UN concerned over destruction as floods strike Afghanistan
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): New flash floods in northern Afghanistan over the weekend have affected thousands of homes and washed away agricultural land and roads, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Tuesday, noting that the number of people affected by flooding nationwide now stands at 140,000.
Egypt: Ban voices hopes for democracy, stability after elections
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:11 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): Taking note of the official release of the results of the recent election in Egypt, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday voiced his hope that President-elect Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will support the people's aspirations for a stable and democratic country.
Ban praises contributions of Spain to UN
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Spain's Queen Sofia on Tuesday highlighted the continued need for girls' education, addressing the livelihood challenges faced by today's youth and continuing to combat intolerance, while the United Nations chief also recognized the contributions rendered by King Juan Carlos during his reign.
Altaf arrest: Nawaz directs High Commision to provide consular access
Jun 04, 2014, at 06:50 am
Islamabad, June 3 (IBNS) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday asked the Pakistani High Commission (HC) in London for providing consular access to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain who was arrested by the British police, media reports said.
Pakistan: PAF plane crashes, 4 killed
Jun 04, 2014, at 04:48 am
Karachi, June 3 (IBNS): A training jet of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed in Baldia town area of Karachi on Tuesday which left four people, including pilot and co-pilot, dead, media reports said.
UN concerned over food security situation in Somalia
Jun 03, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): The United Nations on Monday voiced increasing concern over the food security situation in Somalia, as food stocks from the previous harvest become depleted and prices continue to rise sharply, and the country experiences late rains and erratic weather patterns.
Pakistan: UN calls for measures to protect religious minorities
Jun 03, 2014, at 04:58 pm
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): Independent United Nations human rights experts on Monday called on Pakistan to adopt urgent measures to stop faith-based killings and ensure the security of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, whose faith is outlawed in the country.
Youth 2015: UN forum to shape future development agenda
Jun 03, 2014, at 04:57 pm
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): Young people from more than 1,000 youth organizations have gathered on Monday at United Nations Headquarters to add their voices to the ongoing discussion about a new global agenda that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Iraq: UN confirms reports of 2,200 killed, injured in May
Jun 03, 2014, at 04:52 pm
New York, Jun 3 (IBNS): Nearly 800 people were killed in Iraq during the month of May, the majority of them civilians, the United Nations mission in the country has confirmed, urging political leaders to form an inclusive government within the constitutionally mandated time frame and to find a sustainable solution to the situation in Anbar.
Lone US soldier freed in Afghanistan
Jun 01, 2014, at 06:22 pm
Washington, June 1 (IBNS): The only United States prisoner, who was in captivity of the Taliban militants in Afghanistan since the war in the country, was handed over to U.S. Special Operations forces on Saturday, in exchange of the freedom of five Taliban detainees.
UN envoy in South Sudan to step down after three years
May 31, 2014, at 05:45 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): The top United Nations envoy in South Sudan announced on Friday that she is stepping down from her post in July after leading the world body's efforts in the country for nearly three years.
CAR: UNSC condemns latest wave of violence
May 31, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): Strongly condemning the latest wave of fighting in the Central African Republic, including Wednesday's deadly attack in the capital, Bangui, on a church that was sheltering thousands of people, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday demanded that all armed groups put aside their weapons and take immediate steps "to end the cycle of violence and retaliation."
Toronto: Ban urges investment on health of women, children
May 31, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): Despite major global progress in improving the health of children and their mothers, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged participants at a summit in Toronto to show the leadership, build the key partnerships, generate the financing and devise the creative solutions needed to deliver a world of health, safety and possibility for every woman and every child.
UN warns of failure to refer Syria to international court
May 31, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts on Friday emphasized that the United Nations Security Council's inability to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) leaves the door wide open for new atrocities in the ongoing conflict.
UN advocates for higher tobacco taxes to save millions
May 31, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, the United Nations health agency is calling on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to encourage users to stop and prevent other people from becoming addicted to tobacco.
UN, China open door to carbon financing for herders
May 31, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): The United Nations agricultural agency on Friday announced that with Chinese partners, it has developed a new methodology which relies on soil sampling or computer modeling to measure the impact that restored grasslands have in mitigating climate change, and to help farmers tap into carbon markets.
UN welcomes new US Supreme Court death penalty ruling
May 31, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, May 31 (IBNS): Citing a new ruling issued by the United States Supreme Court, the United Nations human rights office on Friday touted this latest development as a watershed moment in the country's rulings regarding the use of the death penalty against people with mental and intellectual disabilities.
UN honours blue helmets, seeks adaptive peacekeeping force
May 30, 2014, at 05:47 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Hailing the "long and proud" history of United Nations peacekeeping - with over one million "blue helmets" having served in more than 70 operations on four continents since 1948 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the Organization on Thursday in honouring those men and women who lost their lives in the past year, while looking to the future, envisioning a modern, global force that can effectively tackle emerging peace and security challenges.
UNSC condemns attack at Jewish Museum in Brussels
May 30, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned "in the strongest terms" the recent terrorist attack against the Jewish Museum in Brussels, which resulted in loss of life and injuries and may have had a possible anti-Semitic motivation behind it.
Ban condoles death of celebrated African-American poet
May 30, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon mourned the death of celebrated African-American poet and author Maya Angelou, saying the United Nations owed her a particular debt of gratitude for the moving poem she wrote for the world body's 50th anniversary.
UN urges Morocco to expedite pending laws
May 30, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Morocco has made great strides towards the better promotion and protection of human rights, United Nations High Commissioner Navi Pillay said at the end of her first official visit to the country, but urged officials to approve pending draft laws and more robustly implement and enforce new legislation.
CAR: Ban deplores recent attacks, urges end to violence
May 30, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday strongly condemned the recent attacks in the Central African Republic (CAR) and encouraged the country's Transitional Authority to do everything within its means to prevent further violence and to hold the perpetrators to account.
UNSC extends missions in Abyei, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia
May 30, 2014, at 05:33 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei - an area contested by Sudan and South Sudan - as well as the missions assisting Guinea-Bissau and Somalia with their efforts to advance stability, security and development.
Troop contributions from non-traditional countries on rise: UN
May 30, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The United Nations keeps the peace in some of the world's most violent places, and increasingly its peacekeepers are from Member States that are first-time contributors to UN peacekeeping operations with military personnel or civilian staff.
UN welcomes African campaign to end child marriage
May 30, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Two United Nations agencies on Thursday welcomed the first campaign by the African Union to end child marriage, a practice that robs over 17 million girls - 1 in 3 - across the continent of their youth.
Lebanon: UNSC urges election amid presidential vacuum
May 30, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday voiced its disappointment and concern that the election for a new Lebanese President has not taken place within the constitutional timeframe.
UN concerned over ignored aid access in Syria
May 30, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Three months after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution aiming to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria, a senior United Nations official is once again appealing for rapid, unhindered and safe access to besieged Syrians.
UN condemns killing of pregnant Pakistani woman
May 29, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, May 29 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of a 25-year-old pregnant woman, who was stoned to death by her family as she approached a Pakistani court on Tuesday, and urged the Government to do much more to prevent such killings.
UN urges partners to break silence on open defecation
May 29, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, May 29 (IBNS): It is time to talk about open defecation, the United Nations declared on Wednesday, launching a new campaign to end the practice and improve access to toilets and latrines for the 2.5 billion people worldwide without basic sanitation.
UNESCO concerned by killing of news editor in Libya
May 29, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, May 29 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the killing of newspaper editor Meftah Bouzid in Libya earlier this week.