Syria: Before pledging conference, UN urges donors to stand by people
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): The crisis in Syria is getting much worse, characterized by shocking “levels of savagery,†the United Nations relief official has warned, urging countries to pledge as generously as possible ahead of the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference kicking off on Tuesday in Kuwait City.
UN calls for hydro-diplomacy as world faces growing water shortages
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): The international community must gear up for a new era of “hydro-diplomacy†as the threat of water scarcity risks plunging the world into a period of geopolitical tension and stunted development, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told delegates gathered at the General Assembly on Monday.
Boko Haram weak, but still committing horrendous acts: UN envoy
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): As the Security Council met on Monday morning to discuss threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, top United Nations officials briefed the 15-member body on the impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria and beyond, warning of the group’s intensified violence and brutality.
Cyprus: UN envoy optimistic about re-start of structured negotiations
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Adviser for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, will return to the Mediterranean island on 6 April 2015 to follow up on the encouraging indications received during his last trip regarding a possible resumption of negotiations.
UN stresses need for employment, to achieve sustainable development
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Monday underlined the importance for States to create employment opportunities and decent work for all in order to achieve poverty eradication and sustainable development, and to fulfil the objectives of the new UN development agenda.
Another blogger hacked to death in Dhaka
Dhaka, Mar 30 (IBNS): Three people hacked to death blogger Washiqur Rahman at Tejgaon Industrial area in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Monday, media reports said.
Welcoming peaceful Nigerian elections, Ban encourages patience
New York, Mar 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people and Government of Nigeria on the largely peaceful and orderly conduct of Saturday's presidential and parliamentary elections.
Egypt: Ban and Arab League Secretary-General discuss regional challenges
New York, Mar 30 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Nabil El-Araby Secretary General of the League of Arab States pledged on Sunday, continued cooperation between the two organizations and discussed strengthening international efforts on a range of issues as the League's Summit continued in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Air Canada flight skids off runway, 23 hurt
Ottawa, Mar 29 (IBNS): At least 23 passengers were injured as an Air Canada flight skidded off the runway while it was landing at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport in the Canada's Nova Scotia province on Sunday, officials said.
Singapore: Thousands of mourners gather to bid farewell to Lee
Singapore, Mar 29 (IBNS): Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was remembered by his country men with a heavy heart at his state funeral on Sunday, where the procession through the city's streets drew thousands of mourners despite heavy rain.
In Egypt, Ban calls on Arab leaders to strengthen bonds for region's people, global security
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS) With a raft of ills plaguing the Arab world – from the “shameful†conflict in Syria to the "tinderbox" that is Gaza and the steadily unraveling situation in Yemen –Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called upon leaders gathered in Egypt to work with each other and the United Nations to "strengthen our bonds for the people of this region and the security of our world."
'We must respond,' declares UNESCO chief, launching #Unite4Heritage campaign in Baghdad
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS) Taking an innovative step to support Iraqi youth and to mobilize young people worldwide for the protection of cultural heritage, Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched on Saturday at Baghdad University #Unite4Heritage, a social media campaign to counter the propaganda of cultural cleansing in Iraq and other crisis-torn counties.
UN strongly condemns deadly terrorist attack on Mogadishu hotel
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Somalia along with the members of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned yesterday's terrorist attack on a hotel in Mogadishu city that resulted in the death of many civilians, including the Somali Federal Government's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Yusuf Bari-Bari.
Demanding 'immediate' ceasefire in Libya, Security Council extends UN mission in crisis-torn country
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS) Unanimously adopting two separate resolutions on Libya, the Security Council, in the first, called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and extended the United Nations Support Mission there (UNSMIL) until 15 September, and in the second, adjusted the arms embargo on the country in light of the terrorist threat there.
US cop indicted for using unreasonable force on Indian Sureshbhai Patel
Washington, Mar 28(IBNS) A US police officer, accused of throwing to the ground and causing partial paralysis of a 57-year-old Indian has been indicted on Friday by grand jury on a civil rights charge for the use of unreasonable force.