Libya: UN envoy calls for end to fighting, beginning of political process
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) The violence in Libya must stop, the United Nations envoy to that country on Wednesday reiterated, calling for "meaningful, effective" dialogue to end what is among the worst fighting the country has seen since leader Muammar al-Qadhafi was ousted in 2011.
UN rights expert welcomes new Assembly resolution on debt structuring
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) A new United Nations General Assembly resolution on debt restructuring that will set up a multilateral legal framework for debtor countries to emerge from debt safely was welcomed on Wednesday by the UN rights expert on the issue as a way forward to "fill the current legal voice and reduce uncertainty."
New UN reports calls for major changes in global economic governance, management
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:42 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS)Six years after the start of the global economic and financial crisis, the world economy has still not found a sustainable growth path, argues a new United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report released on Wednesday.
UN officials call for renewed global commitment to ending nuclear tests
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:37 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS)United Nations officials on Wednesday called for renewed commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, noting that nearly 2,000 such tests have taken place since 1945.
Disarmament for development is a 'win-win' for States, people – UN rights expert
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:34 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) An independent United Nations human rights expert on Wednesday called for a meaningful reduction of military spending with funds reoriented towards development, and greater transparency in how Governments prioritize budgets.
Tasmania anti-protest bill contravenes Australia's human rights obligations – UN experts
Sep 10, 2014, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations experts have urged lawmakers in Tasmania to refrain from adopting legislation against protests that disrupt businesses, saying the proposed bill would contravene Australia’s human rights obligations.
South Sudan: Preliminary UN probe shows helicopter was shot down
Sep 10, 2014, at 03:04 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday its initial investigation Has revealed that UN helicopter that crashed near Bentiu late last month was shot down.
UN rights experts urge Saudi Arabia to halt 'stream of executions, beheadings'
Sep 10, 2014, at 03:02 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) Two United Nations independent human rights experts on Tuesday renewed their call on Saudi Arabia to implement an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty amid a reported increase in executions, many of them by beheading.
Somalia: UN envoy condemns latest terrorist attacks
Sep 10, 2014, at 03:01 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) Calling for reconciliation and an end to violence in Somalia, the top United Nations official condemned the terrorist attacks in several locations in country on Monday that resulted in the death and injury of many innocent civilians.
Peace means dignity, well-being for all, not just absence of war – UN officials
Sep 10, 2014, at 02:58 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) Underscoring that peace is more than just the absence of war, United Nations officials on Tuesday stressed the need for concerted efforts to achieve the common vision of a life of dignity and well-being for all.
UNICEF assistance plays key role for Gazan children to begin a new school year
Sep 10, 2014, at 02:42 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) The devastating 50-day conflict has forced the new academic year in the Gaza Strip to begin three weeks late – on 14 September – the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, underscoring the serious psychological trauma suffered by the Gazan children.
UN chief lauds formation of new Government in Iraq
Sep 10, 2014, at 02:30 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the formation of a new inclusive Government in Iraq as "a positive step towards political stability and peace in the country."
Michael Schumacher leaves hospital for recovery at home
Sep 10, 2014, at 02:24 am
Bern, Sept 9 (IBNS): Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, who had a skiing accident last year, has left a Swiss hospital to continue his recovery at home, his spokesperson said.
African Union-UN mission calls for restraint amid tensions at Darfur camp
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:49 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) Concerned about escalating tensions, the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region on Monday called for restraint by all parties in and around the Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) where demonstrations have resulted in several casualties over the weekend.
No 'back to school' for millions of children affected by conflict, crisis UN
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:44 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) Almost 30 million children are out of school in emergency or conflict affected countries following the targeting of schools and the displacement of millions of children forced from their homes and studies, the United Nations Children’s Fund said on Monday.
Iraq, Syria top priorities for new UN human rights chief
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The new United Nations human rights chief on Monday urged the international community to stop the “increasingly conjoined†conflicts in Iraq and Syria, lashing out at the armed group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for trying to create a “house of blood.â€
Ukraine death toll of more than 3,000 'alarming': UN
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The number of people killed in Ukraine has topped 3,000 and could be "significantly higher," a senior United Nations human rights official said on Monday, as he urgently appealed for a sustainable peace to spare the country "a winter of horrors."
Security Council told of indiscriminate, brutal killings children face in conflict
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The multiplication of crises affecting children since the beginning of 2014 is creating unprecedented challenges that overshadow progress to date to protect them from the impact of war, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council on Monday.
New UN envoys for Syria crisis heading to Damascus
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Monday that the new envoys tasked with advancing a peaceful settlement to the ongoing conflict in Syria will travel to Damascus for consultations starting Tuesday.
Amid multiple crises, 'responsibility to protect' more urgent than ever UN officials
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:16 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) On Monday,s crises, from the horrors in Iraq and Syria to the persistent violence in South Sudan and Ukraine, demand urgent and collective action to stem atrocity crimes and protect civilians, United Nations officials said on Monday, as the General Assembly met to discuss the 'responsibility to protect' adopted nearly 10 years ago by world leaders.
On International Day, UNESCO chief says literacy not only improves lives, it saves them
Sep 09, 2014, at 05:13 pm
New York, Sept 9 (IBNS) With one in four young people – 175 million adolescents – unable to read a single sentence, International Literacy Day is an opportunity to remember one simple truth: literacy not only changes lives, it saves them, said the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Prince William-Kate expecting second child
Sep 09, 2014, at 02:33 am
London, Sept 8 (IBNS): Prince Williams and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton are expecting their second child, officials said on Monday.
Security Council condemns 'cowardly' murder of journalist in Syria, demands release of hostages
Sep 08, 2014, at 06:07 pm
New York, Sept 8 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" murder of Steven Sotloff, an American and Israeli journalist, by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
UN-backed forum tackles privacy, boosting Internet access, protecting children online
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:57 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) With over 3,500 participants, many of them directly tuning in online, the Ninth Annual Meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded in Istanbul on Friday after tackling key issues that "may determine the evolution of the Internet."
Indian Ocean nations to carry out UN-organized tsunami readiness test
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:50 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) Ten years after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 24 countries in the region will participate in an exercise organized by the United Nations to test their readiness to address such rare but potentially destructive events.
Ukraine: Ban calls for full implementation of announced ceasefire
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:47 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the news of a ceasefire in Ukraine and called for its full implementation, adding his hope that the cessation of hostilities will further allow the United Nations and partners to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to those affected by fighting.
Iraq: UN envoy encourages all parties to proceed quickly with government formation
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:44 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) As the government formation process in Iraq nears the constitutional deadline, the top United Nations envoy to the country on Friday encouraged all political parties to proceed in a spirit of compromise and quickly finalise negotiations.
UN experts urge Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:40 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) A group of independent United Nations experts on Friday urged the Government of Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender Maryam Al-Khawaja, who has been detained since 30 August on charges of assaulting a police officer.
UN releases new guidelines for child online protection
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:35 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) United Nations agencies, together with partners of the Child Online Protection Initiative, on Friday released new guidelines to "provide the most accessible online tools for teens as well as to enable them to seek help and advice when they need it."
US 'concerned' over 'formation' of new Al Qaeda wing
Sep 05, 2014, at 06:04 pm
Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): The United States has expressed concern over the reported formation of Al Qaeda's India branch and said the country is committed to dismantling the militant group anywhere that 'it poses a threat to the United States'.