Starvation 'as a weapon' is a war crime, Ban warns parties to conflict in Syria
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:10 pm
New York, Jan 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With United Nations humanitarian teams witnessing scenes in Syria that "haunt the soul," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said the situation is "utterly unconscionable," and warned that the use of starvation as a weapon during conflict is a war crime.
UN calls for regional coordination to aid refugees fleeing Central American violence
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Jan 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday called for urgent regional coordination to help people fleeing deadly violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in the light of plans by the United States to expand its resettlement programme to benefit them.
Terrorism remains major threat in West Africa despite electoral progress: UN official
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 15 ( Just Earth News/IBNS) While peaceful and credible elections were held in several countries in West Africa in the past six months, violent extremism continues to pose a serious threat throughout the area, the top United Nations official for the region warned on Thursday.
Reviving domestic demand key to sustainable growth in Asia-Pacific : UN report
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Jan 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown, reinvigorating domestic and intra-regional demand plays a crucial role in reviving economies in Asia and the Pacific, according to a newly released-United Nations report, which also recommends a proactive fiscal policy emphasising productivity and addressing inequalities in the region.
Islamic State claims responsibility of Jakarta attacks
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:57 am
Jakarta, Jan 14 (IBNS) The Islamic State on Thursday officially claimed responsibility for the gun and bomb assault in the heart of Indonesia's capital Jakarta in which seven people were killed.
NATO Deputy Secretary General to attend the Snow Meeting in Lithuania
Jan 14, 2016, at 08:25 pm
New York, Jan 14 (IBNS) NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow will attend the Snow Meeting in Lithuania on 14 and 15 January 2016.
Six dead in Jakarta terror attack, four attackers killed
Jan 14, 2016, at 08:10 pm
Jakarta, Jan 14 (IBNS) At least six people were killed in a gun and bomb assault in the heart of Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Thursday, reports said.
Six killed in Indonesia terror attack
Jan 14, 2016, at 05:36 pm
Jakarta, Jan 14 (IBNS) At least six people were killed in multiple blasts on Thursday in the heart of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, which president Joko Widodo a terror act.
Mali: UN Security Council calls on all parties to fully implement the peace agreement
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:35 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a briefing on Monday on the situation in Mali by UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous, the Security Council has stressed that all parties signatory to June’s peace agreement bear the primary responsibility for achieving lasting peace in the country.
UN funds seek to aid 1.7 million Africans uprooted by Boko Haram violence
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:34 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With the Lake Chad Basin now the fastest-growing displacement crisis in Africa as 2.7 million people, 1.5 million of them children, have been uprooted by Boko Haram terrorists, the United Nations emergency fund has announced new grants of $31 million to four countries in the region.
'No-one left behind' is ethical imperative of development agenda: UN deputy chief
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:33 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The universal inclusiveness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an ethical imperative, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told a forum for UN Member States on Wednesday on ethics for development.
Donor support helps UN agency continue Humanitarian Air Service across Sudan
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:31 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday welcomed significant contributions from donors towards the operation in Sudan last year of the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which serves as a vital aid link in the country.
Final provisional results for legislative polls in Central Africa announced: UN mission
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:27 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on Wednesday reported that the final provisional results for the legislative elections have been announced by the Autorité Nationale des Elections (ANE), with 21 candidates, including three women, being elected by an absolute majority during the first round.
West Africa set to be declared free of Ebola virus transmission, Ban calls for vigilance
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:25 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the eve of West Africa being declared free of Ebola virus transmission, top United Nations officials on Wednesday highlighted the "extraordinary" global cooperation mustered to tackle an epidemic that killed over 11,300 people, at the same time calling for vigilance against future flare-ups.
UN chief condemns deadly suicide bombing at mosque in Cameroon
Jan 14, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jan 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned a deadly suicide bombing in the village of Kouyape, in the Far North region of Cameroon, during morning prayer at a mosque.
Barrack Obama delivers last speech as US President
Jan 13, 2016, at 04:23 pm
Washington, Jan 13 (IBNS) Barrack Obama on Tuesday delivered his last State of Union address as US President, where he spoke about change, tackling terrorism and other burning issues.
Deputy UN chief presents new report on global migrant trends
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:52 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Presenting the key finding of the latest United Nations survey on international migrant trends, the UN Deputy Secretary-General on Tuesday stressed that the issue of migration is one of the most challenging and important that the Organization is taking on in the new global landscape.
Future of 24 million children in conflict zones under threat: UN report
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:49 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Nearly 24 million children living in crisis zones in 22 strife-torn countries are being deprived of a school education, threatening their own future and that of their societies, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday.
Five polio-free years in South-East Asia Region, announces WHO
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:47 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations health agency on Tuesday announced that the South-East Asia Region has completed five years without any case of wild poliovirus, a highly infectious disease that invades the nervous system and for which there is still no cure.
Draft UK surveillance law threatens freedom of expression: UN rights experts
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:45 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations human rights experts have called for a comprehensive review of the United Kingdom’s draft Investigatory Powers bill, warning that if adopted in its present form it could threaten the rights to freedoms of expression and association both inside and outside the country.
Iraq: UN envoy calls on all sides to shun cycle of reprisals following mosque attacks
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:44 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations official in Iraq on Monday appealed to all parties in the strife torn-country to avoid being drawn into a vicious cycle or reprisal attacks following the "outrageous" bombing of six mosques in Muqdadiya in Diyala Province.
Yemen's war-weary children face 'new year of pain and suffering' – UNICEF official
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The ongoing deadly violence in Yemen has left nearly 10 million children facing threats of malnutrition and disease, lack of education, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative to the country warned today, calling for unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need and an end to the conflict.
UN condemns 'despicable' terrorist bombing in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet District
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:40 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the terrorist bombing in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, calling it a "despicable crime targeting the heart of Istanbuls tourist district."
Syria: UN officials give first-hand accounts of horrible desperation in besieged towns
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:35 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As United Nations officials gave on-site accounts of the "horrible and terrible" situation in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya, from 400 critically ill people facing death without immediate medical care to a kilo of rice costing $300, the first emergency evacuation took place today – a five-year-old girl rushed through pro-Government roadblocks for urgent surgery in Damascus.
Mark Zuckerberg triggers vaccine debate
Jan 12, 2016, at 09:40 pm
New York, Jan 12 (IBNS): Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has found himself in the mid of a debate since he posted a picture of himself taking his child to doctor to get immunization shots.
Turkey: Explosion in Istanbul kills 10
Jan 12, 2016, at 09:17 pm
Istanbul, Jan 12 (IBNS) An explosion in Turkish city Istanbul's Sultanahmet area has killed at least 10 people on Tuesday, media reports said.
Explosion hits central Istanbul
Jan 12, 2016, at 08:47 pm
Istanbul, Jan 12 (IBNS) Several people were expected to have been killed as an explosion rocked Turkey's Sultanahmet area in Istanbul on Tuesday, media reports said.
Turkey: Explosion rocks Istanbul
Jan 12, 2016, at 08:13 pm
Istanbul, Jan 12 (IBNS): An explosion rocked Sultanahmet area of Turkey's Istanbul city on Tuesday, media reports said.
Iraq: IS claims responsibility for mall attack
Jan 12, 2016, at 03:21 pm
Baghdad, Jan 12 (IBNS): Militant group IS has claimed responsibility for the attack on a shopping mall in Iraqi capital Baghdad on Monday which killed at least 18 people.
Ban condemns attack on Yemeni hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières
Jan 12, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, Jan 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned Sunday’s attack on a hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Sa’ada province, Yemen, which killed at least four people and injured many others.