Kabul: Suicide bombers killed during standoff near Spanish Embassy
Dec 12, 2015, at 04:21 pm
Kabul, Dec 12 (IBNS) An explosive filled vehicle was detonated by a suicide bomber near the Spanish Embassy in Sherpur Area of Kabul city on Friday, which resulted in a standoff between security officials and the assailants, Khaama Press reported.
Viet Nam: UN rights office alarmed at series of attacks against human rights defenders
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Alarmed by the recent spate of violent attacks on human rights defenders in Viet Nam, the United Nations rights agency on Friday expressed concern at the "apparent failure" of the Vietnamese authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators and urged the Government to take measures to ensure security of all human rights defenders.
As Central Africa prepares to vote, UN rights chief warns of inter-communal strife
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS0: On the eve of a constitutional referendum meant to help stabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) amid conflict between Muslims and Christians, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday voiced deep concern at mounting sectarian language, warning of possible "dramatic consequences" given the highly volatile pre-election atmosphere.
International Mountain Day: UN study reveals hunger trends in highland areas
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While global hunger figures are declining, the number of food insecure people in mountain areas rose 30 per cent over 12 years to nearly 330 million, according to a study released on Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a partner agency on International Mountain Day.
Border blockade on imports sends food and fuel prices skyrocketing in Nepal: UN
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just earth News/IBNS): Warning of severe shortages of food and fuel now plaguing Nepal caused by the ongoing major disruptions in imports across its southern border with India, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday predicted extreme hardship for the land-locked country if prices of basic food staples continue to soar.
Women in US lagging behind in human rights, UN experts report
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While praising the current United States administration for its commitment to women's equality, United Nations experts warned on Friday that the extreme polarization of US politics is “profoundly†affecting the Government’s ability to guarantee women’s human rights, and even to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Ukraine could again slip into cycle of calm giving way to savage fighting: UN official
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A senior United Nations human rights official warned on Friday that the fighting in Ukraine, which has recently decreased, could erupt again with a massive civilian toll in a conflict that has already left over 9,000 people dead and nearly 21,000 injured over the past two years.
Ceasefire in Homs shows a nationwide truce in Syria is possible: UN envoy
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations in Syria and its partners have evacuated more than 300 fighters along with their families from the last rebel-held neighbourhood of the western city of Homs, as part of a local truce the UN Special Envoy for Syria has described as having "great value" toward demonstrating that a nationwide ceasefire is "doable."
Burundi: Ban condemns attacks on military camps
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the attacks by groups of unidentified assailants on military camps in Bujumbura early this morning and said that such acts of violence can lead to a further destabilization of the situation in crisis-torn Burundi.
Libyan parties set 16 December as date to sign political agreement: UN envoy
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The new United Nations envoy for Libya announced on Friday that the parties to the country's political dialogue process have agreed to set 16 December as the target date to sign the UN-facilitated agreement on forming a national unity government, aiming to bring an end to a crisis that has left nearly 2.4 million Libyans in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
Narendra Modi, Shinzo Abe attend Business Leaders Forum
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New Delhi, Dec 12 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attended the Business Leaders Forum here on Saturday .
Afghanistan: Blast rocks Kabul
Dec 12, 2015, at 02:56 am
Kabul ,Dec 11 (IBNS) A blast rocked Sherpoor area in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Friday, officials said.
-1449843430.jpg "Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable Shaheen-III")
Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable Shaheen-III
Dec 12, 2015, at 01:17 am
Rawalpindi, Dec 11 (IBNS): Pakistan on Friday said it has conducted a successful flight test of Shaheen-III surface to surface ballistic missile which has a maximum range of 2750 kilometers.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns Taliban attack at Kandahar Airport
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the Taliban initiated attack at Kandahar airport on 8 December, which reportedly killed 39 civilians, including four children and injured at least 23 civilians.
Ban calls on civil society to keep governments accountable on climate commitments
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Meeting with civil society groups on Thursday at the United Nations climate change conference (COP21), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he counts on grassroots organizations to help keep governments accountable, so they implement what they have committed to in words.
Fundamental freedoms inalienable and inherent – now and always: UN
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking this year's Human Rights Day amid extraordinary global challenges, the United Nations is calling on the world to recognize and guarantee fundamental freedoms – long recognized "as the birthright of all people" – freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Yemen: UN delivers life-saving food aid to nearly 150,000 besieged residents in Taiz
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Braving fighting, airstrikes and checkpoints to bring life-saving aid to Yemenis living in dire conditions under a virtual state of siege, United Nations convoys have reached the central city of Taiz with enough food for nearly 145,000 people for a month, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Thursday.
UN official appeals to donors to aid 53,000 displaced by attacks on Lake Chad islands
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than 50,000 people forced to flee in the wake of attacks on islands of Lake Chad are living in “precarious conditions†in need of food, drinking water, shelter, health care and other services in a situation exacerbated by chronic drought, the top United Nations relief official in Chad says.
World economic growth falls below last forecast, only modest improvement foreseen: UN
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The world economy has fallen below forecasts of even six months ago and will grow only modestly over the next two years due to “cyclical and structural headwinds,†including low commodity prices and stagnant investment, the United Nations reported on Thursday, urging steps to ensure stronger growth.
Powerful El Niño intensifying in Asia and the Pacific region: UN
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The ongoing El Niño weather pattern in the Asia and Pacific is likely to be one of the strongest since 1998 and will continue into early 2016, according to a new United Nations advisory, which urges regional cooperation for early warning, in-season mitigation, and long-term adaptation strategies to curb climate risk.
'We can consign rabies to the history books' with plan to eliminate virus: WHO
Dec 11, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Against the backdrop of one person dying every 10 minutes from rabies and that treatment for those bitten can cost 40 days of wages in some countries, the United Nations announced on Thursday a new framework to eliminate human rabies and save tens of thousands of lives each year by ensuring ready availability of vaccines and treatment, and emphasizing mass dog vaccinations to tackle the disease at its source.
UN human rights chief hails end of death penalty in Mongolia
Dec 11, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Hailing Mongolia's recent abolition of the death penalty, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, commended the move as a "welcome step in the fight for the human rights of all."
UN and Singapore agree to develop information management tool for peacekeeping operations
Dec 11, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations and the Government of Singapore on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of an information management tool in support of UN peacekeeping operations that can aid in enhancing situational awareness, trend analysis and early warning capacities in field missions.
UN rights chief calls for DPR Korea to be referred to International Criminal Court
Dec 11, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Thursday called on the Security Council to refer the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the International Criminal Court, citing continuing gross rights violations, "the institutional nature and severity of which pose a threat to international peace and security."
Rotary International President elect John Germ visits Kolkata
Dec 10, 2015, at 04:50 pm
Kolkata, Dec 10 (IBNS) Rotary International President elect John Germ from USA visited Kolkata for two days when he inaugurated the e learning project of Rotary India Literacy Mission ( RILM) worth Rs 1 crore at a program at the GD Birla Sabhaghar.
Australia: Fire-fighting robot unveiled
Dec 10, 2015, at 04:38 pm
Sydney, Dec 10 (IBNS): Fire fighters in Australia are using a fire-fighting robot to face their challenges, media reports said.
Leaders of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan hold trilateral meeting
Dec 10, 2015, at 03:15 pm
Islamabad, Dec 10 (IBNS) Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a trilateral meeting in Islamabad in Islamabad on Wednesday.
UN agencies launch $1.98 billion humanitarian appeal for Africa's Sahel region
Dec 10, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, Dec 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Warning of dire effects of climate change, abject poverty, fast population growth and a tormenting rise in violence and insecurity in Africa's Sahel region, United Nations agencies and partners on Wednesday launched the Sahel humanitarian appeal for 2016, which includes a regional plan that calls for $1.98 billion to provide vital assistance to millions of people in nine countries across the region.
COP21: Efforts advance on reaching climate change agreement, says UN official
Dec 10, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Dec 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A new stage in the development of a final agreement on climate change to limit global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius or less has been reached on Wednesday, according to the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change.
New report signals progress towards malaria elimination: WHO
Dec 10, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The world is making "significant progress" toward malaria elimination with prevention and treatment efforts saving more than 660 million lives and $900 million in case management costs since 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.