UN-EU strategic partnership key as world faces multiple crises: Ban

Mar 10, 2015, at 01:18 pm

New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The development of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the European Union (EU) is increasingly critical as global crises intensify in complexity and multiply in scope, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Monday.

UN policy-making body opens annual session in Vienna

Mar 10, 2015, at 01:17 pm

New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs began meeting on Monday in Vienna, where the policy-making body will tackle challenges ranging from protecting children from the sale of new psychoactive substances online to confronting financial flows linked to drug trafficking, as well as planning for a General Assembly special session on the World Drug Problem in 2016.

Libya: Parties wrap up round of UN-supported political talks

Mar 10, 2015, at 01:15 pm

New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): Libyan stakeholders must seize the momentum generated by the on-going political dialogue and bring an end to the country’s instability and insecurity, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Monday amid continuing fighting in the North African nation.

World must never relent until gender equality becomes reality: UN

Mar 10, 2015, at 01:14 pm

New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): As the Commission on the Status of Women opened its 59th session on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, delegates heard a keynote address calling for a revival of the “spirit of Beijing” to tackle problems that have persisted since the adopted in 1995 of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Ban appoints British advocate to head up UN relief wing

Mar 10, 2015, at 01:12 pm

New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Monday the appointment of Stephen O’Brien of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the UN Spokesperson’s office announced on Monday.

Pakistan test-fires Shaheen-III missile

Mar 10, 2015, at 05:11 am

Rawalpindi, Mar 9 (IBNS) Pakistan on Monday conducted a successful test launch of Shaheen-III Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 2750 Kms, officials said.

Solar-powered aircraft starts its journey around the world

Mar 09, 2015, at 04:43 pm

Abu Dhabi, Mar 9 (IBNS) Creating a new record, a solar-powered plane started its journey to travel around the world from Abu Dhabi, media reports said.

UN urges more action to achieve gender equality

Mar 09, 2015, at 01:17 pm

New York, Mar 9(IBNS): To mark International Women's Day on Sunday, senior United Nations officials highlighted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that set the agenda for realizing women's rights.

Gender equality vital for world to fulfill potential: Ban

Mar 09, 2015, at 01:15 pm

New York, Mar 9(IBNS): Thousands of people gathered on Sunday in New York to march from United Nations headquarters to Times Square in commemoration of International Women's Day and to demand greater efforts by Governments to achieve gender equality worldwide.

Attack in northeastern Mali condemned by Ban: UN

Mar 09, 2015, at 01:13 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS): The United Nations on Sunday condemned in the strongest terms the attack in Mali that killed two Malian children and a Chadian peacekeeper with the UN Mission in the country (MINUSMA) and injured 11 peacekeepers and three civilians, on Sunday.

Mali bar attack kills 5

Mar 08, 2015, at 05:31 am

Bamako, Mar 7 (IBNS): At least five people were killed as a masked gunman attacked a bar in Mali's capital,Bamako city on Saturday, media reports said.

"Operations will continue until militancy is eliminated"

Mar 08, 2015, at 04:16 am

Peshawar, Mar 7 (IBNS) Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Saturday said operations would continue until militancy is eliminated from the nation.

Nigeria: Multiple blasts hit Maiduguri, 50 killed

Mar 08, 2015, at 03:57 am

Maiduguri, Mar 7 (IBNS): At least 50 people were killed and more than 55 others were hurt as at least five blasts rocked Nigeria's Maiduguri city on Saturday, media reports said.

Dhaka: Bomb attack injures 14

Mar 08, 2015, at 03:40 am

Dhaka, Mar 7 (IBNS) At least 14 people were injured in a bomb attack close to the Secretariat in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Saturday, media reports said.

UN kicks off International Women’s Day celebrations

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:47 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Despite great strides in the advancement of gender parity, women still lag behind men across an array of critical areas, from political representation and wage equality to education, a gender gap that the United Nations is once again tackling head-on as it kicks off its annual observance of International Women’s Day.

Women’s workplace equality may take decades: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:46 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Women earn on average 77 per cent of what men earn, the United Nations labour organization said on Friday, noting that “without targeted action, pay equity between women and men will not be achieved before 2086, or at least 71 years from now.”

UN condemns destruction of Nimrud heritage site in northern Iraq

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:44 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated with protecting cultural heritage around the world today strongly condemned the destruction of the archaeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, deploring such “criminal chaos” as yet another attack against the Iraqi people.

Climate change threatens self-determination of citizens in island States

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:43 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): In the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, senior UN officials joined high-level delegates from Pacific Island States that are on the frontline of the global battle against sea-level rise to examine the potentially devastating impact of climate change on human rights.

Palestine suspends security cooperation with Israel, Ban urges restraint

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:42 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed concern regarding the 5 March decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Central Council to suspend all forms of security coordination with Israel.

Lebanon: UN to boost funding to ease Syria crisis burden

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:41 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The continuing influx of refugees fleeing from the Syrian conflict is burdening Lebanon’s infrastructure and economy and threatening the country’s stability, the United Nations humanitarian chief said on Friday.

Asia-Pacific’s least developed countries need to be transformed: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:39 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Transforming the lives of some 300 million people in the least developed countries in Asia and the Pacific “is not about ticking the boxes on a few variables,” but to ensure that economic growth and development is sustainable to lift the millions above the extreme poverty line, a senior United Nations official in the region said on Friday.

Women farmers pillar of food security: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:37 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Ahead of International Women’s Day, United Nations food relief agencies gathered to remind the world that women farmers play a central role in achieving food and nutrition security, urging countries to step up efforts to empower rural women who too often do “backbreaking work” to harvest food.

UN review finds vast majority of climate-related disasters

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:36 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations office dedicated to disaster risk reduction on Friday appealed to world leaders ahead of a major gathering in northern Japan next week to provide clear, action-oriented guidance to tackle the underlying drivers of risk, such as climate change, which now accounts for 87 per cent of the disasters that have killed some 700,000 people over the past decade.

Ban welcomes important step forward towards Mali peace

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:35 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the progress made towards the establishment of an inclusive peace in Mali in an effort to resolve the country's ongoing crisis, the United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

UN to scale back food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:33 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday said “a critical shortage of funding” has forced it to reduce the number of Syrian refugees it can assist through an innovative electronic voucher system in Turkey, which hosts the largest number of asylum-seekers fleeing fighting in neighbouring Syria.

Road ahead will be difficult in Ukraine: UN political chief

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:32 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): As the Security Council on Friday morning met to hear briefings from top United Nations officials on the political, humanitarian and human rights situations in Ukraine, members heard that the eastern part of the country remains “in limbo.”

Security Council condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:30 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution strongly condemning the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria and stressing that those who use such weapons must be held accountable.

Ban disappointed over failed progress on South Sudan peace talks

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:28 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed profound disappointment after the unsuccessful conclusion of peace talks in South Sudan and the failure of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to display statesmanship and reach a power-sharing deal.

UN sets equality targets for 2030

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:27 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The past 20 years has seen haltering progress on women’s rights issues and, in some areas, outright stagnation and regression, the head of the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment said on Friday.

Pakistan: Students form shield for Hindus celebrating Holi in Karachi temple

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:55 am

Karachi, Mar 6 (IBNS) In a bid to show solidarity with Hindus in attendance, the National Student’s Federation (NSF) organised the formation of a human shield at the Swami Narayan Temple in Pakistan's Karachi city during a Holi celebration, media reports said on Friday.