UN Security Council toughens sanctions on DPR Korea over ballistic missile launches

Aug 07, 2017, at 05:03 am

New York, Aug 6(Just Earth News): In response to the launches of ballistic missiles of possible intercontinental range by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations Security Council on Sunday moved to strengthen sanctions on the Northeast Asian country's exports.

Man with knife arrested at Eiffel Tower

Aug 07, 2017, at 12:44 am

Paris, Aug 6 (IBNS): Police have arrested a person, who was carrying a knife, as he was trying to forcefully make his way to the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, media reports said.

Dubai: Fire strikes another tower, no injury reported

Aug 06, 2017, at 11:25 pm

Dubai, Aug 6 (IBNS): The fire which broke out at a high-rise tower in Dubai has been brought under control.

UN notified of US intention to withdraw from Paris climate pact

Aug 06, 2017, at 04:54 am

New York, Aug 5(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday received a notification from the delegation of the United States expressing the country's intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change as soon as it is eligible to do so, his spokesman has confirmed.

Five killed in Turkey bus accident

Aug 05, 2017, at 09:22 pm

Ankara, Aug 5 (IBNS) : Five people were killed and 36 wounded in a bus accident in Turkey's northern Amasya province on Saturday.

Tallying fewer crossings, UN agency reports rise in migrant deaths at US-Mexico border

Aug 05, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Aug 5(Just Earth News): Even as the flow appears to have thinned, migrants crossing the United States-Mexico border are dying at a faster rate in 2017 than in past years, according to a new United Nations agency study.

UN Latin America commission forecasts low but positive growth for region in 2017

Aug 05, 2017, at 09:44 am

New York, Aug 5(Just Earth News): With better commodity export prices and an improved international context, the Latin America and the Caribbean region will record a small positive growth rate this year – with the exception of Venezuela and two Caribbean countries, according to a new report of the UN Latin America commission.

Syria: UN study finds foreign fighters return 'disillusioned' by groups they joined

Aug 05, 2017, at 09:40 am

New York, Aug 5(Just Earth News): A number of “disillusioned and disappointed” foreign terrorist fighters left Syria and returned to their countries of origin when they found these groups hardly make good on their promises, except promise of death and destruction, according to a report issued by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

DR Congo: UN report indicates Government participation in ethnic massacres in Kasai

Aug 05, 2017, at 04:51 am

New York, Aug 4(Just Earth News): Violence in the Kasai provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) appears to be taking on an increasingly disturbing ethnic dimension, a United Nations human rights wing has warned, citing testimonies that Government forces have led ethnicity-based attacks.

UN, Government join forces to boost Somalia's drought response capacity

Aug 05, 2017, at 04:49 am

New York, Aug 4(Just Earth News): In the wake of a severe drought in Somalia that has displaced more than 800,000 people, the United Nations migration and development entities are helping the Horn of Africa country enhance its national drought response capacity.

Fire rips through Dubai skyscraper, no injuries reported

Aug 04, 2017, at 05:05 pm

Dubai, Aug 4 (IBNS): A residential skyscraper in Dubai was engulfed in fire, for the second time in two years, reports said.

UN sanctions 'formidable instrument for global peace and security,' Security Council told

Aug 04, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Aug 4(Just Earth News): United Nations Security Council sanctions are “a formidable instrument for global peace and security,” a senior UN political official said on Thursday, stressing that these measures, when implemented effectively, can contribute to preventing conflict, countering terrorism and constraining the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Organizational reform moves ahead as Guterres receives proposals on a strengthened UN-Habitat

Aug 04, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 4(Just Earth News): An independent panel reviewing the effectiveness of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has proposed the programme be recast as the Organization's 'urban champion,' including through the establishment of a coordinating mechanism to complement the its work and convene all UN agencies and partners on urban sustainability.

ISIL's 'genocide' against Yazidis is ongoing, UN rights panel says, calling for international action

Aug 04, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 4(Just Earth News): Marking three years since the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) attacked the Yazidis in Syria, a United Nations-mandated inquiry has called for justice and rescue plans.

UN Standing Police Capacity fills critical need in peace operations, underscores outgoing chief

Aug 04, 2017, at 04:40 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): Over the past 10 years, the United Nations Standing Police Capacity has filled a critical need in global peace operations by providing them with readily available police expertise, according to the outgoing head of the unit, who says she is proud to have played a part in putting the SPC “on the map,” while also highlighting the need to recruit more women officers to carry out this important work.

Mauritania: UN rights office voices concern about unrest ahead of constitutional referendum

Aug 04, 2017, at 04:39 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Thursday expressed concern about the ongoing unrest in Mauritania, ahead of the constitutional referendum scheduled for Saturday, particularly the apparent suppression of dissenting voices and the reported use of excessive force by the authorities against protest leaders.

Food prices surge in July; UN agriculture agency cites cereals, sugar and dairy as main drivers

Aug 04, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): Driven mainly by higher cereal, sugar and dairy quotations, global food prices rose for the third consecutive month in July, according to the United Nations agriculture agency.

Australia: University of Sydney hit by racist graffiti

Aug 03, 2017, at 06:39 pm

Sydney, Aug 3 (IBNS): Officials at the University of Sydney were left embarrassed and apologised after racist graffiti emerged in at least two places on Wednesday, reports said.

China extends hold on terror tag for Jaish chief Masood Azhar

Aug 03, 2017, at 05:54 pm

United Nations, Aug 3 (IBNS) : Maintaining its earlier stand that comes significant in the light of the worsening relationship with India, China has extended its hold on the pending application in the UN to designate Pakistan-based JeM terror group leader Masood Azhar as a terrorist.

Amid 'political impasse' in Burundi, Security Council urges all parties to cease violence

Aug 03, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council today expressed “deep concern” over the political situation in Burundi – including increasing numbers of refugees and reports of torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings – and strongly urged the Government and all parties to immediately cease and reject such violence.

Adopting new resolution, UN Security Council moves to thwart terrorists' access to weapons

Aug 03, 2017, at 09:49 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons, particularly small arms and light weapons, the “destabilizing accumulation and misuse” of which the 15-member body said “continue to pose threats to international peace and security and cause significant loss of life.”

In South Sudan, UN peacekeeping chief says regional engagement 'good thing' for peace process

Aug 03, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping chief said today the involvement of eastern African countries in revitalizing the peace process in South Sudan was among the main topics he discussed with that nation's President, describing such regional engagement “a good thing.”

DR Congo: UN envoy expresses concern over arbitrary arrests, urges restraint

Aug 03, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Aug 3(Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today expressed his concern over arbitrary arrests and detentions across the country, following civil society's call for the holding of elections before year-end and their peaceful protests against delays in the publication of the electoral calendar.

Conflict-affected rural families in Iraq to benefit from mobile cash-transfer technology – UN

Aug 03, 2017, at 04:15 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): Many vulnerable rural families in Iraq will now be able to safely receive income thanks to a newly adopted mobile money transfer technology that is part of a cash-for-work programme to rehabilitate farming infrastructure, according to the United Nations agriculture agency.

INTERVIEW: Head of UN drug body urges greater access to treatment for women

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): Women continue to be disproportionately affected by drug use, and face obstacles in accessing treatment, compared to men, according to the President of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

Deadly combination of cholera, hunger and conflict pushes Yemen to 'edge of a cliff' – senior UN official

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): Describing the situation in Yemen as “very bleak,” with “no end in sight,” a senior United Nations official envoy on Tuesday said the war-torn country, already reeling from malnutrition and dwindling health care, is plummeting into further distress amid a deadly cholera outbreak and looming famine.

Solidarity across generations is vital for sustainable development, UN special event hears

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): The wisdom, experience, energy and ideals of the old and the young are vital to realizing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, stressing that they together can help break the cycles of poverty that have lasted for generations.

Venezuela: UN rights chief 'deeply concerned' by detention of opposition leaders

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): The top United Nations human rights official on Tuesday expressed deep concern about the detention of two opposition leaders by Venezuelan authorities after Sunday's elections for a Constituent Assembly convened by President Nicolás Maduro.

Breastfeeding is 'smartest investment' families, communities and countries can make – UN

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): Kicking off World Breastfeeding Week, the United Nations on Tuesday stressed that although breastfeeding has cognitive and health benefits for infants and mothers, investment shortcomings impede the practice.

In South Sudan, UN peacekeeping chief urges an end to fighting to give peace process 'better chance'

Aug 02, 2017, at 09:45 am

New York, Aug 2(Just Earth News): The conflict in South Sudan has to end in order to give the peace process there “a better chance of success,” the top United Nations peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, kicking off a three-day trip to the African country.