This is the ‘moment of truth’ says UN envoy ahead of international conference on Cyprus

Jan 10, 2017, at 01:50 pm

New York, Jan 10 (Just Earth News): Speaking ahead of an international conference on Cyprus, the United Nations Special Adviser on the country stressed that the coming days would be crucial for the resolution of the remaining matters, and said that while the path ahead is “going to be difficult,” a solution is possible.

Iran: UN rights expert warns prisoners of conscience at risk of death after prolonged hunger strike

Jan 10, 2017, at 01:48 pm

New York, Jan 10 (Just Earth News): Raising alarm over the health of several prisoners of conscience in Iran, who have been on a prolonged hunger strike contesting the legality of their detention, the United Nations expert on the human rights situation there urged the authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted for exercising their rights.

Yemen: EU-UN partnership to target ‘alarming’ food insecurity

Jan 10, 2017, at 01:47 pm

New York, Jan 10 (Just Earth News): With 14 million people in Yemen lacking reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, the European Union (EU) has committed 12 million euros to assist the efforts of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to tackle rising hunger in the strife-torn Gulf of Aden country.

UN agency seeks $813 million to support Palestine refugees fleeing Syria and those living in occupied territory

Jan 10, 2017, at 05:09 am

New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News): With Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – including East Jerusalem – and those who have fled the conflict in Syria, facing humanitarian crises, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today launched an $813 million emergency aid appeal.

Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack in Jerusalem that kills four Israelis

Jan 10, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News): The Security Council has strongly denounced the terrorist attack in Jerusalem yesterday, in which four Israelis were killed and 15 injured.

Nine policemen killed in Egypt suicide bomber attack

Jan 09, 2017, at 08:58 pm

El Arish (Egypt), Jan 9 (IBNS): A suicide bomber driving a garbage truck packed with explosives rammed his vehicle into an Egyptian security checkpoint in Sinai, on Monday, killing nine people, according to media reports.

Jerusalem: Lorry driver plows truck into troops, four killed

Jan 09, 2017, at 12:48 am

Jerusalem, Jan 8 (IBNS): At least four people were killed when a lorry rammed into a group of soldiers in Jerusalem on Sunday, media reports said.

'Mário Soares' legacy goes far beyond Portugal,' says UN chief Guterres, as former leader dies at 92

Jan 08, 2017, at 10:35 am

New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News): Deeply saddened by the passing of former Portuguese President and Prime Minister Mário Soares, who died earlier on Saturday in Lisbon at the age of 92, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the commitment to freedom and democracy that made Soares “one of those rare political leaders of true European and global stature.”

UN condemns deadly ambush that leaves one 'blue helmet' dead in Central African Republic

Jan 08, 2017, at 08:32 am

New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News): The Security Council has strongly condemned the ambush by unknown attackers late last week against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in Bokayai, in the northwest part of the country, in which one Bangladeshi peacekeeper was killed.

Syria: Car bomb blast kills 43

Jan 08, 2017, at 04:41 am

Azaz, Jan 7 (IBNS): Car bomb blast in the rebel-held Syrian town of Azaz has left at least 43 people dead on Saturday, media reports said.

Declassified US intelligence reports points to Russian cyber campaign to sabotage US Presidential election

Jan 07, 2017, at 08:40 pm

Washington, Jan 7 (IBNS): President of Russia, Putin 'sought to help Trump win election', the US Intelligence said in a declassified report released on Friday, according to media sources.

Florida airport shooter identified as Iraq war veteran

Jan 07, 2017, at 07:34 pm

Miami, Jan 7 (IBNS): The gunman, who opened fire at Fort Lauderdale airport in Forida, USA on Friday, leaving at least five killed and several injured, has been identified as an Iraq war veteran, media reports said.

New task force to develop strategy to strengthen UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse

Jan 07, 2017, at 02:00 pm

New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Friday announced that it plans to strengthen its approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse by creating a high-level task force that will develop a “clear, game-changing strategy” to achieve “visible and measurable further improvement.”

Lack of water access in Damascus is creating risks for children, UN warns

Jan 07, 2017, at 01:59 pm

New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): Following two weeks with no access to running water for millions of people in and around Damascus due to ongoing fighting near the Syrian capital, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday raised the alarm over a potential increase in diarrheal diseases among children.

Syrian refugees in Lebanon face economic hardship and food shortages – joint UN agency study

Jan 07, 2017, at 01:58 pm

New York, Jan 7 (Just Earth News): A joint United Nations agency study has revealed that Syrian refugees in Lebanon remain highly vulnerable and that despite living there for years, their economic situation continues to be difficult, leaving more than a third food insecure.

UN rights expert to assess potential abuses in northern Myanmar

Jan 07, 2017, at 04:45 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): An independent United Nations expert will assess the human rights situation in Myanmar starting next week, it was announced, following increasing concerns about civilians in Kachin State and the escalating violence in Rakhine State.

Canada: Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Bradword West Gwillimbury

Jan 07, 2017, at 04:33 am

Toronto, Jan 6 (IBNS): Five homes, which were being constructed in a Bradword West Gwillimbury neighbourhood, were destroyed in a fire Toronto on Friday morning, media reports said.

Age UK pilot programme shows great promise in reducing loneliness

Jan 07, 2017, at 12:12 am

London, Jan 6 (IBNS): Half a million people over the age of 60 usually spend every day alone, with nearly half a million more usually going at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all, according to new research for Age UK as it launches its latest report ‘No one should have no one: working to end loneliness amongst older people’.

After five years of ‘ruthless war’ in Syria, 2017 can be a year of diplomacy, says UN envoy

Jan 06, 2017, at 01:55 pm

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Looking back over the past month, which saw some of the most difficult challenges for humanitarian workers in Syria but which also witnessed evacuations of thousands of civilians from war-ravaged eastern Aleppo, United Nations envoys for Syria said on Thursday that things have to change in 2017 and that “it can change in 2017.”

US removal of textbook with ‘distorted’ depiction of slavery from classrooms applauded by UN experts

Jan 06, 2017, at 01:54 pm

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): A team of United Nations human rights experts is supporting a recent decision by a United States school district in Connecticut to remove offensive and inaccurate historical information about slavery from its classrooms.

UN agency data on labour migration shows 160 million migrants in global workforce

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:46 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): There are about 160 million migrant workers around the world, according a recent United Nations study, which provides useful labour migration data for policy makers as they seek to make headway on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Safe water now available for hundreds of thousands affected by Hurricane Matthew – UNICEF

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:45 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Responding to the humanitarian needs in Haiti, which witnessed massive destruction by Hurricane Matthew in early October last year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) continues to deliver aid and provide relief to those most affected by the storm.

Climate change will lead to annual coral bleaching, UN-supported study predicts

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:44 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): If current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world's coral reefs will suffer severe bleaching – the gravest threat to one of the Earth's most important ecosystems – on annual basis, the United Nations environment agency on Thursday reported.

Tim Barrow appointed as UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union

Jan 05, 2017, at 03:29 pm

London, Jan 5 (IBNS): Britain has appointed Tim Barrow as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union.

Welcoming DR Congo political accord, UN Security Council urges efforts to resolve remaining issues

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:58 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday welcomed a comprehensive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on all stakeholders to continue to exercise flexibility and compromise in their discussions to swiftly resolve all pending issues, particularly those related to the holding of elections in the country within 2017.

Top UN official in Haiti, Security Council welcome announcement of president-elect

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:57 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official and the Security Council on Wednesday joined the international community in congratulating the next President of Haiti, whose election completes a repeatedly delayed process that took over a year.

‘Give peace a chance,’ urges UN official, reporting sense of optimism as Aleppo ceasefire hold

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:56 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations humanitarian official reported on Wednesday that though damage to Aleppo was extreme, aid workers were nonetheless inspired by signs of optimism and hope, and asked that peace be given a chance.

UN-backed aid plan requires $310 million for crisis-affected communities in Cameroon

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:39 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): A $310 million humanitarian response plan, backed by the United Nations, has been launched to provide life-saving assistance to 1.2 million people in Cameroon’s northern and eastern regions.

Two UN peacekeepers killed, two injured in ambush in Central African Republic

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday condemned a deadly ambush on a convoy in the south-eastern part of the country which killed two blue helmets from Morocco and wounded two others.

Libya: Amid threat of renewed conflict, UN envoy urges restraint

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:37 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at escalating tensions and threat of renewed conflict following developments in central Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country urged all parties to work together on reconciliation and to refrain from any rhetoric that could inflame the situation.