Yemen: UN envoy says negotiations only way to end cocktail of dramatic crises
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Stressing that a political solution is key to resolving the "terrible cocktail" of crises in Yemen, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country on Monday announced that preparations have begun for talks between the conflict parties.
UN report links processed meats to cancer in humans
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS):The cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the consumption of processed meats like hotdogs, ham, sausages and meat-based sauces causes colorectal cancer, while eating red meat like beef, pork and lamb is "probably carcinogenic to humans."
El Niño will 'test' disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region: UN
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Amid growing fears that the irregular climatic activities of El Niño will result in severe weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls in the Pacific, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) on Monday addressed a gathering in Suva, Fiji, of disaster reduction and humanitarian response partners from across the region at a joint programme of events around regional resilience to disasters and emergency management.
UN human rights chief sends assessment mission to South Sudan
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): After reports of alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in South Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is deploying a 10-member mission to the country to assess the situation.
UN official welcomes EU agreement on plan for Western Balkans migration route
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): As European leaders met this week to hammer out a 17-point plan of action on the Western Balkans migration route for refugees and migrants fleeing Syria and other strife-torn regions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commended the fact that a consensus had been reached.
First nine months of 2015 are hottest on record, UN agency reports
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Earth has just had the hottest January-September on record, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday, adding that the average air and sea temperatures in September logged the greatest rise above monthly average in the 136-year historical record.
Mali: UN says three civilians killed, two peacekeepers wounded by mine explosions
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Mali has condemned the explosion of a mine or an explosive device in the Kidal region of the country Saturday, killing three civilians and wounding two peacekeepers.
Valuing women's work key to achieving new global goal on gender equality: UN agency
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Applauding the decision by Member States to include gender equality as a key plank of the newly-adopted 2030 Agenda, a senior United Nations labour agency official has stressed the importance of empowering women in employment, salaries and the working environment, urging governments to commit to this achievable, basic right.
Lawful civil society groups are not enemies of democracy, but key allies: UN expert
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations human rights expert Ben Emmerson on Monday urged governments across the world to ensure that civil society be included in global, co-ordinated efforts to counter the spread of terrorism.
UN special envoy condemns attack against Palestinian politician
New York, Oct 26 (IBNS): Condemning Sunday's attack in Ramallah against a prominent Palestinian political figure, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and has reiterated the call by top United Nations officials to reduce tensions in the region and avoid actions that would spark further violence.
Tony Blair apologises for Iraq war 'mistakes'
London, Oct 25 (IBNS): Former British PM Tony Blair has apologised for the 'mistakes' committed during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor detained
Male, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Maldives Police on Saturday arrested the country's Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor in connection with an explosion aboard a boat carrying the Indian Ocean archipelago's president last month, media reports said.
ECOSOC President urges curtailing flow of illegal finances that cost Africa billions
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): In a "timely and necessary" meeting on illicit financial flows and their impact on development in Africa, Oh Joon, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday urged broader efforts to combat such flows, of IFFs from the continent could amount to a staggering $50 billion each year.
Burundi: UN warns of 'rapidly worsening' human rights and security situation
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday expressed its concern over the "rapidly worsening" security and human rights situation in Burundi, where at least 198 people have been killed since April, including the execution of at least nine civilians ten days ago.
Yemen: UN rights office says civilians paying 'terrible toll'
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that the humanitarian situation in Yemen's highland Taiz governorate is deteriorating rapidly in the wake of a recent attack by members of the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houthis which targeted residential areas and left 15 civilians dead, injured 73 others and left homes, shops, a clinic and a school partially destroyed.