UN rights expert urges UK and Sweden to serve 'good example,' end arbitrary detention of Assange

Feb 16, 2016, at 02:43 pm

New York, Feb 16 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) A United Nations human rights expert today called on the United Kingdom and Sweden to promptly accept a UN working group's ruling that Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, is being arbitrarily detained and must be allowed freedom of movement.

F-16: Pakistan 'surprised' over India's disappointment

Feb 15, 2016, at 02:51 pm

Islamabad, Feb 15 (IBNS): Pakistan has expressed 'surprise' over India's disappointment over the United States' decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to the Asian nation.

Pakistan: Van hit by train, 8 killed

Feb 15, 2016, at 02:42 pm

Islamabad, Feb 15 (IBNS) At least eight people were killed as a van was hit by Lahore-bound Fareed Express close to the near Allah Dino Saand railway station in Pakistan on Sunday, media reports said.

Syria: for first time in months, UN agency delivers aid to residents of Yarmouk camp

Feb 15, 2016, at 01:53 pm

New York, Feb 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations relief agency charged with the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has been able to deliver urgently needed humanitarian supplies to the civilian residents of the besieged refugee camp of Yarmouk, on the outskirts Damascus, for the first time in nine months.

Afghanistan civilian casualties hit high in 2015: UN

Feb 14, 2016, at 08:21 pm

Kabul, Feb 14 (IBNS) The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan during 2015 are the highest recorded, the UN said on Sunday on the release of its 2015 Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.

Ahead of polls, Ban calls on all Central Africans, including candidates, to ensure credible elections

Feb 14, 2016, at 03:03 pm

New York, Feb 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all Central Africans, including the candidates, to ensure that the presidential run-off and the new round of legislative elections, set to take place Sunday are conducted in a peaceful and credible manner.

Engagement with communities can help address factors underlying violent extremism - UN chief

Feb 14, 2016, at 02:53 pm

New York, Feb 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Fully understanding those who might be susceptible to poisonous ideologies – addressing root causes of radicalization and helping individuals and communities before problems escalate – will assist the international community in developing effective, dignified and rights-based responses to "one of the gravest threats our world faces," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday.

Somalia plane attack: Al-Shabab shoulders responsibility

Feb 14, 2016, at 03:37 am

Mogadishu, Feb 13 (IBNS) Somalian fringe group Al-Shabab on Saturday confirmed its involvement in the Somalian plane attack which took place last month, according to media reports.

Valentine's Day should be avoided: Pakistan President tells countrymen

Feb 13, 2016, at 10:33 pm

Islamabad, Feb 13 (IBNS); Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain has urged people not to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Syria: UN-backed task force seeks aid access to besieged areas 'without delay'

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:21 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following agreement late yesterday by diplomats meeting in Munich as part of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to work with Syrian parties to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities, a United Nations-backed task force met on Friday on quickly delivering aid to besieged towns and war-weary civilians in hard to reach areas across the country.

Ahead of elections in Central African Republic, UN urges focus on children's needs

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:18 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As voters in the Central African Republic (CAR) prepare for the second round of presidential and legislative elections on Sunday, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is urging the candidates to make strong commitments to invest in the survival, education and protection of children to ensure lasting peace in the country.

'Rise to the challenges' to shape a common future, UN chief tells McGill students

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:11 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Humanitarian action must address the concerns of young people, who should be mobilized and empowered to effect lasting change, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon told students at McGill University in Montreal earlier today, as part of a three-day visit to Canada.

Europe's restrictive measures draw UN concern as refugee and migrant influx continues

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe showing no signs of easing in 2016, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday reiterated its concern over increasing restrictive measures on the part of European Member States, stressing that greater support mechanisms must be urgently implemented to protect the fundamental human rights of the more than 2,000 people who continue risking their lives every day to reach Europe.

Mali: UN condemns attack against Mission base that kills five peacekeepers

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:05 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Top United Nations officials have condemned the attack this morning against a UN camp in Kidal, in the north-eastern region of the country, which killed at least five peacekeepers and wounded 30 others.

'Child soldiers are boys and girls we collectively failed to protect' - UN envoy

Feb 13, 2016, at 03:02 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) An upsurge in global conflicts and brutal war tactics continues to make children extremely vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups, the United Nations warned on Friday, appealing to the international community to take greater responsibility for the boys and girls used as child soldiers or risk failing to protect them.

'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn

Feb 13, 2016, at 02:54 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Condemning all acts of terror and urging restraint amid continuing violence against civilians, the United Nations and its Middle East Quartet partners on Friday called on all parties to actively take steps to de-escalate current tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ban sends Security Council first report of joint UN body probing chemical weapons in Syria

Feb 13, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Feb 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has on Friday submitted the Security Council first report of the joint body set up between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

6.5 earthquake hits Indonesia

Feb 13, 2016, at 01:48 am

Jakarta, Feb 12 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit Indonesia on Friday, officials said.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly to visit Headquarters

Feb 12, 2016, at 11:27 pm

New York, Feb 12 (IBNS) The Members of the Standing Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will visit NATO Headquarters for the annual joint meeting with the North Atlantic Council on Monday.

Karachi: Three grenade attacks in Karachi, security increased

Feb 12, 2016, at 10:26 pm

Karachi, Feb 12 (IBNS): Three separate grenade attacks hit Pakistani city of Karachi within a span of two hours, media reports said.

Syria: diplomats agree 'cessation of hostilities;' UN rights chief warns of dire situation in Aleppo

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:43 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the United Nations human rights chief warned on Thursday of “shocking” violence and abuses in and around the city of Aleppo and other parts of war-ravaged Syria, top-level diplomats meeting in Munich on ending the crisis agreed to work out the terms of nationwide “cessation of hostilities” in the coming week.

In Canada, Ban applauds country's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:41 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) During his fifth visit to Canada as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Thursday applauded the country's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, stressing that they "deserve opportunity, human rights protection and peace."

'They are our strongest allies,' UN political chief says, urging efforts to engage terrorism victims

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:33 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) At a Headquarters conference on the human rights of terrorism victims, the top United Nations political official on Thursday urged Member States to engage with victims of terrorism and violent extremism, especially the young and the vulnerable, to build on previous commitments and ensure that their human rights are fully respected.

'The world needs science and science needs women,' says UN on new International Day

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:29 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) More than ever today, the world needs science and science needs women, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Thursday marking the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Ban deplores twin suicide bomb attack on camp for displaced persons in northeast Nigeria

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:25 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the recent double suicide attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram elements in the Dikwa Camp in Borno State in restive northeastern Nigeria.

Ban appoints Senegalese General as UN Force Commander for Central African Republic

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:13 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Balla Keïta of Senegal as the Force Commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

UN presses donors to continue vital support for Malian refugees in Mauritania

Feb 12, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Three United Nations humanitarian agencies on Thursday urged donors to mobilize the necessary resources to maintain the vital assistance to 50,000 Malian refugees in Mberra camp in south-eastern Mauritania.

UN health agency delivers medical aid inside Yemen's Taiz city after blocked entry

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:35 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following months of blocked access to the Yemeni city of Taiz, and in response to mounting emergency health needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it has successfully delivered more than 20 tonnes of life-saving medicines and medical supplies to meet the most urgent needs of those with limited access to humanitarian aid.

Low on funds, UN and partners race ahead of rains to tackle needs in South Sudan

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:32 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With humanitarian needs rising in South Sudan, the top United Nations relief official in the country has called for urgent funding to allow aid organizations to rapidly increase humanitarian action during the current dry season.

Central African Republic: UN report urges steps to end impunity for rights abuses

Feb 11, 2016, at 02:29 pm

New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the Central African Republic (CAR) prepares for the second round of presidential elections this weekend, a new United Nations report detailing violations and human rights abuses in the strife-torn nation's capital late last year has prompted the head of the UN peacekeeping mission there to call for urgent measures in the fight against impunity and to prevent future violations.