WHO treaty induces change in tobacco use

Feb 27, 2015, at 02:00 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): A World Health Organization-led treaty that aims to achieve a tobacco-free world has dramatically curbed tobacco use worldwide since its entry into force 10 years ago on Friday, but “the war on tobacco is far from over” with the tobacco industry still spending billions to promote products that are expected to kill some 8 million people each year by 2030, the WHO said.

Mali: Inquiry team concludes probe against peacekeepers

Feb 27, 2015, at 01:58 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The team appointed by the United Nations to investigate the events surrounding a violent demonstration against the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has concluded its visit to the African country, the UN spokesperson’s office confirmed on Thursday.

Paraguay: UN chief says 2015 crucial for international community

Feb 27, 2015, at 01:57 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): In an intensive year of landmark events, from establishing a post-2015 agenda to tackling climate change, Paraguay has yet another opportunity to demonstrate its “exceptional global leadership” in the international arena, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has affirmed.

Syria’s war continues unabated: Security Council

Feb 27, 2015, at 01:55 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): In a briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria, two United Nations relief officials warned on Thursday that as the conflict enters its fifth year, the violence and brutality continue unabated and with total impunity.

WHO cites challenges in reaching Ebola affected communities

Feb 27, 2015, at 01:53 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): New cases of Ebola rose again in Guinea and transmission remains widespread in Sierra Leone, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported as it and the UN Ebola response mission both raised concerns about challenges in engaging communities to win the fight against the disease.

Security Council extends peacekeeping force in Abyei

Feb 27, 2015, at 01:52 pm

New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The Security Council has 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 in the disputed territory.

ILO upholds right to strike

Feb 27, 2015, at 04:18 am

Geneva, Feb 26 (IBNS): Following a worldwide trade union campaign to defend it, the right to strike has been re-affirmed at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

IS militant Jihadi John identified as Mohammed Emwazi

Feb 27, 2015, at 03:48 am

London, Feb 26 (IBNS): The IS militant 'Jihadi John', who is seen in video beheading hostages, has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi,media reports said.

Significant breakthrough in HIV prevention: UN agency

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The United Nations programme working to combat HIV/AIDS welcomed on Tuesday the results of a number of recent clinical studies of the effects of antiretroviral medicines on preventing new HIV infections, which were presented at a conference on viruses held in Seattle.

Myanmar needs to get back on track: UN rights chief

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:07 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, on Wednesday warned that Myanmar “seems headed in the wrong direction and needs urgently to get back on track” in a crucial year for the country's democratic transition and long-term reconciliation.

UN urges Libya’s stakeholders to pursue next round of talks

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:05 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Wednesday that it is undertaking a series of urgent consultations with stakeholders in the North African country to ensure the convening of the next round of talks soon and “not let this window of opportunity slip away.”

FAO: Ethiopian marmalade soon to hit shelves at Eataly

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:04 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The partnership between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Eataly which supports family farmers around the globe, is backing a cooperative of women in Ethiopia who are now ready to ship their 4,000 jars of jam to Rome.

UN report pushes to end torture in Afghan detention facilities

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:01 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to prevent torture and ill-treatment have shown some progress over the last two years but much more remains to be done, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed on Wednesday as it released its latest report on the treatment of conflict-related detainees in Afghan custody.

WHO taken aback as measles resurfaces in Europe

Feb 26, 2015, at 03:00 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): European policymakers, healthcare workers, and parents must step up their efforts to vaccinate children against measles amid an ongoing outbreak across the continent, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, warning that a recent resurgence in the disease threatened Europe’s goal of eliminating measles by the end of 2015.

Cutting crime important to sustainable development: UN Assembly

Feb 26, 2015, at 02:57 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): Reducing violent crime is critical to sustainable development, the top United Nations ant-crime official told the General Assembly on Wednesday, spotlighting that while global progress has been made in combatting the scourge, homicide levels in low and lower-middle income countries have increased by 10 per cent over the last decade.

Paraguay: Ban sets sights on post-2015 development agenda

Feb 26, 2015, at 02:55 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Government of Paraguay to join forces with the United Nations and forge ahead in framing the post-2015 agenda for a new generation of sustainable development goals, noting that the country had “an important role to play across the board.”

Natural disasters in Asia and Pacific affects 80 million people

Feb 26, 2015, at 02:53 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): When leaders and decision makers from across Asia and the Pacific gather next month in Japan to discuss how to reduce disaster risks, their top priority will be to build resilience in a region that saw some 80 million people affected and nearly $60 billion in economic losses incurred by natural disasters last year.

Middle East: UN envoy condemns arson attack on mosque

Feb 26, 2015, at 02:51 pm

New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Middle East peace on Wednesday condemned an arson attack on the Al-Huda mosque near Bethlehem in the West Bank, calling for a swift investigation and saying that extremists “must not be allowed to turn this conflict into a religious one.”

Bangla court issues arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia

Feb 25, 2015, at 08:26 pm

Dhaka, Feb 25 (IBNS) A court in Bangladesh on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and two others in connection with two cases of embezzlement of funds.

West Africa: UN launches improved fish drying technique

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:18 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): A newly developed fish drying technology is improving food quality and saving lives in West Africa, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced on Tuesday as it launched its effort to boost food safety and working conditions across the region.

UN nuclear chief meets Iranian minister to boost understanding

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:16 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The head of the UN atomic watchdog held a meeting in Vienna on Tuesday morning with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister to follow-up on talks held earlier this month.

Central Africa: Surge in violence triggers new displacement

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:14 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): An upsurge in violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has triggered fresh displacement inside the country and across the border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Ban meets Ukrainian minister, discusses conflict

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:12 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General met on Monday in New York with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, to discuss the conflict in the east of that country.

UN launches humanitarian appeal for Ukraine

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:11 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The enormous humanitarian needs of the people of Ukraine have intensified since January this year, outstripping local capacities, the United Nations’ official in Ukraine said on Tuesday as the international community launched a new humanitarian appeal for the country.

Worrying situations for displaced families from Iraq: UN officials

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:09 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Lise Grande, along with Neill Wright, the country’s UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representative, on Tuesday visited Iraqi families recently displaced from Al Baghdadi district in the western province of Anbar.

Philippines radio journalist shooting, UN calls for investigation

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:07 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has denounced the latest killing of a journalist in the Philippines and urged authorities to investigate the murder and “provide the media with as safe an environment as possible to ensure the public’s right to be kept informed.”

Security Council renews Yemen sanctions panel

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:05 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Under the terms of a resolution unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, members decided to extend the mandate of the group of four experts on Yemen, which was established to oversee sanctions measures employed against individuals and entities designated as threatening peace, security or stability in the country.

Ban taps veteran diplomat Kubiš to head up UN Iraq mission

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:04 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Jan Kubiš of Slovakia as his new Special Representative for Iraq, a United Nations spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

WHO's appeal to tackle needs in four crisis-torn nations

Feb 25, 2015, at 03:02 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday appealed to donors to provide $1 billion for life-saving health needs ranging from childhood vaccinations to surgical care for the severely wounded for some 25 million people caught up in conflict across the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan and Syria.

South Sudan gripped by serious failure of leadership: UN official

Feb 25, 2015, at 02:59 pm

New York, Feb 25 (IBNS): Amid a worsening humanitarian situation and a fragile security environment, the continuing tensions between South Sudan’s rival factions risk plunging the country into further violence, the United Nations peacekeeping official warned on Tuesday.