Ban congratulates Ghana on peaceful elections but urges peaceful resolution of any disputes
Dec 10, 2016, at 05:14 am
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of Ghana for exercising their democratic rights and peacefully conducting the presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 December.
Pakistan Army promotes seven Major Generals to rank of Lieutenant Generals
Dec 10, 2016, at 12:58 am
Islamabad, Dec 9 (IBNS): The Pakistan Army on Friday announced that country's seven Major Generals have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Generals.
South Korean parliament votes to impeach President
Dec 09, 2016, at 07:33 pm
Seoul, Dec 9 (IBNS): The South Korean parliament on Friday voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over corruption scandal, according to media reports.
In Vienna, Ban visits fusion restaurant that exemplifies ‘togetherness’ of refugees and locals
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:47 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): During his trip to Vienna, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday visited a restaurant where refugees work together with locals to serve Austrian-Arab fusion cuisine, using this opportunity to showcase the UN system-wide initiative to counter xenophobia launched in September.
UN rights expert calls on countries to comply with laws that protect environment defenders
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:46 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): Governments must abide by the existing laws that protect indigenous and local communities who are stewards of key natural resources from which all humankind benefits, a United Nations human rights expert told the UN Conference on Biological Diversity on Thursday.
Myanmar must strengthen effort to diffuse tension in Myanmar – UN Special Adviser
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:45 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, said on Thursday that the UN is “seriously concerned†by the developing situation in Northern Rakhine state and has called on the security forces to act in accordance with the “rule of law and accepted international norms,†and to exercise caution in avoiding disproportionate responses that could cause violence to civilians.
UN refugee agency reshapes protection ‘toolkit’ for a world on the move
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:44 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency has updated its ‘toolkit’ for protecting vulnerable people on the move, in response to a sharp increase in global flows of both refugees and migrants in the decade since it was published.
Sides ‘poles apart’ on agreeing access to civilians in Aleppo, UN envoy reports
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:44 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): Discussions on how to assist civilians caught in the crossfire inside war-ravaged Aleppo continue to be difficult “because the Member States that are supposed to help us get access [are] poles apart on what is happening in Syria,†United Nations Senior Adviser Jan Egeland said on Thursday in Geneva.
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:43 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the challenges confronting the protection of millions of children, many of whom are separated from their families as they flee wars and persecution, the top United Nations refugee official on Thursday called for prompt action to stave off the risk of losing an entire generation.
UN agriculture agency to support land reforms at core of Colombia’s new peace deal
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:42 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): On behalf of millions of Colombian farmers affected by the violent conflict that plagued the Latin American country for more than 50 years, a comprehensive rural reform, aimed at strengthening food security and peace, including measures which address issues of land access and restitution will be supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Conflict in Ukraine continues to take civilian toll – UN human rights report
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:40 pm
New York, Dec 9 (Just Earth News): A new United Nations report out on Thursday has confirmed that Ukrainians living close to the “contact line†– the area between Government-controlled and armed group-controlled territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – not only suffer due to fighting near their homes but also face the threat of landmines and unexploded ordinance as well as have to contend with severe restrictions on movement.
UN agencies sign agreement on purchasing ‘greener’ health commodities
Dec 09, 2016, at 04:52 am
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined other United Nations and international agencies in a new agreement that will lead to more environmentally and socially sustainable procurement of health commodities.
Civil conflict and unpredictable weather cast ‘long shadow’ on food security’ in 2016 – UN
Dec 09, 2016, at 04:51 am
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): This year, the world suffered many weather-related shocks and civil conflicts which pressured food security for many countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said on Thursday in a new report, which said that while the global agricultural situation is posited to improve in 2017, some 39 countries currently need food assistance.
Libya: Security Council reaffirms full support for political agreement signed a year ago
Dec 09, 2016, at 04:50 am
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Expressing deep concern over the serious political polarization resulting in a deterioration of the security, economic and humanitarian situation in Libya, the Security Council on Thursday reiterated its support for the United Nations envoy for Libya, who leads efforts in facilitating implementation of the political agreement signed about a year ago.
Canada: Capt. Thomas McQueen's dead body brought to Ottawa
Dec 09, 2016, at 03:27 am
Toronto, Dec 8 (IBNS): A military funeral was held earlier in the day for Capt. Thomas McQueen at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton in Canada's Ontario, reported CBCNews.
Toronto's Tamils mourn death of Jayalalithaa
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:48 am
Toronto, Dec. 8 (IBNS): Toronto's Tamil community was deeply immersed in the ocean of grief at the death of Jayalalithaa, India's 'Iron Lady' who spent 14 years as Tamil Nadu's chief minister, CBCNEWS reported.
Bangladesh: 5 suspected militants arrested
Dec 09, 2016, at 12:07 am
Chittagong, Dec 8 (IBNS): Bangladesh security officials on Thursday claimed to have arrested five suspected militants from Chittagong city, media reports said.
Dec 08, 2016, at 07:37 pm
Beijing, Dec 8 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter Scale hit China on Thursday.
Dec 08, 2016, at 06:56 pm
Calgary, Dec 8 (IBNS): After a video was posted on social media about a man riding a scooter down the Deerfoot trail in the midst of a snow storm because he could not afford a safer vehicle, he has received a car as a gift from autodealership AutoMaxx Calgary.
Pakistan flight tragedy: Junaid Jamshed dies
Dec 08, 2016, at 02:26 pm
Islamabad, Dec 8 (IBNS): Singer-turned-preacher Junaid Jamshed passed away in the PIA flight PK-661 mishap that left 47 passengers killed, media reports said.
'No safe place left' for children in war-ravaged Aleppo, says senior UNICEF official
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Returning from a mission to Aleppo, a senior United Nations Children's Agency (UNICEF) official in Syria described “haunting images†of children killed by mortars and malnourishment, and said that the terrible situation “continues to plummet to even greater lows.â€
'Dangerous funding gap' may lead to more cuts in food rations for refugees in Kenya – UN
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:20 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Forced to make a new round of cuts in food rations for refugees in Kenya, the World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed urgently for nearly $14 million to feed the 434,000 refugees living in Kenya's Dadaab and Kakuma camps and in the new Kalobeyei settlement.
UN launches $2.66 billion appeal for emergency assistance in Sahel region
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:19 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and its partner non-governmental organizations on Wednesday launched an appeal for $2.66 billion to provide emergency assistance across eight countries in the Sahel region, where “millions of people still live in conditions of deplorable human suffering.â€
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): A new report from the United Nations human rights wing calls attention to more than 60 years of separation between families on the Korean peninsula, and urges action in order to alleviate the suffering of families.
Recent violence in Central African Republic spotlights subregion's volatility, Security Council
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Despite a peaceful and successful transition in the Central African Republic (CAR) earlier in 2016, the recent outbreak of violence there had demonstrated the extremely fragile situation in the country, the Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), told the Security Council on Wednesday.
On International Day, top UN aviation official recalls contributions of civil aviation
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:15 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): In a message on the International Civil Aviation Day, celebrated annually on 7 December, the head of the United Nations civil aviation agency underlined the socio-economic importance and contribution of air travel and aviation.
In Vienna, Ban says UN and Austria will continue cooperation in promoting shared goa
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:14 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Kicking off what is likely to be his final overseas trip before leaving office at the end of the month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Austria on Wednesday, meeting the President-elect, foreign ministry officials, and press in Vienna.
Dec 08, 2016, at 01:13 pm
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has delivered its Order on the case concerning Immunities and Criminal Proceedings (Equatorial Guinea v. France) and the request by Equatorial Guinea to indicate provisional measures.
UN aid agencies ramp up response amid the worst southern African drought in decades
Dec 08, 2016, at 05:51 am
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Following the worst El Niño-induced drought in decades in southern Africa, United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners on Wednesday launched a revised Action Plan to outlining their response to the needs of an estimated 13.8 million people as the region enters the peak of the lean season with largely depleted food stocks due to poor and failed harvests.
Ban urges peaceful resolution of impasse in DR Congo
Dec 08, 2016, at 05:50 am
New York, Dec 8 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the announcement of the continuation of the mediation led by the Conférence épiscopale des églises du Congo (Catholic Church - CENCO) to achieve a more inclusive consensus on the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all political actors in the country to recommit themselves to this dialogue.