Ban welcomes deal between Iraq, Kurdish region on resolving budget, oil export issues
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:44 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon has welcomed an agreement reached between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government aimed at finding a solution to the issues related to the general budget and oil exports.
Afghanistan: UN expert calls for sustainable measures to address violence against women
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:43 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, has called on the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to adopt sustainable measures to address the causes and consequences of gender-based violence in the country.
World will benefit greatly from more future-oriented, integrated Asia – Ban
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) Asia – and indeed the world – will benefit greatly from a future-oriented Asian region that is ever more integrated, engaged and assuming greater responsibilities commensurate with its clout, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday, addressing a regional summit in Myanmar.
Palestinian students in UN relief agency schools meet with success in face of adversity
Nov 14, 2014, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 14 (IBNS) Palestinian students attending United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools for refugees in the West Bank, Gaza and Jordan are achieving higher-than-average results in international assessments despite their challenging circumstances, a new World Bank report said on Thursday.
-1415889874.jpg "Pakistan: Wagah suicide bomber's details released")
Pakistan: Wagah suicide bomber's details released
Nov 14, 2014, at 01:44 am
Islamabad, Nov 13 (IBNS) Days after a deadly suicide bombing occurred at the Wagah in Pakistan, close to the Indian border, the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Jamaatul Ahrar has released details of a man they claim carried out the attack, media reports said.
Pakistan conducts training launch of Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) Ballistic Missile
Nov 14, 2014, at 01:12 am
Islamabad, Nov 13 (IBNS): Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful training launch of Intermediate Range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) Ballistic Missile, country's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Ceasefire in Ukraine under 'continuous, serious strain,' UN official warns
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:33 pm
New York, Nov 13 ( IBNS): Prevailing hostilities in Ukraine in recent days are putting the ceasefire agreed to in September under “continuous and serious strain,†a senior United Nations political official told the Security Council today, warning against the possibility of a return to full-scale fighting despite prospects of hope offered by recent parliamentary elections.
UN conference adopts declaration calling for urgent action on education for sustainable development
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:30 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, closed today with a declaration urging action to mainstream education in the United Nations post-2015 development agenda.
Somalia: Security Council urges Member States to strengthen efforts against piracy
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:26 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council today reaffirmed its condemnation of all acts of piracy and robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, reiterating its calls for the international community to intensify their efforts in fighting what it said was a threat to the East African country’s stability.
In Myanmar, Ban urges greater capacity in Southeast Asia to promote human rights, justice
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:23 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): The United Nations stands ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member States in strengthening national capacity to protect human rights, provide justice and promote accountability in the region,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.
Opium harvest in Afghanistan hits new high in 2014-UN
Nov 13, 2014, at 09:07 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): Opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan reached record levels this year, with the former increasing seven per cent to 224,000 hectares in 2014, and production levels potentially climbing as much as 17 per cent, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Marking World Pneumonia Day, UN calls for greater efforts in preventing child deaths
Nov 13, 2014, at 08:52 pm
New York, Nov 13 (IBNS): Although significant declines in child deaths from pneumonia demonstrate that strategies to defeat the disease are working, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stressed today that much more is needed to stop hundreds of thousands of children from succumbing to the preventable illness as it marked the fifth World Pneumonia Day.
Indo-US agreement on public stockpiling of food reached: Minister
Nov 13, 2014, at 05:04 pm
New Delhi, Nov 13 (IBNS): Union commerce minister Nirmala Sithamaran on Thursday said that India has reached an agreement with the United States on public stockpiling of food, media reports said.
Nov 13, 2014, at 02:46 am
Quetta, Nov 12 (IBNS): A firing incident in Pakistan's Quetta city left at least five people dead and two others injured, media reports said on Wednesday.
Middle East: UN chief urges calm as Israeli-Palestinian tensions flare
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:18 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS):Amid an outburst of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesdayurged all parties to do everything they can to reduce the simmering hostilities and continue, through dialogue, on the path to peace.
Out of the 'darkness': UN War Crimes Commission records go public in Washington
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:17 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): On the heels of an announcement on Monday that the records of the United Nations War Crimes Commission were made open to the public for the first time in 70 years, a panel discussion examining the historical significance and potential use of the records was held this afternoon at UN Headquarters in New York.
Nigeria: UN agency reports ongoing refugee crisis amid Boko Haram threat
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:16 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): Thousands of Nigerians are escaping the deadly threat posed by the terrorist group Boko Haram and fleeing into neighbouring Cameroon, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned.
Libya: ICC Prosecutor warns court's work faces 'deleterious impact' of ongoing instability
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:15 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): A deteriorating security situation and growing political instability in Libya are creating an environment that "clearly cannot be conducive" to closing the impunity gap, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warned the United Nations Security Council today.
At UN, Palestinian-born designer uses fashion to show ‘another face’ of homeland
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:14 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): Through fashion – "a universal language" – Palestinian-born designer Jamal Taslaq unveiled his Fall-Winter collection at United Nations Headquarters in New York last night, spotlighting his long-troubled homeland, but also revealing "another face of Palestine," inspired and inspiring, yearning to be at peace.
Plan to 'freeze' conflict in Aleppo 'concrete, realistic,' says UN Syria envoy
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:13 pm
New York, Nov 12 (IBNS): The proposal to “freeze†the Syrian conflict in the besieged city of Aleppo is gaining traction, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria confirmed today, as he explained that the new plan, if successful, could form the basis of a wide-ranging peace proposal.
As funds dry up, UN agency warns of 'very tough' winter for displaced in Syria, Iraq
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:03 pm
New York, Nov 12(IBNS):An ongoing funding shortage coupled with a sharp growth in recent internal displacements is placing increasing pressure on United Nations efforts to assist millions of refugees across Iraq and Syria as they prepare for the onset of a long and cold winter, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned.
UN envoy lauds collective progress in Somalia, urges unity, stability from leaders
Nov 12, 2014, at 03:02 pm
New York, Nov 12( IBNS) Hailing the political and economic gains made in Somalia through the partnerships and collective efforts of Somalis and the international community, the United Nations envoy for the country urged political leaders there to resolve their differences or risk undermining the progress thus achieved.
South Korea: Ferry captain gets 36-year jail term
Nov 12, 2014, at 02:36 am
Seoul, Nov 11 (IBNS): A South Korean court on Tuesday sentenced the captain of the sunken ferry Sewol to 36 years in prison for abandoning the passengers which were traveling in it when it was sinking in April this year.
27 dead in terrorist attacks in Pakistan
Nov 11, 2014, at 11:15 pm
Islamabad, Nov 11 (IBNS): At least 27 including 2 soldiers died in a series of militant attacks across Pakistan on Tuesday, media reported.
Bus-truck collision leaves 58 dead in Pakistan
Nov 11, 2014, at 11:03 pm
Karachi, Nov 11 (IBNS): At least 58 people including 18 children were killed on Tuesday when a passenger bus collided head-on with a goods truck in southern Pakistan, media reported.
UN envoy holds high-level talks with Syrian officials on plan to 'freeze' Aleppo conflict
Nov 11, 2014, at 08:36 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS) In his effort to resolve the ongoing civil war in Syria and initiate peace talks between rebel forces and the Syrian Government, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Monday reported "constructive discussions" with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regarding his recent proposal on incremental "freezes" to be applied to specific zones of conflict.
Libya: UN mission chief condemns Shahat attack, pledges support to end crisis
Nov 11, 2014, at 08:33 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Libya has strongly condemned the “cowardly†attack that occurred yesterday close to where he was meeting with the country’s Prime Minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, in the eastern city of Shahat to discuss how to put the political transition back on track.
Ban appoints envoy for UN Burundi office ahead of country's elections
Nov 11, 2014, at 08:31 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Cassam Uteem as his Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB), the UN Spokesperson’s office announced on Monday.
Central African Republic: UN urges support to meet basic needs in hard-hit province
Nov 11, 2014, at 08:29 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS): Continued violence and instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) are taking a vast toll on efforts to meet basic humanitarian needs, a United Nations humanitarian official said on Monday, following a visit to a province in the country’s north-east that has been particularly hard-hit.
First food convoy through Sudan humanitarian corridor arrives in South Sudan-UN
Nov 11, 2014, at 08:25 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS)Eighteen trucks transporting 700 metric tons of food – enough to feed 45,000 people for one month – have arrived in South Sudan via Sudan on Monday marking the opening of a humanitarian corridor that is hoped to enable delivery of much needed assistance to the embattled nation, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported.