UN chief welcomes new law giving extra autonomy to Muslims in Southern Philippines
Jul 28, 2018, at 08:16 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): The UN Secretary-General on Friday welcomed a new law which grants extra autonomy to Muslim communities living in the Southern Philippines, describing it as a “landmark achievement on the road to lasting peace”.
Jul 28, 2018, at 08:10 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): More than 7,000 children have lost their lives or been maimed as a result of the brutal conflict in Syria, a senior United Nations official told the UN Security Council on Friday, stressing that they had been abused by the warring parties for far too long.
‘Warehouses emptying’ amid growing humanitarian needs in south-west Syria
Jul 28, 2018, at 08:00 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): More than 180,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in south-west Syria after weeks of escalating hostilities that have restricted aid access to the area, the UN said on Friday.
Cambodia: Before crucial vote on Sunday, UN chief calls for ‘pluralistic political process’
Jul 28, 2018, at 07:56 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): As Cambodians prepare to vote in general elections on Sunday, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a statement on Friday calling for “an inclusive and pluralistic political process” saying that it “remains essential for safeguarding the progress made by Cambodia in consolidating peace.”
North Korea returns remains of US soldiers killed during Korean War
Jul 27, 2018, at 12:13 pm
Pyongyang/Washington, July 27 (IBNS): In its latest diplomatic gesture towards the United States of America, North Korea has returned the remains of the American soldiers, believed to have been slain during the Korean War
New ECOSOC president to revive ‘deliberative function’ of forum
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:21 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The newly-elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Ronda King, of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said on Thursday that she intended to make the year ahead “a defining” one for the body that leads the UN’s ambitious drive for sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
Guterres sounds alarm over worst cashflow crunch in years
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The United Nations is at risk of running out of cash, the UN chief has warned, urging Member States to pay their mandatory contributions on time and in full, so that the world body can continue to deliver on its key mandates.
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:15 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Amid a long series of challenges, the implementation of the peace process in Colombia is moving forward and has achieved important milestones in recent months, according to a new report by the United Nations Secretary-General presented to the Security Council on Thursday.
‘Stigma and discrimination still persists’ against people living with HIV – UN labour agency
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Although progress in treating people living with HIV has enabled them to work, they continue to face career discrimination, says a new study launched on Thursday by the United Nations labour agency.
DR Congo: UN envoy calls for ‘a level playing field’ in key upcoming elections
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Major progress has been made on preparations for the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but “conditions for a level playing field are not yet in place”, said the most senior United Nations official based in the country.
UN human rights experts urge Egypt to release jailed poet who penned hit protest song
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:50 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Galal El Behairy has been held in detention since February after penning a song critical of Egypt’s policies, prompting United Nations human rights experts on Thursday to urge the government to release him immediately.
UN chief strongly condemns terrorist attacks in south-west Syria
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:47 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, has strongly condemned multiple suicide bombings on Wednesday in the government-held town of Sweida, in Syria’s south-west, which killed and injured scores of civilians.
Man detonates bomb outside US embassy in Beijing; None but the suspect injured
Jul 26, 2018, at 01:47 pm
Beijing, July 26 (IBNS): A man detonated a bomb outside the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Thursday, triggering an explosion, media reports said.
Dozens evacuated as fire rages through London's West Hampstead flats
Jul 26, 2018, at 12:32 pm
London, July 26 (IBNS): Around 100 firefighters fought a blaze on the top floor of a block of flats in north-west London's West Hampstead early on Thursday, media reports said.
Explosion near US embassy, in Beijing
Jul 26, 2018, at 12:00 pm
Beijing, July 26 (IBNS): A huge explosion has reportedly taken place outside the US embassy in Beijing, media reports said.
Pakistan: UN chief condemns suicide attack that killed dozens near polling station
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, July 26 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday condemned the killing of dozens of people near a polling station in the western city of Quetta due to a suicide attack, as voters headed to the polls in Pakistan’s general elections.
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:35 am
New York, July 26 (IBNS): Following the death of at least 80 people due to wildfires close to the Greek capital, Athens, in recent days, the top UN official for Disaster Risk Reduction expressed her condolences and called for more investment in wildfire suppression and prevention across the world.
Proposal for Spain to reckon with its past during Franco era, welcomed by UN rights experts
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:32 am
New York, July 26 (IBNS): A group of UN human rights experts has welcomed the announcement earlier this month by the Spanish Minister of Justice that the Government is paving the way for a Truth Commission to investigate violations that occurred during the civil war and the era of dictatorship under General Francisco Franco that followed.
Cameroon violence needs urgent investigation, says UN rights chief Zeid
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:00 am
new York, July 26 (IBNS): Persistent reports of grave human rights abuses in Cameroon — including a widely shared video showing the alleged execution of a woman, child and baby — must be investigated by the authorities urgently, UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Wednesday.
Acute lack of funding threatens critical aid for Palestinians : UN agency
Jul 26, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, July 26 (IBNS): Despite major fundraising efforts, UNRWA – the UN agency tasked with providing life-saving support to Palestinian refugees – is facing the “largest ever reduction in funding” in its history which is threatening the very existence of many of its critical assistance programmes.
At least 19 dead, 49 missing and many homeless in Laos dam collapse
Jul 25, 2018, at 12:49 pm
Vientiane, July 25 (IBNS): At least 19 people are dead and 49 believed missing in southern Laos after an unfinished hydroelectric dam collapsed with the gushing water inundating downstream villages, Lao media reported.
Syria: Over 30 killed in suicide attacks, Islamic state claims offensive
Jul 25, 2018, at 11:57 am
Damascus, July 25 (IBNS): Over 30 people have been killed as a suicide blast rocked Syria's Sweida city on Wednesday morning, reports said.
Greece wildfires: At least 74 killed, PM Tsipras declares three-day mourning
Jul 25, 2018, at 11:39 am
Athens, July 25 (IBNS): Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of mourning as at least 74 lives were lost in the ravaging wildfires, which hit several parts of the peninsular southern-eastern European nation.
UN ready to assist rescue and relief effort as dam collapses in Laos, with many feared dead
Jul 25, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, July 25 (IBNS): Following reports that dozens of people are dead or missing following the collapse of a dam that was under construction in Laos, the United Nations chief on Tuesday said that the world body stands ready to support the rescue and relief efforts, if authorities request it.
Jul 25, 2018, at 09:03 am
New York, July 25 (IBNS): Intense diplomatic efforts by the United Nations and Egypt have helped avoid another Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza that appeared just “minutes away” over the past weekend, a senior UN official said on Tuesday.
UN rights office appeals for peaceful Zimbabwe elections amid reports of intimidation
Jul 25, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, July 25 (IBNS): Zimbabwe’s upcoming presidential elections must be peaceful and credible, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, amid increasing reports of voter intimidation and coercion linked to the ruling ZANU-PF party.
Israel shoots down Syrian fighter jet that entered its airspace
Jul 24, 2018, at 06:29 pm
Jerusalem, July 24 (IBNS): The Israel defence forces said a Syrian warplane flying over its airspace was shot down in the country's Golan area on Tuesday.
Rescued Thai boys to be inducted into Buddhist monastery
Jul 24, 2018, at 01:51 pm
Bangkok, July 24 (IBNS): In accordance with tradition, the rescued Thai boys and their coach will be inducted into Buddhist monastery, reports said.
Greece wildfires: At least 20 dead, over 100 injured
Jul 24, 2018, at 11:43 am
Athens, July 24 (IBNS): A deadly forest fire has killed at least 20 people while it ravaged parts of Greece.
UN experts urge India to align new anti-trafficking bill with human rights law
Jul 24, 2018, at 08:51 am
New York, July 24 (IBNS): India must revise its planned new legislation to tackle trafficking in persons so that the measures proposed are in line with international human rights law, said two independent UN human rights experts on Monday.