New allegations of sexual abuse resurface against ‘blue helmets’ in Central African Republic
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:37 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):After new reports of sexual exploitation and abuse surfaced against troops of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), the head of the operation, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, strongly condemned the alleged incidents and announced that multifunction team would be dispatched to the location to gather the facts.
UN rights experts sounds alarm on 'critical situation' faced by indigenous peoples of Honduras
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Indigenous peoples in Honduras face a critical situation regarding their land and resource rights, access to social services and judiciary, as well as their vulnerability to violence and impunity, an independent United Nations human rights expert warned following a visit to the country.
Burundi: Security Council calls for political talks to resolve crisis peacefully
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:35 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations Security Council on Thursday called on all parties in Burundi to engage in peace talks, warning of further action against those who incite more violence in the Central African country, where a recent upsurge has threatened hard-won stability after decades of ethnic strife and could lead to "potentially devastating consequences" for the entire region if it persists.
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) At a special meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed the need to promote and protect human rights in Venezuela and to defend even those who disagree with the State’s policies, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros vowed to continue employing truth to defend his country against "audacious accusations" and "imperialist attacks."
Top UN relief official in Libya welcomes release of aid workers held captive for months
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Two Libyan humanitarian workers affiliated with aid agencies were released on 7 November after being held captive for five months, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, Ali Al-Za’tari, said today, welcoming their release.
El Nino: 2.3 million Central Americans will need food aid, UN warns in latest alert
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Some 2.3 million people in Central America will need food aid as the current El Niño weather pattern, one of the strongest on record, exacerbates a prolonged drought, the United Nations warned on Thursday in the latest alert on the impact of the phenomenon which causes floods in parts of the world and drought in others.
In Iraq, UN reports close to 2,000 casualties in October from terrorism and conflict
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:29 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict killed a total of 714 Iraqis and injured another 1,269 during the month of October, according to casualty figures released on Thursday by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
Beirut suicide attacks kill 37
Nov 13, 2015, at 02:56 pm
Beirut, Nov 13 (IBNS): Two suicide bomb attacks at a residential area in Lebanon's capital Beirut has killed at least 37 people, media reports said.
Investigation into killing of Philippines journalist urged by UNESCO chief
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday denounced the killing of radio journalist José Bernardo in the Philippines on 31 October.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns murder of seven civilian hostages in Zabul
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Nov 12 (JUst Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday condemned the murder by anti-Government elements of seven civilians, including two women, one girl and two boys, in the southern province of Zabul.
Central Africa: UN refugee agency condemns attack on camp in Batangafo
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a killing and revenge attack on a camp for internally displace people in the Central African Republic (CAR) town of Batangafo, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday expressed concern about the spreading insecurity in the country and condemned the violent attack on the camp.
Central Africa: UN refugee agency condemns attack on camp in Batangafo
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a killing and revenge attack on a camp for internally displace people in the Central African Republic (CAR) town of Batangafo, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday expressed concern about the spreading insecurity in the country and condemned the violent attack on the camp.
Political polarization in Iraq threatens reconciliation efforts: UN official
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces "immense challenges" to his efforts to bring reconciliation and broaden the political process in his strife-torn nation, confronting obstacles from all sides, the top United Nations official in the country warned the Security Council on Wednesday
Political polarization in Iraq threatens reconciliation efforts: UN official
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces "immense challenges" to his efforts to bring reconciliation and broaden the political process in his strife-torn nation, confronting obstacles from all sides, the top United Nations official in the country warned the Security Council on Wednesday
UN conference reaches agreement on radio spectrum for global flight tracking
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): An agreement has been reached at the United Nations World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva on the allocation of radiofrequency spectrum to allow the use of satellites for real-time global flight tracking in civil aviation, which could help prevent a repeat of the "tragic loss" of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014.
Ban warns against cuts in development aid to finance response to refugee crisis
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Reducing development assistance to finance the cost of refugee flows is counter-productive, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday, declaring that "helping people in need should not be a zero-sum game."
UN human rights experts welcome release of Egyptian journalist and rights defender
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): UN human rights experts on Wednesday welcomed the release of Egyptian journalist Hossam Bahgat but expressed their "grave concern" over the "very difficult environment" for journalists and human rights defenders in Egypt that deters reporting and intimidates writers and activists of all kinds.
Small group of countries driving innovation in breakthrough technologies: UN report
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Japan and the United States lead a small group of nations that are driving innovation in 3D printing, nanotechnology and robotics, three frontier technologies that hold the potential to boost future economic growth, according to a new report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
UN rights experts urge Iran to stop silencing journalists' dissenting voices
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing concern over the detention, prosecution and intimidation of journalists and bloggers in Iran before the upcoming parliamentary elections, United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday called on the Government to stop "silencing dissenting voices" and to stand by its international obligation on freedom of expression.
Security Council condemns attack against UN peacekeeping mission in Central Africa
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Security Council on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack against a checkpoint of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which followed an outbreak of violence in a camp for internally displace people in the town of Batangafo, during which one peacekeeper from Cameroon was killed.
UN's ECOSOC President urges stronger cooperation to thwart tax evasion
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Citing an enormous loss of $100 to $240 billion dollars in uncollected global corporate income tax revenues each year, Oh Joon, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Wednesday stressed the need to curb tax evasion and avoidance and called for stronger international tax cooperation.
Ban calls on world leaders to shun xenophobia, open their hearts to refugee influx
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Voicing deep concern at those who exploit the suffering of refugees to stoke xenophobia and spew hate speech, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on European leaders, and the world at large, to stand true to the values of human of rights and respect the dignity of people fleeing conflict and poverty in Syria and elsewhere.
Afghanistan killings: Thousands protest in Kabul
Nov 11, 2015, at 11:54 pm
Kabul, Nov 11 (IBNS): Thousands of people protested against the killing of seven civilians by Islamic State (IS) insurgents in southern Zabul province on Wednesday, media reports said.
Mark Zuckerberg misses being in India on Diwali
Nov 11, 2015, at 09:33 pm
New York, Nov 11 (IBNS): Social Networking site Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said he is missing being in India for Diwali festival.
Syria: Envoy says UN ready to support Vienna talks for political solution to conflict
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Seeking to maintain momentum for renewed diplomacy towards a political settlement of the conflict in Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy on the crisis said on Tuesday that the UN is ready to support any decision taken at the next round of international talks in Vienna this weekend and that he hopes the discussions yield some deliverables for the long-suffering Syrian people – namely, a lessoning of the violence.
Science stands at heart of sustainable future, UNESCO says on World Science Day
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/ IBNS): Citing science, technology and innovation as key components of the upcoming United Nations climate change negotiations in Paris, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday urged governments to "do everything to support societies across the world, on every continent, to create and share knowledge."
UN launches 2016 International Year of Pulses, celebrating benefits of legumes
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Under the slogan 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future,' the United Nations, led by its Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on Tuesday launched the 2016 International Year of Pulses to raise awareness about the protein power and health benefits of all kinds of dried beans and peas, boost their production and trade, and encourage new and smarter uses throughout the food chain.
UN urges immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations has called for the immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender Hossam Bahgat with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describing as "profoundly worrying" the latest in a series of such detentions.
Somalia: Security Council reauthorizes naval forces to fight piracy off East Africa
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday renewed for another year its authorization for international naval forces to join in fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, stressing that while the threat from Somali pirates has declined, it still remains a matter of "grave concern."
Millions of children's lives at stake as El Niño strengthens: UNICEF report
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As a result of a strengthening El Niño, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is warning that an estimated 11 million children are at risk from hunger, disease and lack of water in eastern and southern Africa alone, as the weather phenomenon has left droughts and floods in its wake throughout parts of Asia, the Pacific and Latin America.