UNICEF partners with the Government of Malawi to test first humanitarian drone in Africa
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:19 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): In cooperation with the Government of Malawi, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will establish an air corridor and use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), known as drones, for humanitarian purposes, the agency announced on Thursday.
Security Council underlines need to halt proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:17 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over the threat of terrorism and the risk that non-State actors may acquire or use nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to establish national controls to prevent proliferation of such weapons as well as their means of delivery.
UN campaign previews hub in Germany to drive action on Sustainable Development Agenda
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Together with the Government of Germany, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the Global Campaign Center in Bonn, a new hub that will deliver on the Campaign’s mandate to inspire action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:06 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres on Thursday announced that he will be appointing Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as the UN deputy chief, on his assumption of office as the ninth chief of the global Organization in January 2017.
UN invited to monitor and assist fresh evacuation efforts under way in war-ravaged Aleppo
Dec 16, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations was on Thursday invited to monitor and assist in the renewed effort to evacuate sick and wounded civilians and opposition fighters from the remaining rebel-held areas of Syria’s war-ravaged city of Aleppo, a senior UN humanitarian envoy announced on Thursday.
Number of children recruited into South Sudanese conflict passes 17,000 – UNICEF
Dec 16, 2016, at 02:54 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): According to new figures released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), some 1,300 children were recruited by armed forces and armed groups in 2016, bringing the total number of children used in conflict since 2013 to more than 17,000.
Paris auction fetches $22m for Chinese imperial seal
Dec 15, 2016, at 05:54 pm
Paris, Dec 15 (IBNS): Following a heated bidding war, an 18th century Chinese imperial seal sold for a whopping $18 million in Paris on Wednesday, reports said.
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:31 pm
California, Dec 14 (IBNS): Yahoo! Inc. on Thursday identified data security issues concerning certain Yahoo user accounts.
Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report Violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Central African Republic (CAR), which include arbitrary killings, sexual violence and inhuman treatment, continue to plague the country, according to a United Nations report published today.
Security Council ‘strongest when united,’ says Secretary-General as he bids farewell
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:21 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): In its farewell to the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Security Council on Wednesday acknowledged his contribution to international peace, security and development, in particular his exceptional efforts to solve international problems in economic, social, environmental and cultural fields.
Syrian Government ‘palpably failing’ to ensure safety of its people – UN human rights chief
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Expressing shock at the apparent collapse of a deal enabling evacuation of thousands of civilians from eastern Aleppo, the United Nations human right chief said on Wednesday that the resumption of extremely heavy bombardment by Syrian Government forces and their allies on civilian-populated areas “is almost certainly a violation of international law and most likely constitutes war crimes.â€
Northeast Nigeria: 400,000 children could suffer from malnutrition – UN
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:10 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): With about two-thirds of health facilities in parts of Nigeria’s restive north-east region either completely destroyed or partially damaged, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 400,000 children there could suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the next year.
UN rights chief urges establishment of hybrid court for atrocities in South Sudan
Dec 15, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday urged the African Union to quickly establish the hybrid court for South Sudan to investigate and prosecute those bearing criminal responsibility for the atrocities.
Gambia: UN chief 'dismayed' at military takeover of electoral commission
Dec 15, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Expressing dismay at the takeover of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) premises by the military in Gambia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the security forces to immediately vacate the Commission and to refrain from any further acts that could jeopardise efforts towards the peaceful transfer of power.
UN expert calls for concerted action to guarantee rights for persons with disabilities
Dec 14, 2016, at 03:03 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Following the recent global commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday issued a warning that some of the most basic components of the convention have yet to be realized and that urgent steps are necessary to level inequalities.
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): At a high-level pledging conference in New York today on the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the UN is seeking at Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s request, an unprecedented $1 billion by 2018 – a stark increase since its 2005 establishment.
UN human rights report urges end to ‘unimaginable abuse’ of migrants in Libya
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:53 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): A joint report launched today by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) citied “unimaginable†human rights violations and abuses of migrants in Libya as a result of the breakdown in the crisis-riven country’s justice system.
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Celebrities and advocates came together last night to honour UNICEF’s 70 years of advocacy for children around the world at an event in New York that included conversations with Goodwill Ambassadors and musical performances.
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Aleppo should represent the end of the quest for military victory, not the start of a broader military campaign in a country already ravaged beyond all recognition by five years of war, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an emergency meeting of the Security Council today, calling on the 15-member body to “do all we can to stop the carnage†and ensure that all the parties in the “wretched†conflict seek an inclusive political resolution.
IS claims responsibility for Cairo church blast
Dec 14, 2016, at 02:17 pm
Cairo, Dec 14 (IBNS): Militant group Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack in Cairo church which left at least 25 people killed, media reports said.
Security Council underlines need for stronger judicial cooperation to combat terrorism
Dec 13, 2016, at 02:24 pm
New York, Dec 13 (Just Earth News): Condemning acts of terrorism and their impact on innocent civilians and on peace and stability, the United Nations Security Council emphasized the need for establishing wilful violation of prohibition on financing of terrorist organizations or individual terrorists as serious criminal offenses in national laws and regulations.
UN pays tribute to Secretary-General Ban’s ‘never-tiring service to humanity’
Dec 13, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Dec 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Mondaypaid a tribute to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his “never-tiring service to humanity†over the past decade, while also swearing in his successor António Guterres, who will assume his duties on 1 January 2017.
Dec 13, 2016, at 02:01 pm
New York, Dec 13 (Just Earth News): Sworn in on Mondayas the ninth and next United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres pledged to reposition development at the centre of the Organization’s work and ensure that the UN can change to effectively meet the myriad challenges facing the international community.
Conflict threatens decades of progress for children in Middle East, North Africa – UNICEF
Dec 13, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Dec 13 (Just Earth News): Although countries across the Middle East and North Africa have made major strides in protecting children’s rights and wellbeing since the inception of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 70 years ago, conflict risks reversing these gains for 157 million children in the region.
António Guterres takes oath as 9th Secretary-General of UN
Dec 13, 2016, at 04:10 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): Former Prime Minister of Portugal António Guterres was on Monday sworn in as the new United Nations Secretary-General, succeeding Ban Ki-moon.
Bill English is New Zealand's new PM
Dec 12, 2016, at 06:33 pm
Wellington (NZ)/New Delhi, Dec 12 (IBNS): Bill English was sworn in at Government House in Wellington as New Zealand's Prime Minister, the media reported on Monday.
Six people die in latest Mediterranean migrant tragedy
Dec 12, 2016, at 06:15 pm
Rome, Dec 12 (IBNS): Six people are dead in a new Mediterranean migrant tragedy, the media reported on Monday.
Dec 12, 2016, at 06:07 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News): Expressing deep concern that civilians remain in Ganfouda area of the Libyan city, Benghazi, despite a unilateral ceasefire announced by the Libyan National Army, the United Nations envoy for the country called on the parties to provide another safe passage to allow for the evacuation of all civilians who wish to leave in a secure and dignified manner.
António Guterres set to be sworn in as next UN Secretary-General
Dec 12, 2016, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News): Former Prime Minister of Portugal António Guterres is set to be sworn in Monday, 12 December, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, succeeding Ban Ki-moon who steps down at the end of the month.
UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack in Egyptian capital, Cairo
Dec 12, 2016, at 03:26 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News): Strongly condemning today's terrorist attack at the St. Peter's Church attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, the United Nations Security Council stressed that those responsible for the attack should be held accountable.