China: Construction equipment collapse leaves 40 killed
Nov 24, 2016, at 04:05 pm
Beijing, Nov 24 (IBNS): The platform of a power plant's cooling tower under construction in China collapsed on Thursday, leaving at least 40 people killed, media reports said.
Countries at UN forum in Dubai encouraged to make ‘Space for Women’
Nov 24, 2016, at 01:22 pm
New York, Nov 24 (Just Earth News): At a high-level United Nations forum under way in the United Arab Emirates aimed at exploring the role of space in socio-economic and sustainable development, a senior UN official is urging the global space community to “make Space for Women†within the next two years.
Inaction has ‘cost measured in human lives,’ Security Council told in Middle East debate
Nov 24, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, Nov 24 (Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council on the Middle East peace process, two senior United Nations officials – the UN relief chief and the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process – called for action to prevent further deterioration of the region plagued by humanitarian crises and to save lives and alleviate human suffering.
Cambodia: UN-backed court upholds life sentences for former Khmer Rouge leaders
Nov 24, 2016, at 01:20 pm
New York, Nov 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations-backed court set up to bring to trial those most responsible for crimes committed during Cambodia’s brutal Khmer Rouge regime on Wednesday upheld life sentences for two top former Khmer Rouge leaders on Wednesday for crimes against humanity.
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders should build on 'substantial' achievements – Ban
Nov 24, 2016, at 01:19 pm
New York, Nov 24 (Just Earth News): Noting the “best efforts†of the Turkish Cypriot leader and the Greek Cypriot leader at the United Nations-brokered talks held recently in Switzerland, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged them to continue their efforts in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement in 2016.
Spurred by patent and trademark applications in China, global innovation flies high – UN agency
Nov 24, 2016, at 05:16 am
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Innovation is flying high as the 2015 edition of a United Nations agency on intellectual property report reveals that 2.9 million patent applications lodged worldwide – a 7.8 per cent increase over the previous year.
Damages to agricultural sector in storm-hit Haiti estimated at $580 million – UN food agency
Nov 24, 2016, at 04:57 am
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Post-disaster assessments by the United Nations food security and emergency food relief agencies in hurricane-hit Haiti have revealed “extensive†damage to crops, livestock and fisheries as well as to infrastructure such as irrigation – with the most affected areas having up to 100 per cent crop damage or destruction.
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:25 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Thursday, 17 November 2016, presented an uncomely anniversary for the inhabitants of Mosul, the second largest Iraqi city, located about 400 kilometres north of Baghdad. It was one month since the Battle of Mosul began, with Iraqi government forces under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi seeking to recapture the city from ISIL, also known as Da’esh. The extremist group has held control over the city for more than two years now, subjecting civilians there to despicable atrocities and untold suffering.
Outer space is driver for disaster risk management, sustainable development – UN expert
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:21 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Space applications related to telecommunications and global navigation can play a vital role in supporting disaster risk reduction, response and recovery efforts, a senior United Nations official said on Tuesday at the UN forum on space as a socio-economic driver for sustainable development under way in Dubai.
LGBTI people face ‘vortex of violence and discrimination,’ newly-appointed UN expert warns
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:20 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): People from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities around the world are experiencing a proliferation in hate speech, including “rampant†social media attacks, as well as violence and discrimination, a newly appointed United Nations human rights expert warned on Tuesday.
UN human rights body appoints Commission of Inquiry on Burundi
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:19 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Following a decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which it setup a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Burundi, including whether they may constitute international crimes, the President of the body has appointed the Commission’s Chair and members.
UN mission in Central African Republic steps up patrols after armed groups clash in Bria town
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:18 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has called for an immediate end to violence after the clashes that broke out on Monday in Bria town between armed elements of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC) and the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC).
Near-worldwide improvement in ICT development; but disparity among countries persists – UN
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:16 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Global information and communication technologies data released on Tuesday by the United Nations agency responsible for ICT shows that the world is more connected than ever, but also reveals that many are still not using the Internet, and most do not fully benefit from its potential.
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:16 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Hurricane Matthew disrupted education in Haiti for more than 100,000 children, affecting some 770 schools, 150 of which are still being used as shelters, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is working to restore education – one of the vital signs of recovery after a natural disaster.
Water resources ‘a reason for cooperation, not conflict,’ Ban tells Security Council
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:15 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): Noting that three quarters of UN Member States share rivers or lake basins with their neighbours, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday highlighted the value of water resources as a reason for cooperation, not conflict.
Gambia violating human rights obligations by detaining journalists, warns UN rights office
Nov 23, 2016, at 12:14 pm
New York, Nov 23 (Just Earth News): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has sounded the alarm over the fact that two journalists in Gambia have been held for more than two weeks without access to lawyers or their family members.
Libya: UN voices extreme concern at worsening humanitarian situation in Benghazi
Nov 23, 2016, at 03:48 am
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations is extremely concerned by the continued worsening humanitarian situation in Ganfouda area in the Libyan city of Benghazi due to increased hostilities over the past week, a senior UN aid official in the North African country said on Tuesday.
Trump lists plans to make America great again for everyone
Nov 22, 2016, at 07:09 pm
Washington, Nov 22 (IBNS): Providing an update to the American people on the White House transition, US President-elect Donald Trump listed out plans to 'make America great again for everyone'.
Trump bats for Farage as UK ambassador to US
Nov 22, 2016, at 07:03 pm
Washington, Nov 22 (IBNS): US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday batted for UKIP leader Nigel Farage as the UK ambassador to the Unites States of America.
Heavy snow in China results in 56-vehicle pile up, 17 dead
Nov 22, 2016, at 06:30 pm
New Delhi, Nov 22 (IBNS): In China, heavy snow triggered a 56-vehicle pile-up that left 17 dead and 37 injured, according to media reports on Tuesday.
In wake of violence, UN entities in Colombia underscore their commitment to protect civilians
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:33 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over recent violence, including killings, that targeted social leaders in several conflict-affected areas in Colombia, the United Nations Mission in the country, as well as the UN Country Team, underlined the need to protect civilians and to build communal harmony.
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:32 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): A new piece of Israeli legislation would enable the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land and if passed, would deal yet another severe blow to hopes of lasting peace in the region, according to a United Nations human rights expert.
Even as HIV treatment soars, young women still face high infection risk, UN warns
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:31 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations warned on Monday that while more people than ever are accessing antiretroviral treatment for HIV, girls aged 15 to 24, transitioning to womanhood, face many HIV-related challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and called for a life-cycle approach to finding solutions for everyone, at all stages of life.
UN Women’s ‘Orange the World’ kicks off 16 days of activism to fight gender-based violence
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:30 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): The extent to which violence is embedded in society means that uprooting it is everyone’s job, senior United Nations official said on Monday, lamenting that violence against women and girls continue to be a low priority on the international development agenda and urging more action – and more funding – to end the pandemic of such violence now, once and for all.
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:29 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): Emphasizing that month after month he returns to the Security Council with new reports of ever-worsening human suffering in Syria, the top United Nations humanitarian official on Monday urged the 15-member body to act now and end the protracted conflict.
UN names former astronaut Scott Kelly as ‘Champion for Space’
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:28 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): As part of a high-level United Nations forum under way in the United Arab Emirates aimed at exploring the role of space in socio-economic and sustainable development, the UN appointment of astronaut Scott Kelly as ‘United Nations Champion for Space.’
Ban welcomes Haiti elections, urges parties to show statesmanship as process moves forward
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:27 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the holding of elections in Haiti on 20 November, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday stressed that the process “is crucial to ending the current governance vacuum†and urged all the parties involved “to show statesmanship at this critical time for the country.â€
UN experts express 'deep concern' over attempt to block LGBT rights monitor
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:26 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): With Member States in the United Nations General Assembly attempting to block the creation of the mandate of an Independent Expert to tackle violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a joint committee of UN human rights experts warned that the action can have a very harmful impact on the work of Human Rights Council.
Nov 22, 2016, at 12:25 pm
New York, Nov 22 (Just Earth News): Condemning illegal fishing and labour exploitation in the world’s oceans, the United Nations agriculture and labour agencies, joining forces with the Vatican, underlined on Monday the need for collective, global action to end labour and human rights abuse along the entire fisheries value chain.
Nov 21, 2016, at 02:15 pm
New York, Nov 21 (Just Earth News): Noting that the electoral process in Somalia is “going much better than many predicted,†the United Nations envoy in the country underlined the need to ensure that the legitimacy of the process is preserved and called on electoral bodies to investigate any credible reports of violations of rules and regulations.