Iraq: IS suicide bombers kill at least 14
May 15, 2016, at 10:38 pm
Baghdad, May 15 (IBNS) At least 14 people were killed by IS suicide bombers in an attack at a gas plant near Baghdad, according to reports.
Yemen: UN-mediated peace talks continue, with consensus on some issues
May 15, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News):In his latest update on the Yemeni peace talks currently under way in Kuwait, the United Nations envoy for the conflict-torn country reported that the two delegations discussed proposals to bridge the gap between their respective visions, reaching consensus on some issues.
Security Council 'deeply disappointed' over failed election deadlines in Haiti
May 15, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council has expressed its deep disappointment that Haitian actors failed to meet the election and inauguration deadlines agreed upon in the February political accord, calling on all actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order.
Afghanistan: Four killed in suicide bombing
May 15, 2016, at 12:14 am
Kabul, May 14 (IBNS): At least four people were killed in a car suicide bombing on Afghan Local Police (ALP) academy at Nadali district of southern Helmand province in Afghanistan on Saturday, media reports said.
‘We have an agenda before us’ – UN officials reiterate need for measures against sexual abuse
May 14, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Briefing the General Assembly on the challenges being faced and progress being made to end the exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers, senior UN officials on Friday indicated that immediate concerns have been focused on providing protection and support to the victims, and reiterated the need for collective efforts to put stronger measures in place to ensure prevention and greater accountability.
Wrapping up official visit to Portugal, Ban receives ‘Order of Liberty’ medal
May 14, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the final day of his visit to Portugal, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday received a medal in honour of his distinguished services to the cause of democracy and freedom.
‘Paramount importance’ for Lebanon to elect a president – UN envoy
May 14, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):A United Nations envoy for Lebanon reported to the Security Council on Friday on how the current political paralysis, including the two-year presidential vacuum, is negatively impacting the country’s ability to make vital decisions.
Security Council demands Boko Haram ‘immediately’ end all violence in Lake Chad Basin
May 14, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Deeply concerned at the alarming scale of the humanitarian crisis caused by the activities of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region, the United Nations Security Council demanded that the group “immediately and unequivocally cease all violence and all abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.â€
Belarus: execution shows ‘callous disdain’ for international human rights law – UN experts
May 14, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations human rights experts on Friday condemned Belarus’ continued use of the death penalty following reports that a man whose complaint was before the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) had been executed, despite a specific request from the Committee for a stay of execution.
UN Economic and Social Council President urges coherent global action to address El Niño
May 14, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the heels of a United Nations special meeting on El Niño, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has emphasized the need to reduce the impact of the phenomenon by implementing agreed-upon international frameworks in a coherent manner and increasing resilience-building efforts for the development of holistic disaster risk management worldwide.
VIDEO: Sámi rapper SlinCraze encourages indigenous youth to celebrate culture
May 14, 2016, at 01:43 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Rapper Nils Rune Utsi, known by his stage name SlinCraze, speaks an endangered language, lives in a tiny village on the Norwegian Arctic, and this week performed at the United Nations to draw attention to what it’s like to be a young indigenous man living in between two worlds.
May 14, 2016, at 01:42 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Armed clashes between illegal groups fighting for territory in western Colombia are driving a growing number of mostly Afro-Caribbean and indigenous peoples from their homes in Chocó department, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Friday, calling on all parties to the conflict to guarantee the safety of the civilian population.
UN refugee agency reports some 1,000 refugees and migrants rescued off Italian coast
May 14, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Some 1,000 people of various nationalities, including refugee families and unaccompanied children, were rescued yesterday from the Mediterranean Sea, the UN refugee agency said on Friday.
General Assembly elects Norwegian diplomat as head of UN environment programme
May 14, 2016, at 01:40 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following the nomination by the United Nations Secretary-General, the General Assembly on Friday elected Erik Solheim of Norway as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for a four-year term.
UN agricultural agency and European Union step up efforts to combat illegal timber trade
May 14, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the European Union (EU) will step up joint efforts to support tropical timber-producing countries in curbing illegal logging, improving forest governance and promoting the trade of legally sourced timber, under a $30 million funding agreement announced on Friday.
In Syria, head of UN agency for Palestine refugees calls for protection to be strengthened
May 14, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The head of the United Nations relief agency charged with the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has just completed a two-day visit to Syria where he met with Palestine refugees and called for their protection to be strengthened.
Paris accord faces ‘first test’ at meeting on climate adaptation funding – UN rights expert
May 14, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement face the first test of their commitment when they meet in Bonn, Germany, next week to negotiate a new mechanism to fund climate adaptation projects, which often displaced indigenous and other communities, a United Nations human rights expert said on Friday.
UN rights office urges Gambia to release detained protesters
May 14, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Expressing deep concern about the situation of dozens of protesters who were arrested during a peaceful rally on 14 and 16 April in the Gambian capital of Banjul, the United Nations human rights arm on Friday urged the Government to release all those who have been detained for simply having exercised their rights to freedom of expression, opinion and assembly.
Turkey: Eight soldiers killed in clash, helicopter crash
May 13, 2016, at 10:46 pm
Ankara, May 13 (IBNS) At least six soldiers were killed on Friday during a helicopter crash and during a clash between the security forces and outlawed Kurdıstan Workers’ Party (PKK), media reports said.
In Portugal, Ban urges end of ‘horrible’ war in Syria in meeting with Syrian students
May 13, 2016, at 01:59 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As part of his visit to Lisbon, Portugal, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday met with a group of Syrian students, commending them for their strength and resilience and stressing that the only sustainable solution to the education crisis in Syria is ending the “horrible†war.
Iraq: UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attacks in Baghdad
May 13, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms the three terrorist attacks that occurred yesterday in Baghdad, which resulted in at least 93 deaths and many more injuries.
Top UN and African Union officials condemn deadly violence at camp for displaced in North Darfur
May 13, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, have jointly condemn Monday’s attacks by armed groups on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp and the shooting at a nearby market in Sortoni, North Darfur.
Weak world economic growth lingers, with only modest improvement seen – UN
May 13, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With little prospects for a turnaround in 2016, growth in the world economy remains weak, posing a challenge to the implementation of development targets, a new United Nations report released on Thursday has found.
UN calls for closer cooperation with African organizations for sustaining peace
May 13, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Stronger partnerships between the United Nations and African regional and sub-regional organizations are necessary to sustain the momentum for peacebuilding in Africa and prevent a lapse into violent conflict, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Thursday, calling for greater efforts to reinforce initiatives and define the parameters of cooperation.
May 13, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): After nearly two decades, the Amendment to the United Nations –backed Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) entered into force on 8 May – strengthening nuclear security and reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism worldwide.
Syria: first 10 days of May ‘disappointing’ for humanitarian work – UN advisor
May 13, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The first 10 days of May have been “disappointing†for aid work in Syria as the breakdown of a truce made aid deliveries dangerous and difficult to plan, the United Nations-appointed humanitarian adviser said on Thursday,as aid agencies announced that Syrian authorities had turned away a convoy to the long-besieged town of Daraya.
May 13, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):According to a United Nations spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been following closely recent events in Brazil, after the country’s Senate voted overnight to suspend President Dilma Rousseff.
New UN-backed report cites climate change among factors fuelling internal displacement
May 13, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Disasters associated with slow processes of environmental change – drought, sea level rise and desertification – demonstrate again the growing importance of climate change as a driver of disaster risk, as senior United Nations official said on Thursday on the heels of the release of a global report which revealed that more than 19 million people in 2015 were forced from their homes by natural hazards
Cambodia: UN experts urge end to attacks against civil society, human rights defenders
May 13, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Thursday called on the Government of Cambodia to stop a clampdown on civil society, human rights defenders, parliamentarians and UN personnel, and instead protect civil society and respect fundamental freedoms in the country.
UN health agency warns of rise in urban air pollution, with poorest cities most at risk
May 13, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than 80 per cent of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), with populations in low-income cities the most at risk for respiratory diseases and other long-term health problem.