UN chief welcomes deployment of regional force to combat terrorism in the Sahel

New York, June 23(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the deployment by the so-called Group of Five (G5) – Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger – of a joint force to tackle the threat of terrorism and organized crime in the Sahel region.

Strengthen existing protections to curb negative impact of sanctions, UN rights expert urges EU

New York, June 23(Just Earth News): Noting progress made by the European Union (EU) to ensure that its sanctions allow for legal remedy and offer a measure of due process, a United Nations expert has called for further strengthening such measures to ensure that the human rights of those impacted are protected to the greatest extent.

Twin blasts rock Pakistan, 25 killed

Islamabad, June 23 (IBNS): Twin blasts rocked Pakistan's densely populated area of Kurram Agency's Parachinar city on Friday, killing at least 25 people, media reports said.

South Asian popular culture focus of international conference

London, June 23 (IBNS): More than 30 distinguished academics from around the world are heading to Birmingham (UK) this week, as part of an international conference that focuses on the past, present and future of South Asian popular culture.

Global narcotics market 'thriving;' range of available drugs diversifying at alarming pace – UN

New York, June 23 (JEN): Of the quarter of a billion people who used drugs in 2015, about 29.5 million – or 0.6 per cent of the global adult population – were engaged in “problematic use” and suffered from drug use disorders, including dependence, according to report out on Thursday from the United Nations drugs and crime agency.

Millions could escape poverty by finishing secondary education, says UN cultural agency

New York, June 23 (JEN): While a new United Nations study shows that the global poverty rate could be more than halved if all adults completed secondary school, data show high out-of-school rates in many countries, making it likely that education completion levels will remain well below that target for generations.

UNESCO chief deplores destruction of iconic mosque and minaret in Iraq's Mosul

New York, June 23 (JEN): The head of the United Nations cultural agency on Thursday deplored the destruction of historic religious architecture in Iraq's Mosul city by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) fighters.

In Uganda, UN chief meets with South Sudanese refugees, urges world to show solidarity

New York, June 23 (JEN) With Uganda hosting almost one million South Sudanese refugees “as sisters and brothers and sharing with them their land and everything they have,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday urged the international community to show solidarity with those that had fled their homes, as well as with the Ugandan Government and people.

Iraq's children caught in cycle of violence and poverty as conflict escalates, UNICEF warns

New York, Jun 23 (JEN): The past three years of intensifying conflict in Iraq have left the country's children trapped in a grinding cycle of violence and poverty, an assessment out on Thursday by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned, calling on the warring parties to immediately end hostilities.

UN chief appoints Lebanese official as head of operations in Libya

New York, Jun 23 (JEN): A Lebanese political science professor and political advisor to the United Nations in Iraq has been appointed as the Organization's top official in Libya.

Sri Lanka's food gap widens in wake of regional floods and drought, UN agencies warn

New York, Jun 23 (JEN): An extreme drought followed by floods has affected large swathes of cropland in Sri Lanka, United Nations agencies reported today, warning that the disaster threatens the food security of some 900,000 people.

Many aid groups unable to manage war zone risks, says UN-backed report

New York, Jun 23 (JEN): Humanitarian aid workers want to help people in some of the biggest war zones, but extreme risks and threats are paralyzing their operations, a United Nations-backed report on Thursday concluded.

At least 5 killed, 12 injured in Pakistan's Quetta bomb blast

Quetta, Pakistan, June 23 (IBNS) : At least five people were killed and 12 injured in a car bomb explosion near Shohada Square in north-west Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday morning, Radio Pakistan said.

Healthcare has always been something bigger than politics: Obama's subtle jab at Trump

Washington, Jun 23 (IBNS): While US President Donald Trump has been busy criticising his predecessor's healthcare policies since taking over, former president Barak Obama broke his silence finally with a Facebook post of an open letter on Thursday.

Mexico second deadliest country in the world, says Trump

Washington, Jun 23 (IBNS): Mexico is the second deadliest country in the world according to US President Donald Trump, who wants to put up a fence along the US-Mexico border.