Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela elected to serve on UN Security Council
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:47 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): In three rounds of voting the United Nations General Assembly Thursday elected Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2015.
On regional tour, UN envoy for Syria calls for political stability in Lebanon
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:36 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): Lebanon's political environment should stabilize to face the threat from the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and ahead of what will be a "very crucial period" in the political process in Syria, a senior United Nations official Friday said during a visit to the region.
UN envoy calls for funding backed by government action, peace successes in troubled Sahel
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:33 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): The African Sahel region needs more resources, more joint action and faster ways to deal with the structural challenges, like climate change, and successes on peace processes in Darfur, northern Mali and Libya, a senior United Nations humanitarian Friday said.
Madagascar: Ban urges respect of democratic institutions as former president returns
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:25 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday rejected remarks made by former President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, challenging the legitimacy of his country's democratic institutions.
DR Congo: head of UN mission condemns deadly rebel attacks in eastern territory
Oct 17, 2014, at 09:21 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Friday condemned a recent upsurge in deadly attacks in the eastern territories linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group.
Somalia: UN condemns second deadly terrorist attack in less than a week
Oct 17, 2014, at 04:59 am
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Somalia on Thursday condemned the latest terrorist attack to hit the African country's capital city of Mogadishu leaving a number of people dead and many more injured.
UN General Assembly voting to elect non-permanent Security Council members
Oct 17, 2014, at 04:23 am
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IBNS) With one round of voting complete, the United Nations General Assembly has just elected Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Venezuela to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2015.
On World Food Day, UN lauds role of family farmers in ending global hunger
Oct 17, 2014, at 04:22 am
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) With over 800 million people worldwide still lacking access to healthy, nutritious food, family farmers must play an increasingly vital role in the global war on hunger, United Nations officials affirmed today, adding that the strong participation of the world’s family farmers can help "turn the tide" in shaping a new agenda for a sustainable future.
UN envoy condemns killing of Iraqi politician as violence in country spikes
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:17 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, on Wednesday voiced condemnation for the killing of an Iraqi politician amid an increase of violence in the Middle Eastern country.
DR Congo: UN report spotlights human rights violations amid wider calls for security reform
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:12 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must accelerate security sector reform and punish those who violate human rights in the name of the law, top United Nations officials declared on Wednesday, amid reports of serious human rights violations in the African country.
At UN-backed forum, Latin American, Caribbean nations pledge robust efforts against child labour
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:07 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) At a United Nations-backed regional conference held in Lima, Peru, 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries on Wednesday announced the launch of an initiative that bolsters efforts to combat child labour, and achieve the goal of total eradication by 2020.
At UN-backed forum, Latin American, Caribbean nations pledge robust efforts against child labour
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:06 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) At a United Nations-backed regional conference held in Lima, Peru, 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries on Wednesday announced the launch of an initiative that bolsters efforts to combat child labour, and achieve the goal of total eradication by 2020.
Marking World Day, UN spotlights rural women as 'force' that can drive global progress
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) Rural women are key agents for achieving the transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development, the United Nations declared ahead of the International Day commemorated as an opportunity to promote their empowerment.
Japan Airlines flight returns to Honolulu after sexual assault incident aboard
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:59 pm
Honolulu, Oct 15 (IBNS): A Japan Airlines flight had to return to Honolulu after a male passenger allegedly sexually assaulted a female co-passenger in the airplane's lavatory, the FBI said.
Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force in Abyei through February 2015
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:49 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The Security Council on Tuesday extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei a resource-rich area contested by Sudan and South Sudan as part of the Organization's ongoing efforts to maintain peace and protect civilians there.
One million Somalis at risk of starvation, UN envoy warns, briefing Security Council
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:46 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy in Somalia warned on Tuesday that despite some political and security gains, the humanitarian situation in the long-troubled country has deteriorated, with more than three million people now in need of assistance, including over one million Somalis who do not have enough to eat.
Surge in Central African Republic violence hinders relief work, UN agency reports
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:43 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed alarm at the recent outbreak of violence in parts of the Central African Republic's capital Bangui, targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and UN peacekeepers.
Haiti: Amid ongoing humanitarian problems, Security Council extends UN mission for another year
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:40 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution renewing the mandate for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the Caribbean nation, urging political stakeholders in the country to fully commit to the democratic process and calling on international donors to strengthen their efforts in helping the Government.
Libya: UN rights chief condemns ongoing attacks against rights defenders, activists
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:38 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) Warning that human rights defenders in crisis-torn Libya are being increasingly targeted by armed groups, the United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday urged Libyan authorities to undertake prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into the incidents, to hold those found responsible to account, and to ensure an effective remedy for victi
ISIL advance on Iraqi town unleashes new flood of displacement, warns UN agency
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:34 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) A new offensive launched by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Iraqi city of Hit has triggered yet another wave of internal displacement in the war torn country, the UN refugee agency announced on Tuesday, warning that those displaced were facing increased hardships amid advancing cold weather and overcrowded refugee camps.
In war-ravaged Gaza, Ban urges ministers of new government to unite on "building one Palestine"
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:30 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) Two days after donors pledged $5.4 billion in aid for Gaza reconstruction, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the war-ravaged enclave, where he viewed destruction wrought by the most recent conflict that was "beyond description", and also met with the ministers of the National Consensus Government calling on them to focus all efforts on "building one Palestine."
Senior UN economic, social official celebrates awarding of Nobel Prize in Economics
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:24 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Ambassador Martin Sajdik, President of the United Nations, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) congratulated French economist Jean Tirole on Monday for winning the 2014 edition of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, citing his contributions on global regulatory behaviour as being of "particular relevance."
Somalia: amid unstable security, UN warns of growing humanitarian crisis
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:15 am
New York., Oct 14 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Somalia on Monday condemned the car bombing which left an estimated 13 people dead and many more injured in Mogadishu, the capital, amid a precarious humanitarian situation in the rest of the country.
South Sudan: UN envoy, Government agree on steps to tackle widespread sexual violence
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:07 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Back from her first visit to South Sudan, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura warned on Monday that sexual violence is a consistent characteristic of the conflict there, and is being perpetrated by all the parties.
UN calls for increased food security measures to offset threat of 'shocks'
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:03 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) With some 805 million people still chronically undernourished in the world, a United Nations committee focusing on food security opened its current session in Rome on Monday with the stated goal of adopting a set of principles for responsible investment in agriculture and food syste
Kicking off 'Africa Week' at Headquarters, UN officials call for integrated, peaceful continent
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:47 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) While many African countries and communities have made great progress in peace and security, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, more remains to be done, several senior United Nations said during a high-level panel discussion assessing the continent’s development.
In Middle East, Ban urges Gaza rebuilding amid efforts to resolve 'root causes' of conflict
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:43 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) The rebuilding of Gaza remains an important undertaking, but tackling the root causes of instability in the territory is equally critical, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed on Monday as he began a visit to the long-troubled region, urging both Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders to come to an agreement and "avoid yet another tragic conflict in the future."
On World Disaster Reduction Day, UN spotlights unique needs, vulnerabilities of older persons
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:38 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Marking International Day for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations is spotlighting the need to address the vulnerabilities facing older persons, who suffer disproportionately high levels of death and injuries in different types of emergencies and disasters, ranging from weather events and epidemics to armed conflict.
Frenchman Jean Tirole wins Economics Nobel
Oct 14, 2014, at 12:16 am
Stockholm, Oct 13 (IBNS): French economist Jean Tirole won the Nobel prize for economics on Monday for research on market power and regulation.
UN chief set for Gaza visit to help jump-start massive reconstruction effort
Oct 13, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Sundaythat he will travel to Gaza on Tuesday to visit several sites destroyed during last summer's conflict, spotlighting the need to help the enclave "look ahead and build a better future" and advance reconstruction efforts.