UN General Assembly – 'Parliament for all people' – celebrates 70th anniversary
Jan 12, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, Jan 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking the 70th anniversary of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said the body has truly become the "Parliament for all people."
Syria: UN and partners get relief convoy into besieged town of Madaya
Jan 12, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Jan 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A humanitarian convoy has finally reached the besieged Syrian town of Madaya with life-saving health and food supplies from the United Nations and its partners for the 42,000 desperate residents after reports of people starving to death under encirclement by pro-Government forces.
Ban calls on global community to stand with Haiti on eve of 6th anniversary of earthquake
Jan 12, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Jan 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the United Nations prepares to mark the sixth anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and pay tribute to the more than 200,000 victims who perished, including 102 UN personnel, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on the international community to "stand with Haiti" as it moves forward to rebuild.
Challenges in Mali need to be 'urgently defeated' – UN peacekeeping chief
Jan 12, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Jan 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite considerable progress in Mali, the United Nations peacekeeping chief on Monday warned that the peace process in the country remains fragile, and stressed the need to urgently defeat political, security and humanitarian challenges.
Baghdad: Gunmen take hostages in mall, 7 killed
Jan 12, 2016, at 04:37 am
Baghdad, Jan 11 (IBNS): Gunmen on Monday blew up a car bomb, resorted to gunfire in a crowded area and took hostages in a shopping mall in Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing at least seven people, media reports said.
Yemen: Doctors Without Borders Hospital bombed, 4 killed
Jan 11, 2016, at 01:59 pm
Sanaa, Jan 11 (IBNS) International medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders has said a projectile hit a hospital in northern Yemen which killed at least four people.
Saudi-Iran tensions will not hamper efforts to resolve Syria conflict: UN envoy
Jan 11, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, Jan 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, concluded on Sunday his regional consultations with meetings in Tehran, where he received assurances from his interlocutors that regional current tensions would not affect Iran's engagement in facilitating the holding of upcoming Geneva talks on ending the crisis in Syria.
Stockholm Skavsta Airport evacuated after traces of explosive powder found in luggage
Jan 11, 2016, at 02:34 am
Stockholm, Jan 10 (IBNS) Parts of Stockholm-Skavsta Airport in Sweden were evacuated after traces of explosive powder were found on a luggage on Sunday, reports said.
North Korea bomb test: South Korea, U.S. deploy B-52 strategic bomber over Korean Peninsula
Jan 11, 2016, at 01:06 am
Seoul, Jan 10 (IBNS) Days after North Korea said it has conducted a hydrogen bomb test, The United States' B-52 Strato fortress strategic bomber flew over South Korea, media reports said.
Russia raids on Syria kills 57
Jan 10, 2016, at 03:13 pm
Beirut, Jan 10 (IBNS) At least 57 people were killed as Russian warplanes targeted with missiles the Administrative Court of Jabhat Al-Nusra in Syrian city Maarrat al-Nu’man, a monitor said on Sunday.
UN special envoy continues regional meetings ahead of 25 January intra-Syrian talks
Jan 10, 2016, at 02:29 pm
New York, Jan 10 (IBNS) Continuing his regional consultations ahead of United Nations-facilitated talks on resolving the crisis in Syria, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura had a useful meeting today in Damascus with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic, Walid Mouallem.
Drug lord recaptured by Mexican authorities
Jan 10, 2016, at 04:39 am
Los Mochis, Jan 9 (IBNS): In a major victory for Mexican authorities, drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been recaptured from Los Mochis on Friday.
US wants Pakistan to act fast against Pathankot terror attack perpetrators
Jan 09, 2016, at 06:05 pm
Washington/Islamabad, Jan 9 (IBNS) Talking tough on the Pak terrorists' attack on Pathankot Air Force base, the US has asked Pakistan to act fast on the perpetrators of the attack, reports said.
Egypt: Tourists killed by suspected ISIS militants
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:59 pm
Cairo, Jan 9 (IBNS): At least two suspected ISIS militants stormed into a hotel in Egypt's Hurghada town and killed three foreign tourists , media reports said.
Yemen: UN rights chief urges government to reverse decision to expel envoy
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:37 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday urged the Government of Yemen to reverse its decision to declare his Representative in the strife-torn country persona non grata [unwelcomed person], saying that it was "unwarranted, counter-productive and damaging to the reputation of the Government and its coalition partners."
Alarming outbreak of violence in new area of South Sudan uproots 15,000: UN
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:35 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Fighting between armed groups and Government soldiers and an apparent breakdown in law and order in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, with hundreds of houses burned down or looted, has uprooted 15,000 people over the past five weeks, and 500 a day are now pouring into Uganda, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Friday.
Oral cholera vaccines to double to 6 million doses after WHO approves new supplier
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:33 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Faced with a global shortage of oral cholera vaccines (OCV), the United Nations health agency announced on Friday that supply should double this year to six million doses, with further increases later, after it approved a third producer to fight a disease that kills up to 142,000 people annually.
Calling state of besieged Syrian town 'horrendous,' UN seeks humanitarian access
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the United Nations and its partners struggled on Friday to gain humanitarian access to the Government-beseiged Syrian city of Madaya, amid reports of people starving to death or being killed while trying to leave, UN officials called the situation "horrendous…ghastly," and a potential war crime.
Australian national takes the helm as new UN disaster risk reduction chief
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:30 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News): Following his appointment by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Robert Glasser, an experienced leader and thinker on development issues, took up his new role this week as head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
Ban concerned about intensification of airstrikes and ground fighting in Yemen
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said he is "deeply concerned" about the intensification of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes and ground fighting and shelling in Yemen, despite repeated calls for a renewed cessation of hostilities.
Chad: UN provides funds for scores displaced by Boko Haram violence
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:26 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With nearly 200,000 people in Chad in need of urgent aid – 50,000 of them uprooted by Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria – the United Nations emergency fund on Friday announced a $7 million grant, the second in five months, and called on international donors to provide much more.
Security Council urges Libyan parties to come together to combat terrorists
Jan 09, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Strongly condemning Thursday's terrorist attack on a security training centre in Zliten, Libya, and in the wake of that deadly incident and the recent attacks on the country’s oil infrastructure, the United Nations Security Council has urged all Libyan parties to joint together to combat terrorist threats by implementing the recent agreement on a unity government.
ISIS fighter publicly executes his own mother
Jan 08, 2016, at 09:58 pm
London Jan 8 (IBNS): In a shocking episode, an ISIS fighter has executed his own mother in front of hundreds of citizens on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.
African Union-UN peacekeepers ambushed in Darfur; one injured, weapons stolen
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:24 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) A joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping patrol was ambushed in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region today by an unidentified armed group, who greatly outnumbered it and seized a machine gun, four rifles and rounds of ammunition.
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS ) Welcoming today's announcement of the results of the first round of the presidential elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations envoy for the country has invited the two candidates that will participate in an upcoming run-off poll, "to maintain the spirit of peace and restraint that has prevailed" throughout the process thus far.
UN agency condemns demolition of homes of Palestinian Bedouins in West Bank
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:17 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Condemning the demolition by Israeli authorities of the homes of Palestinian Bedouins in the West Bank, a senior United Nations relief official on Friday called on Israel to end such destruction and halt its plans to forcibly relocate Bedouin families.
Solutions needed to stem global refugee crisis, says new UN agency chief
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:15 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) With record numbers of refugees and displaced people worldwide, the new head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is urging greater diplomatic efforts to find solutions to the conflicts and abuses driving people from their homes.
'Libya cannot afford to remain divided,' says UN envoy, deploring latest deadly terrorist attack
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:07 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Condemning the "reprehensible" deadly terrorist attack on a security training centre on Thursday in Libya’s coastal city of Zliten, the top United Nations official in the country said the incident again shows the urgent need for all stakeholders to press ahead with forming a recently-agreed unity government.
Yemen: Ban condemns expulsion of UN rights official; 'extremely concerned' for staff
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the Government of Yemen’s decision to expel the United Nations Human Rights representative in the war-torn country, voicing “extreme concern†for the safety of the remaining national and international staff.
UN calls for humanitarian access to besieged areas in Syria, welcomes new approvals from Government
Jan 08, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Jan 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations is calling on Friday for unimpeded humanitarian access to reach people in need in hard-to-reach and besieged areas of Syria, while welcoming the recent approval by the Government to access the towns of Madaya, Foah and Kefraya.