At South Sudan sites for displaced, UN Security Council hears 'desperate appeals' for regional protection force

Sep 04, 2016, at 01:44 pm

New York, Sept 4 (Just Earth News): On the second day of its visit to South Sudan, a delegation from the United Nations Security Council on Saturday met with displaced people living in camps, known as “protection of civilians” sites, seeing first-hand “the human consequences of the failure of political leaders to bring peace back to their country.”

In meeting with Turkey's President, UN chief stresses country's key role in fighting ISIL

Sep 04, 2016, at 01:42 pm

New York, Sept 4 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday met with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing the key role of Turkey in the fight against Da'esh (ISIL), Ban's office said.

Bangladesh: Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali hanged

Sep 04, 2016, at 05:03 am

Dhaka, Sept 3 (IBNS): In a major development, Jamaat-e-Islami’s key financier and a notorious Al-Badr leader of Chittagong during 1971 Mir Quasem Ali was hanged to death at a prison in Bangladesh on Saturday.

Bangkok: Bomb blast at train station kills 1

Sep 04, 2016, at 04:02 am

Pattani, Sept 3 (IBNS): At least one person was killed as abomb exploded on the tracks in front of a railway station at Pattani province of Thailand on Saturday, media reports said.

In historic ceremony, UN Secretary-General commends China, US for formally joining Paris climate agreement

Sep 04, 2016, at 03:34 am

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): Visiting the southeastern city of Hangzhou in China, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended the leaders of that country and the United States for formally joining the Paris Agreement on climate change on Saturday.

UN humanitarian chief sees first-hand harrowing conditions of refugees at Syria-Jordan border's berm

Sep 03, 2016, at 04:00 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): On a visit to northern Jordan on Friday, the top United Nations humanitarian official saw first-hand the conditions that more than 70,000 Syrian refugees, mostly women and children, are having to stay in along the border with Syria – in the middle of the desert, under a blazing sun and with no food or water – amid talks with Jordanian authorities aimed at resolving their plight.

Millions vaccinated against yellow fever in Africa in record time – UN health agency

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:59 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): Together with its partners, the United Nations health agency has vaccinated more than 7.7 million people in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in less than two weeks.

Citing geographic spread, UN emergency committee says Zika remains 'international public health emergency'

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:58 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): Following a meeting of its Emergency Committee on Zika yesterday, the United Nations health agency said on Friday that the infectious disease, and its associated congenital and other neurological disorders, continues to be an international public health emergency due to continuing geographic expansion and considerable gaps in understanding of the virus and its consequences.

Ban saddened by death of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov, pays tribute peace and security efforts

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:57 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is saddened to learn of the death of President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, according to the UN chief’s spokesperson.

In first visit to Sri Lanka since end of war, Ban flags role of human rights and sustainable development on path to stability

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:56 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): In his first visit to Sri Lanka since the end of its civil war seven years ago, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the country’s steps towards peace and reconciliation, while also highlighting the importance of and need for more progress with human rights and sustainable development for that progress.

UN Security Council arrives in South Sudan, aims to ‘move the ball’ on country’s stability

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:54 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): A delegation from the United Nations Security Council on Friday arrived in South Sudan, where it will reinforce recent messages made to the authorities as well as discuss how the UN peacekeeping mission there can help them improve the security and humanitarian situation in the wake of recent violence.

UN refugee agency: 2016 is deadliest year for refugees crossing to Europe via Central Mediterranean

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:53 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday flagged that while the number of deaths of refugees seeking safety via the Turkey-Greece route into Europe has fallen dramatically, the use of the North Africa-Italy route has remained constant – with the latter experiencing an increase in the number of deaths, making 2016 the deadliest year so far for refugees in the Central Mediterranean.

UN Secretary-General condemns deadly terrorist attacks in northern Pakistan

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:52 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned two separate terrorist attacks which took place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, reportedly targeting a Christian neighbourhood and a district court, according to his spokesperson.

Mozambique: UN expert warns masterminds of attacks against persons with albinism still at large

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:51 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Friday said that despite all the success in tackling crimes against persons with albinism in Mozambique, their situation remains precarious as the authorities have yet to identify and arrest the masterminds behind such crimes.

DR Congo: UN chief notes launch of national dialogue towards elections, urges more inclusive process

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:50 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has taken note of the 1 September launch of the national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urged the political groups that have not yet joined the dialogue to “play a constructive role which contributes to the holding of timely and credible elections,” according to his spokesman.

UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack against Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:49 pm

New York, Sept 3 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the recent terrorist bomb attack against the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which caused injuries of embassy staff, stressing that diplomatic and consular premises must not be violated.

Bangladesh: Militant killed in Dhaka

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:17 pm

Dhaka, Sept 3 (IBNS): Bangladesh police killed a militant during a raid in capital Dhaka on Friday, media reports said.

Blast in Philippines kills 10

Sep 03, 2016, at 03:47 am

Manila, Sept 2 (IBNS): At least 10 people were killed as blast hit Davao City in Philippines on Friday, media reports said.

At least a dozen lawyers killed, 50 injured in suicide attack on Pakistan court

Sep 02, 2016, at 06:47 pm

Mardan, Pakistan, Sept 2 (IBNS) : At least 12 people-all lawyers- were killed and about 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a district court at Mardan, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district on Friday, reports said.

Peshawar attack: All four attackers killed, clearance operation underway

Sep 02, 2016, at 04:23 pm

Peshawar, Sept 2 (IBNS): One civilian and four suicide bombers were killed after terrorists attacked Christian Colony in Pakistan's Peshawar on Friday morning, reports said.

New Zealand: 7.1 earthquake hits nation, no casualty

Sep 02, 2016, at 03:40 pm

Wellington, Sept 2 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit east coast of New Zealand on Friday.

Pakistan: Militants attack Christian Colony, 1 civilian killed

Sep 02, 2016, at 03:11 pm

Peshawar, Sept 2 (IBNS): At least one civilian was killed during exchange of fire between militants and security forces in Peshawar's Christian Colony area in Pakistan on Friday, media reports said.

FEATURE: WFP in Emergency Operation to Assist Around 80,000 South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda

Sep 02, 2016, at 02:05 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Halima, aged 22, is from the village of Yei in South Sudan. Now, though, Yei is only a name, and a distant dream for her and her four children. Bidi Bidi: she will have to get used to that, as the new name for her new home. Bidi Bidi. Besides this name and its new beats, she will learn new names, of new neighbours, too. Her husband is not here with her; he was shot dead two weeks ago, when her village was attacked.

INTERVIEW: Upcoming visit a chance for the Security Council to see, firsthand, the challenges facing the people of South Sudan

Sep 02, 2016, at 02:04 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): A delegation from the United Nations Security Council is expected to visit South Sudan next week. The visit comes after the 15-member Council recently approved the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force responsible for providing a secure environment in and around Juba, under the authority of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in the wake of recent violence stemming from political differences.

UN envoy eyes new political initiative in Syria talks; his advisor says taskforce ‘failed’ people of Darayya

Sep 02, 2016, at 02:02 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Syria said on Thursday that he plans to present a “quite clear political initiative” during the week preceding the General Assembly so that the stalled peace talks could resume by the time the Security Council holds another meeting on Syria on 21 September.

UN agency applauds US leadership on refugees as 10,000th Syrian refugee arrives

Sep 02, 2016, at 02:01 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency has welcomed the news of the arrival of the 10,000th Syrian refugee in the United States.

UN General Assembly President underscores importance of fostering a ‘Culture of Peace’ in challenging world environment

Sep 02, 2016, at 02:00 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Drawing attention to violence and terrorism affecting many parts of the world, the President of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday underscored that importance of promoting a global culture of peace.

UN agriculture chief stresses role of healthy oceans as drivers of Africa’s prosperity

Sep 02, 2016, at 01:58 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Addressing an African ministerial conference, the head of the United Nations agricultural agency on Thursday stressed the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change and illegal fishing on oceans and coastal communities as fisheries and aquaculture emerge as driving forces behind the transformation of the continent’s economies.

UN’s top relief official: World body is impartial in its humanitarian work in Syria as it is elsewhere

Sep 02, 2016, at 01:57 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations relief official on Thursday outlined how the humanitarian work of the world body in war-torn Syria is guided by impartiality and the key imperative of saving lives.

UN Secretary-General calls for restraint amid electoral crisis in Gabon, supports call for transparent verification of results

Sep 02, 2016, at 01:56 pm

New York, Sept 2 (Just Earth News): Voicing deep concerns about the unfolding electoral crisis in Gabon, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for restraint and the upholding of international standards of human rights there –and expressed UN support for a transparent verification of its recent presidential election results.