Ban extends condolences to people, Government of China in wake of devastating landslide
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesdayextended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the devastating landslide in Shenzhen and expressed his solidarity with the people and Government of China.
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Adopting a new resolution today, the Security Council welcomed the completion of judicial work of the United Nations tribunal set up in the wake of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, following delivery of the court’s last judgment on 14 December and its impending closure, set for 31 December 2015.
With parties 'deeply divided over path to peace,' Yemen faces Balkanization, Security Council warned
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Security Council must act now to end the fighting in Yemen or face the irreversible Balkanization of the country, creating safe havens for terrorists and potentially shattering regional stability, the United Nations human rights chief warned on Tuesday.
Security Council approves six-month extension of UN observer force on Golan Heights
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Security Council on Tuesdayextended the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for six months, until 30 June 2016, underscoring the need for the Force to have at its disposal all necessary means to carry out its mandate safely and securely, “including technology and equipment to enhance its observation of the area of separation and the ceasefire line, and to improve force protection, as appropriate.
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) World Food Programme (WFP) trucks have begun distributing 1,300 tons of food to Libyans in dire need of assistance, but with nine days left in the year, the United Nations aid plan for more than 2.4 million people for 2016 has received zero funding, the top UN humanitarian official in the strife-torn country said on Tuesday.
Ban, concerned over political uncertainty in Haiti, urges transfer of power through polls
Dec 23, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern on Tuesdayover growing political uncertainty in Haiti and urged the two candidates in the presidential run-off there to help the electoral process move forward while preserving the country’s democratic gains.
Syria: Security Council demands immediate humanitarian access across battle lines
Dec 23, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) In its first resolution on Syria since granting the United Nations an enhanced role in seeking to end the five-year-long war, the Security Council on Tuesdaydemanded that all parties, particularly the Syrian authorities, immediately open routes across conflict lines and borders to let in vital humanitarian aid.
Refugees and migrants fleeing to Europe in 2015 top unprecedented one million- UN
Dec 23, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The number of refugees and migrants fleeing to Europe in 2015 has topped an unprecedented one million – at least 3,600 died or went missing in the crossings – the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported today, calling for much more to be done to receive and aid those uprooted by persecution, conflict and poverty.
Nigeria's Boko Haram insurgency forces one million children from school - UNICEF
Dec 23, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Dec 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Violence and attacks against civilian populations in northeastern Nigeria and its neighbouring countries have forced “a staggering†one million children out of school in a conflict that has dealt “a huge blow for education in the region,†the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday.
Malaysia gets its first Sharia compliant airline
Dec 22, 2015, at 06:05 pm
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 22 (IBNS) Malaysia's Rayani Air who started operations on Sunday, has become the first Sharia compliant airline in the country.
Amid dire humanitarian situation, some 2.5 million now internally displaced in Yemen - UN
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:27 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The situation in Yemen has substantially deteriorated since the conflict broke out in early 2015, with a nine per cent increase in the internally displaced persons (IDPs), which have reached 2.5 million, according to a recent United Nations-backed report on the issue.
Syria: Senior UN officials paint grim picture as Government, allies reportedly attack hospitals
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS)Hospitals, markets and bakeries have been hit, scores of civilians are killed and injured almost daily, and doctors themselves have become targets in escalating fighting and airstrikes in Syria, reportedly by the Government and its allies, a senior United Nations relief official reported on Monday, voicing outrage.
Lebanon: Ban condemns rocket fire towards Israel as 'serious ceasefire violation,' urges restraint
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced great concern on Monday over yesterday's firing of rockets from South Lebanon towards Israel, calling it "a serious violation" of the ceasefire, noted Israel's retaliatory mortar attack, and urged maximum restraint.
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency, together with two European partners, urged Hungary on Monday to refrain from policies and practices that promote intolerance, fear and fuel xenophobia against refugees and migrants, including a campaign running through Christmas and into the New Year.
Syrian journalist's murder denounced by UNESCO chief
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations agency responsible for defending the freedom of the media on Monday denounced the murder of a Syrian journalist from an organization reporting on human rights abuses in the area of the country controlled by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
UN agencies collaborate to help Sudan mitigate climate change while combatting hunger
Dec 22, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Two United Nations entities on Monday announced a cooperation agreement to help Sudan manage its natural resources in a way that is compatible with combatting hunger and improving livelihoods while at the same time mitigating the effects of climate change.
Miss Philippines wins Miss Universe title, hosts apologizes for wrong announcement
Dec 21, 2015, at 10:13 pm
Las Vegas, Dec 21 (IBNS): Hosts of the Miss Universe contest have apologized for a mistake by the anchor during a love broadcast when Miss Colombia was initially announced as the winner of the title on Sunday.
Yemen: UN envoy adjourns peace talks till January pending enforcement of a proper ceasefire
Dec 21, 2015, at 03:30 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS) In the face of numerous violations of the cessation of hostilities in Yemen, the Special United Nations Envoy on Sunday decided to adjourn peace talks in Switzerland for a month to allow for bi-lateral in-country and regional consultations to achieve a ceasefire.
Spirit of solidarity 'must inspire our collective response' to world's major challenges,says Ban
Dec 21, 2015, at 03:26 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS) On International Human Solidarity Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed to the newly-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for joint action to implement its targets and create a better future for all.
Lebanon: UN reports rocket fire from south towards Israel and Israeli mortar retaliation
Dec 21, 2015, at 03:11 pm
New York, Dec 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Three rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel today, and Israel retaliated with some eight rounds of 120mm mortar, but no casualties have so far been reported from either side, according to United Nations peacekeepers.
Air France flight makes emergency landing in Kenya over bomb scare
Dec 20, 2015, at 07:28 pm
Nairobi, Dec 20 (IBNS): An Air France flight from Mauritius to Paris was forced to land in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa following a bomb scare, media reports said on Sunday.
Yemen: UN-sponsored talks continue amid 'alarming' reports of ceasefire violations
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As United Nations-sponsored consultations on Yemen continued today, the UN envoy facilitating the talks expressed deep concern at numerous reports of violations of the three-day-old ceasefire and urged the parties to respect that agreement and allow access to the country’s most-affected districts.
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) In its first resolution to focus on the politics of ending Syria’s five-year-long war, the Security Council on Friday gave the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices.
UN experts urge end to harassment of human rights defenders in Occupied Palestinian Territory
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Gravely concerning at continued reports that human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Hebron, are being subjected to physical attacks and death threats, United Nations independent experts on Friday denounced such harassment as "unacceptable" and called for it to end immediately.
Some 90 per cent of voters in Central African Republic favour new constitution - UN mission reports
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Ninety per cent of voters in the Central African Republic (CAR) are in favour of the new Constitution, according to partial election results, while campaigning is now under way for the presidential elections and the final list of parliamentary candidates has been published, the United Nations mission in the country reported today.
Global forced displacement for 2015 on track to break all records, topping 60 million - UN
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Forced displacement this year is likely exceed all previous records, for the first time topping 60 million, meaning that one out of every 122 persons on Earth has been forced to flee their home, the United Nations refugee agency warned today.
Syria: UN chief meets with international partners on resolving crisis
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday joined diplomats from the International Syria Support Group meeting in New York to discuss a solution to the country’s five-year war, and he is expected to brief the Security Council later on Friday on the latest developments.
UN agency issues guidance to help countries deal with refugee protection and security concerns
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Concerned over growing polarization of political debate concerning refugees in some countries, the United Nations on Friday released guidance aimed at helping States deal with security concerns while maintaining refugee protection, saying the two were not "mutually exclusive."
On Migrants Day, UN remembers thousands who lost their lives this year trying to reach safe harbour
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Global candlelight vigils marked the International Day of Migrants on Friday to remember that the more than 5,000 women, men and children who lost their lives in arduous journeys in search of protection and a better life as, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon said 2015 will be remembered as a year of human suffering and migrant tragedies.
Help 'can't come soon enough' for thousands of children out of school in northern Mali - UNICEF
Dec 19, 2015, at 03:28 pm
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Despite the immense needs in conflict-affected areas of northern Mali, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is hampered by constrained access and limited funding, and is thus calling for "action now" to help the more than 380,000 children who remain out of school in the region.