Taliban rejects to participate in peace talks with Afghanistan government

Mar 06, 2016, at 02:17 am

Kabul, Mar 5 (IBNS) Taliban has rejected to participate in peace talks with the Afghanistan government.

Bangkok: Boat explosion injured 67

Mar 06, 2016, at 01:16 am

Bangkok, May 5 (IBNS) The engine of a boat taxi exploded in Thailand's capital Bangkok on Saturday which left at least 67 people injured,media reports said.

One Indian nun among 16 killed in Yemen

Mar 05, 2016, at 04:51 pm

Sanaa, Mar 5 (IBNS) Contrary to their earlier claims, the External Affairs Ministry clarified on Friday night that one and not four Indians was among the 16 killed by gunmen in Yemen on Friday when they stormed into an old age home run by the Missionaries of Charity of late Mother Teresa.

‘We must not allow protectors to become predators’ – UN field support chief

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:17 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With 99 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse uncovered by the United Nations in 2015 – 69 of these in countries where peacekeeping operations are deployed – the Organization is Friday presenting its latest report on special measures to protect people from these crimes.

UN refugee chief presents detailed plan to solve crisis in Europe, warning time is ‘running out’

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:17 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Warning Europe is running out of time to solve the current refugee situation, the UN refugee chief Friday outlined a detailed six-point plan ahead of a key meeting of European Union leaders and Turkey in Brussels next week.

Tackling 'triple peril' facing the Sahel region is top priority for UN, Ban says in Mauritania

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With a “triple peril” of environmental degradation, poverty and insecurity facing the Sahel, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday during a visit to Mauritania that improving the situation in the region is a top priority for the United Nations.

Fiji and UN appeal for $38 million to relieve 'catastrophic loss' after Cyclone Winston

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:09 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Government of Fiji and the United Nations on Friday launched an appeal for $38.6 million in critical emergency relief to 350,000 people in need after Cyclone Winston's fury left the island nation “a loss of catastrophic proportions.”

UN joins partners in pledging support for President-elect of Central African Republic

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:08 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations on Friday, in a joint statement with other multilateral organizations, welcomed the final results of the second round of the presidential elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) announced earlier this week, congratulating President-elect Faustin-Archange Touadéra.

Authorities in Apple-FBI case 'risk unlocking Pandora's Box' – UN human rights chief

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:05 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Friday urged United States authorities to proceed with great caution in their legal efforts to break the encryption on an iPhone linked to the investigation into the mass killings in San Bernardino, California, saying the case could have broader implications for digital security and human rights.

Civilians bear brunt of Yemen's unrest, UN human rights office warns

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:03 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The number of civilians killed in Yemen continues to rise, almost doubling between January and February, the United Nations human rights office Friday announced.

Haiti must address prison overcrowding and prolonged pre-trial detention – UN report

Mar 05, 2016, at 02:00 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Haiti has made important steps towards the promotion and protection of human rights but some challenges exist regarding the judicial system, the excessive use of force by state agents and the situation of people returned or deported to Haiti by the Dominican authorities, according to a United Nations report on the human rights situation in that country.

Women's participation rate in parliaments slows, even as more gain top seats – IPU

Mar 05, 2016, at 01:57 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite an increase in the number of women Speakers of Parliament, the number of female parliamentarians across the world rose by only 0.5 percentage points in 2015, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Friday reported, dashing hopes that gender parity in parliament could be achieved within a generation.

'When cultural heritage is under attack, human rights are under attack' – UN expert

Mar 05, 2016, at 01:50 pm

New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The destruction of cultural heritage is a violation of human rights, a United Nations-appointed expert said on Friday, as the international criminal tribunal began a pre-trial procedure for the first-ever case in which charges were brought against the destruction of cultural and religious sites.

Pakistan PM directs security assessment before Pakistan's participation in ICC World T20 in India

Mar 05, 2016, at 03:58 am

Islamabad, Mar 4 (IBNS): Ahead of the ICC World T20 in India, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali to ‘send a team to India’ to assess measures adopted for security of Pakistan cricketers during the tournament.

Former Brazil President detained over Petrobras scandal

Mar 05, 2016, at 01:10 am

Sao Paulo, Mar 4 (IBNS): Brazilian authorities have detained country's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in connection with huge fraud inquiry into the state oil company Petrobras.

NATO SG to meet Prime Minister of Turkey

Mar 04, 2016, at 09:12 pm

New York, Mar 4 (IBNS) NATO Secretary Genera Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu.

Yemen: UN humanitarian chief urges civilian protection, access to all parts of country

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:36 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Protecting civilians amid the unabated conflict in Yemen is the most pressing concern today, the top United Nations relief official told the Security Council, calling on the international community to impress upon the actors their obligations to guard civilians and to facilitate unconditional and sustained access to all parts of the country.

In Burkina Faso, UN chief praises country's hard-won gains to consolidate democracy and development

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:32 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Burkina Faso is making a solid comeback, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday in the country's capital, Ouagadougou, where he praised the Burkinabe Government and people for their perseverance during a series of tests in recent years, and who with UN support, are firmly on a path to consolidated democratic gains and ensure sustainable development.

Governments must commit to eliminating homelessness by 2030, UN rights expert urges

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:29 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Homelessness is found in every country in the world and is spreading with impunity, a United Nations human rights expert on Thursday warned, calling on governments to recognize homelessness as a human rights crisis and commit to its eradication by 2030, in line with the new UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UN human rights experts urge US to increase efforts to address water contamination

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:25 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The situation of lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, is fundamentally about human rights, a group of United Nations experts Thursday said, urging the United States to protect the rights of children and others who are most at risk from pollution and toxic chemicals.

Darfur: top UN and African Union officials call for free movement of peacekeepers and aid workers

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:21 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing deep concern about the upsurge in fighting between the Sudanese Government forces and a rebel group in Darfur, United Nations Secretary-General ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for freedom of movement for UN peacekeepers and humanitarian actors in their continued efforts to protect and support the affected civilians.

Ukraine: growing despair among over three million civilians in conflict zone - UN report

Mar 04, 2016, at 02:09 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite a decrease in the number of civilian casualties in the east of Ukraine over the past few months, a new United Nations report shows that the conflict is severely impacting on the daily life of civilians, with a growing sense of despair and isolation affecting those living in the conflict zone, especially in the areas controlled by the armed groups.

N. Korea launches short-range missiles toward East Sea

Mar 03, 2016, at 02:38 pm

Seoul, Mar 3 (IBNS) North Korea on Thursday fired several short-range missiles toward the East Sea, media reports said.

Twice as many girls as boys will never start school – UNESCO report

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:54 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Almost 16 million girls between the ages six and 11 will never get the chance to learn to read or write in primary school compared to about eight million boys if current trends continue, according to a new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS).

DPR Korea: Ban welcomes Security Council measure tightening and expanding sanctions

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:49 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution that imposes new sanctions and tightens some of its existing measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), due to the country's ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile-related activities that “threaten international peace and security.”

Amid signs of hope in Syria, UNICEF chief sees 'harsh evidence' of war's toll on children

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:46 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Wrapping up his visit to Syria, the head of the United Nations children's agency has urged both the Government and armed opposition groups to facilitate access to all children in need, especially so the UN and its partners can implement a nationwide immunization programme.

Libya 'needs to move ahead now, or risk division and collapse,' UN envoy tells Security Council

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:41 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Libya needs to move ahead now or risk division and collapse, the top United Nations official in the country warned the UN Security Council on Wednesday, while presenting the latest report on political and humanitarian developments.

Drug treaties' aim is health, not 'war on drugs,' says UN expert report

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:40 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The ultimate goal of the international drug control treaties is to ensure the health and welfare of mankind, according to a United Nations-backed report, which this year underscored that the objectives of the conventions are often misinterpreted as mandating a “war on drugs.”

Ban appoints long-serving UN tribunal jurist to head up courts' residual mechanism

Mar 03, 2016, at 01:33 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Judge Theodor Meron of the United States as President of the international body that will carry out the residual functions of the UN war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, for a new term that began on Tuesday.

Afghanistan attack: All attackers killed

Mar 02, 2016, at 10:14 pm

Jalalabad, Mar 2 (IBNS) Security forces have killed all the five militants who had attacked near the Indian consulate in Afghanistan's Jalalabad area on Wednesday, media reports said.