UN forum on food security focuses on eradicating hunger by 2030
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Marking the first international gathering on food security and nutrition since world leaders approved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) commenced on Monday, focusing on ending hunger by 2030.
Gender parity in education achieved in less than half the world's countries: UNESCO
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): A new gender report compiled by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), shows that fewer than half the countries have achieved the goal of ensuring gender parity in both primary and secondary education before 2005.
UN urgently appeals for $86 million to tackle food insecurity in Zimbabwe
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The United Nations in Zimbabwe has appealed to humanitarian and development partners for $86 million that is critically needed to fill a shortfall to support 1.5 million people affected by food insecurity in the country.
Member States pledge $100 million to UN agency supporting Palestine refugees
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Twenty-two Member States of the United Nations are planning to pledge $100 million dollars to support next year's budget of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which provides educational, health, relief and social services for some five million such refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza.
UN agency calls for robust political action to halt violence in West Bank
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Deeply alarmed by the escalating violence and widespread loss of civilian life in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday called for strong and immediate political action and accountability to stem the ongoing violence and prevent its further escalation.
UN mission in Darfur welcomes rebel group order to ban recruitment of child soldiers
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on Monday welcomed as a "significant step" an order by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement known as JEM that prohibits the recruitment and use of children in its ranks.
UN official thanks Greece and frontline islands for response to continued arrivals
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): During a two-day mission to Greece – the main European Union entry point for nearly 450,000 refugees and migrants so far this year – the United Nations' most senior refugee official said he had witnessed the improved humanitarian response mounted by Greek local authorities and civil society while lamenting the continued lack of a large-scale and effective European response.
Peace endures when women can participate meaningfully in peace talks: UN report
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): A new report on women, peace and security, launched on Monday to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the landmark United Nations Security Council resolution on the issue, highlights the important gains to be made by the greater empowerment of women in peacebuilding efforts.
Somalia: UN boosts El Niño preparedness and relief, urges more funding
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Efforts have been ramped up recently to mitigate the impact of floods and draughts in Somalia driven by the El Niño phenomenon between now and December, which may worsen the food security and humanitarian situations, the United Nations has said, while stressing the urgent need for more financial support to continue its relief work in the country.
UN budget proposal shows commitment to strict financial management: Ban
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Introducing his proposed $5.5 billion budget for the work of the United Nations over the next two years, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that it encompasses the Organization's "vision and commitment to budget discipline and strict financial management."
Africa Week: Ban lauds steps taken for continent’s long-term development agenda
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Africa Week 2015 kicked off at Headquarters on Monday with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commending African Member States of the United Nations for taking an "important step" this year toward the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
UN mission in Central Africa on 'high alert' as armed group threatens capital
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has reported that it is on "high alert" as the situation in the war-torn country remains fragile, with armed groups threatening to destabilize its capital city, Bangui.
Ban condemns suicide attacks in Cameroon
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the suicide attacks in Kangaleri, Cameroon, on 11 October, suspected to be carried out by Boko Haram elements.
Ban calls for urgent and collective action to reform UN peace operations
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged immediate action to strengthen the Organization's peace operations, telling the 193-member UN General Assembly that is essential to act now and "not wait, as in the past, for crisis or tragedy to propel reform."
As Guinea awaits election results, Ban urges all political leaders to maintain peace
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:10 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): After weekend polls in Guinea, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday encouraged all political leaders and national stakeholders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed on election day and to refrain from any statements that may lead to violence or unrest.
Terrorist attacks in Chad and Cameroon condemned by UN Security Council
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The members of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned the "horrific" terrorist attacks attributed to Boko Haram, perpetrated on Saturday and Sunday in the towns of Baga Sola, Chad, and Kangaleri, Cameroon, which resulted in a large number of deaths and casualties.
Transformative political process key to resolving Syrian crisis: UN envoy
Oct 13, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Only a parallel, all-inclusive transformative political process that is compliant within the framework of the Geneva Communiqué, can lead to a resolution of the ongoing crisis and Syria and tackle terrorism in the region, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country said on Monday.
UN focuses on adolescent girls as part of drive towards equality for all by 2030
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for a global commitment to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared, marking the International Day of the Girl Child.
UN chief condemns suicide attacks in Chad
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has denounced the five simultaneous suicide attacks in Baga Sola sous-prefecture in Chad on Sunday, which left scores of civilians dead or injured.
Bolivia: Ban urges action on climate change, says caring for planet is moral issue
Oct 12, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Bolivia at the Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and the Defence of Life, said that the subject of the conference was both "important and timely."
Afghanistan: NATO convoy attacked, 3 hurt
Oct 12, 2015, at 02:03 am
Kabul, Oct 11 (IBNS): A suicide attacker crashed his explosives-laden car into a NATO forces’ convoy on Sunday in Afghanistan's Kabul city which left three people injured.
China: Restaurant blast kills 17
Oct 11, 2015, at 02:39 am
Beijing, Oct 10 (IBNS) An explosion inside a restaurant in China's Anhui Province on Saturday killed at least 17 people, media reports said.
Oct 11, 2015, at 12:15 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The NATO on Saturday condemned the twin blasts in Turkey which have left 86 people dead.
Turkey: Twin blasts rock Ankara
Oct 10, 2015, at 08:41 pm
Ankara, Oct 10 (IBNS): At least 20 people are feared killed as twin blasts rocked Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday,media reports said.
UN officials urge Libyan parties to endorse proposals on new unity government
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Following the proposal of the names of candidates for the presidency for a national unity government in Libya, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged parties to the Libyan "not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a State that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution."
Unvaccinated children in Ukraine at heightened risk of polio: UN agencies
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): With Ukraine's Ministry of Health recently confirming two cases of polio in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are calling for an immediate polio vaccine campaign in the country.
Civilians killed by air strikes at Yemeni wedding party disturbing: UN official
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The top United Nations humanitarian official on Friday said he was "deeply disturbed" by the news of civilians being killed by coalition air strikes that hit a wedding party in Yemen's Dhamar Governorate on Thursday.
UN highlights survival of postal service hinges on ability to quickly change, innovate
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:50 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): On World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is highlighting that the future of postal services strongly depends on their ability to innovate and to embrace new technologies.
UN commends Tunisian Dialogue Quartet on Nobel Peace Prize win
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:48 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on being awarded this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace.
Libya: Security Council authorizes operations to disrupt migrant smuggling
Oct 10, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Acting to help "save the threatened lives of migrants or of victims of human trafficking" and to disrupt criminal enterprises operating on the high-seas off the coast of Libya, the United Nations Security Council on Friday authorized for one year operations by the European Union (EU) and individual countries to inspect and or seize vessels of suspected of people smuggling in the Mediterranean.