Persistent vulnerability threatens human development, warns flagship UN report
Jul 25, 2014, at 04:51 pm
New York, July 25 (IBNS)Reducing vulnerability and strengthening resilience are critical to securing human development progress, the United Nations says in a flagship report released on Thursday that examines the risks posed by natural or human-induced disasters and crises and offers ways to tackle them.
Algeria airliner goes missing with 116 people on board
Jul 25, 2014, at 12:20 am
Algiers, July 24 (IBNS): Algeria's national airline Air Algerie on Thursday said that it has lost contact with one of its planes, with 110 passengers and six crew members on board, while flying from Burkina Faso to Algiers across the Sahara.
Libya: Security Council condemns ongoing violence and its use to pursue political gains
Jul 24, 2014, at 04:06 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS)The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned once again the continued violence in Libya, including the fighting around Tripoli International Airport, and reaffirmed that violence must not be used to pursue political goals.
Afghanistan to resume election audit on Thursday, UN confirms
Jul 24, 2014, at 04:03 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) The physical audit of the votes cast in Afghanistan’s run-off presidential election is due to resume on Thursday, the United Nations on Wednesday confirmed after a meeting with Afghan electoral commission officials.
Iraq: UN envoy demands Islamist forces end ‘horrific terrorist acts’
Jul 24, 2014, at 04:00 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Iraq called on Wednesday on the Security Council to demand that the Islamist forces – in control of more than a third of the country's territory – cease all hostilities and to ensure that those responsible for "horrific terrorist acts" are held to account.
Ban appoints former head of UN Liberia mission to lead operation in South Sudan
Jul 24, 2014, at 03:57 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Wednesday announced the appointment of Ellen Margrethe LØj of Denmark as his top official in South Sudan, replacing Hilde Johnson.
Abducted Nigerian schoolgirls not forgotten, UN chief declares as worldwide vigils begin
Jul 24, 2014, at 03:55 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) Marking 100 days since the brazen abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko Haram terrorists, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his call for their immediate release, while expressing his full support for the worldwide vigils taking place on Wednesday.
As civilian casualties rise in Gaza, UN Rights Council agrees probe into alleged 'war crimes'
Jul 24, 2014, at 03:52 pm
New York, July 23 (IBNS)The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday decided to launch an independent inquiry into purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
UN allocates $75 million to boost aid operations in the Sahel, Horn of Africa
Jul 24, 2014, at 03:49 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) The United Nations humanitarian chief on Wednesday allocated $75 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to bolster desperately needed relief operations in two of the world’s most neglected regions: the West African Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
In Jerusalem, Ban meets with Israeli, US officials, reiterates call for Mid-East ceasefire
Jul 24, 2014, at 06:43 am
New York, July 23 (IBNS) The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Israeli and United States officials on Wednesdayin Jerusalem and called for an immediate ceasefire as the war enters its 16th day.
British MP 'apologises' for Gaza tweet
Jul 24, 2014, at 06:42 am
London, July 23 (IBNS) British MP David Ward, who had triggered a controversy by saying that he would fire a rocket at Israelis from Gaza, has apologised for his comments.
"Hamas has fired more than 2160 rockets at Israel"
Jul 24, 2014, at 06:18 am
Jerusalem, July 23 (IBNS): Israel on Wednesday said Hamas has fired more than 2160 rockets at Israel since the start of Operation Protective Edge earlier this month, forcing some 6 million Israeli civilians to live under the threat of rocket attacks.
Plane crashes in Taiwan during emergency landing, 51 feared dead
Jul 24, 2014, at 01:41 am
Taipei, July 23 (IBNS): At least 51 people are feared dead as a plane crashed in Penghu in Taiwan due to a failed emergency landing on Wednesday, reports said.
UN working group proposes ambitious future development agenda
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:20 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) Member States have forwarded to the United Nations General Assembly a set of proposed goals that consider economic, social and environmental dimensions to improve people’s lives and protect the planet for future generations.
UN rights expert praises Cambodia's political agreement, urges promised reforms
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:19 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS)The United Nations expert on the situation of human rights in Cambodia on Tuesday welcomed the agreement reached between the two main political parties in the country, which was followed by the release of the opposition party members arrested last week.
On visit to Israel and West Bank, Ban calls for end to current fighting, return to dialogue
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:18 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on Israelis and Palestinians to stop the fighting that has been raging for the past two weeks and return to dialogue with the aim of addressing the underlying causes of the cycles of violence that continue to plague them.
Urgent action needed to protect children against polio in Syria, Iraq and region: UN
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:16 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) Having just completed the first phase of the biggest polio vaccination campaign ever undertaken in the Middle East, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned that unless children in hard-to-reach areas are also vaccinated, the number of those infected will continue to rise.
Amid multiple crises, UN agency massively scales up humanitarian aid delivery by air
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:15 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The escalation of international conflicts in the first half of 2014 prompted a 50-fold surge in the amount of humanitarian cargo transported by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), compared to the same period last year.
Security Council denounces persecution of minorities in northern Iraq
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:14 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council has denounced the persecution of Christians and other minority groups in northern Iraq, which used to be home to minority communities that had lived together for hundreds of years before coming under direct attack by the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its allies.
UN agency renews call on donors to support Central African Republic refugees
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:13 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called on donors to increase funding for programmes in neighbouring countries hosting refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR).
New UN data shows need for urgent action to end female genital mutilation, child marriage
Jul 23, 2014, at 07:10 am
New York, July 22 (IBNS) New data released on Tuesday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows the need for urgent action to end female genital mutilation and child marriage – two practices that affect millions of girls across the globe.
INTERPOL response team starts identification process of flight MH 17 victims
Jul 23, 2014, at 06:19 am
Kharkiv, July 22 (IBNS): The INTERPOL on Tuesday said the members of its Incident Response Team (IRT) at Kharkiv in Ukraine have started the disaster victim identification (DVI) process following the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17.
Over 2060 rockets fired at Israel from Gaza: Israel
Jul 23, 2014, at 01:07 am
Jerusalem, July 22 (IBNS): Israel on Tuesday said since the start of Operation Protective Edge, over 2,060 rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza, striking at the civilian population throughout the country, from north to south.
Ban urges Central Africans to seize reconciliation talks to usher in era of peace
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:48 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged the people of Central African Republic (CAR) to seize the opportunity of talks taking place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to advance reconciliation and "open a new page in their history."
Security Council condemns downing of Malaysian airliner, calls for international probe
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:42 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The Security Council on Monday called for an international investigation into last week’s downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger flight in eastern Ukraine, and demanded that armed groups allow unfettered access to the crash site and ensure that its integrity is maintained.
Impunity leads perpetrators to continue child rights violations in DR Congo: UN report
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:35 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The recruitment and use of children by armed groups remained endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2010 and 2013, according to a new United Nations report, which cited impunity as a major factor in the ongoing abuses.
Gaza: UN issues emergency appeal, begins airlift to meet urgent humanitarian needs
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:29 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees has issued an emergency appeal for $60 million to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza, including tens of thousands who have fled their homes in the wake of the current Israeli military offensive.
Ban urges all parties to rally around efforts to end bloodshed, obtain Israel-Gaza ceasefire
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:21 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged all parties to rally around collective international efforts to obtain an end to two weeks of bloodshed in Gaza and Israel and reach a ceasefire, as he continued his visit to the region with a stop in Cairo.
'Indigenous peoples' must feature in new global development agenda, stress UN experts
Jul 22, 2014, at 06:13 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS) The new global sustainable development agenda that Members States are currently working on must include specific references to indigenous peoples and the challenges they face, a group of United Nations experts stated on Monday.
Prince George celebrates his first birthday
Jul 22, 2014, at 05:25 pm
London, July 22 (IBNS): Prince George is celebrating his first birthday on Tuesday.