Ban appoints two new UN refugee officials
Feb 13, 2015, at 11:03 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed two officials at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – George Okoth-Obbo as Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and Volker Türk as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection-the UN announced today.
UN expert warns African governments against privatizing basic education
Feb 13, 2015, at 11:01 pm
Ne York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Free, quality basic education is a fundamental human right for all, and governments must not delegate this responsibility to the private sector, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to education urged authorities in Africa today.
Partnerships key for future development agenda, says UN Economic, Social Council President
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:58 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS): Multi-stakeholder partnerships hold the key to achieving global development goals, Martin Sajdik, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has said, stressing that ending poverty, transforming people's lives and protecting the planet will require more than the work of States alone and must draw from a diverse cross-section of actors.
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:54 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday commended the perseverance of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end, resulting in the signing of a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk accords of September 2014.
European Union needs robust search-and-rescue operation at sea-UN refugee agency
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:52 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS)The top United Nations official for refugee issues on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to change its approach to dealing with irregular crossings of the Mediterranean Sea and make saving lives the topmost priority following the death earlier this week of some 300 people fleeing Libya on four dinghies.
'Yemen is collapsing before our eyes, 'UN chief warns, urging international support to end crisis
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:50 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Amid a dangerous political and humanitarian crisis and a seething secessionist movement, Yemen sits on the brink of collapse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council today, reminding the international community of its "solemn obligation" under the UN Charter to help the country prevent an escalation of the conflict and re-launch its political process.
Security Council approves resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIL
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:48 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) Urging global cooperation "to impair, isolate and incapacitate" terrorist threats, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday approved measures targeting sources of funding for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), condemning those buying oil from the groups, banning all trade in looted antiquities from Iraq and Syria, and calling on States to end ransom payments.
On International Day, UN demands end to use of child soldiers in conflict
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:42 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS) From Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the world's conflicts become more brutal, intense and widespread, children are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and deployment by armed groups, the United Nations warned today.
Middle East: UN launches appeal for Palestinians as humanitarian needs surge
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:40 pm
New York, Feb 13 (IBNS)The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory on Thursday launched an appeal to boost funding for more than a million Palestinians who continue to face grim conditions on the ground and an uncertain future.
Pakistan courts rejects 26/11 mastermind Lakhvi's bail
Feb 13, 2015, at 10:15 pm
Islamabad, Feb 13 (IBNS): A Pakistan court on Friday cancelled 26/11 mastermind and top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakir-ur Rehman Lakhvi's bail.
Pakistan: 8 killed, 56 injured in Peshawar mosque attack
Feb 13, 2015, at 09:28 pm
Peshawar, Feb 13 (IBNS): At least eight people were killed and 56 were injured in a powerful blast near an imambargah or mosque in the Hayatabad area of Pakistan's Peshawar city during Friday prayers, media reports said.
Pakistan: Blast derails train, 15 injured
Feb 12, 2015, at 09:58 pm
Jacobabad, Feb 12 (IBNS): At least 15 people were injured as four coaches of a train derailed after a blast damaged the tracks close to the Dillmurad Railway Station near
Nut rage: Ex-Korean Air VP gets 1-year jail term
Feb 12, 2015, at 08:45 pm
Seoul, Feb 12 (IBNS): In a significant verdict, a South Korean court on Thursday sentenced a former vice president of Korea Airlines Co. to one year in prison for obstructing aviation safety by ordering a taxiing plane to return to the gate over an in-flight service incident connected to the way she was served nuts last year, media reports said.
South Sudan: UNICEF celebrates ongoing demobilization of child soldiers
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:56 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is applauding the release of another 300 children from an armed group in South Sudan – the second such UN-backed demobilization of child soldiers in less than a month.
UN-backed report urges greater violence-prevention efforts for Africa's children
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:54 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) African girls and boys continue to be subjected to distressing levels of physical, sexual and emotional violence despite the significant legal and policy measures adopted throughout the region, according to a new United Nations-backed report.
Venue for UN-mediated political talks shifts to Libya, as national stakeholders seek peace
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:53 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) Libyan stakeholders have convened in the western Libyan city of Ghedames for the latest round of United Nations-facilitated dialogue aimed at resolving the North African nation’s political crisis, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Wednesday.
Somalia: UN, partners welcome new Cabinet, note inclusion of women
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:52 pm
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IBNS) The United Nations has urged the new Somali Government to move quickly to deliver on its ‘Vision 2016’ agenda following the approval of a Cabinet that hat includes enhanced participation of women ministers.
UN envoy and Syrian President discuss political solution to conflict, Aleppo fighting 'freeze'
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:31 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) After two days of intensive discussions in Damascus with Syrian authorities, including a long meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad today, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the country, Staffan de Mistura, stressed the importance of reducing the violence of the conflict to protect the Syrian people and to increase unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.
'Enormous scale' of Mediterranean migration tragedy emerges – up to 300 dead, says UN official
Feb 12, 2015, at 05:14 pm
New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) With the number of refugees and migrants confirmed missing following their attempt to cross the Mediterranean into Europe revised from a total of 29 dead to as many as 300, the United Nations refugee agency said on Wednesday that it is shocked by the new information emerging on the scale of the maritime tragedy.
US, UK suspend operations, pulls embassy staffers out of Yemen
Feb 11, 2015, at 06:45 pm
London, Feb 11 (IBNS): The US and the Britain have suspended operations and moved their staffers out of Yemen due to security situation in the country.
Closing thematic debate, UN Assembly President urges better funding for post-2015 development
Feb 11, 2015, at 05:31 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The creation of a coherent and synergistic strategy that marries the post-2015 development agenda, new methods of financing and efforts to reach a new climate change agreement is key if the international community intends to make strides on securing a sustainable future for all, President of the United Nations General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, declared today.
UN rights office 'disappointed' to see Malaysian opposition leader prison sentence upheld
Feb 11, 2015, at 05:29 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Tuesday that it is disappointed that Malaysia’s Federal Court ruled to uphold the imprisonment of opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.
Ban condemns killing of UN peacebuilding partner in Guinea
Feb 11, 2015, at 05:27 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The Secretary-General has on Tuesdaycondemned, in the strongest terms, the killing of Thierno Aliou Diaoune, National Coordinator for the UN Peacebuilding Fund, in Conakry, Guinea, on 6 February 2015.
'Vigilant, determined, united': UN urges cohesive front against terrorism
Feb 11, 2015, at 05:26 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The international community must remain united in countering the threat of global terrorism despite the attempts by extremist groups to “spread fear by competing in brutality,†United Nations Deputy-Secretary-General Jan Eliasson declared today.
On Safer Internet Day, UN joins global call to boost online safety for children
Feb 11, 2015, at 05:13 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The United Nations on Tuesdayjoined the global call for child online safety, with human rights experts flagging the need to tackle online child sexual abuse and the head of the UN agency for information and communication technology urging greater worldwide collaboration to ensure what has become a priority for many countries.
Violence in northern Nigeria sparks major new exodus into Niger border region, UN warns
Feb 11, 2015, at 04:16 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The spread of violent attacks across the border from northern Nigeria into Niger is causing widespread displacement and hampering efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in the area, a spokesperson for the United Nations food relief agency said today.
Proposed amendments to military court laws in Thailand draw UN rights office concern
Feb 11, 2015, at 04:05 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is concerned that a number of proposed amendments to Thailand’s law relating to military courts, which are due for consideration this week, are not in line with international standards, according to a the High Commissioner’s spokesperson.
UN calls for boosted search, rescue efforts as migrants die of hypothermia in Mediterranean
Feb 11, 2015, at 03:41 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has urged European nations to ramp up search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea following the region’s first major maritime tragedy this year in which dozens of people perished, apparently from hypothermia.
New UN rights report depicts 'turmoil, lawlessness' in Libya
Feb 11, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) A report produced jointly by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) "paints a bleak picture" of the human rights situation in the country during 2014, the High Commissioner’s spokesperson said on Tuesdayin Geneva.
Mozambique: UN chief welcomes dialogue between President and opposition leader
Feb 11, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, Feb 11 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the meetings between Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and the head of the opposition RENAMO party, Afonso Dhlakama, adding his approval of the progress made in talks between the two leaders and congratulating them both for their "commitment to dialogue," the UN Spokesperson's office has announced.