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.
Ban warns illicit drugs impede sustainable development, calls for every solution to be weighed
Feb 11, 2016, at 02:26 pm
New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Illicit drugs promote violence, impede sustainable development, endanger communities and undermine people's health, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday, calling on the global community to weigh every option available to confront the issue.
As budget advisory panel turns 70, Ban lauds 'strong collaboration' on reaching UN's goals
Feb 11, 2016, at 02:21 pm
New York, Feb 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised the UN's advisory committee on budgetary matters for its help in carrying out the world body's lifesaving work around the world, as the 16-member body marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment.
Marc Andreessen apologises for controversial tweet
Feb 11, 2016, at 12:32 am
California, Feb 10 (IBNS): Facebook board member Marc Andreessen on Wednesday apologised after his comment on India and colonialism had triggered a controversy.
North Korea executes military chief: Reports
Feb 10, 2016, at 09:25 pm
Seoul, Feb 10 (IBNS): North Korea has executed chief of country's military on corruption charges, South Korean media claimed on Wednesday.
Trump and Sanders top the New Hampshire primary race to the US presidential election
Feb 10, 2016, at 06:45 pm
New Hampshire, Feb 10 (IBNS) Outsiders Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday in a convincing manner in the run up to the US presidential election.
UN agency provides food to Syrians fleeing Aleppo fighting
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:47 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Wednesday it has started distributing urgently needed food to people displaced by the recent surge in violence in Syria’s northern Aleppo.
World Humanitarian Summit must be 'turning point' in cooperation to tackle crises – UN chief
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:42 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) World leaders must come together in 2016 to renew their commitments to humanity and unite to prevent and end crisis and reduce vulnerability, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, telling UN Member States that the World Humanitarian Summit will provide an opportunity for "concrete steps towards ending the suffering experienced by billions of people today."
'Unity and action' needed to counter expanding threat from ISIL, Security Council told
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:32 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Given the ability of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to adapt quickly to new circumstances and the steady stream of foreign fighters joining the group's ranks, United Nations Member States must mount a strategic response that includes addressing the underlying political and socio-economic causes of conflicts, particularly in Syria and Libya, the top UN political official told the Security Council on Tuesday.
UN officials call for strengthened global partnerships to combat human trafficking
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:28 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS)While the world clearly has the political will and legal tools to take on human traffickers and their criminal networks, what are needed is more meaningful international cooperation and adequate funding to take effective action, senior United Nations officials said today, warning that the scourge now has victims spread across 152 different citizenships in 124 countries.
After 30 years of conflict, Sri Lanka still in 'early stages of renewal' - UN rights chief
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:24 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS)After nearly 30 years of conflict and acrimony that not only cost tens of thousands of lives but also eroded vital components of the State, Sri Lanka is still in the early stages of renewal, the United Nations human rights chief said today, ending a mission to the country.
Haiti: UN agency says weather and drought to blame as food insecurity doubles
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Haiti's third consecutive year of drought, exacerbated by the global El Nino weather phenomenon, has driven people deeper into poverty and hunger, and doubled the severely food-insecure population, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday
Security Council boosts number of corrections officers for UN mission in Central African Republic
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:17 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Determining that the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains a threat to international peace and security, the United Nations Security Council decided on Wednesday to maintain the current personnel ceiling of more than 12,800 personnel in the military and police components of the UN peacekeeping operation in the country and to increase the number of corrections officers.
'Dismal' human rights situation in Belarus unchanged after election, UN expert warns
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:09 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations-appointed monitor of the human rights situation in Belarus warned on Wednesday that opposition leaders, activists, journalists, and many other citizens have been subjected to harassment, administrative procedures and fines since the country's October presidential election.
-1455076271.jpg "Pakistan: PIA employees end strike")
Pakistan: PIA employees end strike
Feb 10, 2016, at 02:52 pm
Karachi, Feb 10 (IBNS): Ending a logjam, the Joint action Committee (JAC) of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees have ended their eight-day-long strike.
Germany, Two passengers trains collide, 8 killed
Feb 09, 2016, at 09:07 pm
Berlin, Feb 9 (IBNS) At least eight people were killed as two trains collided at Bavaria town in Germany on Tuesday, media reports said.
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:48 pm
Kathamandu, Dec 9 (IBNS): Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala passed away on Tuesday.
All sides in Syria killing thousands of detainees in crimes against humanity, UN reports
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:34 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Thousands of detainees have been killed while in the custody of the warring parties in Syria over the past four and a half years, with thousands held by the Government beaten to death or dying from torture and anti-Government groups brutalizing and executing prisoners in war crimes and crimes against humanity, a United Nations commission reported today.
Unprecedented food crisis looms over strife-torn South Sudan, UN agencies warn
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:29 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) South Sudan faces unprecedented levels of food insecurity, with 2.8 million people, nearly 25 per cent of the population, in urgent need of aid, at least 40,000 of them on the brink of catastrophe, at a time when the war-torn country is traditionally most food secure, United Nations agencies warned today.
Syria: UN relief chief calls on Government to halt attacks displacing 30,000 civilians
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:26 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations emergency relief chief on Monday called on the Syrian Government and other parties to honour their duty to protect civilians and allow safe access for aid as tens of thousands of people were reported to have been displaced from Aleppo and elsewhere in the war-torn country's north by heavy Government bombardment.
Special UN event mobilizes action towards ending female genital mutilation within 15 years
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:21 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), dozens of women, girls, experts, and United Nations officials gathered on Monday at a special event at UN Headquarters to discuss ways of eliminating the harmful practice by 2030 and to celebrate the increased mobilization against it.
Seasoned official appointed to coordinate UN efforts to curb sexual abuse by peacekeepers
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:16 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Facing a series of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday named Jane Holl Lute, an American official with wide-ranging United Nations experience, to coordinate efforts to curb the scourge.
In Somalia, food security and malnutrition situation is 'alarming' – UN report
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:06 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) According to a new United Nations food security and nutrition assessment, the situation in Somalia is alarming and could get worse, especially in parts of Puntland and Somaliland, which have been hard hit by drought exacerbated by El Nino.
This must be 'year of traction' to propel 2030 development Agenda, says UN chief
Feb 09, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Just as 2015 was a year of “global action†with the adoption of the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so 2016 must be a year of “global traction†to ensure that 3.1 billion people worldwide are not left behind in the race to end poverty, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday.
Ban condemns arson attack on West Bank synagogue, urges respect for sanctity of all holy sites
Feb 09, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Feb 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the arson attack on 6 February against a synagogue in the West Bank and called for a thorough investigation to quickly bring the perpetrators to justice.
Boat capsizes in Aegean, 27 refugees killed
Feb 09, 2016, at 02:55 am
Ankara, Feb 8 (IBNS): At least 27 refugees were killed as the boat in which they were traveling capsized off Turkey’s Edremit Bay on Monday, media reports said.
Afghanistan: Three ANA soldiers killed in suicide attack
Feb 08, 2016, at 10:15 pm
Kabul, Feb 8 (IBNS) At least three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed as the vehicle in which they were traveling was targeted by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sahrif city on Monday, media reports said.
Spain: Seven arrested over suspected IS links
Feb 08, 2016, at 09:36 pm
Valencia, Feb 8 (IBNS) Spanish Police have claimed to have arrested seven people for their suspected links with militant groups Al-Qaeda and the ISIS, media reports said on Monday.
Condemning DPR Korea's missile launch, Security Council to pursue 'significant measures' in response
Feb 08, 2016, at 03:49 pm
New York, Feb 8 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following emergency consultations today, the United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the missile launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and announced that it will "expeditiously" adopt a new resolution in response to "these dangerous and serious violations."
Haiti: Ban welcomes agreement reached towards 'swift' conclusion of ongoing electoral cycle
Feb 08, 2016, at 03:15 pm
New York, Feb 8 ( (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the agreement reached by Haitian stakeholders, noting that it provides for immediate arrangements to preserve the institutional continuity of the country as well as a road map for the swift conclusion of the ongoing electoral cycle.