Ban urges laws to ensure dignity for elderly persons
Jun 16, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): Warning that elderly people in all societies can be vulnerable to physical, psychological and financial abuse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday appealed to the international community to adopt measures to address all aspects of this routinely under-acknowledged public health, social and human rights issue.
Ban condemns abduction of three Israeli youths
Jun 16, 2014, at 04:57 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the abduction of three Israeli students in the West Bank, urging everyone to exercise restraint and to support efforts for the release and safe return of the young people, who include two minors.
Afghanistan: UN condemns mutilation of voters in western province
Jun 16, 2014, at 04:55 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Afghanistan on Sunday strongly condemned what appears to be punishment doled out by the Taliban to nearly a dozen of people who had their index fingers cut off after voting in the presidential run-off.
UN urges China, G77 to unite for combating climate change
Jun 16, 2014, at 04:53 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): As the Group of 77 Summit ends on Sunday with a focus on creating a new sustainable development framework, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed to the G77 and China the importance of cooperation and partnerships to reduce inequality, end poverty and fight climate change.
Karachi airport attack mastermind killed?
Jun 16, 2014, at 03:56 am
Islamabad, June 15 (IBNS) The mastermind of the Karachi airport attack last week, Abu Abdul Rehman al Maani, was killed during air strikes carried out by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets and the Pakistan Army in the country's North Waziristan area on Sunday, media reports said.
Afghans vote in run-off election
Jun 15, 2014, at 03:24 am
Kabul, June 14 (IBNS): Defying Taliban threats, hundreds of Afghans exercised their franchise in a run-off vote to choose a new president of Afghanistan on Saturday.
Earthquake hits southern Indian Ocean, no casualty
Jun 15, 2014, at 01:51 am
Sydney, June 14 (IBNS) An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale hit he southern Indian Ocean on Saturday.
No combat troops to Iraq: Obama
Jun 14, 2014, at 05:20 pm
Washington, June 14 (IBNS): United States President Barack Obama has said he will "not send any troops back into combat in Iraq" but is seeking other options as insurgents continue to overrun the northern parts of the country.
Iraq: UN rights chief 'alarmed' by reported abuses
Jun 14, 2014, at 04:56 am
New York, June 13 (IBNS): As insurgents continue to overrun parts of northern Iraq, the United Nations human rights chief expressed "extreme alarm" on Friday at reports of summary executions and extrajudicial killings, and the massive displacement of some half a million people, many of whom are now in urgent need of shelter.
Jun 14, 2014, at 03:51 am
Baluchistan, June 13 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale hit southwestern Pakistan on Friday.
UN marks World Day Against Child Labour
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Thursday marked the World Day Against Child Labour by highlighting the crucial role of social protection in keeping boys and girls out of a heinous practice that robs them of their childhood and threatens their prospects for a better future.
UN deplores detention of rights defenders in Swaziland
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations experts on Thursday voiced serious concerns at the arrest, detention and prosecution of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and the editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine, Bheki Makhubu, in Swaziland.
UN calls for restoring calm along DR Congo-Rwanda border
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): Following clashes on Wednesday between the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, a senior United Nations official has called on both sides to restore calm in the border area of Kibumba.
DR Congo: UN applauds oil firm's decision to halt exploration
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): The United Nations agency that advocates for the protection of irreplaceable natural and cultural resources on Thursday welcomed as "a step in the right direction" the decision of British oil company Soco to halt oil exploration in ecologically rich but endangered Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ban urges action on sexual violence in conflict
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:26 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): Noting that sexual violence in conflict remains widespread, yet largely invisible, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for concerted efforts to "turn the tide" and rid the world of this scourge.
UN General Assembly reviews counter-terrorism strategy
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:24 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): As the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday began a review of its overall counter-terrorism strategy, a senior official urged Member States to take advantage of the opportunity "to make the UN more relevant" in the international effort to fight what he called "a destructive and deplorable malady."
Ban seeks political solutions to differences in Libya
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday encouraged all Libyans to remain engaged in the search for political solutions to resolve differences, while stressing the importance of the peaceful and timely holding of legislative elections later this month.
Iraq: UN swings into action on humanitarian fronts
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:19 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): With Iraq facing "the most serious threats to its security in years," the top United Nations official in the country reiterated on Thursday the Organization's support for the Iraqi Government's efforts to combat terrorist groups in the wake of the crisis sparked by the militant takeover of key cities in the north.
UN kicks off campaign as football World Cup opens in Brazil
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday to attend the opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as United Nations agencies carry out a number of projects and activities related to one of the greatest sporting events on the planet.
Afghanistan: UN urges broad participation in run-off election
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:15 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): As the Afghan people head toward a historic run-off presidential election that will culminate the country's first-ever democratic transfer of power, the top United Nations official there is encouraging them to actively participate in the polls, deliver the necessary change and help build a better future for their long-troubled nation.
Musharraf allowed to leave Pakistan
Jun 12, 2014, at 07:07 pm
Karachi, June 12 (IBNS) A Karachi court on Thursday allowed former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to leave the country.
Use of 'space tools' for sustainable development stressed by UN celestial committee
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:15 pm
New :York, June 12 (IBNS) Space-based information technologies must be fully integrated into the international efforts to overcome such challenges to sustainable development as climate change and food insecurity, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was told as it opened its annual session today in Vienna.
At global summit, UN urges reparations for victims of sexual violence in conflict
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:14 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) Victims of conflict-related sexual violence need help rebuilding their lives, the United Nations today said today, launching, at a global summit in London a set of guidelines on reparations for the individuals and the communities affected.
Safety of journalists essential to vibrant, democratic societies, UN rights chief stresses
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:11 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) “Sound, bold and independent†journalism is vital in any democratic society, the United Nations human rights chief declared Wednesday, stressing the need to ensure the safety of media workers, who have come under increasing attacks, harassment and intimidation over the past few years.
Global manufacturing output continues to climb in wake of recession, UN reports
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:10 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) World manufacturing is in a phase of steady growth due to the improved financial condition of industrialized countries, especially in Europe, and China’s continued growth, the United Nations Wednesday reported.
UN officials underscore need to counter appeal of terrorism
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:07 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) Critical to defeating terrorism and making the world a safer place is addressing conditions that give rise to this scourge, senior United Nations officials stated Wednesday, as they also underscored the need to better support the victims of such heinous acts.
General Assembly elects Ugandan Foreign Minister as President of 69th session
Jun 12, 2014, at 06:06 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) The United Nations General Assembly Wednesday elected by acclamation Sam Kahamba Kutesa of Uganda as President of its upcoming 69th session.
We must be prepared to invest more in peacekeeping: Ban to SC
Jun 12, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday told the United Nations Security Council that the international community must be prepared to invest in peacekeeping and peacebuilding at a “key moment for this flagship UN activity†as he highlighted new trends and approaches affecting operations, whose budget is approaching $8 billion.
Ban condemns Mali car bombing killing UN peacekeepers
Jun 12, 2014, at 05:48 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Wednesday's car bomb attack on a United Nations camp in Mali that resulted in the death of four peacekeepers from Chad.
Iraq: UN chief, SC deplore kidnapping of Turkish diplomats in Mosul
Jun 12, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, June 12 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council Thursday deplored the kidnapping of Turkish diplomats in the Iraqi city of Mosul, while the United Nations humanitarian arm reported that hundreds of thousands of people have fled the area amid rising violence.