UN chief demands immediate release of seized Fijian peacekeepers
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:50 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday again called for the release of 44 Fijian peacekeepers seized in the Golan.
SAMOA: Small island developing states can lead transition to 'green' energy - UN
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:46 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) Despite being endowed with renewable energy sources like wind, sunshine and waves small island developing states remain heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, a practice that the United Nations says can be reversed through durable partnerships.
UN, international rights experts urge greater protection of journalists covering conflicts
Sep 02, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) Journalists covering conflicts must be afforded the highest degree of protection, a group of United Nations and international human rights experts said on Monday, adding that the recent attacks, ongoing kidnappings, and arbitrary incarcerations of media professionals around the world must be condemned.
Man stabs children to death in Chinese school
Sep 02, 2014, at 03:24 am
Beijing, Sept 1 (IBNS) A man stabbed to death at least three children and injured six others in a primary school in China's Hubei Province on Monday, media reports said.
Ban voices concern about reported military takeover in Lesotho
Sep 01, 2014, at 04:36 pm
New York, Sept 1 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern on Sunday about the reported military takeover in the southern African nation of Lesotho, and called on all parties to resolve their differences peacefully.
SAMOA: Tsunami-hit community honours Ban with 'chief' title
Sep 01, 2014, at 04:24 pm
New York, Sept 1 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was on Sunday given the title of 'Tupua' or 'chief' in south-eastern Samoa by villagers whose homes had been struck by a tsunami nearly five years ago.
SAMOA: On eve of major conference, UN chief spurs green investment in small islands
Sep 01, 2014, at 04:23 pm
New York, Sept 1 (IBNS) Encouraging partnerships between the private sector and small developing island nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday urged corporate leaders to invest in renewable energy and make historic strides in sustainability.
Samoa: Business execs build partnerships with small islands at UN forum
Aug 31, 2014, at 06:42 am
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Small island developing States offer opportunities for genuine and sustainable business partnerships, said executives and officials participating in a United Nations co-hosted private sector forum in Samoa.
Samoa: Apia welcomes thousands for UN conference
Aug 31, 2014, at 06:37 am
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Ahead of the official opening of the United Nations conference on small island developing countries, the UN and Samoan flags were raised on Saturday over the site in the capital, Apia, that will host what is considered the largest conference of its kind in the Pacific region.
Enforced disappearances cannot be tolerated in 21st century, Ban says on International Day
Aug 31, 2014, at 06:34 am
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Stressing that the enforced disappearance of individuals by States constitutes an unacceptable violation of human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has declared that the time has come for the end to this "abhorrent" practice.
Kosovo: citing recent unrest, UN envoy urges close vigilance to safeguard achievements
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:45 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy for Kosovo on Friday said that while great strides have been made since last year toward normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, close vigilance remains essential to safeguard achievements and continue dialogue.
Amid growing attacks, Security Council urges greater protection for aid workers
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Against the backdrop of increasing threats to aid workers, the United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for accountability for attacks and urging all parties to conflict to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian actors.
Data revolution advisory group named by UN Secretary-General
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named an Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development to provide him with inputs to shape “an ambitious and achievable vision†for a future development agenda beyond 2015 to succeed the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Security Council condemns actions of Houthi militants to derail Yemen’s transition
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:35 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS): The Security Council on Friday voiced grave concern about the recent deterioration of the security situation in Yemen, condemning the actions of the Houthis, including their escalating campaign to bring down the Government and undermine the country’s political transition.
On International Day, UN chief urges renewed commitment to world free of nuclear weapons
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS): Marking the International Day against Nuclear Tests, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for a renewed global commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests.
UN officials hail role of cultural, religious dialogue in advancing peace, development
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) United Nations officials on Friday highlighted the important role played by the initiative known as the Alliance of Civilizations in building bridges to peace, especially amid the current instability in many parts of the world, as they kicked off a global forum in Bali, Indonesia.
Number of Syrian refugees tops 3 million as insecurity grows – UN agency
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Three million Syrians will have registered as refugees outside of their country on Friday, the UN refugee agency reported, amid accounts of increasingly horrifying conditions inside their homeland – cities where populations are surrounded, people are going hungry and civilians are being targeted or indiscriminately killed.
Ukraine: UN report shows rising civilian deaths, ongoing rights abuses
Aug 30, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) Intense fighting, including the use of heavy weaponry by both sides, in densely populated areas of eastern Ukraine, has increased the loss of civilian life, with an average of around 36 people being killed every day, says a new report issued on Friday by the United Nations human rights office.
Detained peacekeepers in the Golan safe and in good health: UN
Aug 30, 2014, at 04:53 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Friday that it has received assurances from credible sources that the 44 peacekeepers who were taken from their positions in the Golan on Thursday are safe and in good health.
Samoa: From weeds to electricity, UN partnership aims to connect families to electric grid
Aug 30, 2014, at 04:45 pm
New York, Aug 30 (IBNS) A toxic weed in Samoa is being turned into electricity, raising hopes that families on the southern coast of the Pacific island can be connected to the national grid as a result of a partnership between the Government and the United Nations.
Ban alarmed by 'dangerous escalation' in Ukraine crisis; Security Council holds emergency talks
Aug 29, 2014, at 06:01 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is alarmed by what seems to be a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis in Ukraine with reports that the fighting in the eastern part of the country has spread near the border with Russia.
UN reports improved humanitarian access to Syria for first time in six months
Aug 29, 2014, at 06:00 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) For the first time in six months, there has been some improvement recently on humanitarian access to Syria, but much more needs to be done by the parties to the conflict to ensure rapid and unhindered access to people in need, a senior United Nations relief official told the Security Council on Thursday.
UN peacekeepers detained by armed group amid fighting in Golan Heights
Aug 29, 2014, at 02:23 am
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations said on Thursday that 43 of its peacekeepers serving in the Golan Heights were detained this morning amid increased fighting in the area between Syrian Government forces and armed elements.
South Sudan: Security Council strongly condemns downing of UN helicopter
Aug 28, 2014, at 03:00 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS): The Security Council has strongly condemned the downing on Tuesday of a United Nations helicopter in South Sudan which resulted in the death of three Russian crew members and left a fourth severely injured, and called for a thorough investigation.
Darfur: Security Council extends African Union-UN mission for 10 more months
Aug 28, 2014, at 03:00 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until 30 June 2015, while requesting the peacekeeping mission to focus on strategic priorities such as the improved protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, along with the facilitation of aid and mediation activities.
Security Council reiterates concern over 'alarming' security situation in Africa's Sahel
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:59 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday reiterated its continued concern about the alarming situation in the Sahel region of Africa and reaffirmed its commitment to address the complex security and political challenges.
UN operation to feed displaced Iraqis reaches over 700,000 people
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:57 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Food aid convoys from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have reached displaced Iraqis in Karbala, southwest of Baghdad, bringing the number of people receiving food assistance to over 700,000 people since the start of violence in mid-June.
Civil society gathers at UN to help shape new vision for global development, prosperity
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) Civil society converged on United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to make their voices heard regarding the future global development agenda that will point the way forward on a range of issues such as eradicating poverty, eliminating hunger and combating disease.
Recent Libya fighting 'unprecedented in gravity,' warns outgoing UN envoy
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:45 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) In recent days, armed battles, inflamed by airstrikes and fuelled by deep divisions among Libyan political factions have been "unprecedented in their gravity and very alarming," the outgoing United Nations envoy to that country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Using Egyptian crossing for first time in seven years, UN convoy brings food aid to Gaza
Aug 28, 2014, at 02:41 pm
New York, Aug 28 (IBNS) For the first time in seven years, a humanitarian convoy of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) successfully crossed from Egypt into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, carrying enough food to feed around 150,000 people for five days.