UN rights expert advises Cambodian leaders to address democratic deficit
May 01, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): The outgoing United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia on Thursday noted that the country has come a long way over the past six years, but advised Government and opposition leaders “to be principled in what they do†to make a liberal democracy a reality for all its people.
Ban condemns attack on Yarmouk, as UN delivers relief to displaced in camp
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:55 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The Secretary-General has on Wednesday strongly condemned the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which occurred despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be targeted while civilians remained inside.
Somalia registers export of livestock in 2014 due to trade boost with Gulf States
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:53 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Somalia in 2014 exported a record five million livestock to markets in the Gulf of Arabia thanks to heavy investments in animal disease prevention backed by the European Union and the United Kingdom, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.
World has learned too little from past: Ban
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:28 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare with a strong appeal for a new future without such weapons, saying 'the world has learned too little from the past at the expense of innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by chemical attacks."
Christiane Amanpour named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:26 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated to promote and protect press freedom worldwide has named renowned journalist and CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour its Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety.
Ban expresses 'deep regret' about executions of eight people in Indonesia
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:18 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed his deep regret over executions carried out in Indonesia on April 29 despite numerous calls in the country and abroad for a reprieve.
Draft political deal for Libyan parties is work in progress: UN envoy
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:16 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Announcing on Wednesday that he had outlined for the Security Council his draft proposal for a political agreement among Libya’s opposing factions, the United Nations envoy for the country warned that ongoing “chaos†there has sparked a series of dire events in the wider region – forcing thousands of desperate civilians to seek unsafe passage across the Mediterranean and a spate of recent bomb attacks against embassies in Tripoli.
Paris: Ban discusses Mediterranean crisis with President Hollande
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): During his visit to Paris, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met with French President François Hollande, to discuss, among other issues the crisis in the Mediterranean, climate change and sustainable development.
Gordon Brown welcomes release of Nigerian girls held captive by Boko Haram
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:12 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, has welcomed the release of 200 girls from captivity by Boko Haram and called for the immediate release of all abducted girls, ahead of his meeting on Thursday with Nigerian President-Elect.
Ban calls for end to hostilities in northern Mali amid surge in violence
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:10 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called for an immediate end to hostilities in northern Mali and expressed concern over ceasefire violations that have occurred in the country in recent days at a “critical moment†in the peace process to bring all parties to sign the draft peace agreement.
UN special envoy on Ebola response makes first visit to Sierra Leone
Apr 30, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS):The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said that surveillance and community engagement still require improvement in some areas of Guinea and Sierra Leone where new cases continued to surface, a day after the new Special Representative for UN Ebola Response, Peter Graff, was informed of a continued transmission epicentre on the border between those two countries.
Saudi Arabia King replaces heir
Apr 29, 2015, at 08:15 pm
Manama, Apr 29 (IBNS) In a major reshuffle, the Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday appointed Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as Crown Prince.
Ban concerned over uptick in attacks against peacekeepers in Darfur
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern about the recent spate of attacks on United Nations peacekeepers serving in Darfur as well as the “limited cooperation†provided by the Government of Sudan in addressing the incidents, a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
Dip in Southern Africa’s maize harvest could push up prices, UN warns
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Southern Africa’s maize harvest is expected to shrink this year by some 26 per cent, a situation that could trigger food price increases and adversely affect recent food security gains, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday.
World Day: UN labour agency urges for occupational safety and health
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Member States must work harder to consolidate safety and health prevention measures in the workplace, the head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) declared on Tuesday as he urged the global community to do its utmost in reducing the number of occupational deaths, injuries and diseases around the world.
Vatican: Ban and Pope Francis discuss climate change, Mediterranean migration
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:31 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): During a meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis on Tuesday, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he very much looked forward to the Pontiff's encyclical on climate change, which he said he believed would act as a moral voice on the issue.
Burundi: Ban condemns violence after President nominated as candidate
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has on Tuesday condemned the outbreak of violence in Burundi following the nomination of President Pierre Nkurunziza as the presidential candidate of the country’s ruling party, and appealed to all Burundians to “safeguard the hard won gains†made in peace and democracy.
UN refugee agency assists hundreds of Libyans rescued at sea
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The heads of United Nations agencies with a stake in the current crisis in the Mediterranean Sea have pledged to working closely with the European Union (EU) following its decision “to mobilize all efforts at its disposal to prevent further loss of life at sea and to tackle the root causes of the human emergency.â€
Security Council extends UN Western Sahara mission through April 2016
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The Security Council on Tuesday extended for another year the mandate of the United Nations mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Western Sahara, known by the acronym MINURSO.
Air pollution in Europe costs $1.6 trillion a year in deaths and diseases: UN study
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations health agency reported on Tuesday in first-of-its-kind study that air pollution across Europe is costing “a staggering†$1.6 trillion a year in deaths and diseases, which amounts to nearly one tenth of the region’s gross domestic product.
UN official in South Sudan urges release of remaining child soldiers
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative for South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj, travelled to Pibor town in the eastern part of the country, where she met some of the recently released child soldiers and urged the release of the remaining children still being held by a militia group in the region.
Yemen: UN warns of impact to relief efforts amid ongoing fighting
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The continuing violence in Yemen has heavily impacted the country’s healthcare facilities and services further aggravating an already precarious humanitarian situation, the United Nations relief arm has warned.
UN peacekeeping chief wraps up trip to Central African Republic
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): The United Nations peacekeeping chief finished a four-day trip to the Central African Republic on Tuesday, his visit to the country coinciding with the UN stabilization Mission there achieving full operational capability for the first time.
Ban warns global tide of nuclear abolition has ebbed causing tensions
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Achieving a world free of nuclear weapons is “one of the most crucial debates of our time,†United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, emphasizing that the international tide of nuclear abolition – so strong in 2010 – has ebbed and mounting tensions between nuclear-armed States have produced a return to Cold War mind sets.
Mali: UN official urges parties to ‘immediately cease hostilities’
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Amid an upsurge in violence in Mali, the top United Nations official there on Tuesday warned parties about the serious consequences their actions could have on the country’s peace process.
Ban welcomes peaceful presidential election in Togo
Apr 28, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the peaceful conduct of the presidential election in Togo, which took place on Saturday.
UN unveils alternative policy agenda to transform economies
Apr 28, 2015, at 03:37 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): A major new report released on Monday in seven locations around the world by the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment (UN Women) calls for the transformation of economies to make women’s rights and equality a reality.
UN report finds world’s rural populations excluded from healthcare access
Apr 28, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): The majority of the world’s rural populations continue to live and work without essential healthcare services, in stark contrast to their urban-dwelling counterparts, according to a new report released on Monday by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO).
Central Africa is becoming largest forgotten humanitarian crisis: UN
Apr 28, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): The Central African Republic (CAR) is quickly becoming the largest forgotten humanitarian crisis of our time with some 60 percent of its population in need of aid, including nearly 900,000 people forcibly displaced by conflict, but assistance programmes remain “dramatically underfunded,†the United Nations refugee agency said on Monday.
UN chief warns of ‘dangerous return’ to Cold War mentalities
Apr 28, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Apr 28 (IBNS): Progress in working towards global nuclear non-proliferation has stalled and the trend towards “nuclear zero†is reversing, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today as he called on Member States to urgently ramp up efforts in tackling nuclear disarmament.