Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan dies
Aug 18, 2018, at 03:49 pm
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Ex-UN secretary general Kofi Anan has passed away, the Kofi Annan Foundation confirmed on Saturday.
Senior UN children’s advocate says they ‘should never be targeted by violence’
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:36 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Reacting to a recent upsurge in violent attacks affecting children, Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, called on Friday for those responsible to be held fully accountable.
UN chief encourages victims of terrorism to ‘raise up their voices’
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:31 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS) Victims of terror attacks have and important and powerful role to play in combatting the “global menace” the United Nations chief said on Friday, launching an exhibition at UN Headquarters in New York to commemorate the first International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:26 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Rapid advances in gene editing and so-called “DIY biological laboratories”which could be used by extremists, threaten to derail efforts to prevent biological weapons from being used against civilians, the world’s only international forum on the issue has heard.
Aid funding for Occupied Palestinian Territories at ‘all-time low’
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:18 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Funding for humanitarian operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is at an “all-time low”, threatening the delivery of life-saving aid to people in the West Bank and Gaza, the United Nations warned on Friday.
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:12 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Remembering 22 colleagues killed by the “horrific terrorist attack” on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad 15 years ago, Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all staff to pay tribute to the fallen by “continuing their mission,” and keep going to “dangerous places with the aim of making them safer”.
‘Unconscionable’ to kill aid workers, civilians: UN Emergency Coordinator
Aug 18, 2018, at 08:00 am
New York, Aug 18 (IBNS): Remembering all the humanitarians killed in the line of duty just ahead of World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations relief chief on Friday, renewed the call for civilians and aid workers everywhere to be better protected.
‘Unconscionable’ to kill aid workers, civilians: UN Emergency Coordinator
Aug 17, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): Remembering all the humanitarians killed in the line of duty just ahead of World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations relief chief on Friday, renewed the call for civilians and aid workers everywhere to be better protected.
Aug 17, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): The Republika Srpska National Assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina drew concern from the top United Nations expert on the Prevention of Genocide on Thursday, over its decision this week to revoke its endorsement of the 2004 Srebrenica Commission Report acknowledging genocide during the Bosnian war of the 1990s.
In Tanzania visit, UNHCR official stresses freedom of choice is crucial for refugee returns
Aug 17, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): Refugees should never be pressured to decide if they should return to their home countries, a senior UN official has said.
Terror attacks strike people ‘from all walks of life, the UN included’
Aug 17, 2018, at 09:01 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): The terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Iraq in 2003 that claimed the lives of 22 people should serve as a reminder that the organization’s locally recruited staff often face the greatest dangers in the world’s most hostile places, amid increasing attacks on humanitarians, the head of the United Nations in Geneva said on Thursday.
Aug 17, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): A group of United Nations rights experts are urging the Japanese government to urgently protect tens of thousands or workers hired to help decontaminate the Fukushima nuclear plant, who are reportedly being exploited and exposed to toxic nuclear radiation.
Aug 17, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): A lack of funds means that the new school term for over half a million Palestinian students could be cut short after just one month, says UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refuge
Aug 17, 2018, at 08:45 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): Recent incidents where high-level politicians have used the word ‘leprosy’ in discriminatory remarks against rivals only contributes to harmful stereotypes surrounding the disease.
US and Mexico child deportations drive extreme violence and trauma: UNICEF
Aug 17, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS)The many life-threatening dangers faced by children from Central America who are being deported from the United States of America and Mexico, are highlighted in a new report from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday, which also draws attention to the traumatic consequences of family separation by migration authorities.
UN chief welcomes re-opening of key Gaza border crossing
Aug 16, 2018, at 09:12 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): The decision by Israel to reopen the only functional commercial crossing point into Gaza which has been closed to most deliveries for weeks, has been welcomed by the United Nations Secretary-General.
Aug 16, 2018, at 09:03 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): A Ukrainian film-maker whose outspoken criticism of Russia’s continued annexation of Crimea has landed him in jail, prompted United Nations human rights experts to call on Russian authorities for his immediate and unconditional release on Wednesday.
Aug 16, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): The court decision to award nearly $290 million to a terminally-ill man from the United States who claimed his cancer was caused by a herbicide in a commercial weed killer, has been welcomed by two United Nations human rights experts as a “significant recognition” of the responsibilities that chemical companies have to consumers.
INTERVIEW: ‘Defend the people, not the States’, says outgoing UN human rights chief
Aug 16, 2018, at 08:46 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): For four years, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been taking governments across the world to task, exposing human rights violations and robustly advocating for the rights of victims.
UAE condemns terror attack in London
Aug 15, 2018, at 04:24 pm
Dubai, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday condemned the terror attack that took place in London's Westminster on Tuesday.
Italy bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 37; rescue operations still on
Aug 15, 2018, at 02:01 pm
Genoa, Aug 15 (IBNS): Rescuers are still looking for survivors after the collapse of a bridge in Italy's Genoa on Tuesday.
Caspian Sea deal an invaluable step towards easing regional tensions, says UN Chief
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has welcomed the historic signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which took place on Sunday, marked by a ceremony which brought together the leaders of the five countries bordering its coastline.
Multilateralism: The only path to address the world’s troubles, signals Guterres
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:47 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): As the world’s problems grow, multilateralism represents to best path to meet the challenges that lie ahead, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday, launching his annual report.
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:31 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Libyan militias have forced nearly 2,000 people from an ethnic minority likely targeted for their alleged links to the former Gadaffi Government, to flee long-established shelters in the capital Tripoli, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.
UN chief appeals for calm as Mali presidential election draws to a close
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:21 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Following the conclusion of the second round of presidential elections in Mali, political leaders in the West African country are being encouraged by the UN Secretary-General to promote a peaceful atmosphere and avoid incendiary rhetoric.
Italy: Genoa bridge collapses, 11 dies
Aug 14, 2018, at 07:10 pm
Manila, Aug 14 (IBNS): At least 11 people were killed as a motorway bridge has collapsed near the Italian city of Genoa, media reports said on Tuesday.
Nepal: Bombs defused at various places in Kathmandu, 2 arrested
Aug 14, 2018, at 05:10 pm
Kathmandu, Aug 14 (IBNS): The Nepal Army's bomb disposal squads on Tuesday defused bombs from Naikap Balkhu Bridge in Chandragiri Municipality and Nayapati in Gokarneshwar Municipality of Kathmandu district, media reports said.
Car crashes outside Parliament in London, man arrested over terrorism suspicion
Aug 14, 2018, at 04:41 pm
London, Aug 14 (IBNS): Several people were injured as a car crashed outside the House of Parliament here on Tuesday, the police said.
South Korea, North Korea to hold talks in Pyongyang in September
Aug 14, 2018, at 02:44 pm
Seoul/Pyongyang, Aug 14 (IBNS): Neighbours South Korea and North Korea have agreed to hold talks at the latter's capital city, Pyongyang, in September, according to a report by the former's Yonhap news agency.
Former Adelaide Archbishop accused of sexual harassment cover-up faces house arrest
Aug 14, 2018, at 12:17 pm
Canberra, Aug 14 (IBNS): Philip Wilson, the former Archbishop of Adelaide, Australia, has been ordered a 12-month house arrest, after a national court found him guilty of concealing child sex abuse.