UN envoy says Libya talks will 'take time' to end fighting, agree political settlement
Jan 15, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Libya, Bernardino Leon, has said today that a new round of UN-led political talks in Geneva to bring peace to the country represent the start of a "long process", aimed at bringing an end to fighting in the country and to reach a political settlement.
Security Council reaffirms peacebuilding as key element of UN post-conflict assistance
Jan 15, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) Peacebuilding is of "critical importance" as the foundation for sustainable peace and development in countries emerging from conflict, the United Nations Security Council declared today, unanimously adopting its latest measure reaffirming commitment to the practice.
Journalism after 'Charlie': in Paris, UNESCO hosts day of reflection, free speech debate
Jan 15, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) In the wake of last week’s attack against French satirical magazineCharlie Hebdo, the United Nations agency mandated to protect free expression today hosted at its Paris headquarters a day of reflection and held a wide-ranging debate on press freedom.
Syrian refugees face 'abject poverty, dire living conditions,' UN study warns
Jan 15, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) As the Syrian civil war continues to rage into its fifth year, large numbers of refugees fleeing the hostilities are steadily slipping into abject poverty due to the breadth of the crisis and “insufficient support†from the international community, the head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Wednesday.
Cyprus: UN envoy concerned about 'impasse' in negotiations
Jan 15, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, voiced concern that, despite some recent openings in the talks, it has been impossible to get negotiations back on track.
UN strongly deplores civilian deaths as Ukraine fighting continues
Jan 15, 2015, at 01:43 pm
New York, Jan 15 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the shelling which resulted in the deaths of at least 11 civilian bus passengers amid ongoing fighting in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
CVR of crashed AirAsia aircraft lifted
Jan 14, 2015, at 11:50 pm
Jakarta, Jan 14 (IBNS) The National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) of Indonesia on Wednesday announced that Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of QZ8501 aircraft has been found and lifted from the seafloor.
Al Qaeda claims responsibility for Charlie Hebdo massacre
Jan 14, 2015, at 11:24 pm
Cairo, Jan 14 (IBNS) The Yemen branch of terror outfit Al Qaeda on Wednesday owned responsibility for last week's brutal attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed.
Japan sanctions record $42 billion military budget to counter China
Jan 14, 2015, at 07:57 pm
Tokyo, Jan 14 (IBNS): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government approved a record $42 billion military budget on Wednesday, media reports said.
UN hosted Libya political talks to open tomorrow in Geneva
Jan 14, 2015, at 05:48 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) The United Nations is gearing up to kick-start a new round of political talks this week aimed at easing the deepening political and security crisis afflicting Libya, the UN Mission in the strife-torn country has announced.
'Dysfunctional' Haitian Parliament deplored by UN and partners
Jan 14, 2015, at 05:46 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) Urging all Haitian stakeholders to form a consensus Government, the top United Nations official in in the country joined the ambassadors of several countries on Tuesdayin deploring the fact that the Haitian Parliament became "dysfunctional" after failing to hold elections within its constitutional framework.
Cote d'Ivoire: Welcoming recent progress, UN envoy urges vigilance in run-up to elections
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:43 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) While praising Cote d'Ivoire's significant progress towards lasting peace and economic recovery, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday that vigilance and determination will still be required to hold onto recent gains and lay the ground for presidential elections next fall.
Central African Republic: UN agency warns of food insecurity amid ongoing instability
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:37 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) The unpredictable and hostile security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is having severe consequences for the country’s population still in dire need of humanitarian assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) declared on Tuesday.
New UNICEF 'atlas' charts development disparities affecting China's children
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:32 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) A newly published atlas outlining the vast socio-economic discrepancies separating millions of Chinese rural children from their urban counterparts has been released in an effort to address the country’s inequalities and boost assistance for China's most vulnerable youths, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on Tuesday.
UN rights office 'deeply deplores' latest Boko Haram attack in Nigeria
Jan 14, 2015, at 04:24 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office has condemned the latest spate of violence committed by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram amid reports of renewed mass killings and mass forced displacement in north-eastern Nigeria.
Cities in Central Asia, Caucasus sign up to UN campaign to become more resilient
Jan 13, 2015, at 07:26 pm
New York, Jan 13 (IBNS) Eight cities in Central Asia and the Caucasus, including capitals Tbilisi and Bishkek, have signed on to strengthen community resilience by integrating disaster risk reduction into their national and local policy, representing a big boost for the United Nations initiative which already has over 2,400 participants worldwide.
Burundi: UN electoral mission prepared to help country in 'decisive' return to peace
Jan 13, 2015, at 07:17 pm
New York, Jan 13 (IBNS) The United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi, known by its French acronym MENUB, officially launched its activities on Monday in the capital of Bujumbura as the country prepares for critical elections to be held later this year amid an atmosphere of reconciliation.
UN study finds increase in women managers, urges greater efforts for workforce equality
Jan 13, 2015, at 06:28 pm
New York, Jan 12 (IBNS) The last 20 years has seen a surge in the number of women employed in senior and middle management positions, according to a new United Nations report, which notes that although all-male company boards are decreasing in number, more must be done to achieve gender parity.
Six killed in China police firing
Jan 12, 2015, at 08:09 pm
Beijing, Jan 12 (IBNS) Police have shot dead six 'mobsters' in the troubled Xinjiang province of China, where a 'separatist' movement by Muslims was going on, official news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.
Violence-hit school reopened in Peshawar, students return to classrooms
Jan 12, 2015, at 06:08 pm
Peshawar, Jan 12 (IBNS): Attired in green school blazers, Pakistani children on Monday returned to the violence-hit school where Taliban gunmen had killed 150 of their classmates and teachers during a terrorist attack in Peshawar, media reports said.
UNESCO chief joins world leaders for historic anti-terror unity march in Paris
Jan 12, 2015, at 06:32 am
Paris, Jan 11 (IBNS) The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, participated in Sunday's historic march for freedom and solidarity in Paris, held in the wake of the deadly terrorist assault on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, and after three days of subsequent attacks that killed 17 people in the country.
-1421004458.jpg "World leaders, commoners march in Paris against terror attack")
World leaders, commoners march in Paris against terror attack
Jan 12, 2015, at 06:28 am
Paris, Jan 11 (IBNS): Days after France witnessed three days of deadliest militant attacks beginning with massacre of journalists and cartoonists in satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo office killing 17 people so far in sieges, several world leaders, including President Francois Hollande, in a show of solidarity against terrorism marched with more than a million others in Paris on Sunday to send a strong message to the radicals.
Charlie Hebdo attacks: Paris witnesses massive march for unity
Jan 12, 2015, at 03:22 am
Paris, Jan 11 (IBNS):More than a million people, including top world leaders, participated in a unity march in Paris in a show of solidarity after the country was ravaged by three days of terrorist attacks which killed 17 people.
UN to host new round of talks among Libyan parties with view to ending crisis
Jan 11, 2015, at 06:16 pm
New York, Jan 11 (IBNS) Libyan parties have agreed to hold in Geneva next week a new round of United Nations-facilitated political talks aimed at helping all sides reach “common ground†to end the current political and security crisis, the UN Mission in the strife-torn country announced today.
16 killed in Nigerian market blast
Jan 11, 2015, at 04:59 am
Maiduguri, Jan 10 (IBNS): At least 16 people were killed in a bomb attack in Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Saturday, media reports said.
Charlie Hebdo: French police hunt for woman accomplice of slain terrorist
Jan 10, 2015, at 11:22 pm
Paris, Jan 10 (IBNS): Police in France is on a hunt for Hayat Boumeddiene, the 26-year-old partner to slain militant Amedy Coulibaly, one of the three gunmen shot dead by police after last Wednesday's massacre in a satirical magazine and subsequent mayhem across the city.
Ban calls on Global Compact to help end poverty, transform lives, protect planet
Jan 10, 2015, at 06:52 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) Addressing the United Nations Global Compact board meeting this afternoon, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said everyone held a stake in ending poverty, transforming people’s lives and protecting the planet.
Cuba: UN rights office hopes release of political prisoners paves way for freedoms to flourish
Jan 10, 2015, at 06:50 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Fridaywelcomed Cuba’s recent release of political prisoners, hoping this new development will help open the way for an environment where freedom of expression and association flourishes.
UN chief offers condolences to French Government in wake of 'Charlie Hebdo' attack
Jan 10, 2015, at 06:39 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Fridayvisited the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations to offer, on behalf of the Organization, his condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on the offices of French satirical magazine,Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed.
UN ramps up relief efforts as huge Mid-East snowstorm threatens Syrian refugees
Jan 10, 2015, at 06:37 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency has been working around the clock this week to help the millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people scattered across the Middle East endure a severe winter storm that has swept through much of the region.