Afghanistan: 11 killed in suicide attack

Feb 27, 2016, at 08:09 pm

Kabul, Feb 27 (IBNS) At least 11 people were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's Asadabad area on Saturday, media reports said.

UN Security Council endorses cessation of hostilities pact in Syria

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:35 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)The United Nations Security Council on Friday endorsed the joint statement announced on Monday by United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Ceasefire Taskforce, on the terms of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, and demanded that the agreement take effect at midnight Damascus time.

South Sudan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls for end to civilian suffering

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:25 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)The United Nations deputy humanitarian chief on Friday called on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to protect civilians and grant safe and unhindered humanitarian access as she wrapped up a two-day visit to the African country.

General Assembly President announces meeting dates for UN Secretary-General candidates

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:24 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the process to select the next United Nations Secretary-General gets under way, the President of the General Assembly announced on Friday that he will hold a series of informal dialogues and meetings with all potential candidates from 12 to 14 April.

Ban urges countries along Balkan route into Western Europe to keep borders open

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:19 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)Concerned with the increasing number of border restrictions along the Balkan land route, including in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on the countries to keep their borders open “in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity.”

Fiji: UNICEF steps up response as 'full picture' of Cyclone Winston's impact becomes clearer

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:15 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)As the full picture of the worst cyclone ever to hit Fiji becomes more apparent, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that up to 120,000 children across the county may be badly affected.

UN rights expert urges Russia not to implement new extradition treaty with DRP Korea

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:15 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)A United Nations rights expert on Friday urged the Government of the Russian Federation not to implement an extradition treaty signed with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier this month.

UN opens support 'hubs' to boost protection for families and children on move across Europe

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:10 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)As part of a joint effort to increase protection for the growing numbers of children and others with specific needs arriving in Europe, two United Nations agencies have agreed to set up special support centres for children and families along the most frequently used migration routes across the continent.

Security Council extends UN Guinea-Bissau office for another year

Feb 27, 2016, at 02:00 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Friday extended the mandate of the UN Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau, known as UNIOGBIS, for an additional 12 months so that it can continue to assist the country in its path towards peace and reform.

UN deputy chief urges Member States to make 'responsibility to protect' a reality

Feb 27, 2016, at 01:56 pm

New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The principle of “responsibility to protect,” a call for putting into action legal commitments to protect populations from atrocity crimes, has seen mixed results since its inception in 2005, the United Nations deputy chief said today, urging the international community to make the protection of populations from such heinous acts “a living reality.”

Mogadishu: Attack in hotel kills 9

Feb 27, 2016, at 01:47 pm

Mogadishu, Feb 27 (IBNS) At least nine people were killed as four militants attacked a hotel in Somalia capital Mogadishu, media reports said.

Four dead in Kansas workplace shooting in USA

Feb 26, 2016, at 05:02 pm

Hesston, Feb 26 (IBNS) At least three people were killed after a man open fired on Thursday in his workplace at Hesston in the midwestern state of Kansas in United States, according to reports.The gunman was also shot dead by police.

UN reports widespread human rights abuses in Libya, where ‘complete impunity prevails’

Feb 26, 2016, at 03:22 pm

New York, Feb 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS) A United Nations report published on Thursday has documented widespread human rights violations and abuses committed in Libya since the beginning of 2014, recommending urgent measures to address “the complete impunity that prevails” and to strengthen and reform the justice sector.

Humanitarian and ceasefire tracks for Syria 'moving in the right direction' – UN envoy

Feb 26, 2016, at 03:20 pm

New York, Feb 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS) – International task forces established to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and a ceasefire in Syria “are moving in the right direction,” a United Nations mediator said on Thursday, ahead of a Friday deadline to accept a truce.

‘Put peace above politics,’ Ban tells leaders of South Sudan

Feb 26, 2016, at 03:16 pm

New York, Feb 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As part of the last day of his visit to South Sudan, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with President Salva Kiir, stressing the urgency of forming a Transitional Government, as well as spoke by phone with former Vice-President Riek Machar and visited a protection of civilians site.

UN rights chief warns police agreement by five European countries will worsen refugee crisis

Feb 26, 2016, at 02:56 pm

New York, Feb 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official expressed serious concern today over security measures adopted last week by the police chiefs of five European countries, which he warned are already negatively impacting the human rights of refugees and migrants in southern and central Europe and compounding the “already exceptionally difficult situation” in Greece.

Kansas shootings kills 3

Feb 26, 2016, at 02:49 pm

Washington, Feb 26 (IBNS): At least three people were killed and 20 others were injured in a mass shooting incident that took place in US state of Kansas, officials said.

Kabul: Eight Taliban members killed in blast

Feb 26, 2016, at 02:55 am

Kabul, Feb 25 (IBNS) At least eight Taliban insurgents were reported dead on Wednesday night after a bomb detonated near Ghazni Mosque in Andar District of Afghanistan's Ghazni province, reports said.

Ex-ISIS member claims Pakistan trained and funded them

Feb 26, 2016, at 01:50 am

Kabul, Feb 25 (IBNS) A group of 10 ex-ISIS members, who put down their weapons and joined the peace talks in Afghanistan, on Wednesday, claimed that Pakistan funded and trained them, according to reports.

ISIS targets Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey in a new video

Feb 26, 2016, at 01:14 am

California/New Delhi, Feb 25 (IBNS) Militant group ISIS supporters have released a new video which targeted Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey for protesting against the fringe unit on their social platforms.

Australia warns citizens against visiting Indonesia amid looming terror threat

Feb 26, 2016, at 12:22 am

Sydney, Feb 25 (IBNS): Fearing possible militant attack, Australian government on Thursday issued an advisory to its citizens to ' exercise a high degree of caution' while visiting Indonesia.

Trump predicts his win, snaps at Cruz, Romney

Feb 25, 2016, at 04:21 pm

Washington, Feb 25 (IBNS) Donald J Trump, a front runner in the US Presidential election, said on Wednesday that he is confident of doing well, while poking fun at former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and his competitor Ted Cruz.

At 50, UN development programme revamps itself to tackle new sustainability goals

Feb 25, 2016, at 03:10 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with its presence in more than 170 poor and vulnerable countries, must rise to the challenge of advancing a “big, new, more complex, and transformational” sustainable development agenda, the head of the agency said on Wednesday at a ministerial meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding.

UNDP at 50 - Leading the fight against poverty and inequality

Feb 25, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations efforts to enhance international peace and security may grab headlines, but the vast majority of the Organization’s resources are devoted to development, and to advancing the Charter's pledge to "promote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development."

Darfur: UN deeply concerned over thousands of newly-displaced people in region's north

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:55 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations humanitarian official in Sudan said on Wednesday she is deeply concerned about the plight of more than 85,000 newly displaced civilians in North Darfur state who have fled their villages in recent days as a result of an escalation of conflict in the region’s Jebel Marra area.

Balkans border closures cause chaos as refugees find 'too few places' to go, UN agency chief warns

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:36 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Europe is backing into an even greater refugee crisis by tightening border restrictions on the hundreds of thousands fleeing conflicts elsewhere, the head of the United Nations refugee agency has said on a visit to the island of Lesvos in Greece.

UN envoy urges formal launch of a national unity government in Libya

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:31 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations envoy for Libya on Wednesday called for an immediate step to formalize the parliamentary approval of a national unity Government, as its launch is vital to peace and stability in this post-conflict country.

'Everyone is losing' in the Syrian conflict, UN relief chief tells Security Council

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:23 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) While welcoming the recent announcement of a cessation of hostilities in Syria as a “long-awaited signal of hope,” the top United Nations humanitarian official on Wednesday echoed the calls of the world body and the international community at large for the parties involved to work towards a more durable ceasefire and facilitate conditions for increased protection and humanitarian aid.

Ban highlights private-sector investment for potential to 'transform' Africa's Great Lakes region

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Although the succession of violence and suffering has sometimes prevented countries in the African Great Lakes from achieving their potential, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that the hard-working people must be given more opportunities to use their abundant natural resources in order to address the root causes of conflict and ultimately transform the region.

UNESCO chief condemns murder of journalist in the Philippines

Feb 25, 2016, at 02:07 pm

New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday called for an investigation into the murder of journalist Elvis Ordaniza in the Philippines earlier this month.