for the small sardine-like ndagala.
UN envoy condemns Al-Shabaab attack on Somali presidential palace
Jul 10, 2014, at 05:46 am
New York, July 10 (IBNS) The top United Nations envoy in Somalia has condemned last night’s attack on the seat of the Federal Government in Mogadishu, the latest in a series of attacks by Al-Shabaab militants against the country’s political institutions.
Jul 10, 2014, at 05:44 am
New York, July 10 (IBNS) The nature of the Afghan conflict has added yet another grim dimension as ground combat among the warring parties surpassed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as the leading cause of conflict-related death and injury to Afghan civilians in the first six months of 2014, the United Nations reported on Wednesday.
Girl commits suicide in Nepal after Brazil's WC defeat
Jul 10, 2014, at 02:53 am
Kathmandu, July 9 (IBNS) A girl, who is a huge fan of Brazil, committed suicide in Nepal's Sunsari district after the side was crushed in the Word Cup semi-final by Germany on Wednesday, media reports said.
N Korea fires '2 short-range ballistic missiles'
Jul 09, 2014, at 05:55 pm
Seoul, July 9 (IBNS): South Korea on Wednesday said North Korea fired off two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea from an inland site on Wednesday.
Latest boat tragedy off Libya coast spotlights rising Mediterranean death toll: UN
Jul 09, 2014, at 04:11 pm
New York, July 9 (IBNS): Search and rescue operations are ongoing for survivors following a recent boat accident in the Mediterranean, the latest tragic incident off the Libyan coast of Tripoli, according to the United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR).
Escalating violence in Central African Republic threatens aid delivery: UN agency
Jul 09, 2014, at 04:10 pm
New York, July 9 (IBNS): Warning about the deteriorating situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday that the violence there was threatening humanitarian assistance and creating major difficulties for relief workers in the field.
UN to mark 100 years since start of World War I
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:14 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS): Commemorating the 100th year anniversary of the beginning of First World War, the United Nations is holding an event at its Headquarters on Tuesday remembering the devastating catastrophe of the “war to end all wars†and its seminal lessons for promoting building peace and reconciliation.
UN condemns suicide attack in Afghanistan
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:13 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Afghanistan on Tuesday condemned a suicide bombing in the central province of Parwan which killed at least 10 children and injured six others, warning that such indiscriminate attacks could amount to international humanitarian law violations.
Ban calls for end to 'man-made crisis' in South Sudan
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:10 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS): On the occasion of the third anniversary of South Sudan's independence,UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on the country’s leaders to live up to the expectations of their people, lay down their arms and return immediately to negotiations to end the ongoing crisis.
Ban urges maximum restraint amid 'dangerous escalation of violence' in Gaza
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:08 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS): With militants in the Gaza Strip stepping up rocket attacks against Israel, and Israeli airstrikes on the enclave intensifying, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said that he is ‘extremely concerned†by the escalating violence, and reiterated his call on all actors to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further civilian casualties and overall destabilization
UN widens its same-sex marriage policy to include all legally-married staff
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:06 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS): The United Nations is changing how it categorizes staff personal status, allowing more same-sex couples access to the same benefits enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts.
UN agency dismayed as Thailand deports Laotian refugee at risk of mistreatment
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:05 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday spoke out against the deportation of a Laotian man from Thailand back to his homeland, where he could face harsh treatment amounting to persecution.
West Africa: UN envoy cites region’s daunting challenges, Boko Haram threat to Nigeria
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:04 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS) While countries in West Africa are trying to promote development and consolidate democracy, they continue to face daunting challenges such as transnational organized crime and growing terrorist activities, the top United Nations official in the region told the Security Council on Tuesday, while also warning of the increasing threat the Boko Haram crisis poses to Nigeria.
Syrian refugee mothers in 'spiral of hardship', UN reports
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:02 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS) One in four of all Syrian refugee families in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan are headed by women who, on their own, are struggling to make ends meet and take care of their increasingly traumatized families, the United Nations on Tuesday reported, calling for more resources to aid these single mothers.
UN rights office 'deeply disturbed' over Australia's handling of Sri Lanka asylum seekers
Jul 09, 2014, at 07:01 am
New York, July 9 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday that is "deeply disturbed" that Australian authorities on Sunday returned to Sri Lanka 41 people seeking asylum, apparently without adequate screening of their protection claims and needs.
Typhoon lashes Japan's Okinawa Islands
Jul 09, 2014, at 03:05 am
Tokyo, July 8 (IBNS) A typhoon lashed Japan's southernmost island prefecture of Okinawa, making people to seek shelter while all flights and ferry services were cancelled on Tuesday, reports said.
Ukraine: Amidst intensified military offensive, Ban condemns violence against civilians
Jul 08, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, July 8 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the "continued, unlawful" acts of armed fighters in Ukraine after reports that they are regrouping in eastern provinces, and urged Ukrainian authorities to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians.
Ban praises late Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze
Jul 08, 2014, at 06:41 am
New York, July 8 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday praised former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze for contributing to efforts to overcome the divisions of the Cold War.
UN voices concern after Australia returns asylum-seekers intercepted at sea to Sri Lanka
Jul 08, 2014, at 06:40 am
New York, July 8 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday voiced deep concern after Australia handed over some 41 asylum-seekers to Sri Lanka after intercepting them at sea, and highlighted its unease with shipboard processing of protection clai
UN calls on Iraqi leaders to agree on Speaker, hold next Parliament session
Jul 08, 2014, at 06:39 am
New York, July 8 (IBNS): Ahead of on Tuesday's elections, the United Nations envoy for Iraq has called on the country’s political leaders to reach an agreement on a Speaker for the Council of Representatives as soon as possible.
Urging Somali unity, UN envoy deplores 'murderous campaign' being waged by Al-Shabaab
Jul 06, 2014, at 06:05 am
New York, July 5 (IBNS): Condemning this morning's attempted attack on Somalia's Parliament, the United Nations envoy to the country has called on all Somalis to unite with the authorities to thwart future attacks and "bring to justice those behind this murderous campaign" of terror that has intensified since the start of Ramadan.
China: Bus fire leaves 29 injured
Jul 06, 2014, at 03:18 am
Hangzhou, July 5 (IBNS) At least 29 people were injured as the bus in which they were traveling caught fire in China's Hangzhou city on Saturday.
Pakistan: Militants killed in air strike
Jul 06, 2014, at 03:10 am
Rawalpindi, July 5 (IBNS) Pakistan on Saturday said 'score of terrorists' were killed during air strikes in Pakistan's North Waziristan area early Saturday.
Afghanistan: Oil tankers torched outside Kabul
Jul 06, 2014, at 12:58 am
Kabul, July 5 (IBNS) The Taliban has said they have carried out a rocket attack on oil tankers in Paghman district outside Afghanistan capital Kabul on Friday, media reports said on Saturday.
UN rights chief urges all sides in eastern Ukraine to 'turn away from destructive path'
Jul 05, 2014, at 06:29 pm
New York, July 5 (IBNS) Amid fresh deadly clashes in eastern Ukraine, destruction of civilian infrastructure and “utterly reprehensible†incitement to violence targeting women and underage girls, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday urged all sides to engage in dialogue and "turn away from the destructive path" towards which they are leading the crisis-torn region.