UN chief 'gravely concerned' as civilian death toll from Ukraine conflict continues to rise
Feb 06, 2015, at 05:49 pm
New York, Feb 6 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced grave concern over the continuing hostilities in eastern Ukraine amid an escalating rebel offensive which has locked civilians in a zone of intense fighting.
Two people died in murder-suicide in South Carolina
Feb 06, 2015, at 05:40 pm
Washington, Feb 6 (IBNS): Two people died in an incident of “isolated†murder-suicide on Thursday at the University of South Carolina, media reports said.
Feb 05, 2015, at 06:11 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The United Nations’ top political official said on Wednesday that Burkina Faso’s transitional institutions must continue to respect the aspirations of the Burkinabe people and ensure full respect for human rights and the physical integrity of all citizens.
South Sudan: UN agency warns of catastrophic food shortages if conflict continues
Feb 05, 2015, at 06:10 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The ongoing conflict in South Sudan is sharply reducing food supplies and slowing humanitarian access to people in need, the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) said on Wednesday , urging warring groups in the country to follow up quickly on the ceasefire deal agreed on Monday.
Security Council condemns death of Spanish peacekeeper in Lebanon
Feb 05, 2015, at 06:08 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the death of Lance Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo of Spain, killed last week while deployed at a UN position in Lebanon along the border with Israel on the "Blue Line."
UN food aid agency condemns ISIL's 'manipulation' of desperately needed food in Syria
Feb 05, 2015, at 06:05 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is "extremely concerned" about images circulating on social media showing WFP food boxes bearing Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) labels.
UN-hosted aviation safety conference recommends aircraft tracking every 15 minutes
Feb 05, 2015, at 06:03 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have recommended the adoption of a 15-minute aircraft tracking standard that "will be an important first step in providing a foundation for global flight tracking."
Armed groups to be 'neutralised' says UN DR Congo envoy after massacre near Beni
Feb 05, 2015, at 05:57 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has on Wednesday strongly condemned massacre of civilians that took place in the area of Beni town in the vast country’s restive northeast.
Libya: UN mission condemns attack on oilfield, calls for immediate ceasefire
Feb 05, 2015, at 05:45 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has strongly condemned the attack carried out by armed groups operating under the Alshuruq Operation in the 'oil crescent' area, causing many deaths and undermining the recent efforts of Libyan leaders to reach a peace pact.
UN Somalia envoy 'excited and worried' about political progress in year ahead
Feb 05, 2015, at 05:32 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) Underlining the importance of the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia, which he called “unique, strong and essential for success,†the top UN official there briefed the Security Council on Wednesday on the challenges lying ahead for the country in 2015.
'It's now or never' for Central African Republic, UN warns urging more support to end crisis
Feb 05, 2015, at 05:30 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) The Head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Africa, Abdoulaye Dieye, began on Wednesday a week-long visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), calling on international partners to intensify their support for the country's ongoing transition process.
Role of health emerges as vital concern ahead of UN disaster risk reduction conference
Feb 05, 2015, at 05:28 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) As Member States accelerate efforts to finalize the successor to “the world’s most encompassing framework†on disaster risk reduction ahead of a critical United Nations conference in Japan next month, the role of health in building community resilience has suddenly come front and centre in the negotiation process, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) said on Wednesday .
UN Visitors' Centre reopens to public following 18-month renovation
Feb 05, 2015, at 04:52 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) Browse the shelves at the United Nations bookstore. Mail a postcard with a UN stamp. Take a guided tour in one of twelve languages. On Wednesday , with the official inauguration by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the UN's public space reopened for business with a newly renovated Visitors' Centre in the basement of the iconic General Assembly Building.
UN rights experts urge Bahrain to release arrested opposition leader
Feb 05, 2015, at 04:41 pm
New York, Feb 5 (IBNS) A group of United Nations human rights experts are urging the Government of Bahrain to release opposition politician and religious figure Sheikh Ali Salman who was arrested in December 2014 on charges that include inciting change of regime by non-peaceful means.
Taiwan: 25 killed in TransAsia plane crash
Feb 05, 2015, at 02:19 am
Taipei, Feb 4 (IBNS) At least 25 people have been killed as a TransAsia Airways flight crashed into a river in Taipei on Wednesday after hitting a bridge, media reports said.
'Youth lens' brings development challenges into sharper focus at UN forum
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) The emerging United Nations-led sustainability agenda, to be crafted around a set of sustainable development goals, must be inspired by and inspiring for the world’s young people, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Tuesday as he closed the Council’s annual Youth Forum with a call for young people to amplify their voices and become more involved in building "the future we want."
UN chief, Security Council denounce 'appalling' murder of Jordanian pilot by ISIL
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS): For the second time in as many days, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council have jointly condemned the brutal killing of a civilian by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – this time deploring the group’s murder of Jordanian Royal Air Force pilot Lt. Muath Al-Kasasbeh.
Global collaboration critical as humanitarian crises grow, says top UN relief official
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS):International stakeholders will increasingly need to collaborate as they face down rising levels of humanitarian strife around the globe, Valerie Amos, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said on Wednesday.
'Power-sharing formula' vital to sustain peace in South Sudan, UN chief urges political rivals
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President, Riek Machar to put the interests of their people ahead of their own in order for peace to flourish in the war-torn country.
UNESCO deplores 'cultural cleansing' of Iraq as armed extremists ransack Mosul libraries
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voiced alarm on Tuesday over the reported destruction of thousands of books in museums, libraries and universities across Mosul – the northern Iraq city currently controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
With more heavy rains forecast for Malawi, UN highlights need for donors to fulfil aid pledges
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) Saturated soils in Malawi are expected to get more rain in the coming days as heavy downpours are aid in the region’s forecast, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP) told journalists during a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
International Court of Justice dismisses genocide claims by Croatia and Serbia
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial body of the United Nations, on Tuesday rejected claims made by Croatia and Serbia accusing each other of committing genocide during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, a decision that is "without appeal" and binding.
UN rights chief warns escalation in Ukraine fighting 'catastrophic' for country's civilians
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is proving “catastrophic†for the country's civilians amid escalating violence, indiscriminate shelling, and harsh winter conditions which have made life increasingly precarious for millions of civilians, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, warned on Tuesday.
UN expert urges Portugal to boost access to justice for country's most vulnerable people
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) Portuguese authorities must do more to ensure wider access to the country's justice system, enhancing its legal aid programmes amid growing poverty, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has urged.
Security Council strongly condemns Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon
Feb 04, 2015, at 02:11 pm
New York, Feb 4 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the continued escalation of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists, pointing to an attack on 1 February in Borno State, Nigeria and to increasing attacks in the Lake Chad Basin region, including, on 29 and 30 January, against Chadian forces deployed in Cameroon near the town of Fotokol, which killed four Chadian soldiers and injured 12 others.
Feb 04, 2015, at 04:41 am
Cairo, Feb 3 (IBNS): A video released by the militant group Islamic State claimed to show a Jordanian pilot, who was captured in December, being burnt alive, media reports said on Tuesday.
French soldiers attacked in Nice
Feb 04, 2015, at 03:25 am
Paris, Feb 3 (IBNS) : A knife-wielding assailant attacked a three soldiers patrolling outside a Jewish community centre in Frech city of Nice, media reports said.
Egypt: UN chief welcomes release of detained journalist, urges Government to release others
Feb 03, 2015, at 07:08 pm
New York, Feb 3 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has applauded the decision by the Egyptian authorities to release the detained Al Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste, ending his 400-day imprisonment.
UN-hosted civil aviation conference to take up aircraft tracking, conflict zone risks
Feb 03, 2015, at 06:59 pm
New York, Feb 3 (IBNS) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has brought together aviation experts and strategic decision makers for a four-day conference that will discuss emerging safety issues such as global tracking of aircraft and risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones.
2015 is a chance to change history, Ban tells UN Youth Forum
Feb 03, 2015, at 06:55 pm
New York, Feb 3 (IBNS) This generation of young people – the largest the world has ever seen – has a historic opportunity to end poverty, combat climate change, create jobs and fight injustice, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a Youth Forum at UN Headquarters in New York this morning as he called on the participants to get involved in shaping a future sustainable development agenda.