'New Urban Agenda,' reform of UN-Habitat take spotlight at high-level General Assembly talks

Sep 06, 2017, at 09:43 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): The United Nations deputy chief on Tuesday said that the Organization is failing to deliver sufficiently in cities, and its work in and on urban areas must be reinvigorated, as the General Assembly kicked off a high-level meeting on a new UN approach to the rapidly urbanizing world.

Colombia: UN welcomes ceasefire pact between Government and ELN rebels

Sep 06, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday welcomed the announcement by the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) of a temporary bilateral cease-fire from 1 October 2017 to 12 January 2018.

Surge in number of civilians fleeing Myanmar's Rakhine for Bangladesh – UN agencies

Sep 06, 2017, at 04:34 am

New York, Sept 5(Just Earth News): More than 123,000 people from Myanmar's Rakhine state have fled to Bangladesh since the latest outbreak of violence, the United Nations migration agency on Tuesday announced seeking $18 million to urgently help the refugees.

Yemen: UN report urges probe into rights violations amid 'entirely man-made catastrophe'

Sep 06, 2017, at 04:33 am

New York, Sept 5(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief has called for an independent, international investigation into the allegations of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Yemen, in a new report published on Tuesday.

Burundi: UN independent panel calls for ICC probe into possible crimes against humanity

Sep 06, 2017, at 04:31 am

New York, Sept 5(Just Earth News): Having concluded that serious human rights violations, including executions and sexual violence, are continuing in Burundi with impunity, a United Nations-appointed expert panel will ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into possible crimes against humanity.

Allowing Japan, South Korea to buy increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from US: Trump

Sep 06, 2017, at 12:51 am

Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his government is selling Japan and South Korea a “substantially increased” amount of US military equipment.

Australia: Same sex marriage vote could hit a bump. Here's why:

Sep 05, 2017, at 04:04 pm

Sydney, Sep 5 (IBNS): Come Sep 12, Australians will take part in a vote to decide whether to legalise same sex marriages or not, but that could all come to an abrupt end.

UN political chief urges Security Council to 'remain united, take appropriate action' on DPR Korea

Sep 05, 2017, at 04:55 am

New York, Sept 4(Just Earth News): The top United Nations political official on Monday urged the Security Council to remain united and take appropriate action against Sunday's nuclear explosive test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Following North's nuclear test, South Korea indulges in live-fire drill

Sep 04, 2017, at 04:40 pm

Seoul, Sep 4 (IBNS): South Korea has conducted a live-fire drill simulating an attack on North Korean nuclear zone, media reports said.

Rohingya crisis: Malala slams Myanmar govt, urges fellow Nobel laureate Suu Kyi to take steps

Sep 04, 2017, at 03:46 pm

London, Sep 4 (IBNS): Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has urged fellow recipient Aung San Suu Kyi to look into the ongoing Rohingya crisis in the latter's country, while slamming the Myanmar government for the lack of competence in handling the matter.

UN atomic chief says DPR Korea's new nuclear test 'extremely regrettable act'

Sep 04, 2017, at 04:40 am

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): Following today's reported nuclear bomb test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the head of the United Nations atomic agency has spoken against “an extremely regrettable act” that completely disregarded the international community's repeated demands.

North Korea tests Hydrogen bomb ten times powerful than last trial

Sep 03, 2017, at 08:17 pm

Pyongyang, Sep 3 (IBNS): North Korean state-run media has reported that the country has successfully tested a Hydrogen Bomb, which is way more powerful than an atomic bomb.

Spanish drug bust: At least 14 arrested, 3-kilo cocaine seized

Sep 03, 2017, at 07:18 pm

Majorca, Sep 3 (IBNS): At least 14 people have been arrested, including 12 Britons, in a drug bust in Spain's Majorca island, reports said.

Afghanistan: At least 12 insurgents killed in separate raids in Kandahar and Paktika provinces

Sep 03, 2017, at 07:09 pm

Kabul, Sep 3 (IBNS): At least 12 insurgents were killed in separate anti-terrorists raids in Kandahar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.

France: Lightning strike injures at least 15 people

Sep 03, 2017, at 07:06 pm

Paris, Sep 3 (IBNS): At least 15 people have sustained injuries in north-east France after being struck directly by lightning, reports said.

Iraq: ISIL targeting civilians to 'avenge' loss of Tal Afar, UN envoy says

Sep 02, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Fighters from the Islamic State (ISIL) are indiscriminately targeting civilians to avenge for their loss of Tal Afar, the top United Nations political representative in Iraqi on Friday said, condemning the latest attack in Baghdad.

Casualties from cluster munitions double in 2016; Syrians most-affected – UN-backed report

Sep 02, 2017, at 09:38 am

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Even as countries continue to ratify and implement the international treaty prohibiting the use of cluster munitions, casualties from these notorious weapons doubled in the past year, with civilians accounting for nearly all the victims, according to a United Nations-backed civil society report.

Guterres says UN ready to support relief efforts in South Asia countries hit by floods, landslides

Sep 02, 2017, at 09:37 am

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by widespread floods and landslides due to torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday that the United Nations is ready to support ongoing relief efforts.

UN allocates $21M to meet urgent needs in newly-accessible areas across Sudan

Sep 02, 2017, at 05:03 am

New York, Sept 1(Just Earth News): The United Nations on Friday allocated $21 million to provide life-saving food support, nutrition, water and sanitation, health and other assistance to thousands of Sudanese in newly accessible areas in Darfur's Jebel Marra area, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Afghanistan: UN mission confirms at least 44 civilians killed, injured in latest airstrikes

Sep 02, 2017, at 05:01 am

New York, Sept 1(Just Earth News): At least 28 women and children were killed and an additional 16 injured in air strikes this week in Afghanistan, the United Nations political mission in the country said in initial findings of its probe into the deaths.

Myanmar: UN expert urges efforts to break 'worsening cycle of violence' in Rakhine

Sep 01, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Sept 1(Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert has expressed alarm at the deteriorating situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State, affecting not just the Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim populations but also other communities.

UN chief welcomes release of arrested leaders in Cameroon

Sep 01, 2017, at 04:27 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed yesterday's release of several leaders of the English-speaking regions in Cameroon's South West and North West as well as the dropping of all charges against them.

Syria: Forces battling ISIL 'lose sight of ultimate aim' to free civilians from terror – UN rights chief

Sep 01, 2017, at 04:25 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): Forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group in Syria are losing sight of the obligation to protect civilians as the battle to retake Raqqa from ISIL is being waged at the cost of their lives, the top United Nations human rights official warned on Thursday.

UN agriculture chief says Uganda 'leading example' of sustainable refugee response

Aug 31, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations agriculture agency on Wednesday called for greater funding for a sustainable response to the refugee crisis in Uganda, as he concluded a visit to the country's north hosting those crossing the border for safety.

'Time to shift from logic of war,' put interests of Syrian people first, UN Security Council told

Aug 31, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): Calling for creative ways to work towards peace in Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy on Wednesday outlined the political path forward, which includes holding another round of the so-named Astana talks and behind-the-scenes efforts by the international community.

Security Council extends African-led mission in Somalia, targets handover to national security forces

Aug 31, 2017, at 09:44 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended its authorization of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 May 2018, approving a reduction of its uniformed personnel to a maximum 21,626 by 31 December 2017, with an eye towards the gradual handover over of responsibilities to Somali security forces.

Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon

Aug 31, 2017, at 09:43 am

New York, Aug 31(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for one year.

In the Gaza Strip, UN chief appeals for Palestinian unity; reveals dream of two-state solution

Aug 31, 2017, at 05:00 am

New York, Aug 30(Just Earth News): Visiting Gaza for the first time since taking office as United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres on Wednesday called for Palestinian unity, saying division “only undermines the cause of the Palestinian people.”

Syria: UN adviser warns trapped civilians face greater risks as Raqqa fighting intensifies

Aug 31, 2017, at 04:57 am

New York, Aug 30(Just Earth News): The United Nations adviser on the prevention of genocide on Wednesday expressed deep concern at the deteriorating situation of up to 25,000 civilians trapped in Syria's Raqqa, noting that civilians are used as human shields in this de facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group under intense bombardment.

Human rights violations indicate 'repressive policy' of Venezuelan authorities – UN report

Aug 31, 2017, at 04:55 am

New York, Aug 30(Just Earth News): Extensive human rights violations and abuses have been committed in the wake of anti-Government protests in Venezuela and point to “the existence of a policy to repress political dissent and instill fear in the population to curb demonstrations,” a report by the United Nations human rights office has found.