South Sudan: Demonstrators protest outside UN compound without incidents

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:49 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A thousand people on Wednesday demonstrated in front of a United Nations compound in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country announced, and dispersed without incidents after handing over a petition.

Mali: UN mission decries deadly attack against Malian military camp

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:47 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack against a military camp and its checkpoints in Nampala, in the central part of the country.

New drive for pediatric HIV treatment launched at global AIDS conference

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:45 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A new global push to end paediatric AIDS by 2020 was launched on Wednesday at the 21st International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest forum devoted to any single health or development issue, said the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday.

UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect girls, women from sexual violence

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:44 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A key adviser to the United Nations children’s agency on Wednesday decried the culture of impunity surrounding sexual violence against women and girls around the world, following a recent case of gang rape in India.

First progress report on Sustainable Development Agenda aims to leave no one behind

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:42 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The first ever progress report on the new global development agenda provides the most up-to-date statistics on poverty, hunger, education and sanitation, among others, so that the world can address urgent global challenges over the next 15 years.

Torching of house in occupied West Bank draws UN official’s concern

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:41 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations official coordinating the peace process toward resolving the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine on Wednesday expressed concern about reports of yet another arson attack targeting a Palestinian family in Duma in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

UN agency starts food aid to 6.5 million people affected by severe drought in Malawi

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:40 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency has launched what is set to become the largest ever emergency food relief operation in Malawi, where an unprecedented El Niño-related drought has left nearly 40 per cent of the population in need of emergency assistance.

Trees contribute to reducing carbon footprints even after being cut down – UN report

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:38 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Forests can contribute greatly to the fight against climate change even after trees have been logged, according to a new United Nations report which looks at the impact of wood products on carbon storage.

UN forum on indigenous issues urges talks between Mexican officials, teacher union wing

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:37 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations forum on indigenous issues on Wednesday urged Mexican officials to meet with a wing of the national union of teachers to resolve the conflict in the southern state of Oaxaca, where violent protests over education took at least six lives.

UN rights chief 'deeply troubled' by conviction of land reform activists in Paraguay

Jul 21, 2016, at 12:35 pm

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday expressed concern over the recent ruling by the Court in Paraguay that convicted 11 land reform protestors, calling on the country's authorities to take urgent measures to ensure fair, independent investigations and guarantee access to justice.

Iraq: UN seeks $284M to start aid response ahead of Mosul military operation

Jul 21, 2016, at 04:01 am

New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): One of the top United Nations officials in Iraq is warning that an expected military operation in Mosul will lead to the largest and most dramatic humanitarian crisis in the world, which could impact as many as 1.5 million civilians.

‘World has ignored hepatitis at its peril,’ warns UN health agency ahead of World Day

Jul 21, 2016, at 03:59 am

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News):With some 400 million people around the world infected with hepatitis B and C, the United Nations health agency on Wednesday encouraged countries to boost testing and access to services and medicines for people in need.

One year on, Iran deal ‘best’ way to ensure peaceful nuclear programme – UN chief

Jul 21, 2016, at 03:57 am

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that the nuclear deal agreed to last year by Iran and six world powers is the best way of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, calling for the comprehensive implementation of the accord, as well as a subsequent Security Council resolution that endorsed it.

Kashmir violence: Pakistan observes 'Black Day'

Jul 20, 2016, at 10:10 pm

Islamabad, July 20 (IBNS): Amid violence in the Kashmir Valley over the death of militant leader Burhan Wani,Pakistan on Wednesday is observing 'Black Day'.

Great honour to be Republican nominee for President: Trump tweets

Jul 20, 2016, at 05:03 pm

Washington, July 20 (IBNS): Republican Nominee for President in the upcoming US Presidential Polls, Donald J Trump stated on Tuesday that it is a great honour for him to be nominated for the post.

UN chief launches first report to track Sustainable Development Goals

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:26 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): Launching the first-ever Sustainable Development Goals report on the new global development agenda adopted last year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said that the 15-year undertaking is “off to a good start” but will require all parts of the UN family and its partners to work together.

UN staff in South Sudan facing harassment, obstructions – UN Mission reports

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:25 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): The situation around South Sudan remains tense, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country on Tuesday said, calling on all parties to uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians – including UN staff.

Countries need to be reminded they are built on diversity, says UN Deputy Secretary-General

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:23 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Tuesday called for an alternative narrative on migration, where human mobility is seen as a positive development and a driver for economic prosperity and social progress.

Ban urges burden-sharing, solidarity to combat effects of El Niño and mitigate climate change

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:22 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): The lives and livelihoods of more than 60 million people around the world have been turned upside down by the extreme weather events linked to the El Niño phenomenon, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said, calling for a scaled-up, unprecedented response that goes beyond humanitarian action.

Syria: Food convoy reaches Serghaya, as UN agencies urge protection of aid workers and sites

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:20 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): As humanitarian convoys gain access to hard-to-reach areas in Syria, some United Nations agencies are speaking out about fresh dangers to aid workers.

Children starving in parts of Nigeria held by Boko Haram, UN children’s agency warns

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:19 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): About a quarter of a million children in Borno state, north-eastern Nigeria, are suffering from severe malnutrition, the United Nations children’s agency on Tuesday announced. Of those, about one in five will die if they do not receive treatment.

Thousands flee to Uganda to escape renewed violence in South Sudan – UN refugee agency

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:18 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): More than 5,000 people – primarily women and children under the age of 18 years – have fled from South Sudan to neighbouring Uganda since the latest violence in the country erupted on 7 July, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UN rights office raises concern about Israel's 'NGO Transparency Law'

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:16 pm

New York, July 20 (Just Earth News):The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed concern about the so-called “NGO Transparency law” in Israel, saying it would disproportionately affect non-governmental organizations working on human rights and contribute to their de-legitimization.

Drylands susceptible to more drought and land degradation, shows first of its type UN study

Jul 20, 2016, at 04:47 am

New York, July 19 (Just Earth News):More than two billion people live in deserts and other drylands, and as water availability declines due to climate change and land use – combined with violence and social upheavals – could lead to forced migration in African and western Asia, a new United Nations study on Tuesday showed.

Ban welcomes African Union’s fund for peace and security operations on the continent

Jul 20, 2016, at 04:45 am

New York, July 19 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a decision by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) that sets out steps towards self-reliance, particularly in relation to the regional body’s peace and security budget.

UN human rights chief urges Turkey to uphold rule of law in response to attempted coup

Jul 20, 2016, at 04:44 am

New York, July 19 (Just Earth News):The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday called on Turkish authorities to respond to the attempted military coup on Friday by reinforcing the protection of human rights and strengthening democratic institutions and checks and balances.

UN rights office urges Bahrain to review dissolution of opposition party

Jul 20, 2016, at 04:42 am

New York, July 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed deep regret over a Bahraini court decision to dissolve Al Wefaq, the country's largest opposition group, and urged the country's authorities to review the latest and other bans on organizations that were peacefully exercising their rights.

Pakistan: End impunity for so-called 'honour' crimes, says Amnesty International

Jul 20, 2016, at 04:42 am

Islamabad, July 19 (IBNS): The Pakistani authorities must end impunity for so-called 'honour' killings and other violence against women, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

High treason case: Court orders freezing of Musharraf's accounts

Jul 20, 2016, at 01:18 am

Karachi, July 19 (IBNS) In a major move, a court in Pakistan on Tuesday directed freezing of former president Gen Pervez Musharraf's accounts through the State Bank of Pakistan.

Pakistan: CJ's kidnapped son rescued

Jul 19, 2016, at 10:08 pm

Karachi, July 19 (IBNS): Pakistan's Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah's son Awais Shah has been recovered from terrorists,media reports said on Tuesday.