Ban urges all Afghans to vote in upcoming elections
Apr 04, 2014, at 05:50 pm
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he is encouraged by the technical and security preparations and broad public engagement for Afghanistan's upcoming elections and urged all of the country's citizens to take part in the historic polls which will be held on Saturday.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon cross one million mark: UN
Apr 04, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): Now in its fourth year, the Syrian conflict hit yet another bleak milestone on Thursday, as the United Nations refugee agency reported that the number of displaced seeking refuge in neighbouring Lebanon has passed the one million mark, putting more pressure on a host community that is already stretched to the breaking point.
UN seeks effort to prevent catastrophe in South Sudan
Apr 04, 2014, at 05:33 pm
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): With no political solution to the conflict that has torn South Sudan apart in sight, senior United Nations officials working in the country stressed on Thursday that they are in a "race against time" ahead of the rainy season to help prevent a health and hunger catastrophe.
UNSC concerned at deteriorating security situation in Darfur
Apr 04, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): Deeply concerned at the "considerable deterioration" of the security situation in Darfur over the past year, marked by ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Government and rebels, and an upsurge in inter-communal violence, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday endorsed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's revised strategic priorities for the joint African Union-UN mission in the long-restive western region of Sudan.
Pakistan denies reports of Taliban prisoners release
Apr 04, 2014, at 04:41 am
Islamabad, Apr 3 (IBNS): The Pakistan Prime Minister's office on Thursday dismissed reports that it has released prisoners belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Ban calls on States to join treaty regulating arms trade
Apr 03, 2014, at 06:14 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): Marking the first anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on all States that have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the instrument without delay to facilitate its entry into force.
Myanmar: UN concerned over aid disruption in Rakhine
Apr 03, 2014, at 06:10 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian wing is warning that life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Myanmar's Rakhine state have been seriously disrupted following the recent attacks on the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
UN launches study to assess status of cybersecurity
Apr 03, 2014, at 06:05 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): The United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) launched on Wednesday a unique initiative to measure the levels of cybersecurity in countries, underlining the agency's commitment to building Internet safety capacity at the national level, particularly in developing countries.
UN urges Afghans to vote in upcoming elections
Apr 03, 2014, at 05:59 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official on Wednesday urged Afghans to use this Saturday's presidential and provincial council elections to shape the future of the country through peaceful, democratic means.
Brussels: Ban spotlights crisis in Central African Republic
Apr 03, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): Stating that the world failed to stop the Central African Republic's slide "into a grave political, economic and humanitarian crisis," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged African and European leaders meeting in Brussels to act quickly to end the killing, protect civilians and prevent further inter-communal strife, including through the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force.
Palestine presents applications to join global conventions
Apr 03, 2014, at 05:50 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): The United Nations confirmed on Wednesday that Palestinian Authority officials have presented letters for accession to 15 international conventions and treaties.
Actress Connie Britton appointed UN goodwill ambassador
Apr 03, 2014, at 05:47 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): United States actress Connie Britton was appointed on Wednesday Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a special focus on poverty eradication and women's empowerment worldwide.
Musharraf survives assassination attempt
Apr 03, 2014, at 05:02 pm
Islamabad, Apr 3 (IBNS) Former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Thursday survived an assassination attempt as a bomb was blasted allegedly targetting his convoy while he was being shifted from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to his farmhouse in Chak Shehzad, said reports.
UN agency denounces murder of Egyptian journalist
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:53 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday denounced the recent murder of Egyptian journalist Mayada Ashraf and called on the Government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
UN seeks more peacekeepers following attacks in CAR
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): With the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui having relapsed into wider violence, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday urged States to support the world body's appeal for thousands more peacekeepers and police.
Ban marks genocide prevention as global responsibility
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:38 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): Addressing the International Conference on Genocide Prevention in Brussels, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday declared that defending human rights is a global responsibility, and called on all Governments to renew their commitment to vigilance and political will to prevent any mass atrocities from ever occurring again.
UN concerned over nutritional deficits in some countries
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:33 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a picture of persistent nutrition problems due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and stunted growth in its latest snapshot of the Europe and Central Asia.
UN seeks real-time flight data on Malaysian airline
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:22 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): In the wake of the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the ongoing hunt for the plane, the head of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on Tuesday committed the agency to the search for a real-time inflight communications system, drawing on new technology to help improve on the 50-year-old "black box" model.
Guinea-Bissau: UN stresses need for free, fair polls
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:17 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): The United Nations panel dealing with peacebuilding efforts in Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday welcomed the successful preparations for the country's upcoming legislative and presidential elections and called on all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring that the polls are free and fair.
South Sudan: UN concerned over harassment of staff
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): Amid growing humanitarian aid needs and despite recent assurances from the Government, the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) continues to report increasingly difficult working conditions due to movement restrictions and other harassments against its personnel and partners.
Nevada man pleads guilty to child porn charges
Apr 02, 2014, at 04:23 pm
Kansas City, Apr 2 (IBNS) Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Nevada, Missouri man who is a registered sex offender pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.
MH 370: Malaysia releases transcript
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:06 am
Kuala Lumpur, Apr 1 (IBNS):Malaysia on Tuesday released a transcript of the communications between the cockpit of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370, which was declared lost forever last month, and air traffic controllers and said there was no indication of anything 'abnormal' in it.
Russia's intervention in Ukraine condemned
Apr 02, 2014, at 04:31 am
Brussels, Apr 1 (IBNS): The Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on Tuesday condemned Russia's intervention in Ukraine."We, the Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, are united in our condemnation of Russia's illegal military intervention in Ukraine, and Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not recognize Russia's illegal and illegitimate 'annexation' of Crimea. We will continue to work together to reach a political and diplomatic solution which respects international law and Ukraine's internationally recognized borders," the NATO said in a statement on Tuesday.
Myanmar: Ban urges safety of humanitarian workers
Apr 01, 2014, at 06:47 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the Government of Myanmar to ensure the safety and security of all staff members and their property in the wake of recent attacks against the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Rakhine state.
UN denounces mass death sentences in Egypt
Apr 01, 2014, at 06:41 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): A group of eight United Nations human rights independent experts on Monday urged the Egyptian authorities to quash the 529 death sentences announced in Egypt last week and give the defendants new and fair trials, in line with international human rights law.
UN officials reach South Sudan amid hunger, displacement
Apr 01, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Senior United Nations relief officials began a visit to South Sudan on Monday to meet conflict-affected people and to review the ongoing response and needs amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis in the world’s youngest nation.
UN urges to abandon broken, reactive approach to aid
Apr 01, 2014, at 06:27 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Relief aid should anticipate and prevent – not just react and treat, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared on Monday in a new report that challenges humanitarian and development actors to change the way they operate, and aims to kick-start an urgent global dialogue on preventing crises through effective risk management.
UN to probe violence against women in UK
Apr 01, 2014, at 06:11 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Domestic and sexual violence, sexual bullying and harassment, forced and early marriages, and female genital mutilation – all these issues and more will be on the docket as the United Nations expert tasked with monitoring violence against women launched her first mission in the United Kingdom.
El Salvador: Ban commends turnout for presidential poll
Apr 01, 2014, at 05:57 pm
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon followed with keen interest the electoral process in El Salvador, whose outcome confirmed the election of Salvador Sanchez Ceren as President.
The Exxon Valdez, 25 Years After
Apr 01, 2014, at 07:44 am
Washington, Mar 31: On March 24, 1989--25 years ago today--the massive oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound. The ship was outbound from Port Valdez and carried 53 million gallons of crude oil; an estimated 11 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Alaska.