In call with Netanyahu, Ban urges renewed Israeli commitment to two-State solution

Mar 21, 2015, at 04:24 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Fridayto congratulate him on his recent electoral victory, and urged him to renew Israel’s commitment to the two-State solution.

On International Day, UN chief calls for efforts to 'fill world with happiness'

Mar 21, 2015, at 02:46 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) Happiness for the entire human family is one of the main goals of the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared, as the Organization kicked-off its global celebrations marking the annual observance of the International Day of Happiness.

Independent UN human rights expert calls trial of former Maldives President 'mockery'

Mar 20, 2015, at 05:16 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS): An independent United Nations human rights expert has warned of the "seriously deteriorating situation" regarding the independence of the justice system in the Maldives in the wake of the sentencing of former President Mohammed Nasheed, calling his trial a "mockery" of the country’s Constitution.

Despite progress, Georgia needs to do more, says UN expert dealing with torture

Mar 20, 2015, at 05:12 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture on Thursday praised the Government of Georgia for its positive advances in the treatment of prisoners since the October 2012 parliamentary election but cautioned that "there is still room for improvement and a need for anchoring."

Ukraine crisis taking heaviest toll on women, children and elderly – UN officials

Mar 20, 2015, at 05:09 pm

New York,Mar 20 (IBNS) Women, children and the elderly are disproportionately bearing the devastating impact of the protracted conflict in Ukraine, which has left five million people in need of humanitarian assistance, senior United Nations officials said on Thursday, as they stressed the "grave and urgent need" to scale up international relief efforts.

UN officials say suffering in Nigeria 'immense,' warn of regional humanitarian crisis

Mar 20, 2015, at 05:02 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS):Amid ongoing fighting between Government forces and Boko Haram insurgents, the effects of the crisis in north-eastern Nigeria are increasingly reverberating across the region, two senior United Nations humanitarian officials said on Thursday, as they urged international donors to ramp up financial support for relief efforts.

China and US telecoms giants lead global patent activity in 2014 – UN report

Mar 20, 2015, at 04:59 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS) Three telecoms giants from China and the United States led international patent filings in 2014 in a fifth consecutive record-breaking year that "underscores the increasing importance of intellectual property as it moves from the periphery to the centre of the global economic system," the United Nations reported on Thursday.

Political vacuum undermines Lebanon's ability to tackle many challenges – Security Council

Mar 20, 2015, at 04:56 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS) The Security Council voiced its concern at the 10-month stalemate in the election of a president in Lebanon, saying it undermined the country’s ability to address the security, economic and social challenges it faces.

UN envoy outlines progress in DR Congo from 'shattered' country to 'proud nation'

Mar 20, 2015, at 04:43 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is unified with a "clear, shared and celebrated" identity, the top United Nations envoy there told the Security Council on Thursday, as he briefed on the latest developments in the vast African nation.

ISIL may have committed genocide, war crimes in Iraq, says UN human rights report

Mar 20, 2015, at 03:42 am

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS) A report released on Thursday by the United Nations human rights office says that the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) may have committed genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in its attacks against ethnic and religious groups in the country.

IS claims responsibility for attack on Tunisia museum

Mar 20, 2015, at 03:38 am

Tunis, Mar 19 (IBNS): The Islamic State (IS) on Thursday claimed responsibility for the attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunisia's Tunis city which left 23 people dead.

Tunis museum attack: 9 suspects arrested

Mar 20, 2015, at 03:12 am

Tunis, Mar 19 (IBNS): A day after 23 people were killed in an attack at the Bardo Museum in Tunisia's Tunis city, nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident, media reports said on Thursday.

Sendai: UN conference adopts new, people-centred disaster risk reduction

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:21 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Death, destruction and displacement wrought by natural disasters would be significantly reduced by 2030 under a new framework adopted by countries attending the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in Sendai, Japan.

UN raises serious concerns trial of former Maldives President

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:20 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief expressed strong concerns on Wednesday about the hasty and apparently unfair trial of the former President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheed, who received a 13-year jail sentence for the unlawful detention of a criminal court judge in 2012.

Mali: Security Council regrets death of two UN peacekeepers

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:19 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The Security Council expressed their regret at the death of two Dutch peacekeepers serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali resulting from a helicopter accident in the region of Gao.

UN chief urges more global support to resolve Libya crisis

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:17 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday stressed the importance of international support as the United Nations seeks to promote dialogue to resolve the crisis in Libya, as he met with senior Italian officials in Rome.

Haiti progressing towards 2015 elections, UN envoy tells Security Council

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:16 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The Government of Haiti has made progress towards the holding of elections critical for the country’s stability and development, the top United Nations official in the Caribbean nation told the Security Council on Wednesday.

UN urges Myanmar authorities to address signs of backtracking

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:11 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar on Wednesday called on the country’s authorities to address ongoing challenges to the democratic reform process "before they undermine the success achieved so far."

UN officials condemn deadly attack on Tunisia's Bardo Museum

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:10 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials have condemned the attack on Wednesday against the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital which resulted in a number of deaths, and voiced solidarity with the Government and people of the North African nation.

UN envoy pleads to end child rights abuses, promote safe schools

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:09 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, called on Wednesday for “fundamental changes” to strengthen the global commitment to defending the rights of schoolgirls and boys, as he said that 2015 should be the year to end violations of children’s rights.

Nigeria: UN political chief hails progress as country prepares to vote

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:08 pm

New York, Mar 19 (IBNS): Nigeria has made "noteworthy" progress in the preparations for the upcoming elections, the top United Nations political official said on Wednesday, as he wrapped up a visit to the country, whose citizens will head to the polls beginning on 28 March.

19 killed in Tunis attack

Mar 19, 2015, at 03:36 am

Tunis, Mar 18 (IBNS): At least 19 people were killed as gunmen attacked Bardo Museum in Tunisia's Tunis city on Wednesday, media reports said.

Gunmen attack Tunisia museum, 8 killed

Mar 19, 2015, at 01:09 am

Tunis, Mar 18 (IBNS): At least eight people were killed as gunmen attacked the Bardo Museum in Tunisia's capital Tunis on Wednesday, media reports said.

Need for targeted disaster response, Pacific leaders say at UN conference

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:33 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): With reports slowly emerging about the damage wrought in Vanuatu, which suffered the brunt of Cyclone Pam that pummeled the South Pacific over the weekend, leaders from the region made a joint call on Tuesday from a United Nations conference on disaster resilience for scaled-up storm recovery efforts, as well as durable partnerships that would help their countries strengthen capacities to deal with such extreme weather events.

UN report highlights terrifying impact of Ebola on nine million children

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:26 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): Some nine million children have seen “death and suffering beyond their comprehension,” and protecting them and their communities is critical in the fight against Ebola in West Africa, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a report released on Tuesday.

UN panel urges referral of Syria to ICC

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:25 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): A culture of impunity continues to flourish inside Syria amid a conflict that has generated over four million refugees and hundreds of thousands of dead, the head of a United Nations-mandated Commission of Inquiry said on Tuesday, urging the international community to step up efforts in bringing the four-year-long war to a close.

FAO boosts food security efforts in countries affected by Syria crisis

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:24 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced a scale-up in its support to Jordan and other countries in the Middle East affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria that has entered its fifth year.

UN focuses on priority needs for cyclone-hit Vanuatu

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:22 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): In spite of logistical challenges facing the humanitarian response in Vanuatu, a nation that comprises over 80 islands, United Nations agencies continue to scale up their efforts to assist with priority needs including the provision of food, water and healthcare in the wake of the devastating cyclone that battered the country over the weekend.New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): In spite of logistical challenges facing the humanitarian response in Vanuatu, a nation that comprises over 80 islands, United Nations agencies continue to scale up their efforts to assist with priority needs including the provision of food, water and healthcare in the wake of the devastating cyclone that battered the country over the weekend.

UN envoy welcomes lifting of house arrest of Yemeni leaders

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:20 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, welcomed the lifting of the house arrest of the country’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other Cabinet members as a “good gesture that may restore the missing confidence in the current political negotiations.”

Ethiopia: UN agency begins relocation of flood-affected refugees

Mar 18, 2015, at 02:19 pm

New York, Mar 18 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday it has begun the relocation of more than 50,000 South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia from flood-prone areas ahead of the rainy season, which is expected to start in late April.