'The stakes are high,' UN chief tells climate finance meeting in Peru
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Stressing that financial resources are central to meeting the goals of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said that in order to create a low-carbon, climate-resilient future that benefits everybody, allocating appropriate finance is of key importance.
Security Council extends UN mission in South Sudan
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Extending for two months the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), the Security Council urged the parties to implement a recent peace deal and adjusting the operation’s activities, requesting the Secretary-General to prioritize the deployment if unarmed unmanned aerial systems and to make available technical assistance for setting up a hybrid court as called for in the peace agreement.
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet
London, Oct 9 (IBNS) The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday said it has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 will be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.
UN rights chief urges Mexico to end misery of enforced disappearances and torture
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Despite significant progress towards building a solid human rights framework, the Mexican Government must nevertheless "bind itself to a new sense of urgency in solving the enormous human rights challenges it faces," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said today as he wrapped up an official visit to the country.
Nepal: Experts begin post-disaster work at damaged UNESCO heritage sites
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): International and national experts from the Nepalese Department of Archaeology and an archaeological team from Durham University have begun post-disaster excavation surveys and rescue excavations at earthquake damaged UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Food prices are staying lower for longer periods: UN agency
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Food prices are staying lower for longer periods, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Thursday, saying lower food prices "seem to be a boon to food security and are indeed just that for households who spend a large share of their income on food purchases."
Haiti taking steps towards renewal of democracy and stability: UN envoy
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): With the holding its first round of elections 9 August this year, to renew the executive legislative and local leadership of the country, Haiti is taking "resolute" steps in renewing its democratic institutions, the top United Nations official for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Ban requests internal probe over claims against former Assembly President
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has requested that the Organization’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) launch an audit of the interaction between the UN and the Global Sustainability Foundation and the Sun Kian Ip Group, and the use of any funds received from these entities, according to a UN spokesperson.
No new cases of Ebola reported for first time since March 2014: WHO
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): There were no new cases of Ebola reported in West Africa in the week ending last Sunday, making it the first week since March 2014 with zero cases recorded in the three countries most affected by the outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which cautioned that there remains a near-term risk of new cases.
Concerned by escalating West Bank violence, UN rights chief urges restraint
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Voicing extreme concern over escalating tensions and rapidly-spreading violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations human rights chief on Thursday called for urgent action by both Israelis and Palestinians to halt the violence, while stressing the need to ensure security forces comply with international standards and respect for human rights.
Ban appoints new head of UN mission in DR Congo
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Maman S. Sidikou of Niger as his new Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Head of the UN Mission in the country, known as MONUSCO.
UN report shows global youth unemployment rate still above financial crisis levels
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Global youth unemployment rates have stabilized somewhat but remain well above pre-financial crisis levels, according to a new report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday.
UN official urges global compact on refugee and asylum matters
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): The top protection expert in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday warned of a growing risk to people fleeing conflict and persecution and called for "an all-out effort to ensure that protection, and in particular the institution of asylum, remains life-saving, non-political, and fundamentally humanitarian."
Shahadat send to 3-day remand by Bangladesh court
Dhaka, Oct 8 (IBNS): A Bangladesh court on Thursday sent cricketer Shahadat Hossain to three- day custody in connection with the case on torturing a domestic help.
UN refugee official calls for renewed international focus on Afghanistan
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations’ most senior refugee official is appealing to the international community to refocus its attention on Afghanistan, warning that it would be dangerous to ignore the country, and praised Iran and Pakistan for hosting so many Afghan refugees.