Peru: UN conference addresses poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:19 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): As policymakers start putting into practice the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September, United Nations officials and Government representatives are meeting to discuss how to continue reducing poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite the region's economic slowdown.
'Severe impact' feared in Yemen due to rain potential of cyclone Chapala
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:17 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): As cyclonic storm Chapala made landfall on Tuesday morning in the southwest of Riyan in Yemen with a surface wind speed of 120 to 130 kilometres per hour, United Nations agencies reported that although it had weakened rapidly, the impacts could be severe and challenging.
Corruption feeds and sustains wildlife and forest crime: UN anti-crime chief
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Expressing concern that spiralling wildlife and forest crime – fuelled by corrosive corruption – can impede vital progress of the new global sustainable development agenda, the top United Nations anti-crime official and the head of the global UN–backed treaty on protecting endangered species today urged nations to step up the fight to disrupt criminal networks that supply the disastrous illegal trade.
UN humanitarian official in Libya calls for release of abducted aid workers
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:13 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): The top UN relief official in Libya on Tuesday condemned the abduction of two aid workers in southern Libya and warned that persistent threats against humanitarian workers is hindering the delivery of crucial aid to those in need in that part of the war-torn country.
Ban offers sympathies to Israel on 20th anniversary of assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Marking the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has offered his deepest sympathies to the citizens of the State of Israel, and, noting current tensions in the region, urged all parties to be guided by the late Israeli leader's realization "that the path to true security and strength is through dialogue and compromise."
'We need greater transparency, accountability,' Member States told at debate
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:10 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): To advance the values, principles and purposes of the United Nations, the General Assembly's role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency must be continuously reviewed and enhanced, the 193-member body's President, Mogens Lykketoft, said on Tuesday, stressing the need for transparency throughout the UN system.
Climate change poses 'major threat' to food security, warns UN expert
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:08 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Climate change poses severe and distinct threats to food security, and could subject an additional 600 million people to malnutrition by 2080, a United Nations human rights expert warned on Tuesday.
More reliable data needed to combat racism and discrimination: UN rights expert
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:06 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Governments need to improve data collection as a mean to better assess the situation of vulnerable groups, a UN independent expert on racism said on Tuesday, noting that "the right to be free from discrimination includes the right to access information that could serve as evidence to prove discrimination."
'Racial superiority' myth must be debunked, experts tell UN event
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:04 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Debunking the myth of racial hierarchy, United Nations experts on racial discrimination on Tuesday said that it is imperative to deconstruct, on a global scale, the ideological myth of a superior race and the resulting conviction of a superior culture.
'Cycle of impunity' must end, Ban declares, honouring killed journalists
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is honouring journalists and media workers who were killed in the line of duty for merely 'reporting the truth' and is underscoring the importance of protecting their rights and ensuring they can report freely.
Trade slows in Asia-Pacific as economies adjust to lower global growth: UN report
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): The regional trade and investment flows in Asia and the Pacific is decelerating as the economies in the region adjust to cyclical and structural changes resulting from the global economic downturn and the expected reduction in China's growth rate, says a new United Nations report launched on Monday.
Fight against corruption crucial to achieving sustainable development: UN forum
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): Ending corruption is vital to efforts to achieve sustainable development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the world’s largest anti-corruption forum, which began on Monday in St. Petersburg, Russia.
UN treaty-making body opens with focus on rapidly expanding radiocommunications
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): The United Nations World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 opened on Monday in Geneva aiming to address the rapid evolution of information and communication technologies (ICT), to ensure the global management of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, and to enable people to live and travel safely while enjoying high performance radiocommunications.
Food safety and trade should improve nutrition and boost development: UN agencies
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:50 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on Monday to strengthen their cooperation to promote international food trade and safety in ways that improve nutrition and allow small-scale producers to have better access to international agricultural markets.
Côte d’Ivoire: Ban welcomes results of poll, congratulates President Ouattara
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:48 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): Welcoming the publication of the final results of the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire by the Constitutional Council, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday congratulated President Alassane Ouattara on his re-election, as well as the people and Government of the West African nation on the successful conclusion of the electoral process.
East Jerusalem: UN officials call for respect of health premises, right to health care
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:45 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): Officials from a number of United Nations agencies have stressed the need to ensure respect for health premises as well as the right to health, following recent actions by the Israeli security forces at a hospital in East Jerusalem.
Ban welcomes restart of trilateral meet between Republic of Korea, Japan, China
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:44 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the Summit Meeting held between the Republic of Korea, Japan and China on 1 November in Seoul, and lauded the leaders for resuming the trilateral meetings.
UN calls on Libyan political stakeholders to redouble efforts to reach agreement
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:42 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on Monday on the main political stakeholders in the country to redouble their efforts in bringing the political dialogue process to a successful conclusion, which would allow for an agreement to form a Government of National Accord and for the resumption of Libya’s democratic transition.
Powerful cyclone Chapala headed towards war-torn Yemen, warns UN
Nov 03, 2015, at 01:39 pm
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): A strong and rare tropical cyclone, named Chapala, is heading towards the southern coasts of Oman and Yemen and is expected to make landfall on the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa in war-torn Yemen early Tuesday, the United Nations warned on Monday.
UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack against Somali hotel
Nov 02, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned "in the strongest terms" the attacks carried out on Sunday against the Sahafi hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia by Al-Shabaab, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries.
South Sudan: UN mission secures release of all personnel taken hostage
Nov 02, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Sunday successfully carried out an extraction operation securing the release of 13 UNMISS contractors, who were taken hostage and detained by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in Opposition soldiers on 26th October.
Ban concerned by continuous exercise of hate speech ahead of Myanmar elections
Nov 02, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday expressed deep concern at the continuous resort to hate speech, provocation of communal hostilities and the abuse of religion for political purposes, incited by "extreme element among the majority community in Myanmar".
America to send special troops to counter ISIS in Syria
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:31 pm
Washington, Oct 31 (IBNS) In a move to redeem Syria from the Islamic State, US President Barrack Obama on Friday administered special troops to Syria to fight, assist and train combative forces opposing the ISIS, according to the White House.
Ceasefire in Colombia would be ‘decisive step toward ending conflict’ – UN
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:29 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS) The United Nations welcomes the intention expressed by both the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to establish a bilateral ceasefire by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the world body said on Friday.
Head of mission urges release of remaining UN personnel taken hostage in South Sudan
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:26 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) today condemned the actions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A) in Opposition for holding UN personnel hostage, and refuted allegations that the Mission was transporting weapons and fuel for the South Sudanese group.
Algeria: UN agency delivers aid to flood-hit refugees in Tindouf
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:24 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS) After heavy rains in southwestern Algeria last week resulted in devastating floods, the United Nations refugee agency has airlifted emergency aid to 11,000 families living in five camps in the region.
UN strongly condemns attack on Iranian exiles camp in Iraq
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:22 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS) The United Nations on Friday has strongly condemned the attack that occurred Thursday evening on a camp located near Baghdad International Airport that houses over 2,100 Iranian exiles and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Ban welcomes ‘peaceful and orderly’ elections in Tanzania
Oct 31, 2015, at 06:12 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the people, Government and political parties of Tanzania for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the country held its elections on 25 October 2015.
Millions of children deprived of education in war-torn Iraq, says UNICEF
Oct 31, 2015, at 04:59 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Saturday said that an estimated two million children in Iraq have no access to school and warned that an additional 1.2 million may be at the risk of dropping out due to continuous violence disrupting academic years.
Global response ‘keeps door open’ to limit temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius: UN
Oct 31, 2015, at 04:53 pm
New York, Oct 31 (IBNS): An unprecedented worldwide effort is underway to combat climate change, building confidence that nations can cost effectively meet their stated objective of keeping global temperature rise to under 2 degrees Celsius, the United Nations said on Saturday.