UN urges Mid-east parties to salvage peace efforts
Apr 30, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): In the wake of Israel's decision to break off talks with the Palestinians after a Fatah-Hamas unity deal, and amid a "volatile" situation on the ground with negative trends in the West Bank and a fragile calm in Gaza, a United Nations envoy on Tuesday challenged the parties to use this "moment of truth" to reflect on the hard choices required to keep peace from slipping further away.
Chemical watchdog to probe chlorine gas attacks in Syria
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:58 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday it will seek to "establish the facts" surrounding allegations of the use of chlorine in Syria, where it is already working jointly with the United Nations to rid the country of its chemical weapons.
Cote d'Ivoire: UNSC lifts diamond ban, tweaks arms embargo
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday voted unanimously to lift a ban on importing rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire and to partially lift the arms embargo, differentiating between lethal and non-lethal arms.
Maryland man sentenced for attempted sex trafficking
Apr 30, 2014, at 05:01 pm
Minneapolis, Apr 30 (IBNS) United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Maryland man convicted of attempted trafficking with respect to involuntary servitude and forced labor was sentenced on April 22, 2014, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Ukraine: UN urges efforts to achieve stability, peace
Apr 30, 2014, at 04:55 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Describing "alarming" developments in Ukraine - from the capture of European observers and the violent takeover of Government buildings by separatist groups, to the shooting of the mayor of a major eastern city - a senior United Nations official this evening appealed to all sides to "work expeditiously" at putting the crisis-torn country on the path to stability.
UN urges control of harmful chemicals in workplace
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:40 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): While chemicals can be useful, necessary steps should be taken to prevent and control potential risks for workers, workplaces, communities and the environment, the United Nations labour agency reported, marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
UN seeks high-level participation in conference on LLDC
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Under Secretary-General Gyan Chandra Acharya has welcomed the adoption of resolution calling for the active participation of all Member States in the Second UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), set to take place from 3-5 November 2014, in Vienna.
Kosovo: UN seeks justice for perpetrators of attack on European mission
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official on Monday condemned a recent attack on two vehicles belonging to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and called for ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Honduras: UN urges measures to protect children from sexual abuse
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Honduras must immediately adopt measures to effectively protect children, without discrimination, from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, an independent United Nations human rights expert has urged.
Ban seeks efforts to remove weapons of mass destruction
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Ten years after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took "bold action" to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for intensified efforts to remove the threat posed by these weapons and to prevent terrorists from acquiring them.
South Sudan: UN urges safety to allow displaced to return home
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to respect the cessation of hostilities in order to stem the suffering of ordinary civilians and to ensure that it is safe enough for those uprooted by months of violence to return to their homes.
UNSC highlights critical role of military in peace efforts
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday called on countries emerging from conflict and all those assisting them to prioritize the development of domestic police and national defence forces that maintain rule of law and respect human rights, in its first-ever stand-alone resolution on security sector reform.
UN joins Olympic Committee to promote sport in development
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): With Norwegian professional biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Boston Marathon male winner Meb Keflezighi watching on, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach on Monday signed an agreement between their respective organizations, marking an "historic step" in their cooperation to promote the role of sport in development and peace.
Egypt: Ban alarmed by recent mass death sentence
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced alarmed at the news that another preliminary mass death sentence has been handed down in Egypt, where more than 680 people were reportedly on trial, a topic he will raise later this week in a meeting with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nabil Fahmy.
Ukraine: Ban demands release of OSCE military monitors
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:11 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the detention of international military monitors and staff in Ukraine, and demanded that they be released "immediately, unconditionally and unharmed."
US: Man pleads guilty to federal voluntary manslaughter
Apr 29, 2014, at 05:02 pm
Albuquerque, Apr 29 (IBNS) Jason Yazzie, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Fruitland, New Mexico, pleaded guilty Monday morning to voluntary manslaughter and assault charges.
Tornadoes strike US, 16 killed
Apr 29, 2014, at 03:41 am
Arkansas, Apr 28 (IBNS): At least 16 people were killed as tornadoes hit south-central United States, media reports said on Monday.
Egypt court sentences 683 people
Apr 29, 2014, at 03:04 am
Cairo, Apr 28 (IBNS): An Egyptian court recommended death sentences for 683 people on Monday.
Ukraine: US announces fresh sanctions against Russia
Apr 29, 2014, at 02:57 am
Washington DC, Apr 28 (IBNS) Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the US announced fresh sanctions against Russia on Monday.
UN urges Syria to complete chemical weapons removal
Apr 28, 2014, at 04:47 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): Nearly eight percent of Syria's declared chemical weapons material remains on its territory and should be removed in the shortest possible timeframe, despite the difficult security situation, the head of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations on Sunday urged.
Pope Francis declares John XXIII, John Paul II as saints
Apr 27, 2014, at 08:25 pm
Vatican City, Apr 27 (IBNS): Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II as saints.
Ferry mishap: South Korean PM offers resignation
Apr 27, 2014, at 04:40 pm
Seoul, Apr 27 (IBNS): In the wake of the ferry mishap in the country which claimed over hundreds of lives, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won offered his resignation Sunday.
British chopper crashes in Afghanistan
Apr 27, 2014, at 04:30 am
Kabul/London, Apr 26 (IBNS): The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) on Saturday said a British helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday.
CAR: Ban names US diplomat as deputy head of UN mission
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:42 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday appointed Laurence D. Wohlers of the United States as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-Genera for the newly-created United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCa).
Ban marks Chernobyl anniversary, seeks support for recovery efforts
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): "This is an opportunity to pay tribute to the emergency workers who responded, remember the more than 330,000 people who were evacuated from contaminated regions, and stand in solidarity with the millions who still live in the affected areas in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine," said a statement issued by the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General.
UN urges Belarus to impose death penalty moratorium
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): An independent United Nations human rights expert on Friday urged authorities in Belarus, the only European nation that still retains the death penalty, to impose an immediate moratorium on the punishment and refrain from carrying out further executions.
CAR: UN concerned over children suffering from malnutrition
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): The number of children being treated for severe acute malnutrition in the Central African Republic's war-torn capital, Bangui, has tripled since the beginning of 2014, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed on Friday, predicting that more children are likely to suffer in the coming months.
UN concerned over conflict-related sexual violence
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): Despite the current unprecedented political will to eliminate sexual violence in conflict, hold perpetrators to account and support victims, the reality is that raping a woman, child or man is still a largely "cost-free" crime, United Nations officials warned on Friday, appealing to all States to strengthen their cooperation to end impunity and protect the vulnerable.
Ukraine: Ban urges diplomatic solution to crisis
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:15 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, warning that the situation could "spin out of control quickly," while the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that is opening a preliminary probe into alleged crimes of humanity committed in the country.
Afghanistan: UN condemns deadly attack on Kabul hospital
Apr 26, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the killing of three civilians by a gunman on Thursday at a private hospital in Kabul.