As DR Congo polls approach, UN rights chief warns of threats to free speech, public assembly
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Concluding a four-day mission to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on Thursday commended the country’s efforts to strengthen human rights but cautioned that some of these advances may be under threat, especially what he saw as repression against opposition parties in the coming elections.
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Following its first-ever private discussions with the candidates vying for selection as the next United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Security Council on Thursday conducted the first round of informal polls on those seeking the world’s top diplomatic post.
Syria: After week of ‘horrific’ incidents, UNICEF calls for end to all violence against children
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): In a week marked by the brutal on-camera murder of a 12-year-old boy in Aleppo and the killing of more than 20 children killed during air strikes in Manbij, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for an immediate end to all forms of violence against children in Syria and urged all parties to the conflict there to make every effort to avoid the loss of civilian lives.
2016 on pace to be hottest year ever as climate change trends reach ‘new climax’– UN
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Global temperatures for the first six months of this year reached new highs, setting 2016 on track to be the hottest-ever on record, the United Nations weather agency said on Thursday.
South Sudan: UN human rights expert calls for the release of journalist Alfred Taban
Jul 22, 2016, at 03:01 am
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Thursday urged the Government of South Sudan to immediately release Alfred Taban, a prominent journalist and chief editor of the daily English newspaper, Juba Monitor.
Poland: Suspected owner of online piracy site Kickass Torrents arrested
Jul 22, 2016, at 12:33 am
Warsaw, July 21 (IBNS): The police have arrested a man who is said to be the owner of online piracy website Kickass Torrents from Poland on Wednesday, media reports said.
Dubai residential skyscraper fire brought under control
Jul 21, 2016, at 04:13 pm
Dubai, July 21 (IBNS): A fire, which broke out at a residential skyscraper in Dubai on Wednesday, has been brought under control, officials said.
Turkey: Three months state of emergency declared
Jul 21, 2016, at 03:47 pm
Ankara, July 21 (IBNS): Following a failed coup in the country, Turkey's President has declared a state of emergency for three months in the nation.
UN chief invites leaders to fast-track ratification of Paris climate deal
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:51 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging world leaders to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change and speed up the process to restrict greenhouse gas emissions.
UN agency steps up operations in South Sudan to thwart possible cholera outbreak
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:50 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Dozens of people in South Sudan may have cholera, the United Nations children’s agency on Wednesday announced, saying it is working with partners to step up its operations to avoid a possible cholera outbreak in the country.
South Sudan: Demonstrators protest outside UN compound without incidents
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:49 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A thousand people on Wednesday demonstrated in front of a United Nations compound in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country announced, and dispersed without incidents after handing over a petition.
Mali: UN mission decries deadly attack against Malian military camp
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:47 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack against a military camp and its checkpoints in Nampala, in the central part of the country.
New drive for pediatric HIV treatment launched at global AIDS conference
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:45 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A new global push to end paediatric AIDS by 2020 was launched on Wednesday at the 21st International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest forum devoted to any single health or development issue, said the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday.
UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect girls, women from sexual violence
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:44 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A key adviser to the United Nations children’s agency on Wednesday decried the culture of impunity surrounding sexual violence against women and girls around the world, following a recent case of gang rape in India.
First progress report on Sustainable Development Agenda aims to leave no one behind
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:42 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The first ever progress report on the new global development agenda provides the most up-to-date statistics on poverty, hunger, education and sanitation, among others, so that the world can address urgent global challenges over the next 15 years.
Torching of house in occupied West Bank draws UN official’s concern
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:41 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations official coordinating the peace process toward resolving the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine on Wednesday expressed concern about reports of yet another arson attack targeting a Palestinian family in Duma in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
UN agency starts food aid to 6.5 million people affected by severe drought in Malawi
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:40 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency has launched what is set to become the largest ever emergency food relief operation in Malawi, where an unprecedented El Niño-related drought has left nearly 40 per cent of the population in need of emergency assistance.
Trees contribute to reducing carbon footprints even after being cut down – UN report
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:38 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Forests can contribute greatly to the fight against climate change even after trees have been logged, according to a new United Nations report which looks at the impact of wood products on carbon storage.
UN forum on indigenous issues urges talks between Mexican officials, teacher union wing
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:37 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations forum on indigenous issues on Wednesday urged Mexican officials to meet with a wing of the national union of teachers to resolve the conflict in the southern state of Oaxaca, where violent protests over education took at least six lives.
UN rights chief 'deeply troubled' by conviction of land reform activists in Paraguay
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:35 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday expressed concern over the recent ruling by the Court in Paraguay that convicted 11 land reform protestors, calling on the country's authorities to take urgent measures to ensure fair, independent investigations and guarantee access to justice.
Iraq: UN seeks $284M to start aid response ahead of Mosul military operation
Jul 21, 2016, at 04:01 am
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): One of the top United Nations officials in Iraq is warning that an expected military operation in Mosul will lead to the largest and most dramatic humanitarian crisis in the world, which could impact as many as 1.5 million civilians.
‘World has ignored hepatitis at its peril,’ warns UN health agency ahead of World Day
Jul 21, 2016, at 03:59 am
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News):With some 400 million people around the world infected with hepatitis B and C, the United Nations health agency on Wednesday encouraged countries to boost testing and access to services and medicines for people in need.
One year on, Iran deal ‘best’ way to ensure peaceful nuclear programme – UN chief
Jul 21, 2016, at 03:57 am
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that the nuclear deal agreed to last year by Iran and six world powers is the best way of ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, calling for the comprehensive implementation of the accord, as well as a subsequent Security Council resolution that endorsed it.
UN chief launches first report to track Sustainable Development Goals
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): Launching the first-ever Sustainable Development Goals report on the new global development agenda adopted last year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said that the 15-year undertaking is “off to a good start†but will require all parts of the UN family and its partners to work together.
UN staff in South Sudan facing harassment, obstructions – UN Mission reports
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): The situation around South Sudan remains tense, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country on Tuesday said, calling on all parties to uphold their responsibilities to protect civilians – including UN staff.
Countries need to be reminded they are built on diversity, says UN Deputy Secretary-General
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:23 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Tuesday called for an alternative narrative on migration, where human mobility is seen as a positive development and a driver for economic prosperity and social progress.
Ban urges burden-sharing, solidarity to combat effects of El Niño and mitigate climate change
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:22 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): The lives and livelihoods of more than 60 million people around the world have been turned upside down by the extreme weather events linked to the El Niño phenomenon, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said, calling for a scaled-up, unprecedented response that goes beyond humanitarian action.
Syria: Food convoy reaches Serghaya, as UN agencies urge protection of aid workers and sites
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:20 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): As humanitarian convoys gain access to hard-to-reach areas in Syria, some United Nations agencies are speaking out about fresh dangers to aid workers.
Children starving in parts of Nigeria held by Boko Haram, UN children’s agency warns
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:19 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): About a quarter of a million children in Borno state, north-eastern Nigeria, are suffering from severe malnutrition, the United Nations children’s agency on Tuesday announced. Of those, about one in five will die if they do not receive treatment.
Thousands flee to Uganda to escape renewed violence in South Sudan – UN refugee agency
Jul 20, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, July 20 (Just Earth News): More than 5,000 people – primarily women and children under the age of 18 years – have fled from South Sudan to neighbouring Uganda since the latest violence in the country erupted on 7 July, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).