Central Africa in urgent need of agricultural assistance: FAO

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:53 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched an urgent appeal to help provide farmers in the Central African Republic (CAR) with seeds and tools for the country’s upcoming planting season, warning that without additional assistance vulnerable populations risked a further deterioration of their livelihoods.

Singapore: UN offers condolences on death of former leader Lee Kuan Yew

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:51 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Singapore’s former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, praising his “strong leadership and statesmanship” and describing him as “a legendary figure in Asia,” according to a United Nations spokesperson.

UN-backed report finds high levels of elephant poaching across Africa

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:50 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): An ongoing decline in overall elephant numbers remains likely as the poaching of African elephants continued to exceed population growth rates throughout 2014, a new United Nations-backed report warned on Monday.

Palestinian conflict continues to destroy human life: UN rights official

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:48 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): Violations of human rights “fuel and shape the conflict” in the occupied Palestinian territories, a senior United Nations official reported to the Human Rights Council on Monday.

UN chief stresses need to mitigate climate change patterns

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:47 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): With extreme weather and changing climatic patterns taking a heavier toll on the planet, mitigating and adapting to them remains “among the great tests of our time,”Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, as he stressed the need for timely, reliable information to further strengthen resilience.

Brussels: UN envoy urges to work together for peace in Libya

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:45 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): Stakeholders must work together to take Libya out of its “mess of a war” and begin rebuilding the conflict-ridden country into a modern, democratic state, a senior United Nations official said on Monday.

Liberia: UNICEF ambassador Orlando Bloom sees Ebola response

Mar 24, 2015, at 01:44 pm

New York, Mar 24 (IBNS): At the end of a four-day visit to Ebola-affected communities in Liberia, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and actor Orlando Bloom praised the efforts of people there who have been combatting the deadly virus.

Bangladesh: JMB leader arrested

Mar 23, 2015, at 07:42 pm

Dhaka, Mar 23 (IBNS): Banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)'s leader has been arrested by Bangladesh police from country's Chittagong city, media reports said on Monday.

Security Council: UN envoy says Yemen on rapid downward spiral

Mar 23, 2015, at 01:56 pm

New York, Mar 23 (IBNS): Yemen stands on the brink of civil war amid deepening political tensions and an uptick in sectarian violence, United Nations Special Adviser Jamal Benomar warned on Sunday as he explained that only through dialogue could the country achieve a peaceful political transition.

UN calls for global unity to conserve water on World Water Day

Mar 23, 2015, at 01:55 pm

New York, Mar 23 (IBNS): As the perils of climate change increasingly threaten the planet, the international community must unite in “a spirit of urgent cooperation” to address the many water-related challenges facing humanity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Sunday.

Nepal: Two Indians killed in road mishap

Mar 23, 2015, at 01:37 am

Kathmandu, Mar 22 (IBNS) At least two Indian nationals were killed in a road mishap in Nepal's Makwanpur district on Sunday, media reports said.

NY: House fire kills 7 children

Mar 22, 2015, at 02:48 am

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) At least seven children were killed as fire broke out in a house in New York city's Brooklyn area on Saturday, media reports said.

Bangladesh: Road mishap kills 6 in Mymensingh

Mar 22, 2015, at 01:12 am

Mymensingh, Mar 21 (IBNS): At least six people were killed as a truck hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district on Saturday, media reports said.

Pakistan releases 57 Indian fishing boats

Mar 21, 2015, at 08:42 pm

New Delhi/Islamabad, Mar 21 (IBNS): The Pakistan government on Saturday released 57 Indian fishing boats in an attempt to show 'goodwill gesture'.

More aid needed for 120,000 displaced by clashes in southern Philippines - UN agency

Mar 21, 2015, at 05:33 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) Intensifying armed conflict in the southern Philippines island of Mindanao has displaced some 120,000 people since late January, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday , expressing particular concern for the safety of women and children who could be exposed to exploitation and abuse.

Yemen: UN chief strongly deplores terrorist bombings, urges continued peace talks

Mar 21, 2015, at 05:29 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against two mosques in Yemen on Fridaythat have reportedly left dozens of people dead and wounded.

Afghanistan: UN condemns brutal killing of mentally ill woman

Mar 21, 2015, at 04:42 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) United Nations officials in Afghanistan have strongly condemned the brutal killing of a 27-year-old mentally ill woman, who was attacked yesterday by an angry crowd accusing her of burning a copy of the Quran.

UN envoy says Libya on cusp of 'decisive moment' as parties resume peace talks

Mar 21, 2015, at 04:39 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) Negotiations between Libyan parties are entering a "decisive round" as continued fighting and the menace of terrorism cast a sense of urgency to the United Nations-facilitated talks, a senior official for the Organization said on Friday .

UN rights experts urge Pakistan not to execute juveniles

Mar 21, 2015, at 04:27 pm

New York, Mar 21 (IBNS) A group of independent United Nations human rights experts welcomed the last-minute decision by the Pakistani authorities to postpone the hanging of Shafqat Hussain, who was convicted as a minor, while calling on them to halt the execution altogether.

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.

Bangladesh to add 400,000 new Bangla words to Google Translate

Mar 21, 2015, at 03:10 am

Dhaka, Mar 20 (IBNS): A move which will help Bengalis across the globe, the Bangladesh government is all set to add 400,000 new Bangla words to Google Translate on the occasion of its Independence Day.

Pakistan: Karachi blast kills 2

Mar 21, 2015, at 02:28 am

Karachi, Mar 20 (IBNS) A blast at the gate of Saleh mosque for the Bohra community in Pakistan's Karachi city has left at least two people killed on Friday, media reports said.

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 urges Pakistan to reinstate suspension of death penalty

Mar 20, 2015, at 04:49 pm

New York, Mar 20 (IBNS) The United Nations has expressed deep concern on Thursdayat the increasing number of executions in Pakistan since December 2014, and at the Government’s recent announcement that it has now withdrawn its moratorium on the death penalty for all cases, not only those related to terrorism.