Security Council, UN envoy 'appalled' at murder of Somali parliament member
New York, July 4 (IBNS) The Security Council and the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) have condemned the killing on Thursday in Mogadishu of parliamentarian Mohamed Mohamud 'Hayd'.
Urgent efforts needed to avert further crises in Somalia, Yemen UN relief officials
New York, July 3 (IBNS): Urgent action is needed to prevent a worsening of the humanitarian crises in both Somalia and Yemen, senior United Nations relief officials warned on Wednesday, as they urged donors to help them step up their response as well as to consolidate the recent gains made in both countries.
'Death penalty has no place in 21st century,' declares UN chief
New York, July 3 (IBNS) The death penalty has no place in the 21st century, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Wednesday, calling on all States take concrete steps towards abolishing or no longer practicing this form of punishment.
'Leave no stone unturned' to halt Ebola's rapid spread in West Africa, urges UN agency
New York, July 3 (IBNS)Urging health authorities in West African countries affected by the largest Ebola outbreak in history to “leave no stone unturned†in their efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, a United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) official on Wednesday underscored the critical need to engage community, religious and opinion leaders in the region to be at the forefront of the response.
Fresh fighting sends more than 75,000 Pakistanis fleeing into Afghanistan: UN agency
New York, July 3 (IBNS) The ongoing Pakistani military offensive against militants in the North Waziristan tribal region has forced more than 75,000 people to flee their homes in the past two weeks, seeking shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan, the United Nations refugee agencysaid on Wednesday.
Ban announces review of probes related to UN-African Union Darfur peacekeepers
New York, July 3 (IBNS) Concerned by recent allegations against the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan’s Darfur region, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a review of related investigations and reviews over the last two years to determine what, if any, corrective action needs to be taken.
Sri Lanka must do more to rein in hate speech, faith based violence: UN rights experts
New York, July 3 (IBNS): Aiming to stem the tide of violent attacks and recrimination against Sri Lanka’s Muslim and Christian communities, a group of United Nations human rights expertscalled on Wednesday on the Government to adopt urgent measures to stop the promotion of racial and faith-based hatred and end “the atmosphere of impunity†fuelling hate speech and violence by Buddhist extremists.
Iraq: UN officials voice concern about humanitarian situation, abuse of women, girls
New York, July 3 (IBNS) Amid reports of deliberate targeting of women and girls in Iraq, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday voiced deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian and security situations in the country, where more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes in fear for their lives.
UN officials deplore murder of Palestinian boy in Jerusalem
New York, July 3 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process have both condemned the murder of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem, and called on both Israelis and Palestinians to refrain from exacerbating an already tense situation.
Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014 approved
Islamabad, July 2 (IBNS): Pakistan's National Assembly on Wednesday approved the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014, media reports said.
Afghanistan: 8 ANA personnel killed in suicide blast
Kabul, July 2 (IBNS) At least eight Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's Kabul city on Wednesday, media reports said.
Initial UN report aims to 'reconnect science and policy towards global sustainable development'
New York, July 2 (IBNS) To achieve a sustainable transition by 2050, when more than nine billion people will live on Earth, there needs to be significant adjustment to the current patterns of consumption and production, delegations heard on Tuesday as a United Nations high-level political forum considered a new report aiming to lay the foundation for a new global sustainable development agenda.
Ukraine: UNESCO condemns killing of Russian journalist near Donetsk
New York, July 2 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, condemned on Tuesday the killing of Russian television journalist Anatoli Klian, who was shot to death last night in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine.
Ghanaian Major General appointed to head UN observer mission in India and Pakistan
New York, July 2 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi of Ghana as the head of the United Nations mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan.
Child rights being violated in conflict situations with total impunity, says UN official
New York, July 2 (IBNS) The rights of children are being violated in conflict situations with total impunity, a United Nations official said on Tuesday, as she presented a report on grave abuses committed against children in places such as Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR).