Erosion of Gaza's economy accelerates amid Israeli military operations, ongoing blockade – UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:56 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Even before the latest crisis in the Gaza Strip, the tiny enclave's local economy was in a state of total collapse, chiefly due to the accumulated impact of a crushing seven-year blockade and two devastating Israeli military operations in November 2012 and December 2008, according to a new United Nations report out on Wednesday .
UN envoy calls for probe into massacre by armed groups at Iraqi military base
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:55 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official has called on the Iraqi authorities to conduct a public and independent investigation into the attack at Camp Speicher military base, when it was seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups in June.
In Auckland lecture, Ban lauds New Zealand's 'ingenuity and hard work' for the UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:53 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday hailed the vital contributions of New Zealand to the work of the United Nations, from peacekeeping and disarmament to gender equality and human rights, as he addressed students and faculty at the University of Auckland.
Citing women's crucial role in peacebuilding, UN officials urge concrete support on ground
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Women are crucial partners in peacebuilding and must be guaranteed the safe political space, including a seat at the "negotiating table," to participate in all steps of post-conflict reconciliation and recovery processes, stressed high-level United Nations officials on Wednesday at a Headquarters event.
Security Council again demands immediate release of peacekeepers detained in Golan
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:51 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) The Security Council called again on Wednesday for the immediate and unconditional release of 45 United Nations peacekeepers seized late last week by an armed group in the Golan, while the Organization’s top peacekeeping official said the UN is continuing to look at ways to enhance safety and security procedures in what has become a "very challenging situation."
SAMOA: Pacific women, youth to benefit from partnerships-UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:50 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Women and youth must be seen as partners in development and involved, not just included, in decision-making, according to discussions at the United Nations conference on small island developing states which wraps up Thursday in Samoa.
SAMOA: New partnerships seek to protect world's oceans
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Fishermen in coastal Samoan villages say there are less fish than there used and they worry that the fish populations will soon disappear altogether, but participants at a United Nations conference on forming partnerships with small island developing states are vowing to prevent that from happening.
SAMOA: UN disaster risk chief calls for putting partnerships to work
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:47 am
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The commitments made at the international conference on partnering with small island developing states must be prioritized and implemented as soon as possible, urged the top United Nations official on disaster risk reduction.
Ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine drives more people from their homes - UN
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:57 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The number of displaced people in eastern Ukraine has risen dramatically in recent weeks due to the ongoing fighting in the country, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday, warning of corresponding increases in the need for humanitarian aid for civilians in the region.
New UN South Sudan envoy stresses civilian protection, national ownership of peace process
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:54 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Taking up her post on Tuesday as head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Løj acknowledged that while it was a "huge and difficult" challenge, the job was impossible to turn down because the country's people had fought hard for their independence.
Ban appoints veteran UN official as assistant Secretary-General for peacebuilding support
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:51 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.
Mali: Ban condemns deadly attack against UN peacekeepers
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:48 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Condemning the latest in a series of recent attacks against United Nations personnel and contractors in northern Mali, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday declared that the latest incident, in which four UN peacekeepers were killed and 15 others injured, would not deter the Organization’s determination to support the Malian Government and people.
With nearly 3 billion now online, UN-backed forum opens to debate key Internet issues
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:45 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The ninth annual meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has opened in Istanbul, Turkey with more than 2,500 participants who will debate over the next four days key issues “that could affect every Internet user on Tuesday and on Wednesday.â€
Recent attacks in Nigeria send thousands fleeing to Cameroon for refuge - UN
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Recent attacks by insurgent groups in north-east Nigeria have prompted thousands of people to seek refuge in Cameroon over the past 10 days, with some sleeping in schools and churches, and children suffering from poor health, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.
Syria: UN relief operation delivers food assistance to record number of people
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:23 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to a record-breaking 4.1 million people inside war-ravaged Syria in August, owing to improved access with increased cross-line operations within the country and more cross-border convoys.
Over one million Somalis in danger as food crisis worsens, warns UN agency
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): Poor rains, conflict, trade disruptions and reduced humanitarian assistance have led to a worsening of the food security situation across Somalia, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, adding that acute malnutrition increased in many areas, particularly among children.
Ban welcomes lifting of siege of Amerli in northern Iraq; UN agencies rush in aid
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): With the siege on the northern Iraqi town of Amerli finally broken,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed his appreciation to the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and others, who, with air support from the United States, helped avert a humanitarian disaster in the town, which had been blockaded by militants for the past two months.
SAMOA: In Apia, Ban sets sail for sustainable development
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sailed with a Polynesian voyaging canoe crew, whose mission is to spotlight the need for action on sustainable development by going around the world using only traditional navigation methods.
Islamic State issues video of beheading of US journalist
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:19 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Another Islamic State video video has surfaced which showed the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff.
Pakistan Parliament meets to end political crisis
Sep 02, 2014, at 10:22 pm
Islamabad, Sept 2 (IBNS): Pakistan lawmakers have decided to go back to Parliament to end the political crisis that has gripped the nation for past two weeks.
Grave crimes committed on 'unimaginable scale' in Iraq, UN Human Rights Council told
Sep 02, 2014, at 07:09 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) United Nations officials on Monday urged an immediate end to the acts of violence and abuses committed against civilians in Iraq, particularly against children and people from various ethnic and religious communities, as the Human Rights Council met to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Ban alarmed at Israel's announced seizure of West Bank land
Sep 02, 2014, at 07:06 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced his alarm at the announcement by Israeli authorities to declare nearly 1,000 acres of land in Bethlehem as so-called "state land."
UN chief demands immediate release of seized Fijian peacekeepers
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:50 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday again called for the release of 44 Fijian peacekeepers seized in the Golan.
SAMOA: Small island developing states can lead transition to 'green' energy - UN
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:46 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) Despite being endowed with renewable energy sources like wind, sunshine and waves small island developing states remain heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, a practice that the United Nations says can be reversed through durable partnerships.
UN, international rights experts urge greater protection of journalists covering conflicts
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) Journalists covering conflicts must be afforded the highest degree of protection, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts said on Monday, adding that the recent attacks, ongoing kidnappings, and arbitrary incarcerations of media professionals around the world must be condemned.
UN deplores deliberate killing of civilians in Afghanistan's Farah province
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:39 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the deliberate killing of 12 civilians in the western province of Farah for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.
Man stabs children to death in Chinese school
Sep 02, 2014, at 03:24 am
Beijing, Sept 1 (IBNS) A man stabbed to death at least three children and injured six others in a primary school in China's Hubei Province on Monday, media reports said.
Army chief asking PM to resign is baseless: ISPR
Sep 02, 2014, at 01:57 am
Islamabad, Sept 1 (IBNS) The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), which is the media wing of the Pakistan military, on Monday negated media reports that Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign from his post.
Protesters "seize" PTV office, Army regain control
Sep 01, 2014, at 09:34 pm
Islamabad, Sept 1 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict against Pakistan's current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif turned violent on Monday when protestors "beseiged" the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) head-quarters building in Islamabad even as the supreme court of the country offered its assistance to end the crisis.
Ban voices concern about reported military takeover in Lesotho
Sep 01, 2014, at 04:36 pm
New York, Sept 1 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern on Sunday about the reported military takeover in the southern African nation of Lesotho, and called on all parties to resolve their differences peacefully.