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.

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

Apr 08, 2016, at 12:29 pm

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.

Pakistan: Peshawar blast kills cop

Apr 07, 2016, at 09:45 pm

Peshawar, Apr 7 (IBNS) A bomb blast in Pakistan's Peshawar city killed a police officer and injured two others on Thursday, media reports said.

Bangladesh: Blogger hacked to death in Dhaka

Apr 07, 2016, at 06:16 pm

Dhaka, Apr 7 (IBNS) The repeated killings of secular bloggers in Bangladesh continues as yet another blogger was hacked to death in broad daylight by suspected Islamist militants for expressing secular views, in Dhaka on Wednesday, according to reports.

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:37 pm

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:35 pm

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.”

UN agency condemns large-scale home demolitions in West Bank

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:33 pm

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has condemned on Wednesday’s large scale home demolitions by Israeli authorities in the Bedouin refugee community of Um al Khayr in the South Hebron Hills.

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:31 pm

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:29 pm

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:28 pm

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

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:26 pm

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.

Sport plays essential role in advancing 2030 development agenda – UN

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:24 pm

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Sport has an essential role to play in supporting the achievement of the post-2015 development goals, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he observed the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Fiji: UN warns of flooding as cyclone-battered country braces for another storm

Apr 07, 2016, at 01:22 pm

New York, Apr 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Less than two months after Tropical Cyclone Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji, the country is bracing for the impact of another storm, the United Nations relief aid office said on Wednesday.

World military spending resumes upward course, says SIPRI

Apr 06, 2016, at 09:26 pm

Stockholm, Apr 6 (IBNS) World military expenditure totalled almost $1.7 trillion in 2015, an increase of 1 per cent in real terms from 2014, according to new figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Pakistan: 6 militants killed during police shootout

Apr 06, 2016, at 09:00 pm

Lahore, Apr 6 (IBNS) During a police shootout, at least six people have been killed in Saggian Bridge area of Lahore on Wednesday, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Gunmen attack vehicle, 1 killed

Apr 06, 2016, at 08:47 pm

Kabul, Apr 6 (IBNS): At least one person was killed as gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, media reports said on Wednesday.

UN to enforce ‘zero tolerance’ policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, senior official tells Member States

Apr 06, 2016, at 01:20 pm

New York, Apr 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Briefing the General Assembly on recent disturbing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Chef de Cabinet reaffirmed the Organization’s determination to tackle the issue head on and indicated that such violations, if verified, would trigger a decision by Ban to repatriate the units in question.

People-focused urban planning is key to sustainable future, Pritzker Prize winning architect says at UN

Apr 06, 2016, at 01:18 pm

New York, Apr 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The role that architecture can play in creating cities that are more sustainable and liveable – a vital element of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, in which economic inclusion, social development and environmental protection converge in a universal roadmap for global action – was in the spotlight at UN Headquarters on Tuesday as this year’s Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate discussed his work and the road to a more inclusive future.

Delays in implementing Mali peace deal mean gains for terrorists – UN peacekeeping chief

Apr 06, 2016, at 01:15 pm

New York, Apr 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Every day lost in the implementation of Mali’s peace agreement is a day gained for extremist and terrorist groups that have bet heavily that the process will fail, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Tuesday, stressing that the Government and the armed groups who signed the deal must establish a timeline to resolve all pending issues.