Lebanon: UN envoy expresses regret over Parliament term extension, stalled elections
Nov 07, 2014, at 07:30 pm
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS)The United Nations envoy for Lebanon said on Thursday that the vote in Lebanon’s Parliament on Wednesday to extend its mandate until 2017 had spared the country a “further serious vacuum,†but, regretfully, elections had been postponed again amid mounting political insecurity.
UN chief welcomes agreement aiming to restore democracy to Burkina Faso
Nov 07, 2014, at 07:27 pm
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the adoption of a new agreement by Burkinabé stakeholders which would see the West African country head towards a democratic transition in the wake of the recent constitutional crisis there.
Water central to global peace, development, UN deputy chief tells London summit
Nov 07, 2014, at 07:17 pm
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS ) The most basic of all human rights water is also a central element in global affairs and the development agenda with wide implications on international peace and security, the Deputy Secretary-General told participants on Thursday the World Water Summit held in London.
Four judges elected to serve on International Court of Justice
Nov 07, 2014, at 06:58 pm
New York, Nov 7 (IBNS) The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council on Thursday elected four judges to seats on the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN.
UN rights panels outline States' obligation to prevent harmful practices on women, girls
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:48 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): For the first time, two United Nations human rights committees have joined forces to issue a comprehensive interpretation of the obligations of States to prevent and eliminate harmful practices inflicted on women and girls, such as female genital mutilation, crimes committed in the name of so-called honour, forced and child marriage, and polygamy.
Darfur: amid allegations of mass rape, UN voices profound concern, begins investigation
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:41 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): The African Union-United Nations hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has expressed its “deep concern†about allegations circulating in local media over the mass rape of 200 women and girls in a town in the region’s North, declaring that it is conducting a thorough investigation into the veracity of the claims.
Humanitarian system 'scrambling' to meet skyrocketing needs, warns UN refugee agency chief
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:35 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): The global humanitarian system has reached its limits in dealing with the upward trend in forced displacement due to mounting pressures from conflicts and persecution around the world, the head of the United Nations refugee agency warned, calling on the humanitarian community to “think out of the box†when it comes to funding emergency response.
Burundi: UN officials urge vigilance, transparency as elections near
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:30 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): Noting the current stability in Burundi’s security situation, two United Nations officials briefing the Security Council today urged vigilance, but expressed confidence that the Government would continue on a path towards peace in the run-up to elections in 2015.
DR Congo: UN mission says police arrest more than 200 suspected of recent attacks
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:27 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): The United Nations stabilizations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced Wednesday that more than 200 people have been arrested in relation to the recent attacks against civilians around the town of Beni in the long-restive eastern part of the vast African country.
UN conference adopts ambitious 10-year action plan for world's landlocked developing countries
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:20 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): A United Nations conference concluded in Vienna, Austria with the adoption of a 10-year action plan aimed at accelerating sustainable development in the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).
South Sudan: Security Council condemns outburst of deadly violence, urges peace
Nov 06, 2014, at 07:13 pm
New York, Nov 6 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council this evening voiced alarm and outrage at the eruption of hostilities in South Sudan over the past week which left numerous civilians dead and injured and placed increasing pressure on the country’s already overwhelming humanitarian crisis.
Schoolbus tanker collision leaves 18 dead in Egypt
Nov 05, 2014, at 10:20 pm
Cairo, Nov 5 (IBNS): At least 18 people, mostly school children died when their schoolbus collided with a oil tanker in northern Egypt on Wednesday, media reported.
Kenya: UN agency voices alarm over refugee camp safety following deadly clashes
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS) Following a spate of deadly violence at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday voiced concern about the security situation in the overcrowded settlement, urging a return to calm for all the communities sheltered there.
After 65 years, plight of Palestine refugees must be fully addressed, UN agency chief says
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS) Political action on the part of the international community is urgently required to tackle the fundamental issues that would determine the fate and plight of more than 5.1 million Palestinian refugees, the head of the United Nations relief agency tasked with their assistance said on Tuesday.
Burkina Faso: UN-African Union mission encouraged by commitment to restore order
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS) Reiterating his great concern for the current crisis in Burkina Faso and its impact on national and regional stability, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the joint United Nations and African diplomatic mission sent to the conflict-ridden country last week has returned to the capital city of Ouagadougou to continue its engagements with all parties, with the objective of reaching an agreement that restores constitutional order through democratic elections.
Middle East: backed by UN-supported plan, Gaza reconstruction effort moves forward
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:19 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS) The United Nations-backed mechanism designed to provide war-ravaged Gaza with reconstruction materials for urgent shelter repairs has commenced its operations, a senior UN official in the region has announced.
Iraq: as cold weather hits displaced persons, UN steps up humanitarian appeal
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:13 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): As temperatures plummet across Iraq amid a steadily advancing cold season, humanitarian resources are urgently required in order to satisfy the needs of over 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) scattered across the country, a senior United Nations official in Iraq warned on Tuesday.
UN refugee agency launches campaign to eliminate statelessness within 10 years
Nov 05, 2014, at 03:12 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday launched a global campaign aimed at ending within a decade the problem of statelessness – a legal limbo for the more than 10 million people worldwide who lack a nationality and the human rights protections that go with it.
Pakistan using militant proxy against India, says Pentagon report
Nov 04, 2014, at 09:41 pm
New Delhi, Nov 4 (IBNS): A recent pentagon assessment has accepted the fact that Pakistan is resorting to proxy war to counter India’s superior military might, media reported.
Syria: UN envoy proposes new plan to 'freeze' conflict, promote political solution
Nov 04, 2014, at 07:03 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) The war in Syria must be "frozen locally" on the ground so that the growing threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) may be fully confronted, a United Nations envoy said on Monday, suggesting that a peace introduced in increments would also provide all stakeholders with a better understanding of how to bring the three-year conflict to a definitive conclusion.
UN chief hails Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst's 'powerful message'
Nov 04, 2014, at 06:58 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) As part of a visit to mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Vienna International Centre on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was among those treated to a performance by Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, calling her win earlier this year an "electrifying moment of human rights education."
In Darfur, UN mission voices concern over possible security raid on camps for displaced
Nov 04, 2014, at 06:44 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) The United Nations mission in Darfur expressed concern on Monday over the Government of Sudan’s alleged intentions to conduct a security search operation in a camp for internally displaced people (IDP), cautioning that such an act might increase tensions among the camp’s civilian population.
In Iraq, UNESCO chief says education, culture key to country's future peace and stability
Nov 04, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) The future of Iraq hinges on the education of its youth and the preservation of its cultural heritage, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) affirmed during an official trip to the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
UN rights expert urges ratification of treaty against torture, ahead of 30th anniversary
Nov 04, 2014, at 06:33 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) As the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of an international legal framework to prevent torture and other types of inhumane treatment or punishment approaches, a United Nations rights expert urged the committee charged with monitoring its implementation to use the momentum garnered in the celebrations to accelerate efforts to move towards universal ratification of the treaty.
At UN conference, top officials urge greater development assistance for landlocked countries
Nov 04, 2014, at 06:25 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS) The international community must aid the world’s landlocked developing countries (LLDC) in pursuing their goals for greater economic development to transition from being landlocked to “landlinked,†Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon advised on Monday, noting that only through comprehensive improvements in trade would such nations be best prepared to tackle the post-2015 agenda.
Boat capsizes off Istanbul, 24 killed
Nov 04, 2014, at 12:05 am
Istanbul, Nov 3 (IBNS): At least 24 people were killed and several others are missing after a boat, reported to be carrying migrants, sank off the north coast of Istanbul.
'Stand up for justice', UN urges on first Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Nov 03, 2014, at 02:30 am
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS) Protecting the safety of journalists and ensuring that crimes committed against them don't go unpunished is ever-more important in on Sunday's changing times in order to build transparent societies and keep citizens around the world informed, the United Nations said on Sunday marking the first-ever International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
Virgin Spaceflight crash kills 1, Branson vows to continue mission
Nov 02, 2014, at 12:59 am
California, Nov 1 (IBNS) A pilot was killed as Virgin's tourist-carrying Galactic rocket ship crashed on a test flight at California's Mojave Desert in the US on Friday.
Security Council condemns ISIL's murder of Sunni tribesmen in Anbar
Nov 01, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Nov 1 (IBNS) The Security Council this evening strongly condemned the kidnapping and murder by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists of "scores" of Sunni tribesmen whose bodies were found in mass graves in Anbar province, and once again urged the world to unite in a "common effort" to defeat the group and "stamp out" the violence and hatred it espouses.
Syria: 'Outraged' Security Council condemns ongoing violence targeting civilians
Nov 01, 2014, at 03:16 pm
New York , Nov 1 (IBNS) Outraged by the violence directed against civilians in Syria, including the reported dropping of barrel bombs on a displaced persons camp in the war-torn country’s northern region, which killed dozens of people, the Security Council this evening strongly condemned such acts, and reminded all the parties of their international legal obligations to protect civilians.