Pakistan: Police seize truck with explosives

Lahore, June 29 (IBNS): The police foiled a terrorism bid in Pakistan's Lahore city as they seized a explosive-laden truck, media reports said on Sunday.

Iraq: Security officials, rebels continue clashes

Baghdad, June 29 (IBNS): The crisis in Iraq continued as the country's government forces continued the offensive to retake the Tikrit city from Sunni rebels, media reports said.

Deeply concerned about eastern Ukraine, Ban welcomes extension of cease-fire

New York, June 28 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the extension of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and, with continued deep concern about the situation there, urged all sides to honour their commitments and work within a political process.

UN refugee agency warns of 'sharp rise' in people fleeing eastern Ukraine

New York, June 28 (IBNS): Some 16,400 people fled their homes in crisis-riven eastern Ukraine during the past week, bringing the number of displaced within the country to 54,000, according the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Central African Republic: UN supports re-establishment of core public services

New York, June 28 (IBNS): Amid the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and the World Bank, is working hard to re-establish primary public services in the country, such as the payment of civil servant salaries.

Rebuilding Timbuktu: UN agency working with Mali

New York, June 28 (IBNS): Two of the World Heritage mausoleums destroyed in Timbuktu have now been rebuilt through a partnership with local communities, the United Nations cultural agency said, adding that it will need an additional $8 million to finish the rehabilitation of the site and of libraries that could again store hundreds of thousands of Malian manuscripts.

Up to 10,000 people from Christian communities flee violence in northern Iraq: UN

New York, June 28 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Friday that up to 10,000 people from predominately Christian communities in northern Iraq have fled their homes this week amid the ongoing violence in Mosul.

Ban urges new UN body to galvanize global sustainability agenda

New York, June 28 (IBNS): With the close of the Millennium Development Goal era just months away, and work already beginning on a successor agenda to reign in poverty and put the planet on a sustainable course before it is too late, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday the "timing could not be better" for the launch of a strong UN body tackling all issues relating to the environment.

UN welcomes Chinese court decision to overturn death sentence of abuse victim

New York, June 28 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office on Friday welcomed the news that a Chinese court has recently overturned the death sentence imposed on Li Yan, who killed her abusive husband, Tan Yong, in 2010.

Renewed Central African Republic fighting displaces thousands of civilians: UN

New York, June 28 (IBNS): Thousands of people are fleeing new violence and reprisal attacks in and around the town of Bambari in Central African Republic (CAR) that have already left at least 45 people dead and scores more wounded, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Friday.

UN human rights office concerned by reports of ongoing violations in Venezuela

New York, June 28 (IBNS): The United Nations on Friday expressed concern about the continuing human rights violations reportedly taking place in Venezuela and reiterated its call on authorities to respect the rights of peaceful demonstration and assembly.

Burundi: Curbs on free expression ahead of elections draw concern of senior UN rights official

New York, June 28 (IBNS) Expressing deep concern about growing restrictions on freedom of expression in Burundi, a senior United Nations rights official on Friday called on the authorities there to ensure that human rights are fully protected ahead of next year's presidential elections.

Ban announces start of 'UN70', worldwide celebration of Organization's anniversary

New York, June 27 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday announced the start of the global celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, which will aim to honour the historic breadth of the Organization’s development, security and human rights work, and ultimately, unite the international community in common cause to enable a strong UN to realize a better world.

UN strongly condemns assassination of Libyan human rights advocate

New York, June 27 (IBNS): The United Nations Thursday condemned the assassination of Salwa Bugaighis, a prominent Libyan human rights advocate and member of the Preparatory Committee for National Dialogue.

UN gender equality campaign to take centre stage at legendary Apollo Theatre

New York, June 27 (IBNS): Around the world, a "pandemic of violence" and repression threatens to push back hard-won human rights for women and girls, the head of UN Women said Thursday as she declared that the United Nations is taking its campaign to promote gender equality “outside our offices to the community and people, where it will always belong.”