Syria: MSF evacuates hospital as front line approaches
May 28, 2016, at 02:29 am
New York, May 27 (IBNS) Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is evacuating most of its staff and patients from Al Salamah hospital in northern Syria after an Islamic State offensive in Azaz, in Aleppo governorate, approached the area.
NATO Secretary General to visit Poland
May 28, 2016, at 01:09 am
Brussels, May 27 (IBNS): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will travel to Warsaw on Monday and Tuesday.
Barack Obama visits Hiroshima, says memory must never fade
May 27, 2016, at 10:46 pm
Hiroshima, May 27 (IBNS) US President Barack Obama, the first sitting US President to visit Hiroshima blast site on Friday, said that the memory of war must never fade, according to reports.
NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit Albania
May 27, 2016, at 09:45 pm
Brussels, May 27 (IBNS) NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow will visit Albania on Monday, May 30, 2016.
Indonesia: Introduces capital punishment, chemical castration for child rapists
May 27, 2016, at 04:33 pm
Jakarta, May 27 (IBNS) Child rapists in Indonesia are set to receive either a capital punishment or chemical castration, under a new law, according to reports.
UN envoy for Syria tells Security Council peace talks will resume ‘as soon as feasible’
May 27, 2016, at 11:12 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Syria on Thursday told the Security Council that he intends to begin the next round of intra-Syrian talks 'as soon as feasible, but certainly not within the next two to three weeks,’ the Organization reported on Thursday.
Ban appoints governing body of ‘technology bank’ for least developed nations
May 27, 2016, at 11:06 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):Ahead of a major United Nations conference on priorities for the world’s least development countries (LDCs), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of members to a governing council that will provide support towards the operationalization of a proposed Technology Bank for those vulnerable nations.
May 27, 2016, at 11:04 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News): United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson stressed on Thursday the need for Member States to redouble efforts at prevention – whether to combat climate change, build resilience or address potential conflict flashpoints before they reach a tipping point.
Attacks on health care and medical personnel in crises occur with ‘alarming frequency’ – UN
May 27, 2016, at 11:03 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report on Thursday that attacks on health care in emergency situations disrupt the delivery of essential health services, endanger care providers, deprive people of urgently needed medical attention, and undermine long-term health development goals.
Justice and accountability ‘critical components’ for lasting peace in Libya – ICC Prosecutor
May 27, 2016, at 11:01 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):Justice, accountability and the deterrent effects of the law remain “critical components†for achieving lasting peace in Libya, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, encouraging the country’s Government to give priority to devising effective plans and strategies to address atrocity crimes, and to invest in the relevant national institutions responsible for such work.
Yemen: ‘hope’ emanating from UN-sponsored talks, as details of peace agreement discussed
May 27, 2016, at 10:59 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):The United Nations envoy for Yemen said on Thursday that hope is emanating from the ongoing peace talks for the country as the warring parties started discussing details of elements that would be included in a comprehensive agreement.
UN health agency launches programme for outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies
May 27, 2016, at 10:58 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):At the World Health Assembly taking place in Geneva this week, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed to establish a new Health Emergencies Programme that will add operational capabilities for outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies that complement the health agency’s traditional technical and normative roles.
Iraq: civilians in besieged Fallujah at ‘extreme risk,’ senior UN humanitarian official warns
May 27, 2016, at 10:57 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):Humanitarian agencies on the ground in Iraq are warning that civilians in the city of Fallujah –which has been under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) for more than two years – are at extreme risk, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Iraq has said.
May 27, 2016, at 10:52 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):Starting on Friday, the 48 least developed countries (LDCs) of the world will be the focus of a global United Nations conference in Antalya, Turkey, that aims to review their progress over the past five years.
In Republic of Korea, Ban urges Asian nations to settle border disputes, historical issues
May 27, 2016, at 10:50 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on all Asian countries to deepen dialogue, expand cooperation, and address border disputes, historical issues and threats to stability on the Korean Peninsula.
INTERVIEWS: Top UN peacekeeping, logistical officials discuss threats to 'blue helmets'
May 27, 2016, at 10:49 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News): In extreme circumstances like deliberate targeting by jihadists and traffickers to more complicated assignments, on Thursday's United Nations peacekeepers need courage, a high degree of professionalism and resilience, the head of the so-called 'blue helmets' on Thursday said.
UN launches campaign to urge 'smart' transition to sustainable cities
May 27, 2016, at 10:47 am
New York, May 27 (Just Earth News):Two United Nations entities have launched a global initiative to advocate for public policy that will promote use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a catalyst for the transition to smart sustainable cities.
‘The will to advance towards peace clearly exists’ in the Middle East – UN envoy
May 26, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the peace process in the Middle East on Wednesday warned the Security Council that, as circumstances on the ground continue to deteriorate, lamenting the disappearance of a negotiated two-state solution has become a “default narrative†for many.
May 26, 2016, at 02:04 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): As bellwethers for ecosystem health and biodiversity, bees play a crucial role in agriculture and ending hunger, and “pollinator-friendly†approaches are therefore highly encouraged, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
DR Congo: Ban ‘profoundly concerned’ over reports of rising political tensions
May 26, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed profound concern over reports of increasing political tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) linked to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the country’s electoral process.
On Africa Day, Ban urges leveraging gains to ensure ‘no African is left behind’
May 26, 2016, at 02:01 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): Despite an uncertain global economic landscape, Africa’s prospects are positive, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday, urging the continent’s leaders to use recent gains to address rising social and economic inequalities.
Security Council ends 13-year sanctions regime on Liberia
May 26, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News):Acknowledging the sustained progress made on rebuilding Liberia after the 1999-2003 civil war, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday terminated an arms embargo against the country and dissolved the related mechanisms, namely the sanctions Committee and the expert panel.
Haiti: UN agencies support Government in vaccination campaign against cholera
May 26, 2016, at 01:59 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations agencies said on Wednesday they are supporting the Government of Haiti in a vaccination campaign against cholera that aims to reach 400,000 people in 2016.
UN launches unprecedented #WildforLife campaign to end illegal trade in wildlife
May 26, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Wednesday launched the #WildforLife campaign against illegal trade in wildlife, warning that such trade is pushing species to the brink of extinction, robbing countries of their natural heritage and profiting international criminal networks.
South Sudan: Senior UN relief official condemns killing of health worker
May 26, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan has strongly condemned the killing of Veronika Racková, a Slovakian nun and medical doctor who was shot on 15 May in Yei, while on a humanitarian mission, and later succumbed to her wounds.
Citing obstruction, UN torture prevention panel suspends Ukraine visit
May 26, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has suspended its visit to Ukraine after being denied access to places in several parts of the country where it suspects people are being deprived of their liberty by the Security Service of Ukraine, the SBU.
UNESCO welcomes Azerbaijan’s decision to free investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova
May 26, 2016, at 01:55 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has welcomed Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court decision to free an award-winning investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.
May 26, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): At the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) taking place in Nairobi this week, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was among a group of agencies launching a new tool and report that recommends ways to protect threatened coral reefs.
UN agencies provide seeds and food to break hunger cycle in Central African Republic
May 26, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): Two United Nations agencies have begun providing both seeds and food to nearly 50,000 hungry farming families in some areas of the conflict-torn Central African Republic (CAR) to ensure that they don’t eat seeds meant for planting.
At Crime Commission, UN official urges stepped-up responses to curb human trafficking
May 26, 2016, at 01:52 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News):Despite all of the positive effects of migration, the unprecedented flow of people is generating new criminal opportunities, the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Wednesday at a high-level event on the recently launched UN-European Union initiative aimed at curbing human trafficking and migrant smuggling.