Following visit to Haiti, UN expert urges more aid for Hurricane Matthew victims

Mar 14, 2017, at 05:19 am

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): An independent United Nations expert on human rights is calling for redoubling of efforts to help Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Canada: Federal Court Judge Robin Camp quits for his controversial remark in 2014 rape case

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:48 am

Calgary, Mar 11 (IBNS): A Federal Court Judge, who during a rape case trial in 2014 asked a 19-year-old rape victim that why could she not keep her knees together, has been forced to quit the bench following a scathing attack by the body that oversees the Canadian judiciary, reports Calgary Metro.

Canada: FNUC undertakes revitalization of indigenous languages in Saskatchewan

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:36 am

Toronto, May 13 (IBNS): With the aim of revitalization of indigenous languages in Saskatchewan, First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) has been working with Prince's Charities Canada and published five children's books in indigenous language written by SayITFirst Inc., media reports said.

Canada: Toronto library brings out guide to discern fake news

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:30 am

Toronto, Mar 13 (IBNS): A guide has been assembled recently by the Toronto Public Library to enable online readers to distinguish legitimate news from fake news, media reports said.

S Africa baby abduction: Mother, two others arrested by police

Mar 13, 2017, at 11:02 pm

Durban, Mar 13 (IBNS): The mother of a one-month old baby, who was abducted in South Africa's Durban, has been arrested by the law enforcers for her alleged involvement in the crime, reports said.

Afghanistan: At least 70 Taliban insurgents killed in Laghman

Mar 13, 2017, at 10:43 pm

Kabul, Mar 13 (IBNS): The Taliban's attempt to capture Laghman province in Afghanistan turned out to be fatal as 70 insurgents were gunned down by forces, local Khaama Press reported.

Afghanistan: At least 32 ALP personnel rescued from Taliban jail

Mar 13, 2017, at 10:40 pm

Kabul, Mar 13 (IBNS): At least 32 Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel have been rescued from Taliban prison by the Afghan Special Forces, local Khaama Press reported.

Syria: UN chief Guterres condemns terrorist attacks in Damascus

Mar 13, 2017, at 01:14 pm

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday, his spokesman said Sunday.

Canada: Ontario company violates Consumer Packaging Act

Mar 13, 2017, at 08:30 am

Toronto, Mar 13 (IBNS): A tomato processing company had been charged with mislabelling its canned products as organic and passing off American tomatoes as Canadian, media reports said.

Generous donors contribute 15 million in gifts for Toronto Jewish education

Mar 12, 2017, at 06:14 pm

Toronto, Mar 12 (IBNS): Two generous donors announced earlier this week a total of $15 million in gifts that would make the future of Jewish education more affordable in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) for the next generation, media reports said.

UN aid chief urges global action as starvation, famine loom for 20 million across four countries

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:53 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Just back from Kenya, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia – countries that are facing or are at risk of famine – the top United Nations humanitarian official on Friday urged the international community for comprehensive action to save people from simply “starving to death.”

Security Council encourages Syrian parties to take part in UN-supported talks ‘without preconditions’

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:52 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Looking forward to the early resumption of the United Nations-facilitated intra-Syrian negotiations, the Security Council on Friday encouraged the Syrian parties to return to talks in good faith “and to engage constructively and without preconditions” on the agenda set out by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura when they resume.

Nation-building amid insurgency ‘an uphill struggle’ for Afghanistan – UN envoy

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:51 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan on Friday highlighted both the visible progress the conflict-torn country has made and the challenges lie ahead, urging the Government to redouble efforts while calling for continued international political and financial support.

Amid rise of ‘fake news,’ authorities should ensure truthful info reaches public – UN, regional experts

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:50 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Noting growing prevalence of “fake news” and propaganda in both legacy and social media, United Nations and key regional human rights experts have called on State actors to ensure that they disseminate reliable and trustworthy information, including about matters of public interest, such as the economy, public health, security and the environment.

Vigilance against Zika virus should ‘remain high,’ UN health agency says in new guidance

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Although a decline in cases of Zika virus infection has been reported in some countries, there is still a need for heightened vigilance, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday, issuing fresh guidance on the virus that has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications.

UN agency spotlights role of Governments in preventing child exploitation in tourism

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations-backed meeting on tourism has spotlighted the leading role of Governments in preventing all forms of child exploitation in the leisure travel industry.

As fresh violence in Yemen sends thousands fleeing their homes, UN agency urges support

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:48 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): With tens of thousands of civilians forced to flee their homes following a spike in fighting across western and central Yemen, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday appealed for more international support, as well as unrestricted access within the country so that it can reach those now facing “abysmal conditions.”

Colombian fighting displaced more than 900 families since January - UN agency

Mar 11, 2017, at 04:43 am

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Despite a peace agreement, ongoing fighting in the Colombian Pacific Coast has displaced more than 3,500 people so far this year – many of them from the Afro-Colombian or indigenous communities, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday announced.

Turkey: UN report details allegations of serious rights violations in country's southeast

Mar 11, 2017, at 04:43 am

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): The UN human rights office on Friday published a report detailing allegations of massive destruction, killings and numerous other serious human rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in southeast Turkey.

With fighting near industrial sites, UN expert warns Ukrainians of chemical disaster risk

Mar 11, 2017, at 04:42 am

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Unless the fighting in eastern Ukraine is stopped and precautions are taken to secure industrial facilities in the area, the armed conflict could lead to a catastrophic chemical disaster, an independent United Nations human rights expert on Friday warned.

Canada: PM Justin Trudeau gets award at Houston energy conference

Mar 11, 2017, at 03:56 am

Toronto, Mar 10 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the proud recipient of 'CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award for his commitment to sustainability', informed CERAWeek.

Kuchibhotla's alleged murderer appears in US court

Mar 10, 2017, at 08:54 pm

Olathe, Mar 10 (IBNS) : Adam Purinton, a Kansas City man, accused in the fatal shooting at an Indian engineer in an Olathe bar last month, made a brief appearance on Thursday in Johnson County District Court, The Kansas City Star reported.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye removed from office, court upholds impeachment

Mar 10, 2017, at 06:39 pm

Seoul, Mar 10 (IBNS): South Korean judges upheld the country's President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, removing her from office, the media reported on Friday.

Healthcare will be a success despite speculation, says Trump

Mar 10, 2017, at 04:10 pm

Washington, Mar 10 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed the media for the negative portrayal of his conceived healthcare.

UN announces new approach to 'stamp out' sexual exploitation and abuse

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:14 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Underscoring that the United Nations should not be, in any way, associated with the vile and vicious crimes of rape, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, Secretary-General António Guterres has outlined a new victim-centred approach to prevent and respond to such abuses committed by those serving under the UN flag.

Americas region adopts 'historic' disaster risk reduction plan at UN-backed forum in Montreal

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:13 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Around 50 countries and territories of the Americas at a United Nations-supported conference in Montreal, Canada, agreed a Regional Action Plan on Thursday to better protect their citizens from the destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters.

'Holistic thinking' needed for peace, development in Lake Chad region – Deputy UN chief Mohammed

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:11 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the multifaceted nature of the crisis in Africa's Lake Chad Basin, the deputy United Nations chief underlined the need for a holistic approach that includes responding to the Boko Haram as well as closing the gap between humanitarian assistance and development interventions.

Mali: UN expert calls for stronger protection of civilians amid ongoing violence

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:10 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Serious security threats in north and central Mali put local populations and humanitarian aid workers at risk, a United Nations human rights expert said on Thursday.

Burundian authorities 'shut doors' to engagement, cooperation – Security Council told

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:09 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Nearly two years after the political impasse started in Burundi, national authorities are reducing their cooperation with the United Nations system which risks undermining efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis and cutting assistance to a population in need, the Security Council was told on Thursday.

UN agriculture agency warns of water scarcity in North Africa and Near East

Mar 10, 2017, at 02:08 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News): Accessible fresh water in North Africa and the Middle East has fallen by two-thirds over the past 40 years, posing a huge challenge requiring “an urgent and massive response,” the head of the United Nations agriculture agency said on Thursday.