Security Council told of indiscriminate, brutal killings children face in conflict
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The multiplication of crises affecting children since the beginning of 2014 is creating unprecedented challenges that overshadow progress to date to protect them from the impact of war, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council on Monday.
New UN envoys for Syria crisis heading to Damascus
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Monday that the new envoys tasked with advancing a peaceful settlement to the ongoing conflict in Syria will travel to Damascus for consultations starting Tuesday.
Amid multiple crises, 'responsibility to protect' more urgent than ever UN officials
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) On Monday,s crises, from the horrors in Iraq and Syria to the persistent violence in South Sudan and Ukraine, demand urgent and collective action to stem atrocity crimes and protect civilians, United Nations officials said on Monday, as the General Assembly met to discuss the 'responsibility to protect' adopted nearly 10 years ago by world leaders.
On International Day, UNESCO chief says literacy not only improves lives, it saves them
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) With one in four young people – 175 million adolescents – unable to read a single sentence, International Literacy Day is an opportunity to remember one simple truth: literacy not only changes lives, it saves them, said the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Prince William-Kate expecting second child
London, Sept 8 (IBNS): Prince Williams and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton are expecting their second child, officials said on Monday.
Security Council condemns 'cowardly' murder of journalist in Syria, demands release of hostages
New York, Sept 8 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" murder of Steven Sotloff, an American and Israeli journalist, by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Security Council welcomes release of Algerian diplomats in Northern Mali
New York, Sept 8 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Sunday welcomed the release in Gao, Mali, on 30 August of the two Algerian diplomats that were taken hostage by the armed group Mouvement pour l'Unicité et le Jihad en Afrique de l'Ouest (MUJAO) in April 2012.
UN-backed forum tackles privacy, boosting Internet access, protecting children online
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) With over 3,500 participants, many of them directly tuning in online, the Ninth Annual Meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded in Istanbul on Friday after tackling key issues that "may determine the evolution of the Internet."
Indian Ocean nations to carry out UN-organized tsunami readiness test
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) Ten years after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 24 countries in the region will participate in an exercise organized by the United Nations to test their readiness to address such rare but potentially destructive events.
Ukraine: Ban calls for full implementation of announced ceasefire
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the news of a ceasefire in Ukraine and called for its full implementation, adding his hope that the cessation of hostilities will further allow the United Nations and partners to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to those affected by fighting.
Iraq: UN envoy encourages all parties to proceed quickly with government formation
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) As the government formation process in Iraq nears the constitutional deadline, the top United Nations envoy to the country on Friday encouraged all political parties to proceed in a spirit of compromise and quickly finalise negotiations.
UN experts urge Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) A group of independent United Nations experts on Friday urged the Government of Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender Maryam Al-Khawaja, who has been detained since 30 August on charges of assaulting a police officer.
UN releases new guidelines for child online protection
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) United Nations agencies, together with partners of the Child Online Protection Initiative, on Friday released new guidelines to "provide the most accessible online tools for teens as well as to enable them to seek help and advice when they need it."
US 'concerned' over 'formation' of new Al Qaeda wing
Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): The United States has expressed concern over the reported formation of Al Qaeda's India branch and said the country is committed to dismantling the militant group anywhere that 'it poses a threat to the United States'.
American Ebola patient returning to the US
Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): An American doctor, who has been infected with the Ebola virus, is returning to the US for his treatment.