US-Canadian couple appear in Taliban video, pleads govt to change policy
Aug 31, 2016, at 04:36 pm
Kabul, Aug 31 (IBNS): A Canadian man and his American wife, who were captured by the Taliban in 2012 in Afghanistan following their visit to the nation, purportedly appeared in a video uploaded by the fringe unit, US watchdog SITE reported.
North Korea executes top official, South Korea says
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:37 pm
Seoul, Aug 31 (IBNS): North Korea has executed a vice premier of the nation, South Korean officials confirmed media on Wednesday.
Donald Trump to meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:25 pm
Washington, Aug 31 (IBNS): US Republican candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that he is all set to meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Security Council extends mandate of UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:06 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), until the end of August 2017.
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): In his briefing to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, a senior United Nations official emphasized the need for Guinea-Bissau’s political leaders to put aside partisan considerations and focus on national interests and the welfare of the suffering population.
UN official highlights challenges of humanitarian operations in Syria
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:04 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): Addressing the media in Geneva, a United Nations spokesperson on Tuesday highlighted the challenging working environment in which UN humanitarian agencies are operating in within Syria and flagged that aid is being delivered to all those who need, regardless of their affiliation and where they live.
Pollution kills as many people as cancer does, UN’s new environment chief warns
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:03 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): The new head of the United Nations environment agency on Tuesday laid out key issues facing the international community on environmental issues, including pollution as well as the linkages among the environment, wars and conflicts, and migration.
INTERVIEW: The Syrian forces and ISIL used toxic chemicals as weapons – report
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): The Syrian Airforce and ISIL used toxic chemicals as weapons, according to a new report issued on Tuesday by an “independent, impartial, and objective†Leadership Panel, mandated by the UN Security Council.
Aug 31, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has helped resettle more than 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States during the year ending 30 September, without compromising the integrity and security of the processing mechanism.
UN envoy ‘greatly regrets’ intensification of fighting in Syria
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): Regretting the intensified fighting and grave humanitarian situation in Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country, Staffan de Mistura, reiterates the need for a political solution to the conflict there, according to his spokesperson Jessy Chahine.
On World Day, UN chief highlights plight of family and friends of victims of enforced disappearances
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): Marking the 2016 International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that the anguished women and men – parents, children, partners or friends – desperately seeking any information on their loved ones who have disappeared are also victims of enforced disappearances.
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): Noting that national policies often tend to treat women and girls with disabilities as helpless objects of pity or allow them to be treated in that manner, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has stressed that, instead, they need to be empowered and allowed to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms, as any other person.
UN chief voices concern over premature declarations on outcome of Gabon’s presidential elections
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:55 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): In telephone conversations on Tuesday with the Gabonese leaders vying for the country’s presidency, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his concerns over early calls on the polls results, outside of any official process.
In Myanmar, UN chief spotlights country’s challenging path towards multi-ethnic democracy
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): Following a meeting with Myanmar’s foreign minister, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday highlighted the great challenges her country faces on its path of reform towards a harmonious, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and prosperous democracy.
UNESCO chief condemns deaths of media workers in Brazil and Iraq
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Aug 31 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has spoken out against the murder of two media workers – Mauricio Campos Rosa, a journalist and newspaper owner in Brazil, and Ali Ghani, a broadcast technician in Iraq.
State aid: Ireland gave illegal tax benefits to Apple worth up to €13 billion
Aug 31, 2016, at 06:50 am
London, Aug 31 (IBNS): The European Commission on Tuesday said it has concluded that Ireland granted undue tax benefits of up to €13 billion to Apple.
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:57 am
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency has issued new guidelines for the treatment of three common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis – in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Bolivia: UN human rights office condemns killing of vice minister and three miners
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:55 am
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday spoke out against the killing of a government minister by a group of striking miners last Thursday, as well as deadly clashes between police and people opposed to a new mining law.
UN food relief agency needs $48 million for school meals programme in West and Central Africa
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:53 am
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency on Tuesday warned that it urgently needs $48 million for its school meals assistance programme in West and Central Africa to avoid having more than 1.3 million children across West and Central Africa risk missing out its school meals as widening financial constraints force it to reduce its reach in the region.
UN human rights office welcomes France’s court ruling to suspend seaside ban on burkini
Aug 31, 2016, at 03:50 am
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday welcomed last Friday’s decision by France’s highest administrative court to suspend the ban on “inappropriate†beachwear, which was adopted by a seaside town and had been widely interpreted as targeting the burkini and other forms of dress worn by Muslim women.
100-year-old Indian woman runs to win gold in Vancouver
Aug 31, 2016, at 01:00 am
Vancouver, Aug 30 (IBNS): 100-year-old woman from India Man Kaur, challenges her age as she competes and wins gold in 100-meter dash at the America’s Masters Games in Vancouver.
Bugfest at Canadian National Exhibition
Aug 30, 2016, at 11:09 pm
Toronto, Aug 30 (IBNS): Every year the Canadian National Exhibition awes its fans and visitors with some innovative concoctions. This year the Ex allowed crickets and beetles to enter officially as they were dished out in the food plates.
Bangladesh SC upholds Jamaat-e-Islami leader death sentence
Aug 30, 2016, at 10:11 pm
Dhaka, Aug 30 (IBNS): Bangladesh Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the review petition against death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami top leader Mir Quasem, according to media reports.
More than 300 reindeer killed in lightning in Norway
Aug 30, 2016, at 06:35 pm
Oslo, Aug 30 (IBNS) : More than 300 wild reindeer were recently killed by lightning at a Norwegian national park, National Geographic said quoting officials.
N Korea: Kim Jong-un orders public execution of two senior bureaucrats
Aug 30, 2016, at 06:30 pm
Pyongyang, Aug 30 (IBNS): North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered public execution of two senior bureaucrats with anti-aircraft guns, reports said.
Kyrgyzstan: Heavy explosion in Chinese Embassy kills one
Aug 30, 2016, at 04:46 pm
Bishkek, Aug 30 (IBNS): At least one person was killed in a suicide blast inside the Chinese Embassy compound in the southern part of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, reports said.
Indian Consul General Toronto visits Dixie Gurudwara
Aug 30, 2016, at 03:23 pm
Toronto Aug 30 (IBNS): The Consulate General of India Toronto, Dinesh Bhatia, paid a visit to the Dixie Gurudwara, the largest Sikh Temple in Canada.
Reverse ‘negative trajectory’ and restore hope for two-state solution, says UN Middle East envoy
Aug 30, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations senior official coordinating efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Monday reiterated a call for both sides to work towards a negotiated two-state solution which envisages the co-existence of Palestine and Israel as amicable neighbours.
UN cultural agency hails creation of world’s largest marine protected area
Aug 30, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday welcomed the establishment by US President Barack Obama of the largest nature reserve in the world, done through expanding a marine reserve in the state of Hawaii.
Aug 30, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, Aug 30 (Just Earth News): As World Water Week kick off on Monday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted that the opportunity cost from a lack of access to water disproportionately falls on women and girls who collectively spend as much as 200 million hours – or more than 22,800 years – every day collecting this vital resource.