'Alarming' reports of major violations in south-east Turkey – UN rights chief
May 11, 2016, at 10:38 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday reported having received a succession of alarming reports about violations allegedly committed by Turkish military and security forces in south-east Turkey over the past few months, and urged the Turkish authorities to give independent investigators, including UN staff, unimpeded access to the area to verify the veracity of such reports.
UN conference to review progress of least developed countries during past five years
May 11, 2016, at 10:37 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A United Nations conference is set to undertake a review of progress made during the past five years by the world's 48 least developed countries (LDCs), which comprise about 12 per cent of the global population.
-1462923317.jpg "UN must 'champion change' to become more relevant and better able to tackle on Tuesday's challenges")
UN must 'champion change' to become more relevant and better able to tackle on Tuesday's challenges
May 11, 2016, at 10:35 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): To respond to both current and future threats to world peace and security, the United Nations must become more relevant, credible, legitimate and capable, by taking concrete steps that include finding political solutions to sustain peace, fostering partnerships for building prosperous and stable societies, and tackling terrorism and preventing violent extremism, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Tuesday.
Protection of schools essential to boost access to education in Africa – UN envoy
May 11, 2016, at 10:34 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Protecting schools from attacks and military use is essential to ensuring access to education for all children in Africa, a United Nations child rights envoy said on Tuesday, urging world leaders to use the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit as an opportunity to generate new commitments to ensure that conflict does not mean the end of learning for millions of children.
Warning skies may 'fall silent,' UN calls for end to illegal poaching and trade of migratory birds
May 11, 2016, at 10:32 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Millions of migratory birds are being lost each year as a result of illegal killing, taking and trade, United Nations officials warned on World Migratory Bird Day, calling for concerted action to end the threats to migratory birds and urging everyone to step outside and “listen to the birds chirping,†to appreciate how important they are to our planet.
May 11, 2016, at 10:31 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan has condemned the reported shooting deaths of six civilians, including two children, by armed local tribes in Sortony – next to a site for recently displaced people from the mountainous Jebel Marra area in North Darfur.
African Union-UN mission launches campaign in west Darfur against use of child soldiers
May 11, 2016, at 10:27 am
New York, May 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has launched a campaign in west Darfur, Sudan, to raise awareness on the need to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and groups across the region.
Afghanistan: Halt further executions, says Human Rights Watch
May 10, 2016, at 09:18 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS) Afghanistan’s government should immediately halt further executions and impose a moratorium on the death penalty, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.
Egypt: UN experts report worsening crackdown on protest
May 10, 2016, at 10:35 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Three United Nations human rights experts on Monday urged the Egyptian Government to put an end to the disproportionate reactions against the exercise of the rights to assembly and expression in the country.
'Risks of inaction are considerable', says Ban, urging new compact on refugees and migrants
May 10, 2016, at 10:31 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite bold efforts, responses to the large movements of refugees and migrants – which will continue or possibly increase due to such issues as conflict, poverty and disasters – have been largely inadequate, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday in a new report, calling for the adoption of a global compact on responsibility-sharing that collectively ensures the human rights, safety and dignity of all refugees and migrants.
Most countries lack adequate laws to protect and promote breastfeeding – UN
May 10, 2016, at 10:27 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Laws to protect breastfeeding against the growing multi-billion-dollar breast-milk substitute business are inadequate in most countries, exposing small children to a greater risk of childhood diseases, according to a United Nations report released on Monday.
UN refugee agency notes 'profound concern' over Kenya's plan to close refugee camps
May 10, 2016, at 10:23 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations refugee agency on Monday expressed “profound concern†over the Government of Kenya's announcement this past week that it intends to end the hosting of refugees because of economic, security and environmental burdens, and called on the Government to reconsider its decision.
UN Forum on indigenous issues opens 2016 session with focus on conflict, peace and resolution
May 10, 2016, at 10:11 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday announced the launch of a plan to realize the full rights of indigenous peoples who are increasingly being drawn into conflicts over their lands and resources.
Syria: UN adviser on preventing genocide expresses outrage at ongoing civilian attacks
May 10, 2016, at 10:02 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, expressed his outrage on Monday at the ongoing “indiscriminate and seemingly calculated†attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Syria.
Ban condemns deadly terrorist attack against police officers in Egypt
May 10, 2016, at 09:58 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday, which reportedly killed eight police officers, his spokesperson said.
In Mauritius, Ban urges focus on small States in realizing development targets
May 10, 2016, at 09:54 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Small island developing States magnify the issues of sustainable development due to their unique vulnerabilities, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, calling for extra attention to be paid to the experiences and needs of nations such as Mauritius as leaders continue to work on implementing development targets.
Three years of violence halt government health services in Central African Republic – UN
May 10, 2016, at 09:44 am
New York, May 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than three years of violence have dismantled the already very fragile health structures in the Central African Republic (CAR), bringing the government service delivery capacity to a complete stop, and leaving thousands of people vulnerable to diseases and with little access to health services, the United Nations humanitarian aid office said over the weekend.
North Korea expels BBC correspondent, team
May 10, 2016, at 05:07 am
London, May 9 (IBNS) North Korea has expelled a BBC correspondent and his team after being detained over their reporting.
Car-free day at Champ-Elysees in Paris a great hit
May 09, 2016, at 03:10 pm
Paris, May 9 (IBNS) People flocked in large numbers to Champ-Elysees in Paris on Sunday to enjoy the area on a traffic-free day, media reported.
Philippines: Voting starts in presidential elections
May 09, 2016, at 02:35 pm
Manila, May 9 (IBNS) Voting started in Philippines to elect a new President of the country on Monday.
In Seychelles, Ban calls for global action on climate change and easing humanitarian suffering
May 09, 2016, at 12:43 pm
New York, May 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Small States like Seychelles have served as a “magnifying lens†for many issues that all nations must face, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the National Assembly on Sunday, calling for the archipelago's continued support as the UN tackles three critical challenges: climate change, global sustainability and easing humanitarian suffering.
Eight cops killed in Egypt, 2 militant groups claim responsibility
May 09, 2016, at 03:44 am
Cairo, May 8 (IBNS) Eight policemen were killed during an armed attack on them in Egypt's Cairo city on Sunday, media reports said.
Syria: Kidnapped three Spanish journalist released
May 08, 2016, at 10:53 pm
Aleppo, May 8 (IBNS): The Spanish government on Sunday said three journalists who were kidnapped in conflict-hit Syria have been freed, media reports said.
May 08, 2016, at 12:22 pm
New York, May 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The problems facing our planet – climate change, poverty and insecurity – will only be solved through a global, multilateral response, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday as he began an official visit to the Seychelles, a small island nation with “big ideas,†having shown leadership on climate action, environmental protection and the fight against maritime crime.
Sadiq Khan takes oath as London Mayor
May 08, 2016, at 05:12 am
London, May 7 (IBNS) Labour's Sadiq Khan on Saturday took oath as the Mayor of London.
China: Fishing boat mishaps leave 31 missing
May 08, 2016, at 02:59 am
Beijing, May 7 (IBNS): At least 31 people went missing after two fishing boats capsized and one lost contact off east China coast, media reports said on Saturday.
Jemima Goldsmith congratulates Sadiq Khan
May 07, 2016, at 11:28 pm
London, May 7 (IBNS) Jemima Goldsmith, ex-wife of former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, congratulated Sadiq Khan for becoming the first Muslim mayor of London.
May 07, 2016, at 04:56 pm
New York, May 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Mutual respect for different faiths and cultures is the “bedrock†of a world at peace and “prerequisite†for achieving many of the goals to which humankind and the United Nations aspire, the General Assembly was told on Friday.
Feature: Central African Republic’s Parliament seated after UN support for polls
May 07, 2016, at 04:53 pm
New York, May 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations official in the Central African Republic (CAR) met this week with the new National Assembly, which took office after a series of successful elections supported by UN peacekeepers in the country.
Karen AbuZayd, Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants
May 07, 2016, at 04:52 pm
New York, May 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Karen AbuZayd wants you to think of refugees and migrants in a positive way. The United Nations Special Adviser has been working behind the scenes since January to raise support for global compacts to support large movements of refugees and migrants. These will be up for discussion on 19 September 2016, when the UN will host a high-level meeting to address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing Member States together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.