On International Day, UN chief urges renewed commitment to world free of nuclear weapons
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS): Marking the International Day against Nuclear Tests, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for a renewed global commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests.
UN officials hail role of cultural, religious dialogue in advancing peace, development
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) United Nations officials on Friday highlighted the important role played by the initiative known as the Alliance of Civilizations in building bridges to peace, especially amid the current instability in many parts of the world, as they kicked off a global forum in Bali, Indonesia.
Number of Syrian refugees tops 3 million as insecurity grows – UN agency
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Three million Syrians will have registered as refugees outside of their country on Friday, the UN refugee agency reported, amid accounts of increasingly horrifying conditions inside their homeland – cities where populations are surrounded, people are going hungry and civilians are being targeted or indiscriminately killed.
Ukraine: UN report shows rising civilian deaths, ongoing rights abuses
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Intense fighting, including the use of heavy weaponry by both sides, in densely populated areas of eastern Ukraine, has increased the loss of civilian life, with an average of around 36 people being killed every day, says a new report issued on Friday by the United Nations human rights office.
Detained peacekeepers in the Golan safe and in good health: UN
Aug 30, 2014, at 04:53 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Friday that it has received assurances from credible sources that the 44 peacekeepers who were taken from their positions in the Golan on Thursday are safe and in good health.
Samoa: From weeds to electricity, UN partnership aims to connect families to electric grid
Aug 30, 2014, at 04:45 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) A toxic weed in Samoa is being turned into electricity, raising hopes that families on the southern coast of the Pacific island can be connected to the national grid as a result of a partnership between the Government and the United Nations.
Ban alarmed by 'dangerous escalation' in Ukraine crisis; Security Council holds emergency talks
Aug 29, 2014, at 06:01 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is alarmed by what seems to be a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis in Ukraine with reports that the fighting in the eastern part of the country has spread near the border with Russia.
UN reports improved humanitarian access to Syria for first time in six months
Aug 29, 2014, at 06:00 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) For the first time in six months, there has been some improvement recently on humanitarian access to Syria, but much more needs to be done by the parties to the conflict to ensure rapid and unhindered access to people in need, a senior United Nations relief official told the Security Council on Thursday.
Gen Raheel Sharif made 'mediator'
Aug 29, 2014, at 05:54 am
Islamabad, Aug 28 (IBNS): The protesting two leaders- Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan- on Thursday announced that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has been appointed by the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a 'mediator' and 'guarantor' for the current crisis.
Aug 29, 2014, at 04:48 am
Islamabad, Aug 28 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif on Thursday as they discussed the current political situation in the Asian nation, media reports said.
UN peacekeepers detained by armed group amid fighting in Golan Heights
Aug 29, 2014, at 02:23 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Thursday that 43 of its peacekeepers serving in the Golan Heights were detained this morning amid increased fighting in the area between Syrian Government forces and armed elements.
South Sudan: Security Council strongly condemns downing of UN helicopter
Aug 28, 2014, at 03:00 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): The Security Council has strongly condemned the downing on Tuesday of a United Nations helicopter in South Sudan which resulted in the death of three Russian crew members and left a fourth severely injured, and called for a thorough investigation.
Darfur: Security Council extends African Union-UN mission for 10 more months
Aug 28, 2014, at 03:00 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until 30 June 2015, while requesting the peacekeeping mission to focus on strategic priorities such as the improved protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, along with the facilitation of aid and mediation activities.
Security Council reiterates concern over 'alarming' security situation in Africa's Sahel
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:59 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday reiterated its continued concern about the alarming situation in the Sahel region of Africa and reaffirmed its commitment to address the complex security and political challenges.
UN operation to feed displaced Iraqis reaches over 700,000 people
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:57 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Food aid convoys from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have reached displaced Iraqis in Karbala, southwest of Baghdad, bringing the number of people receiving food assistance to over 700,000 people since the start of violence in mid-June.
UN pledges support to Afghan authorities to complete election audit
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:49 pm
New York/Kabul, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations on Wednesday pledged to redouble its support to the Afghan electoral authorities to help expedite the completion of a thorough and credible audit of the presidential run-off in the wake of the decision of one of the candidates to halt participation in the process.
Civil society gathers at UN to help shape new vision for global development, prosperity
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Civil society converged on United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to make their voices heard regarding the future global development agenda that will point the way forward on a range of issues such as eradicating poverty, eliminating hunger and combating disease.
Recent Libya fighting 'unprecedented in gravity,' warns outgoing UN envoy
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:45 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) In recent days, armed battles, inflamed by airstrikes and fuelled by deep divisions among Libyan political factions have been "unprecedented in their gravity and very alarming," the outgoing United Nations envoy to that country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Using Egyptian crossing for first time in seven years, UN convoy brings food aid to Gaza
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:41 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) For the first time in seven years, a humanitarian convoy of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) successfully crossed from Egypt into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, carrying enough food to feed around 150,000 people for five days.
Syria's brutal war threatens international peace and security, says UN rights panel
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:40 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Mass atrocities by Government forces and non-State armed groups continue to take place in Syria, causing immeasurable suffering to civilians and contributing to a spillover of violence affecting international peace and stability, a United Nations-appointed panel said on Wednesday.
Arizona: Girl accidentally kills gun instructor
Aug 28, 2014, at 01:48 am
Arizona, Aug 27 (IBNS) A nine-year-old girl, who was learning to use an automatic Uzi, has accidentally killed her shooting instructor in Arizona , media reports said on Wednesday.
Consensual, Yemeni-led political process only peaceful exit to current crisis: UN envoy
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:50 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy to Yemen on Tuesday expressed concern over the high level of unrest in the country which he says is probably the most serious since the beginning of the political transition in 2011.
Ban welcomes signing of blueprint to implement South Sudan ceasefire
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:49 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the signing by the South Sudanese Government and the opposition of a plan to implement a seventh-month-old ceasefire deal between the two sides.
UN hosts meeting with Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot negotiators
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:46 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The United Nations confirmed on Tuesday that Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators met on Tuesday in Nicosia to discuss arrangements for the upcoming meeting of the leaders from the two sides.
South Sudan: Three dead in UN-contracted helicopter crash near Bentiu
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:39 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The United Nations mission in South Sudan has confirmed that three crew members died and another was injured when one of its helicopters crashed on Tuesday near Bentiu, Unity state.
Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon for another year
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:36 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The Security Council on Tuesday renewed the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, while strongly condemning attempts to threaten the country’s security and stability.
More than 300 die in boat tragedies on Mediterranean, marking year’s deadliest week: UN
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The past few days have been the deadliest this year for people making irregular crossings on the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe, with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reporting that at least 300 people have died in successive boat tragedies.
Amid multiple crises UN children’s agency deploys largest aid operation ever in a single month
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:29 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) This August the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shipped 1,000 metric tonnes of life-saving supplies for children caught in the world’s most urgent crises -- the largest emergency supply operation in the organization’s history in a single month.
UN rights expert seeks access to Israel, occupied Palestinian territories for assessment mission
Aug 27, 2014, at 04:25 pm
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) An independent United Nations expert has requested access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to gather first-hand information on the impact of current hostilities on the human rights situation.
Ahead of Samoa conference, iTunes, UN team up to showcase music from small island nations
Aug 26, 2014, at 04:38 pm
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) Ahead of a major United Nations conference in Samoa on small island developing countries, iTunes has teamed up with the UN to create a dedicated page on the popular site – launched on Monday – featuring music from artists born and raised in some of the world's smallest islands.