New UN South Sudan envoy stresses civilian protection, national ownership of peace process
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:54 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Taking up her post on Tuesday as head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Løj acknowledged that while it was a "huge and difficult" challenge, the job was impossible to turn down because the country's people had fought hard for their independence.
Ban appoints veteran UN official as assistant Secretary-General for peacebuilding support
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:51 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.
Mali: Ban condemns deadly attack against UN peacekeepers
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:48 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Condemning the latest in a series of recent attacks against United Nations personnel and contractors in northern Mali, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday declared that the latest incident, in which four UN peacekeepers were killed and 15 others injured, would not deter the Organization’s determination to support the Malian Government and people.
With nearly 3 billion now online, UN-backed forum opens to debate key Internet issues
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:45 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The ninth annual meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has opened in Istanbul, Turkey with more than 2,500 participants who will debate over the next four days key issues “that could affect every Internet user on Tuesday and on Wednesday.â€
Recent attacks in Nigeria send thousands fleeing to Cameroon for refuge - UN
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Recent attacks by insurgent groups in north-east Nigeria have prompted thousands of people to seek refuge in Cameroon over the past 10 days, with some sleeping in schools and churches, and children suffering from poor health, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.
Syria: UN relief operation delivers food assistance to record number of people
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:23 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to a record-breaking 4.1 million people inside war-ravaged Syria in August, owing to improved access with increased cross-line operations within the country and more cross-border convoys.
Over one million Somalis in danger as food crisis worsens, warns UN agency
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): Poor rains, conflict, trade disruptions and reduced humanitarian assistance have led to a worsening of the food security situation across Somalia, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, adding that acute malnutrition increased in many areas, particularly among children.
Ban welcomes lifting of siege of Amerli in northern Iraq; UN agencies rush in aid
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): With the siege on the northern Iraqi town of Amerli finally broken,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed his appreciation to the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and others, who, with air support from the United States, helped avert a humanitarian disaster in the town, which had been blockaded by militants for the past two months.
SAMOA: In Apia, Ban sets sail for sustainable development
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sailed with a Polynesian voyaging canoe crew, whose mission is to spotlight the need for action on sustainable development by going around the world using only traditional navigation methods.
Islamic State issues video of beheading of US journalist
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:19 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Another Islamic State video video has surfaced which showed the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff.
Grave crimes committed on 'unimaginable scale' in Iraq, UN Human Rights Council told
Sep 02, 2014, at 07:09 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) United Nations officials on Monday urged an immediate end to the acts of violence and abuses committed against civilians in Iraq, particularly against children and people from various ethnic and religious communities, as the Human Rights Council met to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Ban alarmed at Israel's announced seizure of West Bank land
Sep 02, 2014, at 07:06 pm
New York, Sept 2 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced his alarm at the announcement by Israeli authorities to declare nearly 1,000 acres of land in Bethlehem as so-called "state land."
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.