UN cites total breakdown of law and order as 'climate of fear' grips eastern Ukraine
Jun 19, 2014, at 09:51 pm
New York, June 19 (IBNS) With United Nations monitors reporting that armed separatists have used killings, abductions and torture to instil a "climate of intimidation and fear" in eastern Ukraine, the world body's human rights chief urged all armed groups to put down their weapons, end the violence and begin the process of long-term reconciliation.
Militants attack Iraq's largest oil refinery
Jun 19, 2014, at 06:00 am
Baghdad, June 18 (IBNS): Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Iraq attacked the country's biggest oil refinery on Wednesday, media reports said.
Ban hails 50 years of UN work on trade and development
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:50 am
Geneval, June 18 (IBNS) Arriving in Geneva to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations body that promotes international trade to fight poverty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the complex effort needs to meet current and future goals in development, and sustainability requires innovation and stepped-up international partnership.
Impunity, unprecedented violence, denial of aid hallmarks of Syria conflict: UN
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:44 am
Geneva, June 18 (IBNS) The majority of civilians in Syria continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel said Tuesday, noting that violence has escalated to an unprecedented level, humanitarian aid is arbitrarily denied and perpetrators of crimes have no fear of consequence.
Security Council expresses condolences for journalists killed in Ukraine
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:41 am
New York, June 18 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council today voiced its deepest condolences to the families of all journalists who have been killed while covering the crisis in Ukraine, and encouraged a thorough investigation of all such incidents.
UN official lays out challenges, priorities for future of peacekeeping
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:38 am
New York, June 18 (IBNS) A top official of the United Nations presented to a Washington, DC-based think tank Tuesday a broad survey of new challenges, priorities and strategies for UN peacekeeping as the world Organization embarks on a major review of its operations, requested by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN surge Iraqi leaders to come together to on security crisis
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:33 am
Geneva, June 18 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations envoy in Iraq are urging the country’s leaders to come together to address the rapidly deteriorating security situation and prevent sectarian reprisals amid the ongoing violence.
Justice for Darfur's victims mired in political expediency – ICC prosecutor
Jun 19, 2014, at 05:29 am
New York, June 18 (IBNS) Challenging the Security Council to take immediate action to protect victims in the ongoing Darfur crisis, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) underscored that without concrete steps to apprehend those accused of crimes against humanity, the world’s efforts to ensure justice in Darfur could “go down in history as an indefensible failure.â€
Ban urges greater investment to tackle global epidemic of youth unemployment
Jun 19, 2014, at 04:48 am
New York, June 18 (IBNS) At a time when the international community is struggling to generate more jobs, especially for young people, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday urged Governments to invest more in youth employment initiatives and promote decent work for all.
Militants attack Iraq's largest oil refinery
Jun 19, 2014, at 04:22 am
Baghdad, June 18 (IBNS): Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Iraq attacked the country's biggest oil refinery on Wednesday, media reports said.
Security forces, militants clash close to Baghdad
Jun 18, 2014, at 03:37 am
Baghdad, June 17 (IBNS): Iraq security forces were engaged in clashes with militants close to the Baghdad city, media reports said on Tuesday.
UN condemns mass executions in Iraq
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday condemned the reported "cold-blooded" mass execution in Iraq in recent days, while Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged that the perpetrators of those crimes be brought to justice while also calling on Iraqi leaders to prevent sectarian reprisals.
UN cites need for funding to ensure aid delivery
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): As the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide continues to grow, the top United Nations relief official on Monday urged the international community to provide the requisite funding and access needed to enable aid workers to do their jobs effectively.
UN urges focus on kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): Marking the Day of the African Child, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown on Monday called for the world to remember the kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok, Nigeria, while also praising young people around the world as they mobilise to demand education for all.
UN urges rapid peacekeeping response in Cote d'Ivoire
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): The reduction of peacekeeping personnel in Cote d'Ivoire will continue, given 'impressive' progress there, but the rapid reaction capabilities of remaining forces must be boosted to help ensure security during planned elections, the top United Nations envoy in the West African country told the Security Council on Monday.
Chile, China and Morocco join fight against hunger, malnutrition
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): Chile, China and Morocco on Monday joined a growing group of countries that are making successful strides in fighting hunger and malnutrition, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced on Monday.
Ban congratulates Colombians on presidential vote
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): Following confirmation that President Juan Manuel Santos has been re-elected, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he looks forward to continuing to work with his Government in "efforts to promote peace, human rights and development" for all Colombians.
Jordan's Prince Zeid appointed UN human rights chief
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday unanimously approved Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, succeeding Navi Pillay of South Africa.
Ban deplores attacks on civilians in Kenya
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms" the attacks that took place on Sunday in Mpeketoni, Kenya, which reportedly killed at least 48 people and wounded many more.
Lebanon: Ban appoints new head to peacekeeping force
Jun 17, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday appointed Major General Luciano Portolano of Italy as the new head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Ban urges laws to ensure dignity for elderly persons
Jun 16, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): Warning that elderly people in all societies can be vulnerable to physical, psychological and financial abuse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday appealed to the international community to adopt measures to address all aspects of this routinely under-acknowledged public health, social and human rights issue.
Ban condemns abduction of three Israeli youths
Jun 16, 2014, at 04:57 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the abduction of three Israeli students in the West Bank, urging everyone to exercise restraint and to support efforts for the release and safe return of the young people, who include two minors.
UN urges China, G77 to unite for combating climate change
Jun 16, 2014, at 04:53 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): As the Group of 77 Summit ends on Sunday with a focus on creating a new sustainable development framework, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed to the G77 and China the importance of cooperation and partnerships to reduce inequality, end poverty and fight climate change.
Earthquake hits southern Indian Ocean, no casualty
Jun 15, 2014, at 01:51 am
Sydney, June 14 (IBNS) An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale hit he southern Indian Ocean on Saturday.
No combat troops to Iraq: Obama
Jun 14, 2014, at 05:20 pm
Washington, June 14 (IBNS): United States President Barack Obama has said he will "not send any troops back into combat in Iraq" but is seeking other options as insurgents continue to overrun the northern parts of the country.
Iraq: UN rights chief 'alarmed' by reported abuses
Jun 14, 2014, at 04:56 am
New York, June 13 (IBNS): As insurgents continue to overrun parts of northern Iraq, the United Nations human rights chief expressed "extreme alarm" on Friday at reports of summary executions and extrajudicial killings, and the massive displacement of some half a million people, many of whom are now in urgent need of shelter.
UN marks World Day Against Child Labour
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Thursday marked the World Day Against Child Labour by highlighting the crucial role of social protection in keeping boys and girls out of a heinous practice that robs them of their childhood and threatens their prospects for a better future.
UN deplores detention of rights defenders in Swaziland
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations experts on Thursday voiced serious concerns at the arrest, detention and prosecution of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and the editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine, Bheki Makhubu, in Swaziland.
UN calls for restoring calm along DR Congo-Rwanda border
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): Following clashes on Wednesday between the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, a senior United Nations official has called on both sides to restore calm in the border area of Kibumba.
DR Congo: UN applauds oil firm's decision to halt exploration
Jun 13, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Jun 13 (IBNS): The United Nations agency that advocates for the protection of irreplaceable natural and cultural resources on Thursday welcomed as "a step in the right direction" the decision of British oil company Soco to halt oil exploration in ecologically rich but endangered Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).