Blast in Syria kills 39 people: Reports
Aug 12, 2018, at 09:49 pm
Idlib, Aug 12 (IBNS): At least 39 people were killed in a blast that brought down a building in Syria's mainly rebel-held north-western province of Idlib, a monitor agency said on Sunday.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The world’s young people need safe spaces – both physical and digital - where they can “freely express their views” and “pursue their dreams” was the core message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to mark this year’s International Youth Day.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:41 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): With Central African countries beset by ongoing terrorist activity, instability and the effects of climate change, the Security Council has asked the United Nations Secretary-General to review the work of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), and recommend areas for improvement.
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): After a vote on Friday by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, former two-time President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, hailed a “pioneer” by the UN Secretary-General, has officially been appointed as High Commissioner for Human Rights, effective from 1 September.
UN chief welcomes DR Congo President’s promise to stand down
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:33 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has commended the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila’s decision on Thursday, not to stand in elections scheduled to take place on 23 December.
Venezuelan exodus to Ecuador reaches record levels: UN refugee agency steps up aid
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:24 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): One of the largest population movements in Latin American history is under way from Venezuela, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, which on Friday confirmed that it is increasing assistance to neighbouring Ecuador, where more and more Venezuelans are arriving each week.
UN should never be a target, Baghdad bombing survivors stress, 15 years after deadly attack
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:20 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): On 19 August 2003, a suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives to the United Nations headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Iraq, and blew it up, killing 22 people – among them Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the head of the UN mission in Iraq.
Yemen bus attack just the latest outrage against civilians: UN agencies
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:02 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): An air strike on a busy market area in Yemen that reportedly killed scores of people including more than 20 children on a bus, is likely the worst attack on youngsters in the conflict so far, and the latest in a recent spate of violence targeting civilians, UN agencies said on Friday.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 11, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:16 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN Envoy urges Burundi leaders to ‘seize opportunities for national unity and peace’
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:13 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafando, has called on the country’s leaders to “seize the opportunity” offered by the recent adoption of a new constitution, to create a new political environment that is “conducive to the consolidation of national unity and peace”.
UN chief condemns air strike that hit school bus in northern Yemen, killing scores of children
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:02 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday condemned an air strike by pro-Yemini Government coalition forces, which killed scores of children who were on board a bus travelling through a busy market area in the northern province of Saada.
Thai citizenship means ‘dream of a brighter future’ for cave rescue boys, says UN Refugee Agency
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:59 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): The decision of the Thai Government to grant citizenship to three of the boys recently rescued after being trapped in a flooded cave, along with their football coach, has been welcomed by UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, Aug 10(IBNS): The survivors of the atomic bombings, known in Japanese as the hibakusha, have become global “leaders for peace and disarmament”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at Thursday’s Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan, commemorating the 73rd anniversary of that devastating day.
Millions at risk if Syria’s war moves to last redoubt of Idlib, warns senior aid official
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Aid access to embattled Syrians may soon improve following recent military gains by the Government, but the war “cannot be allowed to go to Idlib”, the head of the UN’s Humanitarian Task Force said on Thursday.
Nicaragua must end 'witch-hunt' against dissenting voices – UN human rights experts
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:40 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Following weeks of civil unrest in Nicaragua, a group of 11 UN independent human rights experts urged the Government on Thursday to stop the violent repression of protestors, which has left at least 317 people dead and 1,830 injured, stressing that "no one should be detained for the exercise of their human rights”.
FROM THE FIELD: A mountain of indigenous knowledge in Peru
Aug 10, 2018, at 08:37 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Indigenous people in a remote mountain town in the Andes in Peru are being helped to boost their incomes by preserving a valuable but threatened breed of alpaca.
Yemen: Dozens of children killed in airstrike on bus
Aug 09, 2018, at 10:02 pm
Sana, Aug 9 (IBNS): Dozens of children lost their lives in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a school bus on Thursday.
Gaza border: Retaliatory fire from Israel kills pregnant woman, baby
Aug 09, 2018, at 10:44 am
Jerusalem, Aug 9 (IBNS): A pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter were among the three people killed in a retaliatory fire by Israeli soldiers on the Gaza border.
UN urges protection of indigenous peoples’ rights during migration
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:45 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, UN Secretary-General António Guterres put a spotlight on the factors pushing indigenous people to migrate “within their countries and across international borders” despite their “profound spiritual connection to their lands and resources”.
Former Chilean President Bachelet put forward by UN chief as next High Commissioner for Human Rights
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:42 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): She has twice been President of Chile, and on Wednesday, ground-breaking politician and women’s rights champion, Michelle Bachelet was nominated by the United Nations chief António Guterres for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Despite a myriad of “long-neglected social, economic and development needs”, the Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Wednesday said progress had been made towards recovery and stability in the battle-scarred country, and called for Iraqi political leaders to continue to “work for national reconciliation” through “inclusive” solutions.
In Tokyo, UN chief expresses full support for US-Japan dialogue with North Korea
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:36 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): At a joint press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ongoing talks between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as Japan’s renewed initiative of dialogue with the country.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:33 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): To avert hospital closures and raw sewage overflowing onto the streets of Gaza, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on Wednesday called on Israeli authorities to allow UN-purchased emergency fuel back across the border of the Palestinian enclave.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): It’s essential that Nagasaki’s devastation should “not be forgotten” now or in the future, if the threat of nuclear war is to be lifted, said the Director of the Japanese city’s Atomic Bomb Museum, ahead of a visit there on Thursday by the UN Secretary-General.
Entire New South Wales now drought affected: Government
Aug 08, 2018, at 01:06 pm
Sydney, Aug 8 (IBNS): The entire state of New South Wales in Australia is affected by drought, its government has said on Wednesday.
Colombia's new President Ivan Duque takes office
Aug 08, 2018, at 11:26 am
Bogota, Aug 8 (IBNS): Colombia's new President Ivan Duque took office after he was sworn in at Bogota's Bolivar square on Tuesday.
Senior commander of armed Taliban killed in Logar province
Aug 08, 2018, at 08:59 am
Kabul, Aug 8 (IBNS): A senior commander of armed Taliban named Najibullah known as Hemat was killed with his two accomplices during overnight operation, Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday.
UN chief calls for ‘increased commitment’ to resolution on 10th anniversary of Georgia conflict
Aug 08, 2018, at 08:38 am
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS): Ten years after conflict involving Georgia, Russia and the South Ossetia region broke out, United Nations chief, António Guterres said on Tuesday that “increased commitment” is needed by “relevant actors” to advance the on-going reconciliation and peace process.
Aug 08, 2018, at 08:32 am
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS): As conflicts and natural disasters have sharply deteriorated living conditions in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, more and more people have been crossing the Gulf of Aden in both directions, leading the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to appeal for $45 million to provide critical aid to 81,000 people over three years.