Ban welcomes restoration of diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States
Jul 02, 2015, at 08:11 pm
New York, July 2 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today's announcement that Cuba and the United States will reopen their embassies in Havana and Washington, D.C.
UN urges 'people-centred' approach to migrants and refugees in Southeast Asia
Jul 02, 2015, at 08:10 pm
New York, July 2(IBNS) Several senior United Nations officials on Wednesdaystrongly urged Southeast Asian countries to back a “people-centred†approach to migration by, among others, expanding avenues for safe and legal migration, while stepping up law enforcement to put a stop to human trafficking.
UN chief condemns latest Egypt terrorist attack
Jul 02, 2015, at 08:05 pm
New York, July 2 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today's deadly attack in North Sinai.
Security Council urges Libyan parties to agree on government of national accord
Jul 02, 2015, at 07:09 pm
New York, July 2 (IBNS): Reiterating that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday urged the parties to the conflict to agree on a Government of National Accord and sign the proposal presented by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) "in the coming days."
Ban urges global community to help Syria end 'cataclysmic conflict'
Jul 01, 2015, at 06:17 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) The international community should be ashamed that three years since the adoption of the Geneva Communiqué on Syria, the Middle Eastern country’s "cataclysmic conflict" continues unabated, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
Michael Moller of Denmark, appointed Director-General of the United Nations office at Geneva
Jul 01, 2015, at 06:12 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) Michael Møller, of Denmark, was appointed on Tuesdayas Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN rights office urges Mexican authorities to pursue investigation into extrajudicial killings
Jul 01, 2015, at 05:56 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office has called on the Government of Mexico to extend their investigations into a series of alleged extrajudicial executions and human rights violations committed by authorities last year.
Amid election-related tensions, thousands flee Burundi for neighbouring countries - UN
Jul 01, 2015, at 04:58 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) Some ten thousand refugees fled Burundi over the weekend before authorities managed to close the borders ahead of yesterday’s parliamentary elections, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) reported today.
Risky occupations drive vulnerability in Latin America and Caribbean region, UN warns
Jul 01, 2015, at 04:17 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) Half of the 220 million "vulnerable" men and women in the in Latin America and Caribbean region – who live slightly above the poverty line but below middle-class levels-are working under precarious conditions, according to initial findings of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Year of sustained violence across Iraq has hit children hardest, UN says
Jul 01, 2015, at 04:15 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said that over the past year in Iraq, it has seen a 75 per cent increase in grave violations against children that include killing and maiming, abduction, recruitment as soldiers, sexual violence, attacks against schools and denial of humanitarian access.
As Yemen crisis deteriorates, UNICEF says children at increasing risk of disease, hunger
Jul 01, 2015, at 04:11 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict in Yemen is having a devastating impact on the country's health system and has exposed millions of children to the threat of preventable diseases, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned.
Internal displacement doubles in Libya since September, UN refugee agency warns
Jul 01, 2015, at 04:07 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) According to the United Nations refugee agency, the number of people displaced within Libya has almost doubled from an estimated 230,000 last September to more than 434,000 amid escalating fighting this year in different parts of the crisis-gripped North-African country.
New levels of 'brutality' in South Sudan, says UN rights report
Jul 01, 2015, at 03:56 pm
New York, July 1 (IBNS) The South Sudanese armed forces may have committed widespread human rights abuses, including the alleged raping and immolation of women and girls, during the recent upsurge in fighting across the African State, according to a new report released by the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS).
Indonesia plane mishap kills more than 100
Jul 01, 2015, at 02:23 am
Jakarta, June 30 (IBNS) More than 100 people have lost their lives as an Indonesian military transport plane crashed in the country's Medan city, media reports said.
Indonesia: Military plane crash, 37 killed
Jun 30, 2015, at 10:50 pm
Jakarta, June 30 (IBNS) An Indonesian military transport plane crashed in the country's Medan city, leaving at least 37 people dead on Tuesday, media reports said.
ICC Prosecutor says determination to bring justice to people of Sudan remains 'unshaken'
Jun 30, 2015, at 04:54 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) Over six years since the issuance of the first warrant of arrest against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday said that her Office's determination to bring "independent and impartial justice" to the people of Sudan remains "unshaken".
Extending mandate of UN mission in Mali, Security Council adds observers to monitor fresh ceasefire
Jun 30, 2015, at 04:49 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) The Security Council on Monday extended the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for one year, within the authorized troop ceiling of 11,240 military personnel, including, for the first time, at least 40 military observers to monitor and supervise the country’s newly agreed ceasefire.
UN chief condemns deadly terrorist bombing in Egypt
Jun 30, 2015, at 04:45 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today’s fatal terrorist attack in Cairo which resulted in the killing of Egyptian Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat and the injuring of numerous civilians.
UNESCO unveils global campaign to counter deliberate destruction of cultural heritage
Jun 30, 2015, at 04:37 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday launched the Global Coalition Unite for Heritage campaign, which aims to strengthen the mobilization of governments and all heritage stakeholders in the face of deliberate damage to cultural heritage, particularly in the Middle East.
Yemen: Ban deplores attack on UN compound in Gulf country, calls for full investigation
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:44 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the Coalition-led airstrikes on a United Nations compound in the Yemeni city of Aden, which resulted in serious structural damage and one casualty, a spokesperson for the Organization said today.
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) Humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the Syrian conflict is being increasingly obstructed by the ongoing fighting in the country and a shortfall in critical funding, a senior United Nations relief official warned today.
'Journey towards bold climate action is at a critical moment,' UN General Assembly told
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, June 30 (BNS) Development cannot be sustainable if it does not address the challenge of climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Member States on Monday as he opened a High-Level Event on Climate Change convened in New York by the President of the UN General Assembly, Sam Kutesa.
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, announced on Monday that there is a political agreement amongst the parties on the majority of the elements of the draft proposal they are considering, and he hoped to have them initial it later this week.
UN envoy welcomes Bosnia-Herzegovina court ruling on sexual violence in conflict
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) The Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict on Monday welcomed the decision by a Bosnian Herzegovinian court to secure conviction for and award compensatory damages to victims of war-time sexual violence, the United Nations confirmed today.
Security Council extends UN-African Union operation in Darfur for another year
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) Expressing deep concern at the "serious deterioration" in the security situation in Darfur, the Security Council has decided on Monday to extend for one year, until 30 June 2016, the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in the Western region of Sudan.
UN agency for Palestine refugees announces staff reductions amid funding shortfall
Jun 30, 2015, at 03:31 pm
New York, June 30 (IBNS) The United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East announced on Monday that it will begin reducing staff numbers in an effort to cut costs amid a wider budget shortfall facing the Organization's presence in the region.
Jun 29, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, June 29 (IBNS) Reiterating his appeal to all Burundian political leaders to consider the wider interest of the people of their country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday expressed concerns about the Government's insistence on going ahead with elections on 29 June despite the prevailing political and security environment in the country.
Jun 29, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, June 29 (IBNS) From Morocco where he is facilitating the dialogue among Libyan parties, the United Nations envoy for the North African country has stressed that the coming week should be decisive to reach an agreement on the draft political proposal he recently introduced to bring Libya's diverse stakeholders together and ensure peace and stability.
As World Heritage Committee opens session, UNESCO urges protection of sites targeted for destruction
Jun 29, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, June 29 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) strongly appealed for the international community to help counter the emerging threat of violent extremism and cultural cleansing, in remarks to the opening of the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee today in Bonn, Germany.
Somalia: UN official commends election of speaker of regional assembly
Jun 29, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, June 29 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy for Somalia commended on Sunday the completion of the establishment of the assembly of Galmudug, a region located in the center of the country.