Burundi: UN human rights office reiterates call for free and fair elections
May 02, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its deep concern about measures taken this week by Burundian authorities to seriously curtail rights to freedom of expression and assembly, urging measures to ensure the space necessary for the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
Central Africa: UN investigation into sexual abuse allegations continues
May 02, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): The United Nations is proceeding with its investigation of the events surrounding the release to a third party of an internal report on allegations of sexual misconduct by French military personnel in the Central African Republic (CAR), a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
May 01, 2015, at 03:51 pm
Islamabad, May 1 (IBNS): Security forces in Pakistan have killed 27 militants in the country's Khyber Agency areas in the past 24 hours, officials said.
International Jazz Day: UN spotlights power of music to build bridges
May 01, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): The top United Nations cultural official said on Thursday that artists across the globe have been drawn to the spontaneity and freedom of expression of jazz for over a century, as musicians and music lovers the world over celebrate International Jazz Day.
UNESCO chief condemns killing of journalist in Democratic Republic of the Congo
May 01, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations body mandated to defend freedom of expression and press freedom called on Thursday for an investigation into the killing of a journalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 16 April.
Nepal earthquake's impact on food security likely to be very high: UN
May 01, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): Some eight million dollars is urgently needed to help disaster-struck Nepalese farmers rapidly recover lost agricultural inputs and resume preparations for the imminent rice sowing season, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.
Gaza: UN envoy urges Palestinian unity, end to Israeli blockade
May 01, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New Year, May 1 (IBNS): On his first visit to Gaza, the new United Nations envoy on the Middle East peace process pledged on Thursday the Organization’s ongoing support for efforts to reconstruct the war-ravaged enclave, lift Israel’s years-long blockade there and help strengthen Palestinian unity.
One in three Europeans potentially exposed to asbestos: UN study
May 01, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): A high-level meeting on environment and health in Europe on Thursday appealed urgently to all European countries to eliminate asbestos-related diseases, as a new United Nations report showed that one third of the 900 million people living in the region are potentially exposed to asbestos at work and in the environment.
Ban calls for civilian protection in Yemen, urges ceasefire
May 01, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said on Thursday that he is gravely concerned about continued ground fighting and aerial bombardment in Yemen and the impact it has on innocent civilians.
Children in 15 of 26 industrial countries lack access to rights education: UN survey
May 01, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): Education programmes in 15 industrialized countries fail to include child rights education in their schools, according to a new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, which also highlights that a fundamental step towards exercising those rights is to know and understand them.
UN says unrest continues in Burundi, requests funds
May 01, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): Civil unrest continued for a fourth day in areas of Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, after current President Nkurunziza was nominated by the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party as their candidate for upcoming presidential elections, the United Nations relief arm reported on Thursday.
UN rights expert advises Cambodian leaders to address democratic deficit
May 01, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, May 1 (IBNS): The outgoing United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia on Thursday noted that the country has come a long way over the past six years, but advised Government and opposition leaders “to be principled in what they do†to make a liberal democracy a reality for all its people.
Four Pak Talibans sent to 25 years' jail for attack on Malala
Apr 30, 2015, at 10:16 pm
Islamabad, Apr 30 (IBNS) A Pakistan court on Thursday sentenced four persons to 25 years in jail for the 2012 attack on Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who last year won the Nobel Peace Prize.
UN rights experts welcome US review of lethal drone attacks
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:58 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): A group of United Nations independent experts on Wednesday welcomed the announcement by the United States Government of a review of two counter-terrorism operations involving the use of drones, while stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
Ban condemns attack on Yarmouk, as UN delivers relief to displaced in camp
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:55 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The Secretary-General has on Wednesday strongly condemned the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which occurred despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be targeted while civilians remained inside.
Somalia registers export of livestock in 2014 due to trade boost with Gulf States
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:53 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Somalia in 2014 exported a record five million livestock to markets in the Gulf of Arabia thanks to heavy investments in animal disease prevention backed by the European Union and the United Kingdom, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.
UN and partners launch $415 million appeal to aid quake-stricken Nepal
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:30 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday launched a $415 million emergency appeal to provide vital relief to people affected by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the densely populated Kathmandu Valley in Nepal on Saturday, killing at least 5,000, injuring at least 10,000 more.
World has learned too little from past: Ban
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:28 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare with a strong appeal for a new future without such weapons, saying 'the world has learned too little from the past at the expense of innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by chemical attacks."
Christiane Amanpour named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:26 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated to promote and protect press freedom worldwide has named renowned journalist and CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour its Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety.
Ban expresses 'deep regret' about executions of eight people in Indonesia
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:18 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed his deep regret over executions carried out in Indonesia on April 29 despite numerous calls in the country and abroad for a reprieve.
Draft political deal for Libyan parties is work in progress: UN envoy
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:16 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): Announcing on Wednesday that he had outlined for the Security Council his draft proposal for a political agreement among Libya’s opposing factions, the United Nations envoy for the country warned that ongoing “chaos†there has sparked a series of dire events in the wider region – forcing thousands of desperate civilians to seek unsafe passage across the Mediterranean and a spate of recent bomb attacks against embassies in Tripoli.
Paris: Ban discusses Mediterranean crisis with President Hollande
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:14 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): During his visit to Paris, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met with French President François Hollande, to discuss, among other issues the crisis in the Mediterranean, climate change and sustainable development.
Gordon Brown welcomes release of Nigerian girls held captive by Boko Haram
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:12 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, has welcomed the release of 200 girls from captivity by Boko Haram and called for the immediate release of all abducted girls, ahead of his meeting on Thursday with Nigerian President-Elect.
Ban calls for end to hostilities in northern Mali amid surge in violence
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:10 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called for an immediate end to hostilities in northern Mali and expressed concern over ceasefire violations that have occurred in the country in recent days at a “critical moment†in the peace process to bring all parties to sign the draft peace agreement.
UN special envoy on Ebola response makes first visit to Sierra Leone
Apr 30, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS):The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said that surveillance and community engagement still require improvement in some areas of Guinea and Sierra Leone where new cases continued to surface, a day after the new Special Representative for UN Ebola Response, Peter Graff, was informed of a continued transmission epicentre on the border between those two countries.
Apr 29, 2015, at 08:44 pm
Baltimore, Apr 29 (IBNS) A day after the Baltimore witnessed violence, curfew was enforced in the US city on Tuesday, officials said.
Saudi Arabia King replaces heir
Apr 29, 2015, at 08:15 pm
Manama, Apr 29 (IBNS) In a major reshuffle, the Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Wednesday appointed Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as Crown Prince.
Ban concerned over uptick in attacks against peacekeepers in Darfur
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern about the recent spate of attacks on United Nations peacekeepers serving in Darfur as well as the “limited cooperation†provided by the Government of Sudan in addressing the incidents, a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
UN allocates $15 million in emergency funds for Nepal earthquake response
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): In response to severe devastation caused by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and many strong aftershocks that have hit Nepal since 25 April, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator today released $15 million through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enable humanitarian aid organizations to rapidly scale up operations and provide immediate assistance to people in desperate need.
Dip in Southern Africa’s maize harvest could push up prices, UN warns
Apr 29, 2015, at 02:33 pm
New York, Apr 29 (IBNS): Southern Africa’s maize harvest is expected to shrink this year by some 26 per cent, a situation that could trigger food price increases and adversely affect recent food security gains, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday.