'Two-state solution in danger,' warns new report from UN office on Middle East peace process
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The viability of a two-state solution, which envisages peaceful co-existence of both Israel and Palestine, is in danger due to the negative trends on the ground, including recent violence, ongoing settlement activity, demolitions, incitement, and the absence of Palestinian unity, a new United Nations report warned on Thursday.
More ‘concrete steps’ needed by nations to counter terrorism, Ban tells Security Council
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking at an open debate on countering terrorism, United Nations Secretary-General on Thursday called on Member States to take more concrete steps to stop fundraising through the smuggling of oil and gas, the illicit trade of cultural artefacts, kidnapping for ransom and donations from abroad.
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:29 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Holt In a massive undertaking aimed at stamping out polio once and for all – dubbed ‘the switch’ – a United Nations-backed eradication initiative will next week begin the largest and fastest globally coordinated rollout of a vaccine into routine immunization programmes in history.
UN agency urges parties to ensure rights of people displaced amid violence in eastern DR Congo
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:27 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern about the welfare of tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have been driven out of host sites due to fresh fighting between the Congolese army and rebel forces.
The next UN Secretary-General: last day of informal briefings
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The third and final session of informal briefings to hear the views of three more candidates for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General is taking place at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, focusing on how they would tackle some of the world’s most urgent issues should they be selected to replace current UN chief Ban Ki-moon in January 2017.
Growing inequality among children in high income countries, UNICEF reports
Apr 15, 2016, at 01:24 pm
New York, Apr 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report presents evidence on the ways inequality is affecting children in high income countries, in areas such areas as education and life satisfaction – with Denmark at the top and Israel and Turkey ranking the lowest overall.
Prince William, Kate commence Bhutan trip, meet country's royal couple
Apr 15, 2016, at 12:58 am
Thimpu, Apr 14 (IBNS) Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton reached Bhutan on Thursday as they commenced their two-day visit to the Himalayan nation.
Apr 14, 2016, at 03:42 pm
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A 15-foot giraffe is one of the main characters in Giraffada, a film shown at the United Nations, depicting the struggles of living in a Palestinian town as seen through the eyes of a young boy who has a close connection with the animal.
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:16 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the first day of a new round of peace talks to end the five-year conflict in Syria, the UN mediator on the crisis emphasized that despite the cessation of hostilities still holding, he is concerned about the deterioration of the security situation in some locations.
Republic of Congo: top UN officials concerned by reported attacks against civilians
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:07 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is “deeply concerned†about recent reports that security operations undertaken by the Government of the Republic of the Congo in an area of southern Brazzaville known as “the Pool†allegedly resulted in attacks against civilian targets and displacement of the population from the affected areas.
Ban urges insurance industry to take leadership in climate change response
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:06 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The insurance industry is a key actor in forging new instruments to anticipate and manage climate risks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday, urging the industry to continue to work with the United Nations to manage and reduce such risks and ultimately ensure a more sustainable world for all.
‘We cannot forget the girls from Chibok’ – UN child rights envoy
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:04 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking two years since Boko Haram abducted 276 girls in Nigeria, a United Nations child rights envoy reiterated a call to bring them back, stressing that the international community must “be their voice†and help give children of Nigeria and the region the peaceful, stable lives they deserve.
Investing in treatment for depression and anxiety leads to four-fold return – UN report
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:03 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion each year, and every one dollar invested in scaling up treatment leads to a return of four dollars in better health and ability to work, according to a new study led by the United Nations health agency.
The next UN Secretary-General: informal briefings continue
Apr 14, 2016, at 09:01 am
New York, Apr 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three more candidates for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General will be heard on Wednesday, answering questions on how they would promote sustainable development, improve efforts to create peace, protect human rights, and deal with huge humanitarian catastrophes should they be selected to lead the 193-member Organization.
-1460552306.jpg "Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif leaves for London")
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif leaves for London
Apr 13, 2016, at 11:58 pm
Islamabad, Apr 13 (IBNS) Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday left for London, media reports said.
NATO Secretary General to visit London
Apr 13, 2016, at 09:41 pm
London, Apr 13 (IBNS) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will travel to London on Thursday, officials said.
RAW destabilising Pakistan: General Raheel Sharif
Apr 13, 2016, at 02:46 pm
Islamabad, Apr 13 (IBNS): Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that Indian intelligence agency RAW is involved in destabilizing Pakistan.
With peace and stability gains, Côte d'Ivoire 'on the rights track' – UN peacekeeping chief
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With Côte d'Ivoire now firmly anchored on the path of peace, stability and economic recovery, the top United Nations peacekeeping official on Tuesday said that it is perhaps time to consider wrapping up the UN mission and begin to consider the Organization’s future role in supporting the consolidating the country’s gains.
Libya: UN development programme launches initiative to support country’s stabilization
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):At a high-level meeting in Tunis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched an initiative to assist with the stabilization of Libya and its new unity Government, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Tuesday.
World needs ‘new vision for urbanization,’ says UN chief
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Welcoming Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said the world needs a new vision for urbanization – a “New Urban Agenda†– to help protect the environment and limit climate change.
UN marks 55th anniversary of first human flight into outer space
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations on Tuesday observed the International Day of Human Space Flight to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the first human space flight, which ushered in the beginning of the space era for mankind.
Iraq: UN mission warns of increasing risks for civilians in besieged Fallujah
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said it is receiving reports that humanitarian conditions are worsening and human suffering is increasing in the city of Fallujah, which has been under control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) for more than two years.
UN rights office ‘surprised’ by Venezuela’s ruling against reconciliation bill
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:42 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed concern about yesterday’s ruling by Venezuela’s top court against a bill that could serve as the basis for a path of dialogue and reconciliation in that country.
Airdrops in Syria continue as UN mediator meets with Iranian official in Tehran
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS):During a visit to Tehran, the United Nations mediator on the crisis in Syria underlined the importance of consulting with Iran's authorities because they “have an influence†and useful advice, while UN humanitarian agencies provided their latest updates in Geneva.
UN agency urges inclusion of victims of mass displacement in Colombian peace talks
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:40 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called on the negotiators of Colombian peace talks to give special attention to the rights of victims of five-decade conflict that has produced the world’s second-biggest displacement situation after Syria.
Desert Locust outbreak in Yemen leaves surrounding countries potentially at risk
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The presence of recently discovered Desert Locust infestations in Yemen, where conflict is severely hampering control operations, poses a potential threat to crops in the region, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday.
United Nations begins informal briefings to select next Secretary-General
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Kicking off what he has called a “new and transparent process,†General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft on Tuesday opened informal dialogues with candidates for the next United Nations Secretary-General, for the first time providing an opportunity for substantive and open engagement with the candidates – for the full UN membership and the public.
Nigeria: UN human rights experts call for progress in abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok
Apr 13, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, Apr 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Ahead of the second anniversary of the abduction of 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in Nigeria, a group of United Nations and African human rights experts on Tuesday appealed to Boko Haram to immediately reveal the location of the girls, and urged the Government of Nigeria to escalate its efforts to free all civilians kidnapped by the group.
Ban highlights need to fight ‘genocide ideology,’ as UN reflects on 1994 atrocities in Rwanda
Apr 12, 2016, at 01:45 pm
New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): At an event marking the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the only way to prevent genocide and other “egregious†violations of human rights is to acknowledge shared responsibility and commit to shared action to protect those at risk.
UN experts urges Honduras to end impunity in murder of human rights defender
Apr 12, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than a month after the killing of Berta Cáceres, a female human rights defender, eight United Nations experts have jointly reiterated their appeal to the Government of Honduras to provide justice and reveal the truth in her murder, and to ensure the security and protection of all people defending the environment and human rights in the country.