Ban calls for urgent and collective action to reform UN peace operations
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged immediate action to strengthen the Organization's peace operations, telling the 193-member UN General Assembly that is essential to act now and "not wait, as in the past, for crisis or tragedy to propel reform."
As Guinea awaits election results, Ban urges all political leaders to maintain peace
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:10 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): After weekend polls in Guinea, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday encouraged all political leaders and national stakeholders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed on election day and to refrain from any statements that may lead to violence or unrest.
Terrorist attacks in Chad and Cameroon condemned by UN Security Council
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The members of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned the "horrific" terrorist attacks attributed to Boko Haram, perpetrated on Saturday and Sunday in the towns of Baga Sola, Chad, and Kangaleri, Cameroon, which resulted in a large number of deaths and casualties.
Transformative political process key to resolving Syrian crisis: UN envoy
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Only a parallel, all-inclusive transformative political process that is compliant within the framework of the Geneva Communiqué, can lead to a resolution of the ongoing crisis and Syria and tackle terrorism in the region, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country said on Monday.
UN focuses on adolescent girls as part of drive towards equality for all by 2030
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for a global commitment to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared, marking the International Day of the Girl Child.
UN chief condemns suicide attacks in Chad
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has denounced the five simultaneous suicide attacks in Baga Sola sous-prefecture in Chad on Sunday, which left scores of civilians dead or injured.
Bolivia: Ban urges action on climate change, says caring for planet is moral issue
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Bolivia at the Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and the Defence of Life, said that the subject of the conference was both "important and timely."
Afghanistan: NATO convoy attacked, 3 hurt
Oct 12, 2015, at 02:03 am
Kabul, Oct 11 (IBNS): A suicide attacker crashed his explosives-laden car into a NATO forces’ convoy on Sunday in Afghanistan's Kabul city which left three people injured.
China: Restaurant blast kills 17
Oct 11, 2015, at 02:39 am
Beijing, Oct 10 (IBNS) An explosion inside a restaurant in China's Anhui Province on Saturday killed at least 17 people, media reports said.
Oct 11, 2015, at 12:15 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The NATO on Saturday condemned the twin blasts in Turkey which have left 86 people dead.
Turkey: Twin blasts rock Ankara
Oct 10, 2015, at 08:41 pm
Ankara, Oct 10 (IBNS): At least 20 people are feared killed as twin blasts rocked Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday,media reports said.
UN officials urge Libyan parties to endorse proposals on new unity government
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Following the proposal of the names of candidates for the presidency for a national unity government in Libya, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged parties to the Libyan "not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a State that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution."
Unvaccinated children in Ukraine at heightened risk of polio: UN agencies
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): With Ukraine's Ministry of Health recently confirming two cases of polio in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are calling for an immediate polio vaccine campaign in the country.
Civilians killed by air strikes at Yemeni wedding party disturbing: UN official
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The top United Nations humanitarian official on Friday said he was "deeply disturbed" by the news of civilians being killed by coalition air strikes that hit a wedding party in Yemen's Dhamar Governorate on Thursday.
UN highlights survival of postal service hinges on ability to quickly change, innovate
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:50 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): On World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is highlighting that the future of postal services strongly depends on their ability to innovate and to embrace new technologies.
UN commends Tunisian Dialogue Quartet on Nobel Peace Prize win
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:48 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on being awarded this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace.
Libya: Security Council authorizes operations to disrupt migrant smuggling
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Acting to help "save the threatened lives of migrants or of victims of human trafficking" and to disrupt criminal enterprises operating on the high-seas off the coast of Libya, the United Nations Security Council on Friday authorized for one year operations by the European Union (EU) and individual countries to inspect and or seize vessels of suspected of people smuggling in the Mediterranean.
Afghanistan: UN agency begins humanitarian assistance to families fleeing Kunduz
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:44 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Afghans who fled fighting in Kunduz have received bread baked from wheat flour fortified with vitamins and minerals along with other food supplies, but the World Food Programme (WFP) is "seriously concerned" about the safety and food security of people remaining in the north-eastern province.
'The stakes are high,' UN chief tells climate finance meeting in Peru
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Stressing that financial resources are central to meeting the goals of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said that in order to create a low-carbon, climate-resilient future that benefits everybody, allocating appropriate finance is of key importance.
Security Council extends UN mission in South Sudan
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Extending for two months the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), the Security Council urged the parties to implement a recent peace deal and adjusting the operation’s activities, requesting the Secretary-General to prioritize the deployment if unarmed unmanned aerial systems and to make available technical assistance for setting up a hybrid court as called for in the peace agreement.
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
Oct 09, 2015, at 08:45 pm
London, Oct 9 (IBNS) The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday said it has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 will be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.
UN rights chief urges Mexico to end misery of enforced disappearances and torture
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Despite significant progress towards building a solid human rights framework, the Mexican Government must nevertheless "bind itself to a new sense of urgency in solving the enormous human rights challenges it faces," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said today as he wrapped up an official visit to the country.
Nepal: Experts begin post-disaster work at damaged UNESCO heritage sites
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): International and national experts from the Nepalese Department of Archaeology and an archaeological team from Durham University have begun post-disaster excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Food prices are staying lower for longer periods: UN agency
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Food prices are staying lower for longer periods, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Thursday, saying lower food prices "seem to be a boon to food security and are indeed just that for households who spend a large share of their income on food purchases."
Haiti taking steps towards renewal of democracy and stability: UN envoy
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): With the holding its first round of elections 9 August this year, to renew the executive legislative and local leadership of the country, Haiti is taking "resolute" steps in renewing its democratic institutions, the top United Nations official for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Ban requests internal probe over claims against former Assembly President
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has requested that the Organization’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) launch an audit of the interaction between the UN and the Global Sustainability Foundation and the Sun Kian Ip Group, and the use of any funds received from these entities, according to a UN spokesperson.
No new cases of Ebola reported for first time since March 2014: WHO
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:49 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): There were no new cases of Ebola reported in West Africa in the week ending last Sunday, making it the first week since March 2014 with zero cases recorded in the three countries most affected by the outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which cautioned that there remains a near-term risk of new cases.
Concerned by escalating West Bank violence, UN rights chief urges restraint
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Voicing extreme concern over escalating tensions and rapidly-spreading violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations human rights chief on Thursday called for urgent action by both Israelis and Palestinians to halt the violence, while stressing the need to ensure security forces comply with international standards and respect for human rights.
Ban appoints new head of UN mission in DR Congo
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Maman S. Sidikou of Niger as his new Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Head of the UN Mission in the country, known as MONUSCO.
UN report shows global youth unemployment rate still above financial crisis levels
Oct 09, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Global youth unemployment rates have stabilized somewhat but remain well above pre-financial crisis levels, according to a new report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday.