General Assembly reflects on UN peace and security efforts
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:47 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): As part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, the General Assembly on Thursday began a two-day debate to draw lessons from the experiences of the past seven decades in the area of peace and security and take stock of present challenges.
UN: Bosnia and Herzegovina calls for comprehensive strategy against terrorism
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:46 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Terrorism and violent extremism are without any doubt, the most serious of all challenges facing the world on Thursday, Dragan Covic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina told the United Nations General Assembly, saying that strategies to tackle the twin scourges musty go beyond military responses and include actions that address the root causes.
Ban urges international support to prevent relapse of Central Africa's violence
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:44 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday underscored the need for concerted action to prevent a relapse of the "horrific" violence that tore the Central African Republic (CAR) apart, while appealing for support from the country's partners to promote long-term peace and development.
UN: Georgian leader warns of region's security threats
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:43 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): In his address at the 70th United Nations General Assembly, Irakli Garibashvili, Georgia's Prime Minister said his country is building democracy even in the face of security threats in the region, and condemned Russia’s ongoing annexation of its territories.
UN official urges Malian parties to adhere to peace accord
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:40 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Noting the progress that has been made to date to secure stability in Mali, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General on Thursday urged all parties to adhere to the peace accord signed earlier this year, while also stressing the need to address development challenges.
UN: President of Montenegro urges broader respect for human rights
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:38 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, President Filip Vujanoviÿ of Montenegro spoke about his country's intensification in efforts to improve human rights for all and to combat rights violations when they occur.
Future of Europe cannot be built on ever-higher walls: Greek Prime Minister
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:37 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Minister of Greece, said his country is striving to bolster regional security and supporting all efforts promoting peace and stability, even as it copes with three complex challenges – an economic crisis, unprecedented migration flows, and huge numbers of refugees from outside the region.
UN envoy condemns deadly shooting attack in West Bank
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:36 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has condemned a shooting attack that took place on Wednesday on an Israeli civilian vehicle in the West Bank which resulted in the death of two people and injuries to their four children.
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:34 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Denouncing the "warped ideology" of the Islamic State or Iraq and the Levant [ISIL], the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, on Thursday urged the United Nations General Assembly to help spread awareness about the true nature of Islam, "which is nothing like that entity…that usurps its name."
UN: Israeli leader calls on Palestinians to resume peace talks
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:33 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): At the same United Nations podium from which Mahmoud Abbas announced on Wednesday that he would no longer be bound by accords with Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called on the Palestinian leader to begin immediate unconditional peace talks in a speech largely devoted to denouncing Iran for its threats to annihilate the Jewish State.
UN: South Sudan reaffirms resolve to uphold historic peace accord
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:17 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Taking to the podium at the 70th United Nations General Assembly, James Wani Igga, Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan congratulated, among others, UN and its Mission in the country for support towards the historic accord signed between South Sudan and opposition groups, ending the prolonged conflict there.
Burundi leader focuses on recent polls, upcoming dialogue in address to UN Assembly
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:15 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The Vice-President of Burundi, Joseph Butore, addressed the General Assembly on Thursday, focusing on the elections that took place in his country this year and the upcoming dialogue there.
Given global tensions, Alliance of Civilizations needed more than ever: UN officials
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:14 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Thursday stressed the ever-growing importance of the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), especially in light of the rising xenophobia, intolerance and extremism being witnessed in various parts of the world.
European leaders at UN urge concerted action amid humanitarian crises
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:12 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Several European leaders took to the podium on Thursday at the UN General Assembly’s annual debate, highlighting that the world is again living in restless times, especially in light of the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises, including the migrant and refugee crisis.
Ban welcomes submission of climate action plans by 147 nations
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:11 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the submission of national climate action plans by 147 countries, accounting for over 85 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, calling it a "positive first step" towards achieving a universal climate change agreement this December.
Timorese leader says reforms will bolster UN's journey ahead to fulfil aims of Charter
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:06 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Prime Minister Rui Maria De Araújo of Timor-Leste addressed the annual United Nations General Assembly debate on Thursday and called for renewing efforts in fulfilling all UN principles by introducing reform within the Organization including restructuring the Security Council.
New Zealand deplores lack of Security Council action on Syria, calls for limiting veto
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:02 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, took to the podium of the General Assembly on Thursday to deplore the lack of action by the Security Council, the United Nations body with legally binding powers, over its failure to end the bloodbath in Syria, blaming in particular the paralyzing power of veto held by the body’s five permanent members.
Minor provocation can 'freeze' north-south relation on peninsula: DPR Korea leader
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:01 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Ri Su Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denounced the United States for abusing its powers at the UN Security Council and thereby violating the 'sovereignty, dignity, peace and security of our nation.'
UN: Kyrgyzstan pledges full commitment to combat against terrorism
Oct 02, 2015, at 03:59 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Addressing a range of issued before the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Erlan Abdyldayev, welcomed the new 2030 Agenda, stressed the right of each State to development and underscored the need to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
UN must be more empowered in global governance, Cambodian leader tells Assembly
Oct 02, 2015, at 03:58 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Namhong Hor highly commended the United Nations on its adoption of Agenda 2030, and stressed that the General Assembly should be more empowered to enhance global governance and managing global issues.
Nepalese Minister calls for enhanced partnerships to address global challenges
Oct 02, 2015, at 03:55 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Noting that the number of least developed countries (LDCs) has grown from 25 to 48 since 1971, with only four countries "graduating" from this status, the Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal on Thursday told the United Nations General Assembly that their struggle has been "unfairly long."
Afghanistan: U.S. C-130 plane crashes, 11 killed
Oct 02, 2015, at 03:14 pm
Kabul, Oct 2 (IBNS): A U.S. C-130 plane crashed at Jalalabad Airport near the Afghan-Pakistani border in Afghanistan leaving 11 people dead, media reports said on Friday.
US: Several killed in Oregon shooting
Oct 02, 2015, at 08:13 am
Oregon, Oct 2 (IBNS): Several people were feared dead in a shooting incident at Umpqua Community College in Oregon state of USA on Thursday, media reports said.
China:Death toll from letter bombs touches 7
Oct 01, 2015, at 03:09 pm
Beijing, Oct 1 (IBNS) The death toll in the 17 suspected letter bombs that rocked south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has touched seven, media reports said on Thursday.
President of Sri Lanka details country's vision built on sustainability and reconciliation
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): After years of conflict, "a new era of democracy" dawned in Sri Lanka this year, ushering in justice, freedom and equality, the country's President told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, reporting that his Government supports a "fresh universal approach" that deals honestly with the past while pursuing sustainable development.
Afghanistan: UN stresses need to protect civilians amid reported abuses in Kunduz
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Amid reports of extrajudicial executions, abductions and other abuses in Kunduz following this week's attack by the Taliban, the United Nations on Wednesday reminded all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan of their obligations to protect civilians and to respect human rights at all times.
Ban underscores shared responsibility to resolve Mid-east conflicts
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for using all the tools available to the United Nations to help steer the Middle East and North Africa towards a path of freedom, safety and dignity, citing in particular the obligation of the international community to ensure a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria and accountability for serious crimes committed there.
Closing gender gap, ending child marriage key priorities, says Ghanaian President
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): Spotlighting the importance his country places on gender equality, the President of Ghana told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that a major priority will closing the "vast" gaps between men and women through, among other efforts, providing decent education for girls and working to end child marriage.
UN: Citing Israeli violations, Palestinian leader renounces security, political accords
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): On the day that the Palestinian flag was raised at United Nations Headquarters for the first time, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday renounced political and security accords with Israel, saying it must now resume its responsibilities as occupying Power, due to its continual violations of the 20-year-old agreements.
Amid numerous challenges, Lebanon needs great international support: Ban
Oct 01, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS): While thanking Lebanon’s partners for their efforts to support the country in the face of numerous challenges, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday highlighted the need for even greater assistance, particularly as the country deals with the Syrian refugee crisis.