Security Council backs UN special envoy's plan to move Syrian political process forward
Aug 18, 2015, at 07:52 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday reiterated its demand that all parties to the conflict in Syria must cease any attacks against civilians, as well as any indiscriminate use of weapons in populated areas, and work towards a political solution to the years-long crisis.
Aug 18, 2015, at 02:04 am
Bangkok, Aug 17 (IBNS): At least 15 people were killed as a blast rocked Thai capital Bangkok on Monday, media reports said.
Aug 18, 2015, at 12:15 am
Bangkok, Aug 17 (IBNS): A blast in Thai capital Bangkok has left at least 12 people killed and several others injured on Monday, media reports said.
Sri Lanka election today : Rajapakshe makes comeback bid as PM
Aug 17, 2015, at 04:34 pm
Colombo, Aug 17 (IBNS) Voting began for general election in Sri Lanka on Monday as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa makes attempt to comeback to power, this time as Prime Minister.
Sri Lanka votes to elect new PM
Aug 17, 2015, at 03:32 pm
Colombo, Aug 17 (IBNS) Voting for Sri Lanka's General Election is currently underway as more 15 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise on Monday.
Central Africa: UNICEF provides 'every possible help' to sexual assault victim
Aug 17, 2015, at 12:42 pm
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): Staff from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have met with a young girl in the Central African Republic reportedly raped by a UN police officer, the head of the agency has announced, explaining that UNICEF is providing her with “every possible help,†including medical assistance and support to deal with the psychological impact of the ordeal.
Wreckage of missing Indonesian plane found
Aug 17, 2015, at 03:09 am
Jakarta, Aug 16 (IBNS): The wreckage of an Indonesian plane, which went missing, in Papua region has been found, media reports said on Sunday.
Pakistan: Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada killed in terror attack
Aug 16, 2015, at 10:08 pm
Attock, Aug 16 (IBNS): A suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's Shadi Khan village killed Punjab province Home Minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada while he was in his political office on Sunday.
Indonesian plane carrying 54 passengers missing over Papua region
Aug 16, 2015, at 09:54 pm
Jakarta, Aug 16 (IBNS): An Indonesian plane with 54 people on board went missing in Papua region, media reports said on Sunday.
Pakistan: Blast occur at Punjab Home Minister's political office, 7 killed
Aug 16, 2015, at 08:18 pm
Attock, Aug 16 (IBNS): An intense explosion took place at Pakistan's Punjab province Home Minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada's political office on Sunday leaving seven people dead, media reports said.
Iraq: UN rights office hails reform package following countrywide protests
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office has welcomed the Government of Iraq's response to mass protests against corruption and social inequality which crippled the country's capital earlier this month.
UN human rights office warns Burundi crisis ‘spiralling out of control’
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate amid ongoing killings, arrests and detentions in the latest post-election turmoil to afflict the country, the United Nations human rights office has reported.
South Sudan: Blockade of aid routes lifted, allowing UN to access conflict-torn areas
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian wing has reported that the month-long restrictions on the movement of goods by air and river routes in South Sudan have been lifted, allowing delivery of aid supplies in crisis-torn Malakal, and has warned of a “dire situation†as fighting continues.
Syria: UN special envoy condemns indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Condemning the continued use of indiscriminate weapons in civilian areas of Syria, the United Nations special envoy for the country has today renewed his call on the warring parties to immediately cease such attacks and focus on finding a political solution to the “unacceptable situation†in their homeland.
UN agency assists Nigeria’s neighbours as violence sparks waves of refugees
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday expressed concern about the escalating violence in and around Nigeria and its impact on the situation of Nigerian refugees in surrounding host countries, including a shrinking humanitarian space in which they can seek asylum.
WHO kicks-off campaign honouring world’s health workers
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to launch a campaign aimed at honouring the sacrifices and efforts of thousands of international health workers deployed to the frontlines of the world’s most pressing crises, the United Nations agency has announced.
Mali: UN official urges support for relief efforts amid ongoing crisis
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Food insecurity in Mali will only grow if national parties fail to commit to peace and stability in the country, the United Nations relief official dealing with Africa’s Sahel region warned on Friday as he urged the international community to remain engaged with the country’s urgent humanitarian needs.
UN-backed research ship scours Indian Ocean for plastic waste
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations is supporting a project aiming to chart the impact of plastic waste, including garbage like plastic bags, and ‘microplastics’ used in products such as cosmetics and shower gels, in the Indian Ocean, underscoring the risk of dramatic upheavals in marine ecosystems even in one of the world's least-known and least-visited environments.
UN experts call on Iran to release journalist Jason Rezaian as he awaits verdict
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday urged the Iranian Government to immediately release the Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who now awaits verdict after his fourth and possible final hearing earlier this week.
Brazil must implement measures against torture: UN expert
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights expert on Friday called on Brazilian Federal and State authorities to urgently address the issue of prison overcrowding in the country and show genuine commitment to implement measures against torture.
Ban appoints UN official as acting head of mission in Central Africa
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the appointment of Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon as his Acting Special Representative for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations stabilization mission in the country, known as MINUSCA.
UN rights experts welcome release of Syrian human rights defenders
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Welcoming recent release of three human rights defenders from Syrian Government custody, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel on Friday urged the authorities to grant an independent organization regular access to those allegedly detained.
UN chief 'deeply saddened' after deadly industrial explosions in northern China
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the injuries to scores of people as a result of deadly explosions in Tianjin, China.
Ban addresses top peacekeeping officials amid allegations of sexual abuse by UN 'blue helmets'
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conducted on Friday an urgent video conference with the heads of United Nations peacekeeping operations, Force Commanders, and Police Commissioners following a series of revelations alleging abuse by UN 'blue helmets' in the field, Including, most recently in the Central African Republic.
Head of UN food relief agency appeals for continued support to Syrian refugees
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) The head of United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) called on Friday on the international community to continue supporting Syrian refugees displaced in neighboring countries, appealing to the world “not to forget†the crisis and to provide the agency the means to meet their needs.
Senior UN official in Iraq deplores 'cowardly' terrorist attack that kills dozens at Baghdad market
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) The acting head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq has strongly condemned on Friday ’s truck bomb attack on a market in east Baghdad, which initial reports say killed at least 45 people and for which the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has claimed responsibility.
Ukraine: UN agency begins cash assistance programme to meet food needs in crisis-torn eastern areas
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) Responding to the recurring food shortages created by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun cash distributions to some 60,000 people – mostly internally displaced – in Government-controlled areas of the Lugansk and Donetsk region.
UN launches #ShareHumanity campaign spotlighting humanitarian crises around the globe
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) The United Nations relief arm has launched a call for millions of people around the world to drastically change their social media feeds and share captivating tale of humanitarian heroism ahead of this year's World Humanitarian Day.
Libyan parties say 'no alternative' to peace outside UN-sponsored dialogue process
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS): The latest round of the United Nations-facilitated Libyan political dialogue has concluded in Geneva, with the different parties emphasizing the need to set aside partisan agendas and uphold the country's higher national interests.
New UN agency report shows 'unprecedented' rise in infant mortality in Gaza
Aug 14, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS) A new study carried out by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has revealed that the infant mortality rate in the Gaza Strip has risen for the first time in 50 years, with the agency’s health director citing the ongoing blockade as possibly contributing to the trend.