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.

Afghanistan: Heavy explosion occurs near Indian Consulate

Mar 02, 2016, at 09:00 pm

Jalalabad, Mar 2 (IBNS) A heavy explosion took place outside the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Wednesday, reports said.

Jalalabad: Heavy explosion heard outside the Indian Consulate

Mar 02, 2016, at 07:59 pm

Jalalabad, Mar 2 (IBNS) Heavy explosion rocked the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, reports said.

US presidential nominations: Trump and Clinton win big on Super Tuesday

Mar 02, 2016, at 06:25 pm

New York, Mar 2 (IBNS) In the run up to the US presidential elections to be held in November, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are in a strong position to win their respective party nominations with a series of victories in what the media as dubbed the Super Tuesday elections, the biggest day of the primary campaign.

NATO Secretary General welcomes change of command in Afghanistan

Mar 02, 2016, at 05:33 pm

Kabul, Mar 2 (IBNS) General John “Mick” Nicholson assumed command of NATO’s Resolute Support mission from General John F. Campbell on Wednesday, a NATO press release said.

Human rights treaties are 'bedrock of sound governance,' says top UN official marking 50th anniversary

Mar 02, 2016, at 03:16 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking 50 years since the unanimous adoption of two United Nations human rights treaties – respectively promoting respect for civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights – a top UN official on Tuesday said the landmark covenants have helped extend rights to people crushed by tyranny and discrimination for generations.

UN hails launch of 'Day of School Feeding' as vital to Africa's development efforts

Mar 02, 2016, at 03:02 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations joined the African Union Tuesday in hailing African countries on the inaugural "Africa Day of School Feeding," as part of a key strategy to address the continent's development challenges through home-grown school meal programmes.

Senior UN relief official calls for end to discrimination against displaced Muslims in Myanmar

Mar 02, 2016, at 03:00 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Many of the Muslims displaced by inter-communal violence in Myanmar are still prevented from moving freely and often denied access to local hospitals, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said on Tuesday, calling for an end to such discriminatory practices.

Pakistan: Mumtaz Qadri buried

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:57 pm

Islamabad, Mar 2 (IBNS): Amid tight security Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, was buried in Bara Kahu area near Pakistan's Islamabad city on Tuesday, media reports said.

Iraq: UN reports more than 400 civilians killed in February; cites 'viciousness' of attacks

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:49 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq claimed the lives of 670 people, including 410 civilians, in February 2016, the United Nations political mission in that country has reported.

Ban says Europe's border restrictions not in line with international law 'or human decency'

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:47 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In Spain on Tuesday evening, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the country's efforts to address some of “the most urgent issues on the international agenda,” including the plight of asylum seekers fleeing across the Mediterranean, and the devastating war in Syria.

War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:46 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.

War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:43 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.

Syria: UN-mediated peace talks to resume on 9 March

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:39 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday announced that intra-Syrian peace talks he has been mediating in Geneva will resume next Wednesday, 9 March.

United Nations News Centre - 'Stand out and stand together,' says UN on Zero Discrimination Day

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:37 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations agency leading the world’s HIV/AIDS response Tuesday called on the international community to celebrate individuality, as it observed Zero Discrimination Day, stressing that embracing diversity brings valuable benefits to all societies around the world.

UN warns of imminent humanitarian crisis in Greece amid disarry in Europe over asylum

Mar 02, 2016, at 02:36 pm

New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Europe faces an imminent humanitarian crisis, largely of its own making, following a rapid build-up of people in already over-stretched Greece, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Tuesday.

NATO Secretary General to visit the United Arab Emirates

Mar 02, 2016, at 03:22 am

New York, Mar 1 (IBNS) NATO on Tuesday said its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Secretary General in Baghdad: NATO stands with Iraq in the fight against extremism

Mar 02, 2016, at 01:44 am

Baghdad, Mar 1 (IBNS) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the bravery of Iraqi security forces and highlighted NATO support during an official visit to Iraq on Tuesday.

2030 Agenda's promise of well-managed migration and mobility must become a reality - UN deputy chief

Mar 01, 2016, at 03:22 pm

New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is that well-managed migration and mobility will benefit migrants and their families as well as countries of origin and destination, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General said on Monday, urging Member States to work together to “make sure this promise becomes a reality.”

Women and girls should be at core of disaster risk reduction, UN human rights monitors told

Mar 01, 2016, at 03:21 pm

New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Women and girls need to be at the core of disaster risk reduction, given that they often bear the brunt of climate change and hazards such as storms and floods, United Nations experts tasked with monitoring implementation of a landmark UN convention on ending discrimination against women heard on Monday.