Cameroon host to families fleeing Nigeria, Lake Chad basin: UN relief official
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:40 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): Families on the run often surviving brutal attacks in Nigeria are now threatened with the lack of food, water and deadly epidemics in neighbouring Cameroon, where they have sought refuge, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the region said on Monday.
President talks about changing the world, as 69th UN General Assembly concludes
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly presented countries with a "historic opportunity" to change the world for the better and was guided by the overarching principles of cooperation, compromise and solidarity, its President said Monday.
Libyan parties reach consensus on main elements of political agreement: UN envoy
Sep 14, 2015, at 01:36 pm
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Libya announced on Sunday that consensus has been reached by the parties on the main elements of a political agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis.
UN Mid-east envoy urges respect for Jerusalem's holy sites
Sep 14, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process voiced concern at Sunday's provocations and violence in and around the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and urged respect for the sanctity of the area ahead of the upcoming Jewish and Muslim holy days.
UN calls for full, swift implementation of European proposals for refugee crisis
Sep 12, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday welcomed the European Commission's proposals unveiled last Wednesday to address the current refugee crisis in Europe, adding that given the urgency of the situation, these proposals need to be implemented fully and swiftly.
France and Bulgaria must halt forced evictions of Roma: UN rights chief
Sep 12, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): Ongoing forced evictions of Roma and Travellers in a number of European States, including France and Bulgaria, are cause for serious concern, the United Nations human rights chief said on Friday.
Forests of the future fundamental to achieving Sustainable Development Goals: FAO
Sep 12, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The 14th World Forestry Congress concluded on Friday with a declaration setting out a vision for 2050 that sees forests playing "a decisive role" in ending hunger, improving livelihoods and combating climate change, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
National Geographic Society wins UN environmental prize for science and innovation
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The National Geographic Society, one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world that reaches more than 700 million people each month, is this year's winner of the United Nations Champions of the Earth award in the area of science and innovation.
Ban outlines measures to strengthen UN peace operations, tackle abuse
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday presented his agenda to strengthen United Nations peacekeeping, including setting out three "fundamental" changes urgently required to adapt operations to new realities, as well as measures to root out sexual exploitation and abuse.
Nepal: Ban stresses need for dialogue, respect for peaceful protest
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about the recent violence in Nepal and saddened by the loss of lives, a spokesperson for the United Nations chief said on Friday.
UN official outlines steps taken in response to Central Africa's abuse allegations
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The United Nations peacekeeping chief on Friday announced that following reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse, seven peacekeepers serving with the UN mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been repatriated, while nine have had their payments suspended.
Ban offers 'good offices' support in Colombia-Venezuela border dispute
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has conveyed to the Foreign Ministers of Colombia and Venezuela that he "trusted" their countries would address the border challenges they faced through constructive dialogue, and offered his "good offices" mediation services if both parties so requested.
Security Council calls on Yemeni parties to speed up peace efforts
Sep 12, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday welcomed the announcement on the upcoming Yemeni peace talks and commended the decision by the Government to participate in them along with other parties.
Crane collapses in Mosque in Mecca, 65 killed
Sep 12, 2015, at 04:51 am
Mecca, Sept 11 (IBNS): At least 65 people died after a crane collapsed at a mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, media reports said.
9/11: America observes 2001 tragedy
Sep 11, 2015, at 09:35 pm
Washington, Sept 11 (IBNS) Fourteen years have passed since the September 11, 2001, tragedy which claimed almost 3000 lives in what is considered to be the worst man-made disaster to hit the country in the 21st Century.
World food prices hit lowest level in almost seven years: FAO
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): The price of major food commodities continued to drop through August due to abundant supplies, a decline in energy prices and concerns over the economic slowdown in China, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Wednesday.
Liberia making progress on numerous fronts, UN official tells Security Council
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): Liberia is working hard to build institutions, pass legislation and put in place mechanisms that will enable it to maintain stability without the presence of a peacekeeping force, the head of United Nations peacekeeping told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Darfur: UN humanitarian officials deplore fatal attack on health workers
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): United Nations humanitarian officials in Sudan have strongly condemned an attack carried out against health workers who were returning from a routine mission in West Darfur.
Global nuclear-test ban urgently needed for safer, more secure world: UN officials
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): Top United Nations officials on Wednesday highlighted the existential threat posed by nuclear testing, and called for all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the international treaty that seeks to achieve a ban on such testing.
UN envoy unveils plan to get 1 million Syrian children in school in 21 days
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): With more than 4 million children having left Syria – half of them for Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey – in a "crisis of biblical proportions," the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education on Wednesday said $250 million could get 1 million refugee children in school by the time the UN General Assembly meets later this month.
Rise in global tourism continues, despite concerns over safety and security: UN
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:15 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): International tourism figures grew by four per cent in the first half of 2015, an increase of 21 million when compared to the same period last year, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
Flags of non-member observer States to fly at UN offices
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday decided that the flags of non-member observer States shall be raised at the world body’s headquarters and offices following the flags of its 193 Member States.
Syria: Ban promises establishment of chemical weapons accountability probe
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s authorization to set up an investigative mechanism to identify who is responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, promising its "speedy establishment" and urging full cooperation by all parties in Syria.
Libya: Security Council urges parties to finalize political accord
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): The Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until 15 March 2016, while underscoring that there can be no military solution to the ongoing political crisis.
UN envoy on Yemen welcomes commitment of parties to upcoming peace talks
Sep 11, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen on Wednesday welcomed the commitment of the Government, the Houthis and the General People's Congress to participate in peace talks that he will convene in the region next week.
Child mortality rates plunge by more than half since 1990: UN report
Sep 10, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Sep 10 (IBNS): Child mortality rates have plummeted to less than half of what they were in 1990, but it is not enough to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of a two-thirds reduction over the past 15 years, according to a new report released on Wednesday by a number of United Nations agencies.
Relations on Korean peninsula 'taking a new turn,' says UN rights expert
Sep 10, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Sep 10 (IBNS): At the end of a five-day visit to the Republic of Korea, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Wednesday that the relationship between the two countries is "taking a new turn."
South Sudan: UN agencies boost effort to avoid loss of young children's lives
Sep 10, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Sep 10 (IBNS): Two United Nations agencies are intensifying their efforts to reverse "dire" malnutrition in South Sudan, where every two minutes another child becomes severely malnourished and brutal conflict has displaced millions of people, destroyed basic services and increased disease.
Watch the historic moment when UN adopts 'charter for people and planet': UN official
Sep 10, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Sep 10 (IBNS): The top United Nations official who oversaw the negotiations that whittled down more than 500 proposals into 17 goals to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change says it will be a "historic moment" when world leaders formally commit to the Sustainable Development Goals later this month.
Peace 'a distant dream' without development, UN high-level forum told
Sep 10, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Sep 10 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Wednesday shared a common message that building a culture of peace means not just ending conflict but building inclusive societies that are able to develop and thrive in the absence of discrimination.