Dec 30, 2016, at 04:59 am
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations human rights experts welcomed a decision by the United States to dismantle a national registry program targeting people visiting from countries that are home to active terrorist groups, a program that the experts labelled “discriminatory and ineffective.â€
Somalia: Welcoming new Federal Parliament, Ban urges completion of electoral process
Dec 30, 2016, at 04:56 am
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the inauguration of the new Federal Parliament of Somalia on 27 December and warmly congratulated the people of Somalia on this historic achievement in their quest for universal suffrage by 2020.
Communist Party of China office in Xinjiang attacked, three rioters and two others dead
Dec 29, 2016, at 06:57 pm
New Delhi/Beijing, Dec 29 (IBNS): Five people died during during an attack on office of ruling Communist Party of China in Xinjiang, according to media reports on Thursday.
UN's 2016 Year in Review: Challenges and milestones for the international community
Dec 29, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News): The year 2016 was a challenging one for the international community, with the conflict in Syria worsening despite efforts to end the fighting, escalating violence and insecurity in South Sudan and Yemen, and a five million increase in the number of refugees worldwide.
Iraq: Nearly 115,000 people displaced, 50,000 children affected by Mosul military operation – UN
Dec 29, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News): Since operations began to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) two months ago, some 114,042 people have been displaced and as many as one million are out of reach of humanitarian assistance.
After promising start, 2016 has been worst for civilians in Syria – UN expert
Dec 29, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News): After a promising start, the year 2016 has been the worst for civilian casualties so far in the war in Syria, according to the head of a United Nations-mandated human rights inquiry into the Middle Eastern country.
UNESCO condemns murder of journalist in the Philippines
Dec 29, 2016, at 04:57 am
New York, Dec 28 (Just Earth News): Condemning the murder of Filipino journalist Larry Que on 19 December, the head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has called on authorities to investigate his death.
UN expert hails US move placing atheists on equal footing with faith groups
Dec 29, 2016, at 04:56 am
New York, Dec 28 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on freedom of religion or belief has welcomed the United States' legislative amendments aimed at protecting non-believers and atheists.
UN emergency fund authorizes $3.5 million for restoring education services in Haiti
Dec 28, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Dec 28 (Just Earth News): The United Nations fund aimed at rapid humanitarian response for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflict has approved $3.5 million for restoring safe education services for schools and other relief activities in storm-hit southwest Haiti.
Somalia: UN, global partners ‘gravely concerned’ over changes to electoral process
Dec 28, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Dec 28 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and other members of the international community have voiced grave concern over recent decisions by Somalia’s National Leadership Forum (NLF) that contravenes the African country’s constitutional electoral processes.
Iraq: UN-Habitat rehabilitates 123 conflict-damaged houses in Anbar Governorate
Dec 28, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Dec 28 (Just Earth News): As part of an urban recovery project in Iraq, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has renovated 123 damaged residential housing units in newly liberated areas so that their rightful owners can live in safety and with dignity.
EU commits additional 7 million euros to support UNICEF in Iraq
Dec 28, 2016, at 05:03 am
New York, Dec 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received a new pledge of 7 million euros from the European Union to support the UN agency’s work in Iraq, where an estimated 11 million are in need of humanitarian assistance – half of them children.
Black box of ill-fated Russian military plane likely found say sources
Dec 27, 2016, at 06:43 pm
Moscow, Dec 27 (IBNS): Black box of the ill-fated Russian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea has been located, according to media reports.
Dec 26, 2016, at 09:44 pm
Palmyra, Dec 26 (IBNS): Security officials have killed at least 25 IS militants to the east of the 4th Station west of Palmyra area in Syria, media reports said on Monday.
China protests against US bill indicating cooperation with Taiwan
Dec 26, 2016, at 07:32 pm
Beijing/Washington, Dec 26 (IBNS): China has strongly criticised US President Barack Obama signing defense policy bill on cooperation with Taiwan, according to media reports on Monday.
Philippines battered by typhoon and earthquake
Dec 26, 2016, at 06:46 pm
Manila/New Delhi, Dec 26 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 5.2 on Richter scale hit the Philippines coast in the wee hours of Monday morning while Powerful typhoon Nock-Tencontinues to batter the nation, according to media sources.
Russian military plane with 91 on board crashes in Black Sea
Dec 25, 2016, at 06:58 pm
Moscow, Dec 25 (IBNS) In a tragic incident, a Russian defence ministry TU-154 aircraft which had disappeared from the radar with 91 on board, has crashed over the Black Sea, media reports said.
Pope Francis marks Christmas Mass
Dec 25, 2016, at 02:56 pm
Vatican City, Dec 25 (IBNS): Amid tight security, Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Mass here on Saturday, media reports said.
Grenade blast close to Philippines church, 13 hurt
Dec 25, 2016, at 02:46 pm
Midsayap, Dec 25 (IBNS): At least 13 people were injured in a grenade blast close to a Catholic church in Midsayap town of Philippines on Saturday, media reports said.
Dec 25, 2016, at 04:14 am
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): Concluding the main part of its 71st session, the United Nations General Assembly last night adopted 15 texts – 14 resolutions and one decision – recommended by its Fifth Committee which is responsible for administration and budgetary matters.
Amid renewed violence in Somalia's Gaalkacyo, UN envoy urges respect for ceasefire agreement
Dec 25, 2016, at 04:13 am
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over renewed violence in the Somali city of Gaalkacyo, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the country, Michael Keating, has called on all parties to honor the ceasefire agreement.
UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements as ‘significant step’
Dec 24, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution which states that the establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, have “no legal validity,†constitute a “flagrant violation†under international law and are a “major obstacle†to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
Dec 24, 2016, at 02:38 pm
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council on the situation in Syria, a senior United Nations humanitarian official underlined the enormity challenges of the continuing humanitarian operations in the region.
Liberia: Security Council extends UN Mission, for the final time, until 30 March 2018
Dec 24, 2016, at 08:10 am
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): Adopting a resolution on Friday, the United Nations Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), for the final time, until 30 March 2018 and adjusted its mandate to comprise protection of civilians, reform of justice and security institutions, protection and promotion of human rights, public information activities, and protection of UN personnel and installations.
HERstory: A celebration of leading women in the United Nations
Dec 24, 2016, at 08:09 am
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): A celebration of women’s achievements has been taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York this month, through photography. On 13 December 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Secretary-General-designate António Guterres attended the launch by the Group of Friends for Gender Parity of an historic exhibit to illuminate some of the crucial contributions that women have made throughout the world body’s history – or, as they refer to it, ‘herstory.’
UN rights experts urge Mexico to focus more on the fight against impunity
Dec 24, 2016, at 08:07 am
New York, Dec 24 (Just Earth News): Concluding a ten-day visit to Mexico, the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture urged the authorities to redouble its efforts to fight impunity and to immediately adopt the General Law on Torture, in full conformity with relevant international standards.
Dec 24, 2016, at 05:11 am
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News): Amid reports that dozens of people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent days, the top United Nations human rights official has warned that repression of dissenting voices and a heavy-handed and irresponsible response to the protests risk provoking more violence and could cause further conflict in the country.
Final trial results confirm Ebola vaccine provides 'high protection' – UN health agency
Dec 24, 2016, at 05:09 am
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has said that an experimental Ebola vaccine has been found to be highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea.
Latest Mediterranean tragedy pushes number of people perishing in 2016 beyond 5,000 – UNHCR
Dec 24, 2016, at 04:54 am
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News): Highlighting that the number of causalities in the Mediterranean Sea this year has crossed 5,000 with the latest reports of about 100 people feared to have drowned, the United Nations refugee agency has called on countries to increase pathways for admission of refugees.
Libyan flight hijack: Hijakcers surrender, taken to custody
Dec 24, 2016, at 02:10 am
Valletta, Dec 23 (IBNS): The hijakcers, who had hijacked a Libyan flight and forcefully made it to land in Malta, have surrendered.