UN force commanders brief Security Council on challenges facing 'blue helmets'
Oct 10, 2014, at 05:13 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) From Mali to the Golan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations peacekeeping missions are facing increasing challenges as they operate in some of the most difficult security environments around the world, senior UN military officials told the Security Council on Thursdayas they weighed field strategy for the world body’s "blue helmets."
In Washington, UN, World Bank chiefs rally support 'to build a healthy Haiti'
Oct 10, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined global partners, including the head of the World Bank, at a high-level conference in Washington, D.C., to combat water borne diseases like cholera in Haiti and, raise commitments to provide clean water, improved sanitation and health services in cholera endemic areas over the next three years.
On World Day, UN spotlights need to usher postal services into changing communication landscape
Oct 10, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): Marking World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) said that for postal services to flourish in a globalized and ever-evolving communication landscape, electrical and Internet connectivity is essential, especially in developing countries, where only 32 per cent of the population has access to the Internet.
Design for the 'New Tube for London' revealed
Oct 10, 2014, at 01:40 am
London, Oct 9 (IBNS) The Mayor and London Underground (LU) on Thursday revealed stunning new designs for the 'New Tube for London' - the next generation of Underground trains, which will come in to service from the mid-2020s.
Twin suicide attacks kills at least 60 in Yemen
Oct 09, 2014, at 10:30 pm
Sanaa, Oct 9 (IBNS): At least 40 people died and scores injured when a powerful suicide bomb ripped through Sanaa, the capital of Yemen on Thursday. This was followed by another suicide attack which allegedly killed 20 soldiers, media reported.
UN ramping up aid efforts amid deepening Libyan crisis
Oct 09, 2014, at 06:31 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS) The United Nations humanitarian wing said on Wednesday it will need an estimated $35 million in additional funding to continue helping hundreds of thousands of people affected by the ongoing crisis in Libya.
Malaysian law criminalizing dissent threatens free expression-UN experts
Oct 09, 2014, at 06:15 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS) A group of independent United Nations rights experts on Wednesday urged the Government of Malaysia to withdraw its Sedition Act of 1948 amid allegations that critics of the country’s authorities have faced increasing criminalization and persecution.
Mali: Ban voices 'outrage' as UN peacekeeper killed in second deadly attack this month
Oct 09, 2014, at 06:08 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced outrage on Wednesday at a fatal attack against United Nations peacekeepers in Mali the second in less than a week – that left one “blue helmet†dead and wounded another, while the UN peacekeeping chief urged Malian parties to make a "credible effort" to reach a peace accord.
Eastern Ukraine conflict continues to take heavy toll on civilians, UN report warns
Oct 09, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Oct 9 (IBNS) While the fragile month-long ceasefire in eastern Ukraine is a welcome step towards ending the conflict, armed groups continue to terrorize the population in areas under their control, pursuing killings, abductions, torture, ill-treatment and other serious abuses, the United Nations Human Rights Office said on Wednesday as it released its latest report on the situation in the country.
Lebanon: UN mission calls for restraint following explosion, retaliatory fire
Oct 08, 2014, at 04:06 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon on Tuesday urged maximum restraint after two Israeli soldiers were wounded in the Shaba'a area as a result of an improvised explosive device, and Israel retaliated with artillery fire towards the area of Kfar Shouba hills.
With eyes fixed on 2015, General Assembly takes up annual report on UN’s work
Oct 08, 2014, at 04:02 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday discussed Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon’s report on the work of the Organization, which covers a range of issues and calls for renewed efforts to address peace and security challenges and to encourage development aspirations.
Beyond worsening humanitarian situation, Iraq faces 'crisis of spirit' – UN relief official
Oct 08, 2014, at 04:01 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq is more than a crisis of food and shelter, it is a "crisis of spirit" that requires urgent action from the international community, the Deputy United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq said on Tuesday .
UN envoy urges greater civilian protection as South Sudan faces daunting challenges
Oct 08, 2014, at 03:55 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) Amid a vast population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ongoing ethnic tensions, the challenges in South Sudan continue to remain "enormous," the head of the United Nations mission in the African country acknowledged on Tuesday .
Haiti: Despite death of former President, UN urges continued probes into alleged abuses
Oct 08, 2014, at 03:53 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) It is “essential†that legal proceedings and investigations against individuals associated with former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier continue despite the former leader’s recent passing, the United Nations human rights office urged on Tuesday .
UN concerned over safety of civilians as ISIL intensifies offensive in Syrian border town
Oct 08, 2014, at 03:52 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday voiced their grave concern for the safety of civilians caught up in the ongoing offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the northern Syrian town of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobane.
Oct 08, 2014, at 06:59 am
Beijing, Oct 7 (IBNS): At least one person was killed in an earthquake, which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale, that hit southwest China Tuesday night, media reports said.
6.6 earthquake hits southwest China, no casualties
Oct 08, 2014, at 02:54 am
Beijing, Oct 7 (IBNS) A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit southwest China on Tuesday, media reports said.
UN envoy on sexual violence warns rapes in South Sudan will 'haunt' generations
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS) The horrors of sexual violence in South Sudan did not end with the ceasefire agreement, a senior United Nations official on Monday said calling on citizens of the world's youngest country to stand together and say "enough is enough."
Smuggling of migrants tops agenda at opening of conference on organized crime
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:33 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS) The two main routes of smuggling of migrants to Europe and North America generate nearly $7 billion a year to the smuggling networks, according to an estimate on Monday released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
On World Habitat Day, UN calls for 'new urban agenda'
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:32 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS) Urgent action is needed to refocus urban planning and to provide safe, affordable housing that is appropriate and adequate for our citizens' growing needs, senior United Nations officials said marking World Habitat Day, which is observed annually on the first Monday of October.
Wreckage found near Haiti too recent to be Columbus's Santa Maria – UN
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): A shipwreck found off northern Haiti could not be the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus's first crossing of the Atlantic, the United Nations cultural agency on Monday reported.
UN in Somalia welcomes recovery of port city from insurgents
Oct 07, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Somalia on Monday welcomed the recovery of the port city Barawe from Al-Shabaab fighters, the first time it has been in Somali control for more than two decades.
3 US military officials feared dead as deadly typhoon tears into Japan
Oct 06, 2014, at 11:40 pm
Tokyo, Oct 6 (IBNS): At least 7 people, including three US military officials are feared to have died on Monday when a powerful typhoon rocked Japan’s coast creating havoc in the archipelago, media reported.
On World Teachers' Day, UN agencies urge investing in educators
Oct 06, 2014, at 07:04 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS) Investing in teachers is urgently needed to provide the best possible opportunities for millions of children, youth and adults worldwide, the heads of various United Nations agencies on Sunday said in a joint statement marking World Teachers' Day.
Ban welcomes high-level political dialogue between Seoul, Pyongyang
Oct 06, 2014, at 07:03 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the high-level political dialogue that took place between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
South Korean PM meets top North Korean officials
Oct 05, 2014, at 03:10 am
Incheon, Oct 4 (IBNS) In a significant development, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won met a high-level North Korean delegation twice on Saturday, media reports said.
DR Congo: Security Council reiterates priority of 'swift neutralization' of armed group
Oct 04, 2014, at 09:15 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday reiterated that the "swift neutralization" of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) armed group is a top priority in bringing stability to and protecting the civilians of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region.
UNICEF welcomes release of 70 Kurdish children after 120 days in captivity
Oct 04, 2014, at 09:12 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday welcomed the release of 70 Kurdish children, who were kidnapped in May while traveling from their home-town of Ai’n Al Arab in the northern Syrian governorate of Aleppo to take their final school examinations.
Myanmar: UN officials cite citizenship issue, expansion of aid as key concerns
Oct 04, 2014, at 09:05 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) Back from a recent trip to Myanmar, senior United Nations humanitarian and development officials on Friday called for continued lifesaving aid to the displaced, assistance to address poverty and create better coexistence conditions, and a political solution to a new citizenship plan.
Ban 'outraged' by deadly attack on UN peacekeepers in Mali
Oct 04, 2014, at 08:59 pm
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed shock and outrage at the killing of nine peacekeepers in an attack in Mali and issued a warning that all hostilities waged against UN “blue helmets†constitute a serious violation of international law.