UN expert urges Kazakhstan to boost rights of peaceful assembly, association
Jan 29, 2015, at 03:47 pm
New York, Jan 29 (IBNS) An independent United Nations rights expert on Wednesday urged the Government of Kazakhstan to match the country's economic successes of the past quarter century with a ramped-up focus on human rights by opening up the Central Asian state's democratic spaces.
Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack on hotel in Libyan capital
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:10 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attack against the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, Libya, and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of such “reprehensible†acts to justice.
Yemen: UN special envoy welcomes release of abducted presidential aide
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:08 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy on Yemen has welcomed the release today of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's chief of staff, and urged the opposition group Ansarallah which had abducted the official last week "to undertake steps that would be in the best interest of all political sides and the people of Yemen."
As shelling batters Ukraine's cities, country's children increasingly in danger-UN
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:05 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The continued shelling of Ukraine's urban centres serves as a shocking reminder of the price being paid by the country's children and families, a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) official said today as she warned that the intensifying violence in the Eastern European country was increasingly putting children's lives in danger.
'We are being tested again,' Ban warns as UN marks 70 years since Auschwitz liberation
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:03 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS)Seventy years ago today, allied forces liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, urging renewed vigilance to eradicate the deep roots of hatred as anti-Semitic attacks continue and vulnerable communities around the world bury their dead while living in fear of further violence.
South Sudan: UN welcomes demobilization of child soldiers amid signs of peace
Jan 28, 2015, at 07:01 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is celebrating the release of some 3,000 South Sudanese child soldiers today in what is being hailed as one of the largest ever demobilizations of children in a zone of conflict.
Lack of funds forces UN agency to halt Gaza programme for repairs to destroyed homes
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:45 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS): The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East announced today that a major funding shortfall has forced the suspension of its cash assistance programme that would have helped families in Gaza repair their homes and provide rental subsidies to people left homeless after last year's conflict in the enclave.
Nine killed in Libya hotel attack
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:34 pm
Tripoli, Jan 28 (IBNS) At least nine people were killed as militants attacked a hotel in Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday, media reports said on Wednesday.
UN agency sounds warning over Iraqis displaced to country's South
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:30 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations has said today that many recently displaced Iraqis in the south of the strife-riven country are facing a “critical†humanitarian situation.
As police, protesters clash in Egypt, UN rights chief urges end to excessive use of force
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:27 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS): “Deeply disturbed†by the deaths resulting from recent clashes between security forces and protesters in Egypt, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has urged for an end to the excessive use of force, his spokesperson said today.
UN South Sudan Mission condemns killing of civilians in roadside ambush
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:25 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hsa strongly condemned the killing of eleven civilians, five of them journalists, in a roadside ambush on Sunday.
Emirates suspends flights to Baghdad after shooting
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:23 pm
Dubai, Jan 28 (IBNS) Several airlines , including Emirates, have suspended flights to Baghdad after a flydubai flight was hit by bullets while it was landing at Baghdad airport.
World must 'wake up' to enormity of Central African Republic crisis, warns UN relief official
Jan 28, 2015, at 06:20 pm
New York, Jan 28 (IBNS) The top United Nations humanitarian official in the Central African Republic (CAR) is calling for increased protection of displaced communities in the northern town of Batangafo, where relief agencies are working hard to ease suffering as the country's ongoing conflict drives a steady stream of terrified people into the area seeking safety.
Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia, pays respects to late king's kin
Jan 28, 2015, at 04:11 am
Riyadh, Jan 27 (IBNS): US President Barack Obama on Tuesday arrived in Saudi Arabia to pay his respects to late king Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud's family members after ending his three-day visit to India.
Pakistan Air Force operation kills 10 militants
Jan 28, 2015, at 03:29 am
Islamabad, Jan 27 (IBNS): At least 10 militants were killed during a operation conducted by Pakistan Air Force in the country's Khyber tribal region on Tuesday, media reports said.
3 killed in Libya hotel attack
Jan 28, 2015, at 02:00 am
Tripoli, Jan 27 (IBNS) At least three people were killed and 12 others were injured as several gunmen attacked a hotel in Libya's Tripoli city on Tuesday, media reports said.
Jan 27, 2015, at 10:44 pm
Tripoli, Jan 27 (IBNS) Militants have attacked a hotel at Tripoli city in Libya, media reports said on Tuesday.
Ukraine: Minsk peace accords must be revived, UN political chief tells Security Council
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) Briefing the Security Council on recent developments in Ukraine, Jeffrey Feltman, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called on Monday for revival of the Minsk Accords and an immediate end to hostilities.
'Vicious circles linking violence and hunger' must end – UN agriculture chief
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) Agriculture and food security must be treated as essential components of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said during a special meeting of the UN Peacebuilding Commission held at Headquarters on Monday.
UN rights chief says world 'haunted' by suffering endured by millions during Holocaust
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) Ahead of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, taking place on Tuesday , the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement to mark the “forever solemn day†when the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp was liberated.
In new development report, UN spotlights 'string of successes' in Asia-Pacific region
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS): The United Nations main development programme spotlighted on Monday its string of successes in 36 countries and territories in the Asia and Pacific region in the areas of poverty reduction, conservation of natural resources, democratic governance, and crisis resilience.
UN experts say post-2015 negotiations must emphasize human rights, accountability
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) As United Nations Member States start discussions to finalize the post-2015 development agenda, 10 top UN human rights experts have on Monday stressed the need to anchor the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in international human rights standards and to ensure that strong means for ensuring accountability are employed to make sure they are met.
Libya: Latest round of UN-mediated peace talks kick-off in Geneva
Jan 27, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) Libyan parties have gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday for a new round of United Nations-facilitated talks aimed at resolving the North African nation's political crisis.
Pakistan: 35 militants killed in air strikes
Jan 27, 2015, at 03:52 am
Islamabad, Jan 26 (IBNS) At least 35 militants were killed as Pakistan conducted air strikes in the country's North Waziristan area, media reports said on Monday.
Pakistan is China's irreplaceable all weather friend: China
Jan 27, 2015, at 03:35 am
Beijing, Jan 26 (IBNS) At a time when US President Barack Obama is visiting India, China on Monday called Pakistan as its 'irreplaceable' all weather friend.
"Device" recovered from White House
Jan 26, 2015, at 10:55 pm
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IBNS) The US Secret Service has recovered a "device" from the grounds of the White House, but it did not appear an "ongoing threat," a spokesman said on Monday.
Fighter jets escort passenger planes to Atlanta Airport after bomb threat
Jan 25, 2015, at 07:56 pm
New York, Jan 25 (IBNS): Two passenger flights were made to be escorted to the Atlanta Airport by two F-16 fighter jets after they received terror threats, media reports said on Sunday.
US Secretary condemns ISIL murder of Japanese Hostage
Jan 25, 2015, at 05:04 pm
Washington, Jan 25 (IBNS): US Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the murder of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa by militant group Islamic State (IS).
US Secretary John Kerry condemns rocket attacks in Ukraine
Jan 25, 2015, at 04:50 pm
Washington, Jan 25 (IBNS): US Secretary of State John Kerry has strongly condemned the Russian separatists backed attacks in Ukraine government-held port of Mariupol which claimed at least 20 lives.
Islamic State executes Japanese hostage?
Jan 25, 2015, at 03:57 am
Tokyo, Jan 24 (IBNS) A new video has emerged which claimed that militant group Islamic State (IS) have killed Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa, media reports said.