As Gaza ceasefire begins, UN Chief urges parties to commence peace talks in Cairo
Aug 06, 2014, at 04:33 pm
New York, Aug 6 (IBNS) Following the announcement on Monday of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all parties to commence talks in Cairo for a durable peace.
Manchester:Military jets escort plane to airport
Aug 06, 2014, at 05:14 am
Manchester, Aug 5 (IBNS): The Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat after Royal Air Force jets escorted a Qatar Airways plane to Manchester Airport here, the police said.
South Sudan: After killing of aid worker in Bunj, UN calls for militias to be reined in
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:22 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan on Monday strongly condemned the killing of a humanitarian worker, as peace talks to end fighting in the world’s newest country resumed in Addis Ababa.
Ban urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to observe ceasefire agreement
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:21 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced his opposition to the renewed fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus, urging the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides to respect a ceasefire agreement.
UNESCO chief denounces killing of Mexican journalist, urges investigation
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:20 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Monday denounced the killing of a Mexican television journalist in his hometown of Guadalupe, in the north-central part of the country.
Temporary ceasefire allows UN to restock water, food, following another school attack
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:17 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) Amid a seven-hour ceasefire announced by Israel in Gaza, the Unite Nations and aid partners are restocking supplies in schools and other buildings being used as temporary shelters for the nearly 270,000 displaced people throughout the Gaza Strip.
Doctors, nurses and health staff urgently needed to combat ebola – UN health agency
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:06 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The United Nations health agency on Monday appealed for urgently needed contributions to combat the deadly Ebola disease in West Africa, saying hundreds of doctors, nurses, health staff and materials are needed in the region "as fast as possible."
As new parliament opens in Libya, UN mission renews calls for ceasefire
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:04 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) The Libyan parliament convened for the first time on Monday, a move welcomed by the United Nations mission assisting the country which said it hopes that the politicians can lead the north African nation away from continuing bloody battles in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Ban deplores recent upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents since start of Gaza conflict
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:03 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks, particularly in Europe, in connection with protests concerning the escalation of violence in Gaza.
Annual UN Asia-Pacific policy forum spotlights 'regional connectivity for shared prosperity'
Aug 05, 2014, at 04:02 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS) Asia-Pacific countries will gather in Bangkok this week for the annual policy session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), focusing on the role of regional connectivity in supporting economic growth and development.
Israel, Hamas accept 72-hr Gaza ceasefire proposal
Aug 05, 2014, at 03:43 pm
Jerusalem, Aug 5 (IBNS): Israel and Palestinian groups including Hamas on Monday agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian truce in Gaza, reports said.
Israel redeploying forces along the border with Gaza
Aug 05, 2014, at 07:16 am
New Delhi, Aug 4 (IBNS) Israel said it has authorized a humanitarian window to take place in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Annual UN Asia Pacific policy forum spotlights 'regional connectivity for shared prosperity'
Aug 04, 2014, at 07:48 pm
New York, Aug 4 (IBNS): Asia-Pacific countries will gather in Bangkok this week for the annual policy session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), focusing on the role of regional connectivity in supporting economic growth and development.
Ban deplores upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents since start of Gaza conflict
Aug 04, 2014, at 07:41 pm
New York, Aug 4 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic attacks, particularly in Europe, in connection with protests concerning the escalation of violence in Gaza.
Aug 04, 2014, at 06:06 am
Kunming, Aug. 3 (IBNS) At least 175 people were killed and 181 others went missing as a major earthquake hit southwest China's Yunnan Province on Sunday, media reports said.
Gaza: Ban condemns latest deadly attack near UN school as 'moral outrage and criminal act'
Aug 04, 2014, at 05:54 am
New York, Aug 3 (IBNS) Amidst an 'appalling' escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip since the collapse of a brief 1 August ceasefire, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the killing on Sunday of at least 10 Palestinian civilians in shelling outside of a United Nations school in Rafah which had been sheltering thousands of civilians.
UN warns of 'humanitarian tragedy' as militants seize town in northern Iraq
Aug 04, 2014, at 05:51 am
New York, Aug 3 (IBNS) The capture of the town of Sinjar in northern Iraq by militants belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other armed groups has displaced as many as 200,000 people and set off a "humanitarian tragedy", the United Nations envoy to the crisis-gripped country warned on Sunday.
Myanmar: UN welcomes release of child soldiers, commitment to get them educated
Aug 02, 2014, at 09:06 pm
Yangon/New York, Aug 2 (IBNS) Myanmar released dozens of children and young adults from its armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, the United Nations Friday confirmed, welcoming also efforts to get the people away from guns and into classrooms.
Despite peace talks, ongoing clashes in Central African Republic take heavy toll on civilians – UN
Aug 02, 2014, at 09:01 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): United Nations humanitarian staff working in crisis-torn Central African Republic (CAR) reported Friday that despite peace talks, civilians continue to be caught in crossfire in ongoing fighting.
Annulment of Uganda's anti-homosexuality law hailed by UN officials
Aug 02, 2014, at 08:59 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): United Nations officials have welcomed the decision of the Constitutional Court of Uganda to annul the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, hailing it as a victory for the rule of law and social justice.
Simple, smart, cost-effective, breastfeeding provides benefits that last a lifetime – UN
Aug 02, 2014, at 08:56 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): The best thing a mother can do for her newborn is breastfeed – which does more than help children survive, it helps them to thrive with benefits that last a lifetime, said the United Nations today, kicking off World Breastfeeding Week.
Aug 02, 2014, at 08:52 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): The world faces a looming energy problem. There’s not enough of it. It also faces a looming climate change problem. Too much of it. Could natural gas and fracking technology be part of the solution to both challenges?
In West Africa, top UN health official unveils $100 million Ebola response plan
Aug 02, 2014, at 08:49 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): West Africa is confronted with a “fast-moving…unprecedented outbreak†of the deadly Ebola disease accompanied by “unprecedented challenges,†but the head of the United Nations health agency Friday told Presidents of countries affected by the most lethal strain of the virus that “when well-managed, an Ebola outbreak can be stopped.â€
Iraq: UN envoy urges greater civilian protection as fighting continues to take heavy toll
Aug 02, 2014, at 08:47 pm
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): The top United Nations envoy to Iraq Friday called for greater efforts to protect civilians amid the ongoing fighting, as the latest casualty figures show that nearly 1,200 civilians were killed in the month of July, while another 1,500 were injured.
Aug 02, 2014, at 05:06 am
Gaza City, Aug 1 (IBNS) The 72-hour truce with Hamas in Gaza has collapsed as Israel soldiers are searching for a soldier who is believed to have been captured, media reports said on Friday.
Greater local-level autonomy in Viet Nam would be 'litmus test' for religious freedom : UN expert
Aug 01, 2014, at 08:23 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS) During his recent visit to Viet Nam, the United Nations independent expert on religious freedom, Heiner Bielefeldt, stressed the need for religious communities in the country to be able to operate also outside of the officially established channels for religious practice.
Gaza: UN relief officials warn of growing humanitarian crisis as conflict continues
Aug 01, 2014, at 08:22 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS) As the crisis in Gaza continues unabated, United Nations relief officials on Thursday urged the parties to protect civilians amid the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in thousands of casualties and caused widespread displacement and destruction.
Iraq: Amid rising insecurity, UN official urges unimpeded access to desperate civilians
Aug 01, 2014, at 08:19 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS) A senior UN official in Iraq expressed concern on Thursday over rising levels of violence and instability across the crisis-torn country and its impact on the lives of civilians.
Food insecurity in South Sudan set to deepen as funds dry up, warns UN agency
Aug 01, 2014, at 08:17 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Thursday that food insecurity continues to deepen in South Sudan as funding for life-saving assistance dwindles.
Central African Republic: Ban appoints Cameroonian general to lead UN peacekeeping force
Jul 31, 2014, at 05:24 pm
New York, July 31 (IBNS) As the United Nations “re-hats†some of the African troops currently serving in the Central African Republic to a peacekeeping mission that will take over in mid-September, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced that the current African force commander will remain in charge under the UN flag.