After five years of ‘ruthless war’ in Syria, 2017 can be a year of diplomacy, says UN envoy

Jan 06, 2017, at 01:55 pm

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Looking back over the past month, which saw some of the most difficult challenges for humanitarian workers in Syria but which also witnessed evacuations of thousands of civilians from war-ravaged eastern Aleppo, United Nations envoys for Syria said on Thursday that things have to change in 2017 and that “it can change in 2017.”

US removal of textbook with ‘distorted’ depiction of slavery from classrooms applauded by UN experts

Jan 06, 2017, at 01:54 pm

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): A team of United Nations human rights experts is supporting a recent decision by a United States school district in Connecticut to remove offensive and inaccurate historical information about slavery from its classrooms.

UN agency data on labour migration shows 160 million migrants in global workforce

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:46 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): There are about 160 million migrant workers around the world, according a recent United Nations study, which provides useful labour migration data for policy makers as they seek to make headway on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Safe water now available for hundreds of thousands affected by Hurricane Matthew – UNICEF

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:45 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): Responding to the humanitarian needs in Haiti, which witnessed massive destruction by Hurricane Matthew in early October last year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) continues to deliver aid and provide relief to those most affected by the storm.

Climate change will lead to annual coral bleaching, UN-supported study predicts

Jan 06, 2017, at 05:44 am

New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News): If current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world's coral reefs will suffer severe bleaching – the gravest threat to one of the Earth's most important ecosystems – on annual basis, the United Nations environment agency on Thursday reported.

Canada: Ontario man killed in Syria 'fighting' against Islamic State militants

Jan 06, 2017, at 01:26 am

Toronto, Jan 5 (IBNS): An Ontario family at Niagara Falls, learnt about the death of their 24-year-old son Nazzareno Tassone through a letter from Kurdish People's Defence Units informing them that he had been killed in Syria while fighting against Islamic State militants, media reports said.

Canadian National Railway: Uncertain future ahead

Jan 05, 2017, at 08:31 pm

Calgary, Jan 5 (IBNS): Canadian National Railway didn't fare well in the past 12 months with decline in cargo volumes, a failed takeover bid and divisions within the industry, according to media reports.

Afghanistan: Jalalabad explosion kills at least one, heavy casualties feared

Jan 05, 2017, at 06:26 pm

Kabul, Jan 5 (IBNS): At least one person was killed in an explosion which rocked the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Thursday morning, local Khaama Press reported.

Some people don't understand the 'movement', says Trump

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:37 pm

Washington, Jan 5 (IBNS): US President-elect Donald Trump has said on Wednesday that some people don't understand the 'movement', referring to his win in the US presidential polls.

Canada: North York mansion gutted by fire

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:08 pm

Toronto, Jan 5 (IBNS): The multimillion-dollar house, which was being constructed on Forest Heights Boulevard, North York, Ontario was ruined by fire which broke out early morning on New Year's Day, media reports said.

Afgahnistan: Policewoman shotdead by Taliban

Jan 05, 2017, at 03:40 pm

Kabul, Jan 5 (IBNS): A policewoman was shot dead by the Taliban in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, media reports said on Thursday.

Tim Barrow appointed as UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union

Jan 05, 2017, at 03:29 pm

London, Jan 5 (IBNS): Britain has appointed Tim Barrow as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the European Union.

Welcoming DR Congo political accord, UN Security Council urges efforts to resolve remaining issues

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:58 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday welcomed a comprehensive political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on all stakeholders to continue to exercise flexibility and compromise in their discussions to swiftly resolve all pending issues, particularly those related to the holding of elections in the country within 2017.

Top UN official in Haiti, Security Council welcome announcement of president-elect

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:57 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official and the Security Council on Wednesday joined the international community in congratulating the next President of Haiti, whose election completes a repeatedly delayed process that took over a year.

‘Give peace a chance,’ urges UN official, reporting sense of optimism as Aleppo ceasefire hold

Jan 05, 2017, at 10:56 am

New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations humanitarian official reported on Wednesday that though damage to Aleppo was extreme, aid workers were nonetheless inspired by signs of optimism and hope, and asked that peace be given a chance.

Toronto flights delayed as two planes collide

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:42 am

Toronto, Jan 4 (IBNS): Two airplanes at Toronto Pearson International Airport collided wings on Tuesday evening, media reports said.

UN-backed aid plan requires $310 million for crisis-affected communities in Cameroon

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:39 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): A $310 million humanitarian response plan, backed by the United Nations, has been launched to provide life-saving assistance to 1.2 million people in Cameroon’s northern and eastern regions.

Two UN peacekeepers killed, two injured in ambush in Central African Republic

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday condemned a deadly ambush on a convoy in the south-eastern part of the country which killed two blue helmets from Morocco and wounded two others.

Libya: Amid threat of renewed conflict, UN envoy urges restraint

Jan 05, 2017, at 04:37 am

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at escalating tensions and threat of renewed conflict following developments in central Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country urged all parties to work together on reconciliation and to refrain from any rhetoric that could inflame the situation.

Canadian woman dies in Italy while hiking

Jan 05, 2017, at 03:24 am

Toronto, Jan 4 (IBNS): A 24-year-old Canadian bride-to-be woman plunged to her death in a hiking accident in northern Italy, media reports said.

New York: Train derailment leaves over 100 injured

Jan 05, 2017, at 02:59 am

New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): At least 100 people were injured as a commuter train derailed during rush hour here on Wednesday, media reports said.

Indonesia puts military ties with Australia on hold

Jan 04, 2017, at 07:44 pm

Jakarta, Jan 4 (IBNS): Indonesia has suspended its military ties with Australia, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Security forces kill 58 militants including 10 ISIS fighters

Jan 04, 2017, at 06:38 pm

Kabul Jan 4 (IBNS): At least 58 militants, including 10 ISIS fighters have been killed in various operations carried out by the Afghan security forces in the nation, local Khaama Press said.

Afghanistan: Suicide bomber killed by own explosives

Jan 04, 2017, at 03:16 pm

Kabul, Jan 4 (IBNS): A suicide bomber was killed when his suicide vest went off prematurely in Afghanistan's southern Zabul province, media reports said on Wednesday.

Canada: Four-year-old boy dies after motor vehicle hits him

Jan 04, 2017, at 02:46 pm

Toronto, Jan. 4 (IBNS): On New Year day Nishnawbe Aski Police received a call at 6:25 p.m., when a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle.

Canadian man dies after New Year's Eve party in Thailand

Jan 04, 2017, at 02:44 pm

Toronto, Jan 4 (IBNS): A Canadian man died after a New Year's Eve party on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, media reports said.

Iraq: 13,000 people flee Mosul over five days as anti-terrorist operations intensify

Jan 04, 2017, at 01:33 pm

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): More than 13,000 people have fled Mosul in just five days since 29 December, as the second phase of military operations to retake the Iraqi city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorists has apparently begun, a United Nations spokesperson said on Tuesday.

With needs for displaced in eastern Aleppo growing, UN renews calls for donor support

Jan 04, 2017, at 01:31 pm

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Tuesday reiterated its call for “immediate and long-term support” for more than 100,000 people in the Syrian city of Aleppo, warning donors that it will not be able to provide life-saving assistance without it.

UN health agency fills gap in HIV treatment for patients in Libya

Jan 04, 2017, at 01:30 pm

New York, Jan 4 (Just Earth News): Just a few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) began distributing much-needed anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to patients living with HIV in Libya, following the country’s collapse in medical services and inability to provide life-saving drugs.

Secretary-General António Guterres cites multilateralism, teamwork as critical to achieving UN goals

Jan 04, 2017, at 05:22 am

New York, Jan 3 (Just Earth News): On his first day in office, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for teamwork, telling staff at the world body’s New York Headquarters that it is not enough to the “do the right thing, we need to earn the right to do the right thing.”