In DR Congo, UN Security Council says December polls are ‘historic opportunity’ for country
Oct 07, 2018, at 04:45 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council wrapped up on Saturday a two-day mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the body’s 15 members pledged to support the process in the run-up to long-delayed elections, set for late December, and called for the polls to be credible and peaceful.
Japan's famous Tsukiji market closes, fish vendors relocate
Oct 06, 2018, at 11:41 am
Tokyo, Oct 6 (IBNS): Ending an era of fish vending in one of Japan's most popular tourist attraction site, the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo held its pre-dawn tuna auction for one final time before relocating to a new place.
Concern rising over fate of Rohingya refugees sent home by India: UNHCR
Oct 06, 2018, at 07:38 am
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has voiced ‘great concern’ for the safety and security of seven Rohingya men who have been sent home by Indian authorities, after reportedly being denied access to lawyers, or full consideration of their asylum applications.
Execution of juvenile offender in Iran ‘deeply distressing’ – UN rights chief
Oct 06, 2018, at 07:36 am
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Denouncing the execution of a juvenile offender in Iran, whose trial was also reportedly marred by irregularities, the top United Nations human rights official has called on the country to end the use of the death penalty for those under-18, in line with its obligations under international law.
Access still an obstacle to reaching stricken communities on Indonesian island: UN agencies
Oct 06, 2018, at 07:33 am
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Aid is getting through to victims of last Friday’s deadly earthquake and tsunami, which struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, but stricken communities are still in dire need, UN aid agencies said on Friday.
Idea of ‘homogenous’ Polish culture is a myth: UN human rights expert
Oct 06, 2018, at 07:31 am
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): An independent UN rights expert has accused the Polish Government of disseminating the “myth” of a “homogenous” Polish culture, in a statement released on Friday.
Nobel Peace Prize goes to UN Goodwill Ambassador and Congolese doctor, highlighting sexual violence
Oct 06, 2018, at 07:27 am
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Nadia Murad, a Yazidi rights activist and the first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege awarded Nobel peace prize
Oct 05, 2018, at 03:27 pm
Oslo, Oct 5 (IBNS): Campaigners against rape in warfare Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege have been awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.
UN chief urges peaceful, free and fair elections in Cameroon
Oct 05, 2018, at 10:06 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Cameroon, as the country prepares to hold presidential elections this coming Sunday.
Syria: UN Humanitarian Coordinator calls for unimpeded access from within the country
Oct 05, 2018, at 10:04 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): Highlighting the “complexities of the situation in Syria” with close to 13 million people in need of life-saving assistance, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country called on warring parties to allow access to all areas from within the country, so aid can reach those in need “fast and efficiently”.
Nigeria inundated by floods; UN steps up disease prevention efforts
Oct 05, 2018, at 09:56 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): With over 826,000 people affected by heavy flooding affecting most of Nigeria, humanitarian agencies continue to step up efforts to provide life-saving assistance, especially basic medical care, which is essential to prevent disastrous epidemics.
Dutch authorities brief world chemical weapons watchdog on alleged Russian cyber attack
Oct 05, 2018, at 09:54 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Thursday, over allegations that a cyber attack was being plotted in April, against the headquarters of the OPCW, orchestrated by Russia.
Over 300 hurt in South Africa train mishap
Oct 05, 2018, at 09:28 am
Johannesburg, Oct 5 (IBNS): At least 320 people were injured in a train collision incident in South Africa's Kempton Park area on Thursday, media reports said.
UN-led tobacco control advocates denounce ‘increasingly vicious’ industry interference
Oct 05, 2018, at 08:49 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): Tobacco giants are adopting new ways and “disguises” to push their products, noxious both for people and the environment, and interfere with government efforts to regulate the sale and use of tobacco, the head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC, the United Nations-led tobacco control treaty, has told UN News.
'Endless volley of assaults’ aimed at refugees: protection chief calls for ‘humane dialogue’
Oct 05, 2018, at 08:38 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): “Noise, chatter, shrillness, lack of civility, and harsh language,” surround the public debate over refugees, who face a “seemingly endless volley of assaults,” said the UN refugee agency’s (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner for Protection on Thursday.
Tunisia ‘at a turning point’ stresses UN rights expert
Oct 05, 2018, at 08:27 am
New York, Oct 5 (IBNS): An independent UN human rights expert welcomed on Thursday the progress made towards democratic reform in Tunisia, since the 2011 revolution, and emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation: UN event sheds light on the unthinkable
Oct 04, 2018, at 08:00 am
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS): Governments can and must do more to end the daily sexual abuse and exploitation of girls and boys worldwide, an event at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday highlighted, including through a newly launched tool designed to help countries track progress and gaps.
Oct 04, 2018, at 07:53 am
New York. Oct 4 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, on Wednesday, welcomed the designation of a new Prime Minister, Adel Abdel-Mahdi, and urged political leaders to promote women’s meaningful representation in politics.
Indonesia earthquake and tsunami: Death toll touches 1300
Oct 03, 2018, at 12:32 pm
Jakarta, Oct 3 (IBNS): At least 1347 people have lost their lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami, which hit Indonesia last week, reports said.
UN agencies inject youthful energy into sustainable development for urban Africa
Oct 03, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): Underscoring the importance of fully involving the young in decisions affecting their lives, three United Nations agencies announced an innovative partnership on Tuesday with African local governments, designed to inject youthful ideas and energy into urban planning policies.
UN expert denounces killing of more Palestinian protesters, as ‘affront to human rights’
Oct 03, 2018, at 09:14 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): As protests continue at the Gaza border fence against Israeli policies, so does the killing and wounding of Palestinian protesters, including children, by the Israeli security forces, said a UN independent human rights expert on Tuesday. With the death toll rising, the UN Special Rapporteur who monitors the human rights situation in the Palestinian territory, denounced the violence as an “ongoing affront to human rights and human dignity”.
Police, Catalan separatists clash in Barcelona; train services hit
Oct 02, 2018, at 01:13 pm
Barcelona, Oct 2 (IBNS): Spanish police clashed with Catalan separatists in Barcelona, as the latter took to the streets across Catalonia to celebrate the first anniversary of the referendum to gain independence from Spain, reports said.
Work together, act on promises made collectively, Sweden urges at UN Assembly
Oct 02, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Swedish head of delegation underscored the importance of international cooperation and called on world leaders to work together to deliver on the promise of peace and prosperity for everyone everywhere.
Oct 02, 2018, at 09:44 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): In the end, after all was said and done in the marathon of speeches from Heads of State and Government at the General Assembly’s seventy-third annual general debate, it all came down to one thing – the centrality of a strengthened United Nations as the only global forum that can address the multiple challenges facing the world, from conflict resolution to climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
Curb throw-away culture, says UN-Habitat chief, highlighting world day
Oct 02, 2018, at 09:41 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Marking World Habitat Day on Monday, UN-Habitat – the agency mandated with promoting sustainable cities – has called for greater imagination and innovation in tackling the world’s waste management challenges, in particular at the municipal level.
Oct 02, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Timor-Leste, a country which the United Nations shepherded to independence from Indonesia 16 years ago, is a prime example of what the world Organization can do in resolving international conflicts and disputes, Delegation Chair Maria Helena Pires told the General Assembly on Monday.
Oct 02, 2018, at 09:00 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all political forces in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to implement plans to undergo a formal name change, following a consultative referendum on Sunday, through the country’s institutions.
Rights of older people celebrated, as historic UN Declaration turns 70
Oct 02, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The UN International Day of Older Persons, celebrated each 1 October, promotes the human rights of older people worldwide and, this year, celebrates the continued importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as it turns 70.
Oct 02, 2018, at 08:45 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The quality of a civilization, depends on how it treats the weak, the indigent, the elderly, the persons with disability, and by the place it gives them in community life, the representative of the Holy See told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, urging everyone to value all human life and human dignity.
Oct 02, 2018, at 08:43 am
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): While the world was in the midst of a crisis largely sparked by interventionism and “savage capitalism”, Nicaragua continued to bolster peace, strengthen security, “and…promote and defend human rights,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Denis Moncada Colindres told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, underscoring his country’s commitment to the UN Charter.