Amid reports of fighting in eastern Ukraine, Ban urges all parties to abide by cease-fire
Feb 17, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Feb 17 (IBNS) With Ukraine cease-fire 'largely holding', United Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed serious concern at reports of continued instances of hostilities including in Debaltseve and reiterated his call for all parties to abide by the cease-fire without exception.
Egypt attacks IS group in Libya after video of mass beheading surfaces
Feb 16, 2015, at 11:32 pm
Cairo, Feb 16 (IBNS): Egypt on Monday launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Libya after the extremist group released a video, which showed the beheading of several Egyptian Coptic Christians, it had held hostage for weeks, media reports said.
Condemning Copenhagen attacks, Ban urges 'strong stand' for tolerance, end to discrimination
Feb 16, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Feb 16 (IBNS) Strongly condemning this weekend's attacks at a freedom of expression event near a synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday stressed that there is no justification for attacks against civilians and reaffirmed the need for the world “stand strong†for tolerance and free expression.
Feb 16, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, Feb 16 (IBNS) Demanding that secessionist Houthi militias in Yemen "immediately and unconditionally" withdraw from Government and security institutions, the Security Council this evening called on all Yemeni parties to engage in good faith in the United Nations-brokered political talks being led by Special Adviser Jamal Benomar.
Feb 16, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Feb 16 (IBNS) Senior UN, European Union relief officials urge protection for vulnerable people in Central African Republic.
Copenhagen attacks suspect shot dead by police
Feb 15, 2015, at 09:02 pm
Copenhagen, Feb 15 (IBNS): Copenhagen Police on Sunday said they had shot the suspected 'terrorist' responsible of killing two people and injuring five in shootings at a freedom of speech event and a synagogue in Denmark's Copenhagen, reports said.
2 killed, 5 injured in Copenhagen shootings
Feb 15, 2015, at 04:04 pm
Copenhagen, Feb 15 (IBNS): Denmark has been put on high alert on Sunday as hours after the first shooting at a cafe, a similar incident was reported from Copenhagen city where shots were fired near a synagogue in the city on Saturday night, taking the death toll to two, media reports said.
Copenhagen: Several injured in 2nd shooting
Feb 15, 2015, at 02:33 pm
Copenhagen, Feb 15 (IBNS): Hours after the first shooting at a cafe, similar incident was reported from Denmark's Copenhagen city where several people were injured as shots were fired near a synagogue in the city on Saturday, media reports said.
Feb 15, 2015, at 05:30 am
Copenhagen, Feb 14 (IBNS): A shoot out during a free speech debate in Denmark's Copenhagen city has left one person killed and three police injured on Saturday, media report said.
Copenhagen: Shooting at seminar venue
Feb 15, 2015, at 03:56 am
Copenhagen, Feb 14 (IBNS): At least three police officers were wounded during a shooting incident at a blasphemy debate here on Saturday, media reports said.
UN deputy chief, top Sudan official meet in New York, discuss peace, security issues
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:13 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, has met with Ibrahim Ghandour, Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s National Congress Party, to discuss the National Dialogue called for by President Bashir of Sudan and ongoing efforts to end hostilities in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.
Egypt: UN's Ban welcomes release of detained journalists, urges fair trial
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:12 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has applauded the decision by Egyptian authorities to release on bail the detained Al Jazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, bringing an end to their 400-day ordeal.
UN rights expert calls for halt to Indonesia executions, cites international obligations
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:11 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) A United Nations human rights official has on Friday urged Indonesia not to follow through with the executions of eight people who were convicted of drug-related offences.
UN chief calls for tolerance, acceptance after three Muslims Americans shot in North Carolina
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:09 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his "deepest condolences" to the families of three Muslim Americans who were killed in the state of North Carolina earlier this week, a UN spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
Mali: UN launches probe into violent demonstration against peacekeepers in Gao
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:06 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) The United Nations appointed a high-level team to conduct an Inquiry into the events of 27 January, when a violent demonstration against the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) resulted in the death and injury of protesters in the northern city of Gao.
Children's education, nutrition fall victim to ongoing crisis in Yemen – UNICEF
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:05 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) The political and economic crisis engulfing Yemen is having a dangerous impact on the country's youths, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Fridayas it warned that increasing numbers of children are suffering from malnourishment while fewer are attending school.
UN and partners seek $30 million for flood response, recovery in Mozambique
Feb 14, 2015, at 07:03 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS): United Nations agencies joined the wider humanitarian community and non-governmental organizations in Mozambique to launch on Fridaya $30.1 million response and recovery proposal to meet the needs of more than 160,000 people affected by hard-hitting floods in the Zambézia Province of central Mozambique.
UN warns of 'urgent' humanitarian situation as Boko Haram attacks spill over Nigeria border
Feb 14, 2015, at 06:52 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS): As the continuing violence in north-east Nigeria spills across the country’s borders and into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Fridaysounded the alarm for the tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) currently in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
On World Radio Day, UN stresses need to empower youth voices for a sustainable future
Feb 14, 2015, at 06:49 pm
New York, Feb 14 (IBNS) As the international community marks the 2015 edition of World Radio Day, United Nations officials have called for the greater participation of young people in utilizing the medium as a critical tool for shaping a sustainable future.
Ban appoints two new UN refugee officials
Feb 13, 2015, at 11:03 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed two officials at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – George Okoth-Obbo as Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and Volker Türk as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection-the UN announced today.
UN expert warns African governments against privatizing basic education
Feb 13, 2015, at 11:01 pm
Ne York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Free, quality basic education is a fundamental human right for all, and governments must not delegate this responsibility to the private sector, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to education urged authorities in Africa today.
Partnerships key for future development agenda, says UN Economic, Social Council President
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:58 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS): Multi-stakeholder partnerships hold the key to achieving global development goals, Martin Sajdik, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has said, stressing that ending poverty, transforming people's lives and protecting the planet will require more than the work of States alone and must draw from a diverse cross-section of actors.
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:54 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday commended the perseverance of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end, resulting in the signing of a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk accords of September 2014.
European Union needs robust search-and-rescue operation at sea-UN refugee agency
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:52 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS)The top United Nations official for refugee issues on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to change its approach to dealing with irregular crossings of the Mediterranean Sea and make saving lives the topmost priority following the death earlier this week of some 300 people fleeing Libya on four dinghies.
'Yemen is collapsing before our eyes, 'UN chief warns, urging international support to end crisis
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:50 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Amid a dangerous political and humanitarian crisis and a seething secessionist movement, Yemen sits on the brink of collapse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council today, reminding the international community of its "solemn obligation" under the UN Charter to help the country prevent an escalation of the conflict and re-launch its political process.
Security Council approves resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIL
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:48 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Urging global cooperation "to impair, isolate and incapacitate" terrorist threats, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday approved measures targeting sources of funding for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), condemning those buying oil from the groups, banning all trade in looted antiquities from Iraq and Syria, and calling on States to end ransom payments.
On International Day, UN demands end to use of child soldiers in conflict
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:42 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) From Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the world's conflicts become more brutal, intense and widespread, children are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and deployment by armed groups, the United Nations warned today.
Middle East: UN launches appeal for Palestinians as humanitarian needs surge
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:40 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS)The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory on Thursday launched an appeal to boost funding for more than a million Palestinians who continue to face grim conditions on the ground and an uncertain future.
Nut rage: Ex-Korean Air VP gets 1-year jail term
Feb 12, 2015, at 08:45 pm
Seoul, Feb 12 (IBNS): In a significant verdict, a South Korean court on Thursday sentenced a former vice president of Korea Airlines Co. to one year in prison for obstructing aviation safety by ordering a taxiing plane to return to the gate over an in-flight service incident connected to the way she was served nuts last year, media reports said.
South Sudan: UNICEF celebrates ongoing demobilization of child soldiers
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:56 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is applauding the release of another 300 children from an armed group in South Sudan – the second such UN-backed demobilization of child soldiers in less than a month.