WHO notes threat of polio spread in conflict-affected countries

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:52 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): An emergency meeting convened by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) noted on Wednesday that Pakistan had become the 10th country to be ‘infected’ by polio and that “the possibility of international spread still remains a global threat worsened by the expansion of conflict-affected areas, particularly in the Middle East and Central Africa.”

UN envoy meets President of Yemen

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:50 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS):United Nations Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, met with the country’s President, Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in Aden, according to an announcement made by the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

Lebanon: UN envoy discusses country’s security

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:48 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, met on Wednesday with the country’s Defence Minister, Samir Moqbel, in Beirut to discuss the security situation, with a particular focus on Lebanon’s eastern border.

UN envoy talks about eradicating sexual violence in Colombia

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:47 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): In eradicating sexual violence related to Colombia’s internal armed conflict, the main challenge now is translating resolve into tangible solutions in communities where the crime continues to occur, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence said at the conclusion of her trip to the Latin American country.

Invest in disaster resilience for sustainable development: UN official

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:45 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): Reducing poverty, improving health and education for all, achieving of sustainable and equitable economic growth and protecting the health of our planet now depend on the management of disaster risks in the day-to-day decisions of governments, companies, investors, civil society organizations, households and individuals, according to a new United Nations report out on Wednesday.

Boko Haram violence goes on, crisis for Nigerian refugee

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:33 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): The exodus of Nigerians fleeing violence in the country's north-eastern regions continues amid an influx of sixteen thousand refugees into neighbouring Cameroon, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported.

UN supports Government's projects for people: South Sudan

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:32 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): Under a United Nations-backed initiative, South Sudanese people living in Sudan are being registered by the Government of Sudan and issued identity cards that give them the right to work and access to basic services.

UN-backed Libyan peace talks set to resume

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:32 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): A new round of United Nations-facilitated talks aimed at resolving Libya’s political crisis will kick-off later this week as stakeholders from the North African country prepare to gather in Morocco, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has announced.

We face a critical turning point: UN chief

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:31 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): The international community is now faced with "a critical turning point" in defeating Ebola, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at a United Nations Headquarters event on Monday, as he urged support to the affected countries to build back stronger.

South Sudan: Security Council to impose targeted sanctions

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:28 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday creating a system by which it would to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan, the 15-member body’s latest step towards ending a conflict that has killed thousands in the world's newest country.

UN political official urges Sri Lanka to reconcile

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:21 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): The United Nations will stand with the people and leaders of Sri Lanka as the country forges ahead along the path to reconciliation, the Organization’s political official said on Tuesday, as he voiced encouragement at the Government’s ongoing commitment to promote accountability and human rights following the nation’s three decade-long civil war.

UNESCO condemns killing of Colombian journalist

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:21 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency mandated to defend press freedom today denounced the killing of Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Peralta Cuellar in the "strongest possible terms" and urged local authorities to do their "utmost" to bring the perpetrators to justice.

UN humanitarian chief urges for ideas on emergency responses

Mar 04, 2015, at 03:19 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS): In her remarks to open the Middle East and North Africa regional consultation session in preparation for the May 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs on Tuesday underlined the importance of grassroots involvement in humanitarian affairs and of putting people "front and centre" in response of efforts.

Roy murder: Shafiur Rahman Farabi sent to 10-day remand

Mar 04, 2015, at 04:19 am

Dhaka, Mar 3 (IBNS) A Bangladesh court on Tuesday sent the prime suspect in the writer Avijit Roy murder case to 10-day remand on Tuesday, media reports said.

Bangladesh: BNP-led 20-party alliance extends hartal till Friday morning

Mar 04, 2015, at 04:01 am

Dhaka, Mar 3 (IBNS): Continuing the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh, the BNP-led 20-party alliance has extended their hartal till 6 am on Friday, media reports said on Tuesday.

Foreign Sec's Pakistan visit to resume dialogues

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:33 pm

New Delhi, Mar 3 (IBNS) Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar visits Pakistan on Tuesday, to touch the third destination of his "SAARC Yatra", designed to strengthen relations with the south Asian neighbours.

Ukraine death toll hits 6,000: UN

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:15 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): The estimated death toll caused by the continuing fighting in Ukraine has now surpassed the 6,000 mark, the United Nations human rights office confirmed today, amid broader warnings that the country stands on the brink of a “new and very deadly chapter” in its conflict.

Gaza crisis resolution key to achieving regional peace: UN

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:14 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): Peace in the Middle East hinges on resolving the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where reconstruction efforts are faltering and the blockade continues, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, Robert Serry, said on Monday during his final visit to the war-ravaged enclave.

UNICEF fears kidnapped children sent to front lines: South Sudan

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:12 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): Hundreds of children seized by armed men from a village in South Sudan have generated fears that “they are going from the classroom to the front line,” says the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in that country who demanded their immediate release.

UN agency stresses role of nuclear energy in development

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:11 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): In his introductory statement to the Agency’s Board of Governors, the head of the United Nations atomic energy watchdog said he remains “seriously concerned” about nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and that he is not yet in a position to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is used for peaceful purposes.

Political consensus urgent to protect human rights: Ban

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:09 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): The United Nations has the mandates and tools it needs to prevent human rights violations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegations gathered in Geneva on Monday for the opening of the current session of the world body’s Human Rights Council, while he warned that the biggest challenge to using these tools is lack of political consensus among Member States.

UN welcomes steps taken to draft agreement on peace: Mali

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:08 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) congratulated the parties involved in reaching a draft agreement on peace and reconciliation, which was initialled in Algiers on Sunday, according to the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson on Monday in New York.

Malaysia: UN urges to help victims of human trafficking

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:06 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): The Government of Malaysia must increase its efforts in addressing all forms of human trafficking while also protecting the rights of its victims, a United Nations human rights expert said on Monday.

UNESCO lauds reopening of National Museum in Baghdad

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:04 pm

New York, Mar 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has congratulated Iraqi authorities for the 12-year effort to re-open the Baghdad Museum, containing artefacts dating back 7,000 years as having “tremendous significance as a response to the deliberate destruction of the country’s other priceless pieces conserved in the Mosul Museum and those in the region of Nineveh.”

China road mishap kills 20

Mar 03, 2015, at 02:11 pm

Beijing, Mar 3 (IBNS) At least 20 people were killed in a road mishap at Linzhou City in Central China's Henan Province on Tuesday, media reports said.

North Korea fires 2 short-range missiles into East Sea

Mar 03, 2015, at 03:11 am

Pyongyang, Mar 2 (IBNS): North Korea on Monday fired two short-range missiles into the East Sea, media reports said.

European Parliament expresses concern over funneling of EU aid to terrorist organizations

Mar 03, 2015, at 02:42 am

Luxembourg, Mar 2 (IBNS): In a supposed jibe at Pakistan, the European Parliament has issued a declaration explicitly expressing its concern over the misuse of European Union funds in the name of counter terror measures and misusing the same to aid the terror outfits.

Bangladesh writer murder: One arrested from Dhaka

Mar 03, 2015, at 01:36 am

Dhaka, Mar 2 (IBNS): Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Monday arrested a person in connection with the murder of writer Avijit Roy here last week.

Zero Discrimination Day: UN urges tolerance for diversity

Mar 02, 2015, at 02:35 pm

New York, Mar 2 (IBNS):The United Nations agency leading the world's HIV/AIDS response has kicked off the 2015 global edition of Zero Discrimination Day as part of the Organization's wider effort to spur solidarity towards ending discrimination.

UN envoy dispatches mission to Syria

Mar 02, 2015, at 02:33 pm

New York, Mar 2 (IBNS): United Nations' Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is continuing discussions with the Government of Syria on his proposed 'freeze' of localized hostilities in the city of Aleppo, the United Nations spokesperson's office said on Sunday.