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.”

High-level UN forum on development cooperation paves way for ‘leaving no one behind’

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:40 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a day of fruitful discussions in workshops and informal meetings, the United Nations Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) High-level Symposium officially opened on Thursday in Brussels, Belgium, with senior UN officials urging delegations to ensure such cooperation is ‘a better fit’ for implementing the 2030 Agenda, including for vulnerable countries.

Rising hunger in Central America and Haiti as El Niño follows prolonged drought – UN agency

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:38 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations food relief agency committed on Thursday to assisting 1.6 million people hit by droughts exacerbated by El Niño in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Haiti and building resilience against future climatic shocks.

In Geneva, senior UN official urges all-inclusive approach to stop virulent spread of violent extremism

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:36 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Violent extremism is an affront to the very purposes and principles of the United Nations, the Head of the world body’s Geneva headquarters said on Thursday, urging government delegations and experts gathered there to back the comprehensive approach needed to proactively address the drivers of the scourge, including through support of the Secretary-General’s action plan on the issue.

Remembering on Rwanda, Ban urges a firm stand against hate speech

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:33 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the 22nd anniversary of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday highlighted the role hate speech plays in inciting division and violence, and urged the international community to “fight genocide ideology.”

On World Health Day, UN urges global efforts to halt rise in diabetes

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:31 pm

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked World Health Day with a strong call for stepping up global efforts to halt the rise in diabetes and improve the lives of those living with this dangerous but preventable and treatable disease.