Ban hails 'resilience' of International Telecommunication Union, as it turns 150
May 18, 2015, at 01:48 pm
New York, May 18 (IBNS): Marking 150 years since founding of oldest member in the United Nations system, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday applauded the continued resilience and relevance of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), emphasizing that telecommunications – as well as information and communications technology (ICT) – drive innovation.
South-east Asia: UN officials stress need to protect migrants stranded at sea
May 18, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, May 18 (IBNS): Increasingly concerned about the plight of migrants and refugees stranded in the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson have spoken separately to leaders in Southeast Asia reiterating the need to protect lives and uphold the obligation of rescue at sea.
IS commander killed in US raid
May 17, 2015, at 06:30 am
Washington, May 16 (IBNS): The US on Saturday said a key ISIS commander was killed during a daring raid in eastern Syria.
Egypt: Morsi sentenced to death
May 16, 2015, at 09:29 pm
Cairo, May 16 (IBNS) Ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi has been sentenced to death by a court in the country in connection with a mass prison break in 2011 on Saturday, media reports said.
Ban spotlights need for gender equality, children's rights
May 16, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): It is time to change social norms that support male control over women and reinforce discrimination against vulnerable family members, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday on International Day of Families.
Burundi: UN rights chief warns against reprisals in wake of failed coup
May 16, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief has voiced concern over the developments in Burundi over the past two days following a reportedly failed coup d’état in the country’s capital and urged all armed forces and non-state actors to refrain from actions that may endanger civilians.
As humanitarian pause holds in Yemen, UN aid airlift arrives with critical supplies
May 16, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The first of six airplanes from the United Nations refugee agency bringing urgently needed aid supplies landed safely in Yemen on Friday boosting relief stocks in the war-ravaged country, on the third day of the temporary humanitarian pause, the Organization has confirmed.
UN chief applauds resumption of ‘full-fledged’ talks on Cyprus
May 16, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the resumption of full-fledged negotiations between Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mustafa Akinci, the United Nations spokesperson has confirmed.
UN rights chief urges Southeast Asia States to protect migrants stranded at sea
May 16, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, May 16 ((IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday urged governments in Southeast Asia to take swift action to protect the lives of migrants stranded in precarious maritime conditions and warned against the policy of pushing boats back out to sea.
Libya: UN urges end to abduction of civilians, warns of criminal liability for such acts
May 16, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Armed groups across Libya are responsible for abductions of civilians including minors on account of their actual or perceived origin, opinion, family and political affiliation, the United Nations mission in the country said on Friday.
Addressing shoe factory fire in Manila, UN urges global action on workplace safety
May 16, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The International Labour Organization (ILO), in a statement issued in the wake of this week's deadly shoe factory fire in the Philippine capital, noted “often such accidents are preventable†and offered its assistance to improve safety and health conditions in the workplace.
Ban hails Mali peace agreement as ‘important step’ towards stability
May 16, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the signature of a peace agreement between the Government of Mali and members of the Plateforme coalition of armed groups in a key step towards bringing stability and security back to the beleaguered country.
Ban deplores Israel's steps of settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories
May 16, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly deplored the advancement of settlement activities on three occasions over the past three consecutive weeks by the Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, a spokesman for the UN said on Friday.
UN report calls for economic inclusivity to drive growth in Asia-Pacific region
May 15, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): While developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region continue to fare well in comparison to the rest of the world, structural weaknesses, like infrastructure shortages and excessive dependence on commodities will continue to hamper their growth potential, a new United Nations report on the region says, calling for greater economic inclusivity if sustainable development is to succeed.
UN mission in Afghanistan condemns killing of 17 civilians by Taliban
May 15, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned Wednesday's killing of at least 17 civilians in two separate attacks for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.
South Sudan: UN ramps up airlifts to reach farmers ahead of planting season
May 15, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): As the main planting season begins in South Sudan, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has announced on Thursday that it is accelerating its efforts to get vital seeds, tools and other materials to some of the country's most vulnerable farmers.
Yemen: Ban hails humanitarian pause as critical aid reaches civilians
May 15, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spotlighted the importance of Yemen's humanitarian ceasefire as the United Nations and its partners ramp up critical relief efforts to civilian populations in need, according to a spokesperson for the Organization.
UN official visits Kenya and Somalia to discuss future of Dadaab camp
May 15, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee chief has completed a visit to Kenya and Somalia where he held successful meetings with the Presidents of both countries and discussed issues related to refugees and returnees, particularly regarding the hundreds of thousands of people in Dadaab camp.
Security Council: UN officials urges global attention to plight of civilians in Iraq
May 15, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The complexities and complications surrounding the plight of civilians in Iraq remain “enormous†amid slow political progress and ongoing violence throughout the country, a senior United Nations official warned on Thursday as he urged the international community to support the Gulf State’s efforts towards stability and peace.
UN ‘Free & Equal’ campaign launches video spotlighting LGBT diversity
May 15, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): A new United Nations ‘Free & Equal’ campaign video highlighting the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community is being shown on Thursday on the massive screens in New York’s Times Square ahead of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Burundi: Ban condemns all attempts to oust elected governments by military force
May 15, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): Calling urgently for calm and restraint in Burundi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned all attempts to oust elected governments by military force and appealed to the country’s political and security leaders to “clearly and openly reject the use of violence, refrain from acts of revenge, and rein in their militants.â€
UN-facilitated accord leads to release of some 350 children in Central Africa
May 15, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): In the single largest release of children associated with armed groups in the Central African Republic since violence erupted there some two years ago, some 350 children have been freed following an agreement facilitated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that will allow them and thousands of others to reclaim their lives and resume their childhood.
Ban kicks off meeting to boost commitment to ‘Every Woman, Every Child’ initiative
May 15, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has gathered senior leaders from around the world for a meeting that began on Thursday in New York on ways to step-up commitments to improve the health of women, children and adolescents globally under a United Nations initiative.
UNESCO chief urges international action as fighting threatens Syria’s iconic Palmyra
May 15, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday expressed deep concern over fighting near the Syrian archaeological site of Palmyra that is endangering the nearby population and posing an imminent threat to the iconic ruins, calling out to all parties “to make every effort to prevent its destruction.â€
Untold suffering of South Sudanese people must end: UN envoy
May 15, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The security situation in South Sudan deteriorated further during late April and early May, the head of the United Nations mission in the country warned on Thursday as she briefed the Security Council on the “very worrying†developments that have had a devastating effect on civilians.
Geneva: UN envoy on Syria meets with officials from the Russia and UK
May 15, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, met on Thursday in Geneva with senior officials from the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom to discuss how to help Syrians move towards launching a political process, a spokesman for the UN has confirmed.
Haiti: UN official says cholera outbreak needs urgent attention
May 15, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The cholera outbreak in Haiti remains the largest in recent world history, according to the United Nations official coordinating the Organization’s cholera response in the country, yet the health crisis has fallen off the international agenda after having ceased appearing in the media.
Two Indians among 14 killed in attack on Kabul guest house
May 14, 2015, at 04:40 pm
Kabul, May 14 (IBNS) Two Indians and an American were among 14 killed when gunmen stormed a guest house in Kabul on Wednesday niht and attacked the inmates, mostly foreigners.
Yemen: UN welcomes ceasefire as humanitarian relief begins to arrive
May 14, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian official has welcomed the commencement of a ceasefire in Yemen aimed at allowing the delivery of “lifesaving†relief and aid to the country's civilian populations.
Arms Trade Treaty vital to halting flow of casual instruments of death: Security Council
May 14, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): The widespread availability of small arms and light weapons, and their ammunition, is the common factor in over 250 conflicts witnessed across the globe in the last decade, the United Nations Secretary-General told the Security Council on Wednesday, pointing to 50,000 deaths along with displacement levels unseen since the Second World War as direct consequences of such violence.