UN refugee chief takes over at time of record numbers and unprecedented challenges
Jan 05, 2016, at 02:31 pm
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Filippo Grandi of Italy, a veteran of United Nations efforts to help refugees, took up his post on Monday as head of the UN refugee agency at a time of unprecedented challenges, with record numbers of people worldwide forced to flee war and persecution.
Ban calls on Iran, Saudi Arabia to avoid exacerbating tensions after executions
Jan 05, 2016, at 02:30 pm
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has phoned the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran to urge both countries to avoid actions that could further exacerbate tensions after the recent Saudi executions, the attack on the Saudi embassy in Iran, and the rupture in diplomatic ties.
Lebanon: UN officials urge restraint by all parties on exchange of fire with Israel
Jan 05, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the commander of the UN peacekeeping force there have urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint to prevent any escalation after that two Israeli army vehicles were attacked south of the Blue Line and Israeli forces returned artillery fire.
UN officials dismayed by Saudi executions, urge commuting all death sentences
Jan 04, 2016, at 01:06 pm
New York, Jan 4 (Just Easrth News/IBNS): Top United Nations officials have expressed deep dismay and regret over Saturday's executions by Saudi Arabia of 47 people, including the cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, and called on the country's authorities to commute all death sentences.
Tehran: Iranian protesters ransack Saudi Embassy over Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr execution
Jan 03, 2016, at 07:16 pm
Baghdad, Jan 3 (IBNS): Iranian protesters ransacked and set ablaze a part of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Saturday over the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.
US expresses concern over Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr execution
Jan 03, 2016, at 02:38 pm
Washington Jan 3 (IBNS) The US has expressed its concern over the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.
Libya: UN envoy holds New Year talks to boost support for unity accord
Jan 03, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jan 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Strife-torn Libya begins 2016 with a ray of hope and the possibility of rediscovering peace in unity, the top United Nations envoy to the country has stressed in a New Year's Day message as he held talks with a cross-section of political leaders.
Saudi Arabia executes Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr
Jan 02, 2016, at 08:42 pm
Riyadh, Jan 2 (IBNS): Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people on Saturday in connection with terrorism charges, media reports said.
Tel Aviv: Man opens fire, kills 2 and injures 7 in pub
Jan 02, 2016, at 04:48 pm
Tel Aviv, Jan 2 (IBNS) A birthday party turned morbid for a mob in a pub as a man opened fire, killing at least two people and injuring another seven on Friday afternoon, according to reports.
Yemen: UN agency appeals to all sides to allow food in for thousands under siege
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:31 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday appealed to all parties to the conflict in Yemen to allow food in for hundreds of thousands of hungry people under siege in the central city of Taiz, who have been deprived of supplies for many weeks.
Sanitation becomes UN human right in enhanced fight against deadly infections
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:29 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With more than 2.5 billion people worldwide, one third of the total population, living without access to proper toilets, the United Nations General Assembly has recognised sanitation as a separate human right in a bid to curb a major source of deadly infections.
Dialogue needed between UN, troop and police-contributors: Security Council
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:28 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Security Council on Thursday, noting "frustrations on all sides," highlighted the need to improve dialogue between the United Nations Secretariat and the countries that provide troops and police personnel for the numerous peace operations deployed around the world.
UN tribunal on Rwandan genocide formally closes – role in fight against impunity
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:26 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations tribunal set up 21 years ago to judge those guilty for the genocide in Rwanda of more than 800,000 people – overwhelmingly Tutsi, and also moderate Hutu, Twa and others – formally closed on Thursday after delivering 45 judgments as part of the Organization’s efforts to stamp out impunity for crimes against humanity.
UN mission in Liberia looking into alleged misconduct by peacekeepers
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:24 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has dispatched a preliminary fact-finding team to look into an allegation that two members of its military personnel were involved in a possible case of serious misconduct involving the beating of a teenage boy.
First-round vote in strife-torn Central African Republic undeniable success: UN envoy
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:22 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Wednesday's presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), a major step on the path to stability after two years of conflict between Muslims and Christians, were an "undeniable success" with a massive turnout, the top United Nations official there said on Thursday.
Haiti: Two UN female police officers found dead in their house
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has announced the death of two female police officers, whose bodies were found in their house in the northern town of Cap-Haïtien.
Japanese-Korean accord on comfort women must be speedily implemented: UN official
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:18 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Commending the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea on their landmark agreement to resolve the longstanding issue of 'comfort women,' a senior United Nations human rights official on Thursday called for its speedy implementation to heal the still raw wound.
Burundi: Ban calls on all sides to avert crisis by engaging in political dialogue
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:16 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Hailing the resumption of talks between the Burundian parties in Entebbe, Uganda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged all sides to engage in constructive dialogue as renewed violence prompts fears of a relapse into the decades of civil war that killed tens of thousands of people.
Fire in Dubai hotel injures 14
Jan 01, 2016, at 02:30 pm
New Delhi, Jan 1 (IBNS) At least 14 people were injured as a fire broke out in a luxury Dubai hotel on Thursday night, media reports said.
UN peacekeepers help provide security as Central African Republic holds elections
Dec 31, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Dec 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations peacekeepers were out in force at polling stations throughout the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday as the country voted in presidential and legislative elections, a major step on the path to stability after two years of conflict between Muslims and Christians.
Refugees and migrants braving seas to flee to Europe in 2015 top one million: UN
Dec 31, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Dec 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Refugees and migrants fleeing to Europe by sea this year have passed one million, according to figures just released by the UN refugee agency, many on perilous trips aboard inadequate vessels run by people smugglers, with at least 3,735 more believed drowned.
Burkina Faso's new government an achievement for whole Sahel region: Ban
Dec 31, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Dec 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The inauguration of Burkina Faso's new president marks a significant development for the whole sub-Saharan Sahel region on the path away from tension and disputed elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said, also commending the opposition for their prompt acceptance of the election results.
Iraq: Ban congratulates PM al-Abadi on recapture of Ramadi from ISIL
Dec 31, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Dec 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to congratulate him on the success of the Iraqi security forces in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), calling the liberation of the city of Ramadi an important victory.
Sustainable Development Goals to kick in with start of new year
Dec 31, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Dec 31 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As 2015 comes to an end, and with it the 15-year cycle of the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations officially will usher in – on 1 January 2016 – an even more ambitious set of goals to banish a whole host of social ills by 2030.
UN declares end to Ebola in Guinea; all three host countries free
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Dec 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations health agency on Tuesday declared the end of Ebola virus transmission in Guinea, where the epidemic began two years ago before spreading to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone and, ultimately by land and air travel to seven other countries, killing over 11,300 people.
Ban takes to radio waves of Central African Republic to appeal for peaceful polls
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Dec 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took to the radio waves of the Central African Republic (CAR) to appeal to voters for a massive turn-out in Wednesday's presidential poll, a major step in efforts to stabilize the country amid conflict between Muslims and Christians.
Unusual weather worldwide calls for urgent preventive action: UN official
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Dec 30 (Just Earth news/IBNS): Extreme tornadoes in the United States over Christmas, abnormal snowfalls in Mexico, and heavy flooding in South America and the United Kingdom show that governments must take more preventive action to reduce human and economic losses from weather-related disasters, a senior United Nations official warned on Tuesday.
People of African descent must be included in climate change decisions: UN experts
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Dec 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): People of African descent, often the poorest and most marginalized in society, are among those set to be most adversely affected by climate change, yet they barely figured in the recent Paris climate summit, a United Nations expert group warned on Tuesday, calling for their full inclusion.
South African special forces commander appointed to lead UN troops in DR Congo
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Dec 30(Just Earth News/IBNS): A former South African special forces commander with previous United Nations peacekeeping experience has been appointed to lead the troops serving with the world body’s mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it was announced on Tuesday.
UN delivers medicine for 1.2 million people in war-ravaged central Yemen
Dec 29, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Dec 29 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations health agency has delivered more than 100 tonnes of medicines and supplies for 1.2 million people in strife-torn Yemen's central Taiz governorate, where over 3 million people, almost 400,000 of them internally displaced, are in dire need of humanitarian aid.