Cambodia: UN concerned over curbs affecting human rights
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, expressed concern on Monday that the country's National Assembly held its second session last week without the opposition representatives taking up their seat, and urged the legislature to upkeep the key principles of any law-making process: transparency, accountability and participation.
Pistorius apologises to girlfriend's family
Pretoria, Apr 7 (IBNS): Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius on Monday apologised to the family of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead last year.
MH 370: Malaysia hopeful after new lead
Kuala Lumpur, Apr 7 (IBNS) Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Monday said he feels that the detection of pulse signals in the southern Indian Ocean might lead to 'positive development' in the search for the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 aircraft which went missing last month.
Rwanda: Ban urges global support to prevent future atrocities
New York, Apr 7 (IBNS): As Rwandans commemorate the genocide that took place 20 years ago, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed during a visit to Kigali on Sunday the need for the international community to learn from such atrocities and to ensure that the words 'never again' are translated into action.
MH370: Chinese ship discovers pulse signal
Beijing, Apr 5 (IBNS): A Chinese ship, which is searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, on Saturday detected a pulse signal in the southern Indian Ocean waters, media reports said.
Ban hails role of women in achieving world free of landmines
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for greater measures to involve more women at higher levels in mine action, stressing their vital role in advancing the vision of a world free of landmines.
Somalia: UN calls for moratorium after execution of murderer
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office Friday voiced its concern at the "hasty" judicial process in the Somali town of Kismayo that led to the execution of man nine days after he allegedly murdered an elder, and called on authorities to impose a moratorium on the death penalty.
Prague: Ban urges shared global responsibility for better future
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): From reducing poverty and hunger to addressing climate change, the world faces big challenges that cannot be tackled alone, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday, highlighting the importance of shared global responsibility in an address to students in the Czech Republic.
UNSC seeks peaceful, credible polls in Guinea-Bissau
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has urged all national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to facilitate the conduct of peaceful and credible elections on Apr 13, when citizens of the West African nation will participate in long-delayed president and legislative elections.
UN urges Kazakhstan to end registration of religious communities
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): The United Nations expert on religious freedom called on Friday on the Kazakhstan Government to halt the mandatory registration of religious communities, which notably affects small groups.
Chadian soldiers responsible for Bangui attack: UN
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): A preliminary investigation by the United Nations human rights office into the deadly events that took place on Mar 29 in a suburb of Bangui, the crisis-riven capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), has found that Chadian soldiers killed some 30 civilians and seriously wounded more than 300 in an indiscriminate attack on a crowded market.
UN concerned over thousands of IDPs in Philippines
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): The United Nations on Friday sounded the alarm on behalf of some 64,600 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southern Philippines still living in evacuation centres, transition sites and with host communities, six months after deadly fighting broke out between the rebel Moro National Liberation Front and Government forces in Zamboanga City.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon cross one million mark: UN
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): Now in its fourth year, the Syrian conflict hit yet another bleak milestone on Thursday, as the United Nations refugee agency reported that the number of displaced seeking refuge in neighbouring Lebanon has passed the one million mark, putting more pressure on a host community that is already stretched to the breaking point.
UN seeks effort to prevent catastrophe in South Sudan
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): With no political solution to the conflict that has torn South Sudan apart in sight, senior United Nations officials working in the country stressed on Thursday that they are in a "race against time" ahead of the rainy season to help prevent a health and hunger catastrophe.
UNSC concerned at deteriorating security situation in Darfur
New York, Apr 4 (IBNS): Deeply concerned at the "considerable deterioration" of the security situation in Darfur over the past year, marked by ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Government and rebels, and an upsurge in inter-communal violence, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday endorsed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's revised strategic priorities for the joint African Union-UN mission in the long-restive western region of Sudan.