Days of ISIL are numbered, says UN envoy as nation prepares for unified Iraq

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:08 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): The military campaign to oust Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorists from Iraq is nearly won, but the humanitarian crisis is expected to continue for months, if not years, the United Nations top official for the country said on Thursday.

Global food prices up in January; cereal prices keep rising despite improved supplies – UN

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:07 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): Global food prices rose notably in January, led by sugar and cereals, even as markets remain well supplied, United Nations monthly figures show.

EU should seek common approach to address tragic loss of life on Mediterranean – UN agencies

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:06 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): Ahead of a meeting of the European Council, the United Nations refugee and migration agencies have called on European leaders to take “decisive action” to save lives of migrants and refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea along its central route in hopes of a better future.

Low and middle income countries bear disproportionate burden of cervical cancer – UN agency

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:05 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): Noting that cervical cancer kills more than 250,000 women every year and that 85 per cent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, the United Nations health agency underlined the importance of vaccinating girls against the cancer-causing virus and screening programmes to detect and treat precancerous lesions.

UN court decides to hear case between Kenya and Somalia concerning maritime delimitation

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:04 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): The International Court of Justice – the principal judicial organ of the United Nations – on Thursday issued a verdict, admitting an application submitted by Somalia, over the maritime delimitation between it and Kenya in the Indian Ocean.

Urgent scale-up in funding needed to stave off famine in Somalia, UN warns

Feb 03, 2017, at 02:02 pm

New York, Feb 3 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations humanitarian official in Somalia on Thursday warned that without a massive and urgent scale up of humanitarian assistance in the coming weeks, famine could soon be a reality in some of the worst drought-affected areas in the African country.

Dangerous conditions in Ukraine after heavy fighting be repaired.

Feb 03, 2017, at 04:32 am

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): More than 2,500 children in the Donetsk region of Ukraine are without heat, electricity or water, prompting the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to call for an end to fighting in the area so that the infrastructure can be repaired.

Iran: Halt imminent execution of juvenile offender, urge UN human rights experts

Feb 03, 2017, at 04:30 am

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Calling on the Government of Iran to immediately halt the execution of a juvenile offender whose trial was reportedly marred with lack of due process and fair trial guarantees, a group of United Nations human rights experts have urged the authorities to adopt a moratorium on juvenile executions.

Former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is the new US Secretary of State

Feb 02, 2017, at 08:40 pm

Washington, Feb 2 (IBNS): Rex Tillerson, former ExxonMobil CEO and an important member of President Donald Trump's National Security Team, was sworn in as the United States Secretary of State, the media reported on Thursday.

Afghanistan: Five ISIS militants killed in drone strike

Feb 02, 2017, at 06:35 pm

Kabul, Feb 2 (IBNS): At least five ISIS militants have been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, local Khaama Press reported.

Trump to study 'dumb' Australian immigrants deal

Feb 02, 2017, at 04:47 pm

Washington, Feb 2 (IBNS): Slamming former President Barack Obama, US President Donald Trump said he's going to study the 'dumb' Australian immigration deal agreed by the former government.

Following first mission to Africa as UN chief, Guterres highlights strengthened cooperation

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:51 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Speaking to the media on his return from Africa and his participation at the African Union Summit, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted enhanced synergies and avenues of cooperation with the regional bloc.

Think of those fleeing Syria and elsewhere not with fear but with open arms and open heart – UN agency chief

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Expressing shock at the scale of the devastation in war-ravaged city of Aleppo, the top United Nations refugee official on Wednesday made an impassioned plea for the world to stand in solidarity with those suffering from the effects of conflict there in Syria, as well as in other places such as Iraq, Somalia and Yemen.

US should lift measure suspending refugee resettlement, says UN chief Guterres

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Reacting to the recent suspension by the United States of its longstanding refugee programme, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday said resettlement is often “the only possible solution” for people fleeing conflict and persecution, and that the US policy, which bars entry of Syrians into the country, “should be removed sooner rather than later.”

Syria: UN, Security Council welcome Astana talks and look forward to intra-Syrian negotiations

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:48 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and the Security Council have welcomed the international talks on Syria held in the Kazakh capital of Astana, and, in separate accounts to the press, said they look forward to the resumption of the intra-Syrian negotiations.

UN envoy strongly condemns attack on UN team near Nigeria-Cameroon border

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:47 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Strongly condemning an attack against a United Nations monitoring team near the Nigeria-Cameroon border that resulted in the death of five persons, the UN envoy for West Africa and the Sahel region, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, called on both countries to take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

With more people sedentary, UN health agency urges everyone to get moving

Feb 02, 2017, at 01:46 pm

New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News): Not enough exercise contributes to cancer, diabetes, depression and other non-communicable diseases, according to the United Nations health agency, which is urging people to get up and get active.

Expressing concern about planned Israeli settlements, UN urges return to negotiations

Feb 02, 2017, at 05:01 am

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): The recent announcement by the Israeli Government to advance 5,000 settlement units in the occupied West Bank could be an “obstacle” to peace, the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday said.

US travel ban a 'significant setback' for those needing international protection – UN rights experts

Feb 02, 2017, at 05:00 am

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern that a new Executive Order by the United States President Donald Trump is in breach of the country's human rights commitments, a group of United Nations rights experts have called on the US to live up to its human rights obligations and provide protection for those fleeing persecution and conflicts.

UN agency creates tool box of new technologies, good practices to help keep food safe

Feb 02, 2017, at 04:59 am

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): From avian flu to locusts and E. coli bacteria, food is contaminated every day by diseases and pests, leading the United Nations agricultural agency to create a set of emergency prevention tools to save lives and improve food safety and security.

Pakistan: Minor raped, murdered in Karachi

Feb 02, 2017, at 04:24 am

Karachi, Feb 1 (IBNS): A minor was raped and then murdered in Pakistan's Karachi city of Pakistan, media reports said.

NATO extends support to Libya in its fight against ISIL

Feb 02, 2017, at 02:14 am

Brussels, Feb 1 (IBNS): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on Wednesday for talks on the security situation in Libya.

UN fund allocates $6 million to help thousands in violence-hit parts of Central African Republic

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:09 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations relief official on Tuesday approved an allocation from the Organization’s humanitarian emergency response fund to assist the response to new emergencies triggered by a surge of violence in the Central African Republic’s Kaga Bandoro, Bambari and Bria areas.

Ukraine: UN ‘gravely concerned’ by deteriorating situation as violence flares in Donetsk

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:08 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): Amid outburst of violence in Ukraine, the United Nations Security Council and the top humanitarian official there expressed grave concern on Tuesday about the “dangerous deterioration” of the situation in the country’s eastern region and its severe impact on the local civilian population.

Syria: UN-supported talks delayed until 20 February to give opposition time to unite

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:07 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Syria on Tuesday said that he asked the Security Council to postpone the UN facilitated talks that had been scheduled for 8 February in Geneva until 20 February, in order to give the war-torn country’s opposition time to unite and participate as one group.

Founders of ‘Lonely Planet’ awarded UN agency’s lifetime achievement award

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:06 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): Hailing the impact of the popular ‘Lonely Planet’ travel guidebook series on global tourism, the United Nations tourism agency on Tuesday awarded its founders with its 13th Lifetime Achievement Award.

Managing national borders ‘cannot be based on any form of discrimination’ – UN chief Guterres

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:05 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): Refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are entitled to protection, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, expressing concern at decisions around the world that have undermined the integrity of the international refugee protection regime.

Cut off by fighting, thousands of Yemenis urgently need aid and protection – UN official says

Feb 01, 2017, at 02:04 pm

New York, Feb 1 (Just Earth News): The senior United Nations humanitarian official in Yemen voiced extreme concern on Tuesday about the safety and well-being of citizens in the south-eastern part of the country, where military operations are cutting off services and causing harm to civilians.

Canada: Mourners hold vigil at scene of Quebec mosque attack

Feb 01, 2017, at 05:02 am

Toronto, Jan. 31 (IBNS): Several mourners gathered at the Quebec mosque attack spot in Canada on Tuesday after the deadly strike on Sunday left six Muslim men killed while injuring 19 others, media reports said.

Banks, UN set standards on channelling investments for sustainable development

Feb 01, 2017, at 04:49 am

New York, Jan 31 (Just Earth News): Nearly 20 leading global banks and investors, totalling $6.6 trillion in assets, have launched a United Nations-backed global framework aimed at channelling the money they manage towards clean, low carbon and inclusive projects.