South Sudan: UN mission chief meets President Kiir, pledges commitment to regional force
Jan 27, 2017, at 01:56 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News): The newly arrived head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, has met with President Salva Kiir in the country’s capital of Juba, where he reiterated the Mission’s commitment to supporting peace efforts.
UN aid officials urge Security Council to push for greater humanitarian access in Syria
Jan 27, 2017, at 01:54 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News): Senior United Nations relief officials on Thursday urged the Security Council to do more to ensure the support of the Syrian Government to deliver life-saving aid, warning that aid workers are “blocked at every turn†while some 4.6 million people live in hard-to-reach areas across the war-ravaged country.
Jan 27, 2017, at 01:53 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News): With hate speech and rhetoric against migrants and refugees on the rise in various parts of the world, and the increased role of media in shaping perceptions towards them, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on Thursday co-sponsored with the European Union (EU) a symposium drawing attention to this growing challenge and explore efforts to combat it.
UN-backed measles vaccination campaign to reach 4.7 million children in north-east Nigeri
Jan 27, 2017, at 01:52 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News): A major vaccination campaign against a measles outbreak in northeast Nigeria is reaching 4.7 million children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Security Council approves six-month extension of UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus
Jan 27, 2017, at 04:49 am
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the progress thus far in negotiations led by Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, as well as ongoing efforts, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday encouraged the sides to “grasp the current opportunity with determination†to secure a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
Global Goals on poverty and hunger require $265 billion annually – UN conference told
Jan 27, 2017, at 04:48 am
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): The world must take urgent action to mobilise the estimated $265 billion a year needed to achieve the first two Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and hunger by 2030, the head of the United Nations agency for financing rural development projects has told an international conference.
Somalia: Militants attack hotel in capital Mogadishu, over 20 feared dead
Jan 26, 2017, at 08:36 pm
Mogadishu, Jan 26 (IBNS): Militants attacked a hotel in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, and killed over 20 people, according to media reports on Thursday.
Billions needed to eradicate poverty and hunger: IFAD
Jan 26, 2017, at 08:21 pm
Rome, Jan 26 (IBNS) The world needs to take urgent action to mobilise the estimated US$265 billion a year needed to achieve the first two Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and hunger by 2030, said Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the opening of a conference focused on finding innovative ways to finance rural development.
Latin America and the Caribbean can make hunger history – UN agricultural agency
Jan 26, 2017, at 01:41 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): With continued and strengthened implementation of a regional food security plan, Latin America and the Caribbean could become the first developing region to completely eradicate hunger, the head of United Nations agricultural agency said on Wednesday.
Sustainable agriculture, better-managed water supplies, vital to tackling water-food nexus – UN
Jan 26, 2017, at 01:40 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the challenges associated with the inextricable links between water and food – the so-called ‘water-food nexus’ – for food security, as well as for sustainable development, the United Nations agricultural agency on Wednesday outlined steps that can be taken to improve water sustainability for current and future needs.
Enhancing regional partnerships among top priorities for UN Peacebuilding Commission in 201
Jan 26, 2017, at 01:39 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): Strengthening the United Nation’s partnerships with the African Union, empowering women and youth, and greater cooperation with the World Bank will be among the key priorities this year for the UN Peacebuilding Commission, its new chair on Wednesday said.
UN, NYC Mayor’s office team up to promote Global Goals’ mental health targets
Jan 26, 2017, at 01:38 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): Addressing an event on mental health, a special advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday stressed the importance of mental health for all actions to be taken to achieve sustainable development goals.
Somalia: UN mission condemns Al-Shabaab attack on popular Mogadishu hotel
Jan 26, 2017, at 01:37 pm
New York, Jan 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has condemned the coordinated suicide bombing attack earlier on Wednesday at a hotel in Mogadishu for which Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and which reportedly killed dozens of people.
Fighting impunity is the best way to protect Mexico’s human rights defenders – UN expert
Jan 26, 2017, at 05:44 am
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): A United Nations rights expert expressed concern on Wednesday about widespread impunity for crimes against human rights defenders in Mexico, noting that the situation is inducing more violations.
Keyword: UN, calm amid fears, violence, Central African Republic town
Jan 26, 2017, at 05:41 am
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday called on the Government of Cambodia for the immediate release of five human rights defenders detained in May 2016 on charges, which they see as politically motivated.
UN relief official urges calm amid fears of flare-up of violence in Central African Republic town
Jan 26, 2017, at 05:22 am
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Amid rising tensions in Central African Republic’s Ouaka prefecture and in and around its town of Bambari, a senior UN humanitarian official in the country has appealed for calm and refraining from any act that could further increase the fragility of an already vulnerable population.
Australia: Man set on fire following argument over dog
Jan 25, 2017, at 04:39 pm
Sydney, Jan 25 (IBNS): An Australian man was allegedly set alight and is presently fighting for his life after an argument over a dog went wrong, BBC reported.
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:15 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): A United Nations expert warned on Tuesday about possible reprisals against the people she met during her recent visit to the country, noting that she was particularly struck by the fear of some she spoke to “who were afraid of what would happen to them after talking to me.â€
UN rights chief urges probe into Askarov case despite Kyrgyz decision to uphold life sentence
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:13 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday voiced deep concern about a decision by a Kyrgyz court to uphold a life sentence against human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, saying it highlights “serious shortcomings†in the country’s judicial system.
Mali: UN mission condemns attack on Kidal base that kills one ‘blue helmet’
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:12 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on Tuesday condemned the attack on its camp in the country’s restive northern region of Kidal, which left one ‘blue helmet’ dead and two others seriously wounded.
Responses to global ills must integrate peace and sustainable development, UN Member States told
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:12 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday highlighted the importance of recognizing the links between sustainable development and sustaining peace amid such intertwined global challenges as rising inequality, protracted conflicts and climate change.
With international agreement on ceasefire monitoring, UN envoy praises Syrian delegations in Astana
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:11 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The talks to strengthen the ceasefire in war-torn Syria ended on Tuesday in Astana, Kazakhstan, with agreement on how to monitor the effort started last month and praise from the United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.
UN chief Guterres pledges commitment to achieving world free of nuclear weapons
Jan 25, 2017, at 01:09 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Disarmament can play an important role in ending existing conflicts and preventing the outbreak of new strife, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, pledging to actively pursue the abolition of all weapons of mass destruction and the strict regulation of conventional weapons.
In Helsinki, UN appeals for nearly $5B to help Syrians and host communities
Jan 25, 2017, at 04:20 am
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and partners on Tuesday appealed at an aid conference in Finland for $4.63 billion to help people inside Syria, those who fled and the communities hosting them.
UN, partners voice deep concern about 750,000 civilians as battle expands to western Mosul
Jan 25, 2017, at 04:19 am
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): A hundred days after the start of military operations to retake Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) militants, humanitarian partners are expressing deep concern about the plight of the estimated 750,000 civilians who are currently living in the western sections of the city where fighting is expected to start in coming weeks.
Religious leaders deserve full support in quest for peace, says UN adviser on genocide prevention
Jan 24, 2017, at 01:02 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Religious leaders and faith-based organizations have a responsibility to contribute to peaceful societies and the international community must support these grassroots peacemakers in their daily activities, the United Nations official mandated to fight genocide on Monday told an international meeting on religion.
Seven million people in Lake Chad basin ‘living on the edge’ – UN relief official
Jan 24, 2017, at 01:00 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Spotlighting the desperate plight of millions in Africa’s Lake Chad basin, the top United Nations humanitarian official for the Sahel region called on Monday for international solidarity with the people in urgent need.
Secretary-General Guterres approves updated UN whistleblower protection policy
Jan 24, 2017, at 12:58 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): Approving an updated United Nations whistleblower policy on Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres is seeking to enhance protection for individuals who report possible misconduct or cooperate with duly authorized audits or investigations.
More than words, ending Yemen crisis needs results, UN envoy says, concluding mission in capital
Jan 24, 2017, at 12:57 pm
New York, Jan 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, on Monday concluded a mission to Yemen with a call for a comprehensive political settlement of the crisis and the restoration of the cessation of hostilities, and underlined the need allow access of civilian commercial aircrafts to and from Sana’a airport.
At talks in Astana, UN envoy on Syria urges mechanism to oversee ceasefire
Jan 24, 2017, at 05:27 am
New York, Jan 23 (Just Earth News): International talks to extend the ceasefire in Syria started on Monday in the Kazakh capital of Astana, with the United Nations Special Envoy said the ceasefire can be solidified if a mechanism to oversee and implement it is created.