UN migration agency launches $24.6 million appeal for drought-hit Somalia

Mar 04, 2017, at 01:36 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News): To meet the emergency needs of over a million Somalis affected by drought, the United Nations migration agency is appealing to international donors for $24.6 million in funding.

Iraq: 15,000 children flee west Mosul over past week as battle intensifies, says UNICEF

Mar 04, 2017, at 01:30 pm

New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News): Some 15,000 children have over the previous week fled the western section of Iraq’s Mosul city where fighting between the Government forces and terrorists is intensifying by the day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported.

‘Political leadership needs to support its own people,’ urges UN mission chief in South Sudan

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:30 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations official in South Sudan is calling on the country’s political leadership to support its own people in the wake of a famine affecting some 100,000 people, and calling for local authorities to provide humanitarian access to those most in need.

On Wildlife Day, UN spotlights youth's role as on Friday's change-makers, tomorrow's custodians

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:29 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): With the fate of the world's wildlife soon to be in the hands of the next generation, the United Nations is observing this year's World Wildlife Day with a call to harness the power of young people's voices in conservation efforts.

Yemen: UN migration agency reports displacement spike in Taiz Governorate

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:28 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): With nearly 274,000 people displaced, Yemen’s Taiz is now among the crisis-torn country’s top five hosting governorates for such populations, a United Nations report has found.

UN expert urges greater protection of people with albinism from witch doctors

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:27 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): In the wake of a high-profile conviction of a mastermind who murdered and dismembered a woman with albinism, a United Nations independent expert is calling for additional oversight of traditional healers who use body parts in witchcraft rituals and so-called medicines.

UN agencies supporting Kenyans in drought-hit areas

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:26 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Some 2.7 million people in parts of Kenya are in urgent need of water and sanitation following the onset of a severe drought, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday announced, noting the UN's support for what the Government is calling a “national disaster.”

Sri Lanka: UN urges country not to miss chance to advance justice, reconciliation

Mar 04, 2017, at 05:25 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): The slow pace of transitional justice in Sri Lanka and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address accountability for past crimes risk derailing the momentum towards lasting peace, reconciliation and stability, a United Nations report said on Friday.

Bangladesh: ‘Neo JMB’ spiritual leader Kashem arrested

Mar 04, 2017, at 01:32 am

Dhaka, Mar 3 (IBNS): Bangladesh security officials have arrested the alleged spiritual leader of “Neo JMB”, media reports said on Friday.

NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit London

Mar 04, 2017, at 12:55 am

London, Mar 3 (IBNS): The NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller will travel to London on Monday.

Consul General Dinesh Bhatia greets Toronto Mayor John Tory ahead of his India visit

Mar 04, 2017, at 12:37 am

Toronto, Mar 3 (IBNS): Consul General of India in Toronto Dinesh Bhatia greeted Toronto Mayor John Tory at Toronto City Council on Wednesday to honour his forthcoming visit to India.

University of Leicester researchers measure Big Ben’s bong

Mar 03, 2017, at 09:01 pm

London, Mar 3 (IBNS): A team from the University of Leicester’s Department of Engineering has, for the first time ever, vibration-mapped the famous London bell Big Ben in order to reveal why it produces its distinct harmonious tone.

France presidential elections: Investigators raid Francois Fillon's home

Mar 03, 2017, at 04:56 pm

Paris, Mar 3 (IBNS): French investigators have raided conservative presidential candidate Francoise Fillon's home in Paris over a fake job scandal, the BBC reported.

Jeff Sessions is an honest man, democrats involved in witch-hunt, says Trump

Mar 03, 2017, at 04:14 pm

Washington, Mar 3 (IBNS): Amid controversy and resignation involving his US presidential campaign and alleged link with Russia, US President Donald Trump came out in support of US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Syrian Army recaptures Palmyra city

Mar 03, 2017, at 03:10 pm

Palmyra, Mar 3 (IBNS): The Syrian Army has captured Palmyra city from the militant group ISIS, media reports said.

China: Bus-truck collision kills 10

Mar 03, 2017, at 02:55 pm

Beijing, Mar 3 (IBNS): A cement tanker crashed into a bus in China's Yunnan Province on Thursday which left at least 10 people killed, media reports said on Friday.

‘Communicating SDGs’ key to achieving global development targets – senior UN official

Mar 03, 2017, at 02:02 pm

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Bringing together a diverse array of partners to communicate the Sustainable Development Goals was a key focus on day two Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development, a ‘playable’ United Nations conference that aims to chart a new way of thinking on addressing some of the world’s most complex development challenges.

Hunger persists in chronic conflict zones despite strong global harvests – UN

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:28 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Despite robust food supply conditions, droughts are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, and access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering civil conflicts, a new United Nations report has found.

UN-backed narcotics control body calls for more policies to address drug dependence among women

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:27 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Citing a significant rise over the past year in the number of women dying from drug overdoses globally, the independent expert body which monitors Governments’ compliance with the United Nations international drug control treaties is on Thursday calling for the implementation of gender-sensitive drug policies and programmes.

Civilian casualty figure in Iraq tops 1,000 – UN reports

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:26 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): More than 1,000 civilians were killed or injured last month in Iraq, the United Nations mission in the country has announced.

Financial speculation led to unsustainable global housing crisis, UN expert says

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:25 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): The world's money markets have priced people out of cities, a United Nations independent expert has said, blaming financial markets and speculators for treating housing as a “place to park capital.”

UN envoy condemns firing of rocket from Gaza towards Israel

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:24 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Condemning a rocket fired from Gaza towards Israel, a senior United Nations envoy has called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalation of the situation.

Perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Kabul must be brought to justice, stresses UN Security Council

Mar 03, 2017, at 06:23 am

New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News): Strongly condemning yesterday's terrorist attacks in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the United Nations Security Council underscored the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of such “reprehensible” acts to justice.

Canada: Ontario wraps up pre-budget consultations

Mar 03, 2017, at 04:39 am

Toronto, Mar 2 (IBNS): Participation of people of Ontario in the budget process has been a part of Ministry of Finance’s plan to create jobs and grow the economy, a media release said.

Canada: Ontario hydro rates to be reduced by 25 percent, says Premier Kathleen Wynne

Mar 02, 2017, at 06:31 pm

Toronto, Mar 2 (IBNS): Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government believes the reduction of financing costs of electricity generation contracts over longer periods would show immediate impact on reducing the hydro rates by 25 percent, thereby regaining the popularity of the Liberals, media reports said.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla's widow says she wants to return to USA to fulifl husband's dreams

Mar 02, 2017, at 05:21 pm

New Delhi, Mar 2 (IBNS) : Sunayana Dumala, the widow of Srinivas Kuchibhotla -- the Indian techie who was shot dead last month in Kansas City in a hate crime, says she wants to return to USA to fulfil her "husband's dream," The Times of India reported.

TransCanada suspends $15-bn lawsuit against US after Trump approves Keystone pipeline project

Mar 02, 2017, at 04:59 pm

Calgary, Mar 2 (IBNS): With the approval of Keystone pipeline project by US President Donald Trump, TransCanada Corp has suspended their lawsuit against the US government, which they had claimed towards damages and costs amounting to 15 billion dollars, said media reports.

War crimes committed by all parties in battle for Aleppo – UN-mandated inquiry on Syria

Mar 02, 2017, at 05:30 am

New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News): The battle late last year for control over Syria’s war-ravaged Aleppo was a stage of unrelenting violence, with civilians on both sides falling victim to war crimes committed by all parties, read a report issued on Wednesday by the United Nations-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria.

DR Congo security forces committed rights violations against protestors in December 2016 – UN probe

Mar 02, 2017, at 05:29 am

New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News): Defence and security forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) used excessive, disproportionate and at times lethal force to prevent and contain demonstrations in December 2016, in violation of international human rights law and standards, a UN report has found

'Make some noise' for safe, supportive HIV/AIDS care, says UN on Zero Discrimination Day

Mar 02, 2017, at 05:28 am

New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News): The United Nations agency leading the world's HIV/AIDS response is urging everyone to 'make some noise' for zero discrimination in healthcare settings.