Afghan militants foil Taliban's plan
Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Aug 27 (IBNS) Afghan military officials on Thursday said that they were successful in foiling the Taliban’s plan of making inroads in the Hesarak district of eastern Nangarhar province of the country.
UN refugee agency chief urges Europe to formulate collective response to migrant crisis
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) With the number of migrants fleeing to Europe the violence in their countries of origin continuing to increase, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, on Wednesday urged the European Union to speed up the formulation of an adequate collective response to this unprecedented crisis.
At Security Council, UN envoy says Libyan parties must come together, make 'final push' for peace
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) With the United Nations-supported political dialogue process in Libya nearing its last stages, "time is running out" for leaders on all sides and at all levels to make the "final push," the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNSMIL) told the Security Council today.
As momentum builds for December climate talks in Paris, Ban looks ahead to 'bold' outcome
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Commending France's "exemplary leadership" on efforts to tackle climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday affirmed that the international community is now at a stage where the final elements of the new climate agreement are being negotiated.
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Near Gevgelija, a southeast town bordering Greece, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has established a child-friendly space with a mobile team to support women and children fleeing violence in their home countries and moving through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
UN food relief now reaching more than 400,000 flood victims in Myanmar
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is now delivering rice, beans, cooking oil and salt to more than 400,000 people affected by flooding in Myanmar and "reachable only on foot, after floods and landslides destroyed roads across the country," the agency said today.
UNICEF demands that water not be used to achieve 'military and political gains' in Syria
New York, Aug 27 (IBNS) Amid the unremitting brutality of the war in Syria and a scorching summer heat wave, there is increasing evidence that parties to the conflict are using water to achieve military and political gains, warned the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
US: Two journalists shot dead during live broadcast
Virginia, Aug 26 (IBNS): Two TV journalists were shot dead during a live TV report at Bridgewater Plaza area in US Virginia state, their employer confirmed on Wednesday.
Experienced official from Netherlands appointed Deputy UN Special Representative for Mali
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Koen Davidse, of the Netherlands, as his Deputy Special Representative in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). He will succeed Arnauld Akodjènou, of Benin, in September 2015.
Senior UN climate change official envisages 'good agreement' at upcoming Pairs conference
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): The climate change agreement world leaders are expected to sign in December "has to take us to a less than 2 degree global warming path because that is the ultimate test of the whole package that will come out of Paris," according to Janos Pasztor, a senior United Nations official dealing with the issue.
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) Voicing concern over continuing political violence and killing of protestors in Nepal, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday called on the authorities to respect dissenting voices and seek a peaceful solution with demonstrators.
UN agency expresses concern over plight of civilians in southern Lebanon refugee camp
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) called on Tuesday for restraint in the wake of 24 August clashes between various armed groups that have seriously impacted the refugee community in southern Lebanon's Ein el Hilweh Camp in Saida.
In France, Ban and President Hollande discuss global issues including upcoming Paris climate talks
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): In Paris today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with the President of France, Francois Hollande, with whom he discussed a range of issues, including the climate change conference, which is due to start in December (COP-21) in the French capital, as well as the next steps to be taken to ensure an ambitious outcome.
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS): Welcoming the decision by rival parties in South Sudan to convene tomorrow a 'mini-summit,' where the Government, "in the interest of peace," is expected to sign the agreement already endorsed by former Vice-President Riek Machar, the top United Nations official in the country on Tuesday said that the security situation on the ground remains "volatile and tense."
New York, Aug 26 (IBNS) Alarmed by the dramatic increase in grave violations against Yemen's children, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has called on all parties to respect their obligations under international law to safeguard civilians from harm, including children.