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.

Russian airstrikes kill 20 militants allied to IS in Aleppo countryside

Feb 25, 2016, at 01:18 am

Aleppo, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) : At least 20 militants in a faction allied to IS were killed during aerial bombardment by Russian warplanes in Khanaser town of Syria, a monitor group said.

Nepal PM mourns loss of lives in Nepal plane crash

Feb 24, 2016, at 11:54 pm

Kathmandu, Feb 24 (IBNS) Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday mourned the death of 23 people in a plane crash in the country's Myagdi district.

Nepal plane crash kills all 23 on board

Feb 24, 2016, at 11:08 pm

Kathmandu, Feb 24 (IBNS) The burnt wreckage of the Tara Air place that had crashed in Nepal on Wednesday have been located at Tirkhe Dhunga in the western district of Myagdi and all the 23 people, including two children and two foreigners, killed, according to media reports.

UN adviser calls for new mobile-industry partnership to achieve sustainable development

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:30 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations adviser on the new 15-year development agenda has urged the mobile industry to work together and develop policy frameworks and technical standards that would ensure no one is left behind.

UN peacebuilding body highlights need to address root causes of conflict for sustainable peace

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:26 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The head of the United Nations advisory body tasked with making recommendations on post-conflict recovery, reconstruction and development stressed on Tuesday that building lasting peace requires predictable, sustained and adequate efforts and financing to help stop violence and address the root causes of conflict.

Displaced people need to be given opportunity to rebuild their lives, Ban says at camp in DR Congo

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:25 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday reiterated his call for support from Member States to resolve such global humanitarian issues as the refugee and migrant crisis and ensuring human dignity for all, during a visit to a site hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Uganda: UN concerned over arrests of opposition leaders, use of force since elections

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:21 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations human rights office expressed concern on Tuesday over the “tense” post-election situation in Uganda, following reports that at least two people have been killed and an unknown number of people injured, heavy military and police forces deployed in the streets of Kampala, and the arrests of four opposition leaders since Thursday’s elections.

UN rights chief welcomes US President’s plan to close Guantánamo detention facility

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:15 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday welcomed United States President Barack Obama’s plan to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, expressing hope that “no further obstacles are placed in the way of its implementation.”

Bay of Bengal 'three times more deadly' than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees – UN

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:12 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Refugees and migrants crossing the seas of Southeast Asia died at a rate three times higher than those in the Mediterranean last year, a new United Nations report has found, highlighting the urgency of greater life-saving cooperation among the affected States.

Burundi: Ban welcomes promise of ‘inclusive dialogue,’ release of detainees

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:03 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the decision on Tuesday by the President of Burundi to withdraw some media bans, cancel arrest warrants and release detainees as goodwill gestures to try to end months of violence in the crisis-torn country.

UN refugee agency calls on Nigeria to heed wishes of internally displaced

Feb 24, 2016, at 03:01 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Nigerian authorities should heed the concerns of internally displaced people (IDP) in the north-east of the country, the United Nations refugee agency’s top protection official said following his visit to Borno, the north-eastern state hardest hit by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Afghanistan: UN calls on all parties to respect protected status of medical facilities and personnel

Feb 24, 2016, at 02:58 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Following two incidents in the past week that put access to health care in Afghanistan under attack, the United Nations mission in the country has urged all parties to refrain from targeting hospitals and to take all feasible precautions to prevent casualties among their patients and personnel.

Europe’s restrictive measures place added hardships on refugees and asylum-seekers – UN

Feb 24, 2016, at 02:55 pm

New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday it is concerned by recent restrictive practices adopted in a number of European countries that are placing additional undue hardships on refugees and asylum-seekers across Europe, creating chaos at several border points, and putting particular pressure on Greece as it struggles to deal with larger numbers of people in need of accommodation and services.

Suicide bomber behind Ankara attack identified

Feb 24, 2016, at 02:34 pm

Ankara, Feb 24 (IBNS) The suicide bomber, who was behind the blast that hit Turkish capital Ankara last week, has been identified, local media reports said on Wednesday.

Pakistan Parliament shifted to solar power

Feb 23, 2016, at 09:26 pm

Islamabad, Feb 23 (IBNS) Setting an example, solar power plant has been inaugurated in Pakistan Parliament House here on Tuesday.

Syria ‘reduced to ruins,’ with civilians paying the biggest price, says UN human rights panel

Feb 23, 2016, at 03:42 pm

New York, Feb 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As the Syrian conflict is entering its sixth year, civilians are bearing the brunt of intensifying hostilities conducted by an ever-increasing number of warring parties, with aerial bombardments by pro-Government forces leaving “few safe places,” a new United Nations-mandated report has found.

Syria: head of panel for joint UN body says chemical weapons probing to begin in March

Feb 23, 2016, at 03:35 pm

New York, Feb 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The head of a United Nations-mandated body tasked with identifying those behind chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian civil war said on Monday that preliminary work on seven potential cases has been nearly concluded and that in-depth investigations will begin in March.

UN ‘trusted partner’ for all political parties in Maldives, senior political official says after visit

Feb 23, 2016, at 03:34 pm

New York, Feb 23 (Just Earth News/IBNS)The United Nations should stay engaged in facilitating a political dialogue between the Government of Maldives and the opposition parties, said a senior UN political official on the heels of a two-day visit to the island nation.