PODCAST: actress Gillian Anderson presents film at UN on human trafficking

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:42 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): “Film can change the world,” said actress Gillian Anderson in a recent interview at the United Nations about the movie SOLD, the story of a 13-year-old Nepalese girl's journey into sexual slavery and eventual emancipation.

UN survey finds displaced Palestinian families in Gaza Strip live in desperate conditions

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:41 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than 75,000 Palestinian families internally displaced in the Gaza Strip as a result of the 2014 escalation of hostilities continue to live in fraught conditions and are in need of homes, the United Nations relief coordination wing for the Occupied Palestinian Territory reported on Monday.

New UN report focuses on green, inclusive industrialization in Africa

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:37 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Welcoming the launch of the latest economic report on Africa, a senior United Nations official on Monday highlighted that African countries should leapfrog “business as usual,” carbon-intensive methods of growth and instead pursue a pathway to green industrialization.

Data 'essential' to 2030 Agenda, UN Commission on Population and Development told

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:36 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Addressing the opening of the 2016 session of the Commission on Population and Development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday underscored the importance of that body's role in advancing the new global development agenda.

At UN peace operations review, Ban urges change of mindset in response to new challenges

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:34 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Ensuring that United Nations peace operations effectively confront and respond to both current and future global peace and security challenges requires sustained efforts to bolster progress throughout 2016 and beyond, including the right processes, strong partnerships and clear political strategies, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday.

Violence, use of teargas at Greek border 'matter of great worry' – UN refugee agency

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:31 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Monday expressed concern about yesterday's violence at the border between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia near Eidomeni and the extensive scenes of teargas in use.

UN agencies step up joint response to help drought-affected northern Somalia

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:30 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are intensifying joint efforts to assist communities in northern Somalia coping with a severe drought exacerbated by El Niño conditions.

Yemen: UN officials welcome cessation of hostilities

Apr 12, 2016, at 01:28 pm

New York, Apr 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen has welcomed the start of the cessation of hostilities that began at midnight, 10 April, urging all parties to work to ensure that the terms are fully respected and create a conducive environment for the peace talks scheduled to resume next week.

Grenade blasts in Karachi court, 5 injured

Apr 11, 2016, at 10:16 pm

Karachi, Apr 11 (IBNS): In a bizarre incident, an explosive device, which was presented as case property in Karachi anti-terrorism court, blew up on Monday, leaving five people injured, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Roadside bombing kills 1

Apr 11, 2016, at 09:40 pm

Kabul, Apr 11 (IBNS) A roadside bombing in the Bagrami district of Afghanistan's Kabul killed at least one education officer on Monday, media reports said.

UN food aid reaches besieged Syrian city of Deir Ezzor by air

Apr 11, 2016, at 12:50 pm

New York, Apr 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In a boost to international humanitarian efforts in Syria, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Sunday delivered aid by air for hungry people trapped in the besieged eastern city of Deir Ezzor, an area controlled by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).

Afghanistan: Explosions rock Kabul

Apr 10, 2016, at 02:56 pm

Kabul, Apr 10 (IBNS) Afghanistan's Kabul city was rocked by explosions on Saturday, hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry left the city, media reports said.

Yemen: UN official expresses hope warring parties abide by cessation of hostilities set to begin Sunday

Apr 10, 2016, at 12:59 pm

New York, Apr 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Ahead of a cessation of hostilities set to start on 10 April, the senior United Nations relief official for Yemen on Saturday expressed hope that all parties to the conflict in that country abide by the ceasefire agreement, noting that only a political solution can bring the lasting peace Yemenis deserve and are demanding.

UN envoy urges Libyan House of Representatives to vote on national unity government

Apr 10, 2016, at 12:58 pm

New York, Apr 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Welcoming yesterday's executive meeting of the House of Representatives, the United Nations envoy for Libya on Saturday called on the House to convene in the Libyan port city of Tobruk over the coming days to vote on the national unity government.

Pakistan Navy inducts Zarb missile

Apr 10, 2016, at 01:18 am

Islamabad, Apr 9 (IBNS): Pakistan Navy on Saturday conducted successful test launch of shore based anti-ship missile.

North Korea claims it successfully tested rocket engine

Apr 10, 2016, at 01:08 am

Seoul, Apr 9 (IBNS): North Korea on Saturday claimed the country has successfully conducted a ground test of a new engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korean media reports said.

At least 23 killed in Peru bus accident

Apr 09, 2016, at 05:49 pm

Lima, Apr 9 (IBNS) At least 23 people were killed and 32 injured after a bus plunged into a river in the Andes Mountains near Cusco in south-eastern Peru, media reports said.

UN Development Cooperation Forum can contribute to advancing 2030 Agenda

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:54 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In Brussels on Friday, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Oh Joon, emphasized that its forum that reviews the latest international development cooperation trends has an important role to play in advancing the new global development agenda.

UN officials urge boost in development action to meet humanitarian challenges in Africa

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:52 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Greater efforts in preparedness response, recovery and development interventions are needed from humanitarian actors for African nations to meet the immediate needs of their citizens, become more resilient to shocks and crises, and ultimately achieve food security, senior United Nations officials stressed on Friday.

Senior UN official visits Central African Republic to focus on stronger measures against sexual abuse

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:50 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations special coordinator on sexual exploitation and abuse is in Central African Republic (CAR) to discuss stronger measures to respond to the scourge.

Greece: UN agency urges full hearings for stranded refugee and migrant children

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:48 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With the process of returning refugees and migrants from the Greek islands to Turkey underway as part of a European Union-Turkey agreement, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is reminding States of their duty to care and protect all children and give them a full and fair hearing when deciding on their future.

Selecting a new UN Secretary-General: a job interview in front of the whole world

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:47 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The selection process for a new United Nations Secretary-General, traditionally decided behind closed-doors by a few powerful countries, will for the first time in history involve public discussions with each candidate campaigning for the world’s top diplomatic post.

Ban welcomes G20 support for Paris climate accord signing

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:45 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Photo: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday welcomed the statement of China, this year’s President of the Group of 20, affirming the G20’s full support for the 22 April signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and calling for the accord’s entry into force as early as possible.

After ‘Panama Papers’ leak, UN expert calls for end of financial secrecy to halt illicit fund flows

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:43 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In the wake of last week’s leak of a trove of confidential financial documents from a Panama law firm, a United Nations human rights expert called on the international community to urgently put an end to financial secrecy.

At Geneva conference, Ban calls for global partnership to prevent violent extremism

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:41 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The objective of extremists “is for us to turn on each other and our unity is the ultimate rebuke for that bankrupt strategy,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday, underscoring that the action plan he presented to the United Nations General Assembly in January contains concrete recommendations and could be the basis of a global partnership to defeat violent extremism.

UN rights office expresses concern about death sentences in Bangladesh

Apr 09, 2016, at 01:40 pm

New York, Apr 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday expressed concern about the latest death sentences handed down against two leaders of an opposition party by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal, noting the court's practices have not met international standards of fair trial and due process.

Samad death: Al-Qaeda's Bangladesh division 'claims' responsibility

Apr 09, 2016, at 04:00 am

Dhaka, Apr 8 (IBNS): Militant group al-Qaeda's Bangladesh division Ansar al-Islam has claimed responsibility for the killing of blogger Nazimuddin Samad.

Paris attacks: Key suspect arrested?

Apr 09, 2016, at 03:19 am

Paris, Apr 8 (IBNS) A key suspect in the November 2015 Paris attacks has been arrested in Belgium, media reports said on Friday.

Security Council renews sanctions against those blocking peace in South Sudan

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:44 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Determining that the situation in South Sudan poses a continuing threat to regional peace and security, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday renewed, until 1 June, its sanctions regime imposed last year against those blocking peace in the war-torn country, including a travel ban and a freeze on their assets.

Next round of Intra-Syrian talks planned for 13 April – UN envoy

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:42 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations mediator on the crisis in Syria said on Thursday that the next round of the peace talks will likely begin on Wednesday, 13 April, and is intended to be a concrete discussion leading to “a real beginning of a political transition.”