Syria: UN relief agencies amplify calls for access to besieged civilians
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:15 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With United Nations-mediated talks on ending the five-year crisis in Syria getting under way today as scheduled, UN relief agencies and their partners are reiterating their appeal for unhindered access by relief workers to more than four million desperate people spread across 18 besieged areas in the war-torn country.
Security Council urges Haitian parties to refrain from actions disrupting polls
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing strong concern regarding the indefinite postponement of the final round of elections in Haiti – scheduled for 27 December but postponed, for the second time, to January 24 – the United Nations Security Council on Friday reiterated its condemnation of any attempt to destabilize the electoral process, and urged all parties and political actors to refrain from violence.
UN experts urge US to address legacies of the past
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:11 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The legacy of slavery, post-Reconstruction 'Jim Crow' laws and racial subordination in the United States remains a "serious challenge" as there has been no real commitment to recognition and reparations for people of African descent, a United Nations expert panel said on Friday in Washington D.C., at the end of its second official visit to the country.
African Union: Ban discusses Burundi, South Sudan and counter-terrorism
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:07 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Eath News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, in an address to the African Union Peace and Security Council, spotlighted three topics high on the regional body's agenda – counter-terrorism, and the ongoing crises in both South Sudan and Burundi – all of which require urgent attention at the continental-level and from the wider international community.
Paris Agreement 'decisive turning point' on climate change: UN Official
Jan 30, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Less than two months after 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, the global community is already seeing signs of it being a decisive turning point, according to a senior UN official dealing with climate issues.
Los Angeles bound flight returns to Heathrow Airport after mysterious illness plague passengers
Jan 29, 2016, at 05:36 pm
London, Jan 29 (IBNS) A Los Angeles bound American Airlines Boeing 777 returned back to the Heathrow Airport just a couple of hours after it took off, owing to several passengers mysteriously falling ill, according to reports.
Disneyland Paris: Man carrying two guns arrested by police
Jan 29, 2016, at 04:57 pm
Paris, Jan 29 (IBNS) A 28-year-old man carrying two guns at an entrance to a Disneyland Paris hotel was arrested on Friday, according to reports.
More than half Yemen's population face hunger amid ongoing strife, FAO warns
Jan 29, 2016, at 02:46 pm
New York, Jan 29 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Some 14.4 million Yemenis, more than half of the population of Yemen, are food insecure, an increase of 12 per cent in just the last eight months, as ongoing conflict and import restrictions reduce availability and send prices soaring, the United Nations agricultural agency warned on Thursday.
WHO convenes emergency meeting to address 'dramatic' spread of Zika virus
Jan 29, 2016, at 02:45 pm
New York, Jan 29 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called an emergency meeting for Monday on the "dramatic" rise in Zika virus infection – strongly suspected of causing birth malformations – warning that its "explosive" spread could eventually infect up to four million people before it is brought under control.
Libya: UN envoy condemns abduction of parliamentarian, calls for his release
Jan 29, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Jan 29 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The most senior United Nations official in Libya on Friday strongly condemned the abduction of a member of the House of Representatives, just days after a significant step forward in the quest to end the country's political divisions and armed conflict.
UN envoy says Somalia's success depends on managing threats
Jan 29, 2016, at 02:40 pm
New York, Jan 29 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Security Council heard on Thursday from the top United Nations official in Somalia that success in the country this year will depend upon managing threats, notably those posed by the terrorist groups Al-Shabaab, while announcing a "breakthrough" political achievement.
Pakistan accuses India of 'making unsubstantiated terror allegations'
Jan 29, 2016, at 12:50 am
Islamabad, Jan 28 (IBNS) Pakistan on Thursday accused India of making "unsubstantiated terror allegations against Pakistan."
Livestock biodiversity must be preserved as tool against climate change: UN agency
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:13 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The genetic diversity of livestock can play a vital role in feeding the world in the face of hotter weather and the other effects of climate change, yet many valuable breeds continue to be at risk, the United Nations agricultural agency warned on Wednesday, calling for stronger global efforts to safeguard the existing gene pool.
Global investors must play full role in shifting world to clean energy: Ban
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:11 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than 500 global investors gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed to move the world onto the path of clean energy, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon challenging them to, at a minimum, double clean energy investments to $660 billion by 2020.
Security Council renews sanctions for Central African Republic
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:04 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Stressing the urgent need to end impunity in the Central African Republic (CAR) and bring to justice those who violate humanitarian law, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday renewed its sanctions against individuals or groups implicated in the country's ongoing sectarian tensions.
Besieged Syrians believe the world has forgotten them: UN relief chief
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With United Nations-backed political talks on Syria set to begin later this week, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, on Wednesday urged the entire international community to get behind the process, which seeks to ease the suffering for millions of desperate people and end "one of the most savage and brutal conflicts of the 21st century."
Darfur: UN expresses grave concern over new hostilities and impact on civilians
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the impact of the ongoing hostilities in Darfur on thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee their homes amid the conflict that began two weeks ago.
Education key to preventing genocides, says Ban honouring Holocaust victims
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the global community gathered to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi extermination camp 71 years ago, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed that the most effective way to stand up for human rights, fight xenophobia and prevent new genocides is by educating new generations about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Afghanistan: UN mine clearance officials condemn murder of four de-miners
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations demining officials in Afghanistan on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack in which unknown militants shot dead four de-miners while a fifth was reported missing in Helmand province, one of the most heavily mined in the strife-torn country.
Science and technology can help save lives: UN official
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The first-ever United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) gathering of scientists to discuss disaster risk management kicked off on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, seeking to map out a scientific and technological approach to the issue while addressing the importance of partnership.
Eritrea: UN deputy relief chief urges support for vulnerable communities
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kyung-wha Kang, wrapped up a three-day visit to Eritrea on Tuesday, where she urged broader support for the Government’s efforts to meet basic needs and build resilience of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Palestinians losing hope under 'stifling' Israeli occupation: UN chief
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Amid ongoing violence in the Middle East, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated on Wednesday that he can understand why Palestinians are losing hope in the face of nearly 50 years of Israeli occupation, a statement that has provoked criticism that he was "giving terror a tailwind."
Freedom of expression came under severe attack in Bangladesh: Human Rights Watch
Jan 28, 2016, at 02:47 am
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS) Freedom of expression came under severe attack in Bangladesh in 2015, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2016.
US Republican Presidential hopeful Trump irks news channel and opponents through boycott
Jan 28, 2016, at 12:55 am
Iowa City, Jan 27 (IBNS): Donald Trump, the Republican front runner for the nomination for the United States presidential elections--slated for Nov 2016--has raised the ire of opponents and Fox News by refusing to participate in the channel's GOP debate to take place on Thursday.
Nuclear program of North Korea is a major challenge to global security: USA
Jan 27, 2016, at 10:48 pm
Beijing, Jan 27 (IBNS) The USA on Wednesday called the nuclear programme of North Korea as a 'major challenge' to global security.
Mumbai attacks: Pakistan court dismisses plea for voice samples of accused
Jan 27, 2016, at 08:50 pm
Islamabad, Jan 27 (IBNS): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected petitions filed by the government which sought clippings of voice samples of seven suspects charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case, media reports said.
India and Armenia Sign Protocol amending the India-Armenia Double Taxation Avoidance Convention
Jan 27, 2016, at 06:26 pm
New Delhi, Jan 27 (IBNS) A Protocol to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention was signed by the Government of India and the Government of Armenia here on Wednesday, a government release said.
I will destroy ISIS: Donald Trump
Jan 27, 2016, at 03:18 pm
Washington, Jan 27 (IBNS) US Presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to destroy militant group ISIS.
Failure in Syria not humanitarian but political, says senior UN relief official
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:26 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Senior United Nations relief officials working on the front lines of the conflict in Syria stressed on Tuesdaythat only a political solution will end the five-year war, insisting that humanitarians have been doing all that they can to assist millions of desperate people who have lost nearly everything and are "now beginning to lose hope that the world cares."
Team of experts delayed from entering Burundi to investigate human rights abuses - UN
Jan 27, 2016, at 02:23 pm
New York, Jan 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on Tuesdaythat a team of independent experts mandated to probe violations and abuses in Burundi has not been able to enter the country.