Paris attacks: Key suspect arrested?

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

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

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’

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

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

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

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

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.

Global food prices edge up in March; cereal production outlook robust – UN

New York, Apr 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): World cereal production in 2016 is set to reach 2,521 million tonnes, just 0.2 per cent below last year’s and the third-highest on record, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.

‘If we work and build together,’ a more sustainable world will be a safer world, Ban says in California

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon continued his programme in California on Wednesday, where he received an honorary doctorate from Loyola Marymount University, after addressing yesterday the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, where he gave the audience an overview of United Nations efforts to meet on Wednesday’s global challenges, from humanitarian crises to climate change to sustainable development.

Political progress to end Darfur conflict through dialogue ‘remains elusive’ – UN peacekeeping chief

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Intensified fighting since January has resulted in a rapidly worsening security situation and large-scale displacement in Sudan’s Darfur region, the top United Nations peacekeeping official warned on Wednesday, stressing that it is important that Security Council “impress on all parties to the conflict […] that a political solution remains the only viable option.”

Prosecutor to appeal UN tribunal's acquittal of Vojislav Šešelj of war crimes in the Balkans

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The long-serving Prosecutor of the United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Wednesday announced that he will appeal The Hague-based court's recent acquittal of Serbian politician Vojislav Šešelj on war crimes charges in connection with actions committed by Serbian forces between August 1991 and September 1993.

Libya: senior UN relief official calls for independent probe into migrant deaths at detention centre

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing deep regret and concern over the deaths of four migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in a detention centre in al-Zawiya, Libya, the senior United Nations humanitarian official in that country has called on Wednesday for an independent, impartial and full investigation into their deaths.

‘We need to rethink our daily lives,’ warns UN health chief, urging action to halt rising tide of diabetes

UN experts urge Mexico to counter current ‘smear campaign,’ support right defenders

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday urged the Government of Mexico to express its full support for the work of human rights defenders and civil society organisations, and actively counter the current stigmatisation campaign to undermine their work.