Libya: UN urges action on political, security fronts
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:23 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): Citing aerial attacks, use of heavy weaponry and civilian casualties in Benghazi and elsewhere in eastern Libya, the United Nations on Wednesday called for an end to the bloodshed and urged the country's officials to agree on precise means to counter terrorism and other challenges to security and state authority.
Syria: UN focuses on removal of remaining chemicals
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): Given that the Jun 30, 2014 deadline for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme will not be met, the focus now is on the immediate removal of the remaining materials, the head of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) said on Wednesday.
UN launches 'Tacloban Declaration' to strengthen disaster readiness
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): As the Philippines continues to rebuild from Typhoon Haiyan, the top United Nations official on disaster risk reduction is among the more than 150 representatives, mostly from Asia and Europe, participating in a conference that will detail new policies and principles involving disaster preparation.
UN concerned over rising levels of violence in Syria
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:16 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): The demand by the UN Security Council for aid access to war-torn Syria has not produced the intended result, the United Nations humanitarian chief said on Wednesday, while warning that the needs of those affected are rising steadily as the conflict rages on.
UN seeks support for Colombians affected by conflict
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): Thousands of people are forcibly displaced and hundreds killed every month in Colombia, a senior United Nations humanitarian official on Wednesday said, calling for more support for people affected by five decades of armed conflict and natural disasters in the country.
Somalia: UN urges emergency funding through summer
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian chief on Wednesday called for USD 60 million for the next three months to prevent Somalia "from slipping back into a major humanitarian crisis" as it did during the 2011 famine.
Ban urges South Sudanese rivals to meet peace accord
Jun 05, 2014, at 05:03 pm
New York, Jun 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to meet with former Vice-President Riek Machar on Monday, as agreed to in the May 9 document that aimed to end the fighting in the world's newest country.
Pakistan: Suicide attack kills five
Jun 05, 2014, at 06:27 am
Rawalpindi, June 4 (IBNS): At least five people were killed as security forces vehicle was target by a suicide attacker in Pakistan's Tarnol area on Wednesday, officials said.
Taliban releases video on US soldier handover
Jun 05, 2014, at 06:26 am
Kabul, June 4 (IBNS) The Taliban on Wednesday released a video which showed the moment when US soldier Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was handed over by them to the US forces last week.
UN concerned over people lacking proper social protection
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:42 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, more than 70 per cent of the world population is without proper social protections, the United Nations labour agency on Tuesday reported, urging governments to scale up investment in child and family benefits, pensions and other public expenditures.
UN initiative taps leadership to advance women's rights
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): The United Nations has teamed up with leading businesses to advance women's rights and empowerment through a new advisory council comprised of private sector chiefs with a strong commitment to supporting women and girls.
China: UN urges release of detained social activists
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday voiced concern about the detention of civil society activists, lawyers and journalists in China ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, while also stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding what transpired between 3 and 4 June 1989.
Ban welcomes formation of Palestinian unity government
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the announcement of the formation of a Palestinian unity government headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, and hoped that new opportunities for progress towards a two-State solution with Israel will emerge soon.
Ban launches video campaign to end sexual violence
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): Speaking at the launch of a video campaign on ending sexual violence through gender equality, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that it is time to demand action to eliminate a scourge that harms millions of women and girls around the world.
Funding shortfall leaves millions hungry in DR Congo: UN
Jun 04, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, Jun 4 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials for the Great Lakes region of Africa are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to draw attention to continuing insecurity there, while the world body reported on Tuesday that the fighting and a decrease in financial resources is causing millions of people to go hungry.
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.