Iraq still needs ‘continuous and massive’ international support: Security Council
Jul 23, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Jul 23 (IBNS): With Iraq facing “one of the most difficult phases in its modern history,†the Government, its leadership and, most of all, Iraqis themselves, will need “continuous and massive†support and assistance from the international community, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
UN rights experts hail Zambia’s move away from death penalty
Jul 23, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Jul 23 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on summary executions, Christof Heyns, and on torture, Juan E. Méndez, welcomed Zambian President Edgar Lungui’s decision to commute death sentences of 332 people to life imprisonment, and encouraged the authorities “to take a step further by removing all reference to the death penalty in the country’s laws.â€
Syria: UN envoy deeply concerned over ‘unprecedented’ assault on Zabadani
Jul 23, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Jul 23 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has expressed deep concern at the plight of civilians in Zabadani, in the wake of credible reports that overnight, a large number of barrel bombs were dropped on the north-western city.
Security Council strongly condemns deadly terrorist attack in Turkey
Jul 23, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Jul 23 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack in Suruc, Turkey, which killed at least 31 and injuring over 100 people.
UN health agency reports no new Ebola cases in Liberia
Jul 23, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Jul 23 (IBNS): No new cases of Ebola were reported in Liberia nor in recent hotspots in West Africa with half the 26 cases in this week’s update from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) coming from the capitals of Guinea and Sierra Leone, bringing the number of people who have died of the disease to 11,269.
Birmingham Qur'an manuscript dated among the oldest in the world
Jul 23, 2015, at 04:32 am
London, July 22 (IBNS) A Qur'an manuscript held by the University of Birmingham has been placed among the oldest in the world thanks to modern scientific methods.
Ban urges parties in Burundi to refrain from violence during elections
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS):In a “worrisome context,†and following the decision of the government of Burundi to hold the presidential election on 21 July, the United Nations chief called on Monday on the authorities to do all in their power to ensure security and a peaceful atmosphere during the polls.
First half of 2015 ‘hottest six months on record’: UN
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS): From January to June 2015, the globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces was the hottest for such period on record, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Tuesday, citing new highs across the planet in June, with heatwaves across South Asia, Europe and pockets of the United States.
Yemen: UN food aid arrives in Aden as intense fighting takes toll on civilians
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS): In “a major breakthrough,†the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that its first ship since conflict erupted in Yemen in March berthed on Tuesday in the port of Aden after repeated attempts to reach huge numbers of increasingly desperate people and as intense fighting continues to take a serious toll on civilians.
Violence in Nigeria drives refugees deeper into neighbouring Cameroon: UN agency
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS): Weeks after elections in Nigeria, violence and attacks continue to drive population movements within and outside the country, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday, reporting a “steady flow†of Nigerian refugees now seeking safety some 100 kilometres inside the Cameroon border.
UN relief chief heads to South Sudan to bolster humanitarian response
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS): The top United Nations humanitarian official is heading to South Sudan where a new cholera outbreak has claimed nearly 40 lives, more than 2.2 million people have been uprooted from their homes by conflict and nearly 8 million others are expected to face food shortages during the rainy reason.
Middle East: Arthur David Gawn appointed Head of Truce Supervision Organisation
Jul 22, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Jul 22 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Major General Arthur David Gawn, of New Zealand, as Head of Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).
Turkey: Suicide bomber responsible for Suruc massacre identified
Jul 22, 2015, at 01:14 am
Suruc, July 21 (IBNS): The suicide bomber allegedly responsible for the attack in the Turkish town of Suruc on Monday that killed 32 people have been identified, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday.
FAO calls for $20 million to halt spread of 'virulent' avian flu in West Africa
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday warned that without timely intervention "to stop it in its tracks," outbreaks of the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1, which has already spread to five West African countries in six months, will spread across the region and beyond.
Security Council adopts resolution endorsing Iran nuclear deal
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution establishing a monitoring system for Iran’s nuclear programme and considering the “eventual removal†of all nuclear-related sanctions against the country.
Iraq: Funding shortage forces UN to shutter critical water and sanitation responses
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): With more than 74,000 new people displaced by fighting on the move in Iraq, the United Nations humanitarian wing has warned that overall, some 40 per cent of critically needed life-saving water and sanitation programmes will be forced to shut down by the end of the month due to lack of funding.
UN rights chief welcomed war crimes trial for former Chadian leader
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, welcomed the opening today of the trial of Hissène Habré, the former President of Chad – who is accused of crimes against humanity – before a special court in Senegal, calling it “a milestone for justice in Africa.â€
Mali: UN reports Timbuktu heritage sites rebuilt amid ongoing violence
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) praised the people of Timbuktu for reconstructing cultural heritage sites destroyed by armed groups, saying “those who wanted to erase the legacy of the past have failed,†even as the UN refugee agency reported a surge of fighting in northern Mali that has forced hundreds of people across the border into Mauritania.
Ban condemns deadly terrorist attack in Turkey
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the deadly terrorist attack that took place in the Turkish town of Suruc, which has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 28 people and injured more than a hundred.
Myanmar: UN official urges more support to displaced people in Rakhine
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): Wrapping up a five-day mission to Myanmar, Volker Türk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection in the United Nations refugee agency called for more concerted support to resolve the plight of displaced people and those with undetermined citizenship in the country.
UN condemns surge in armed attacks on main supply route in Central Africa
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Jul 21 (IBNS): The United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday condemned a recent series of armed attacks perpetrated by rebel elements.
Suicide bombing kills 28 in Turkey
Jul 21, 2015, at 02:36 am
Suruc, July 20 (IBNS) At least 28 people were killed in a suicide attack in the Turkish town of Suruc on Monday, media reports said.
Afghanistan: UN welcomes establishment of electoral system reform commission
Jul 20, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Jul 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Sunday welcomed the establishment by the National Unity Government of an Electoral System Reform Commission in the country.
Palace 'disappointed' over British tabloid publishing image of Queen giving Nazi salute
Jul 19, 2015, at 08:50 pm
London, July 19 (IBNS): The Buckingham Palace has expressed "disappointment" over the footage and images released by the British tabloid-The Sun-from 1933 showing young Queen Elizabeth II performing a Nazi salute.
Indian arrested in China for suspected terror links released
Jul 19, 2015, at 02:42 am
Beijing, Jul 18 (IBNS) An Indian national, detained in China for suspected terror links, has been released, reports said on Saturday.
South Sudan: UN official cites will of the people to achieve peace despite 'bleak' situation
Jul 19, 2015, at 02:37 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS) The outlook for South Sudan is not completely bleak, a senior United Nations has said in Juba, noting that travelling throughout the country, he has repeatedly heard the phrase: “we want peace now.â€
One year after tragedy, Ban pays tribute to victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
Jul 18, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, July 18 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid on Friday tribute to the victims who lost their lives a year ago aboard the "tragic†Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed in eastern Ukraine.
UNESCO calls for investigation into death of Indian journalist
Jul 18, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, July 18 (IBNS) The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, on Friday called on the Indian authorities to investigate thoroughly the death of reporter Akshay Singh in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 4 July.
UN chief condemns terrorist attacks that killed 60 people in northeast Nigeria
Jul 18, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, July 18 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the terrorist attacks that killed over 60 people in the towns of Gombe and Damaturu, in northeast Nigeria over the last two days.
Ban condemns deadly car bomb attack in Saudi Arabia
Jul 18, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, July 18 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the car bomb attack perpetrated at a police checkpoint yesterday in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.