UN refugee agency sending urgent relief items for Congolese civilians fleeing to Angola

Apr 22, 2017, at 05:38 am

New York, Apr 22(Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency is shipping tents, mosquito nets and other essential relief items to Angola, where some 9,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have fled this month alone.

UNICEF calls for action to prevent more deaths in Central Mediterranean as attempted crossings spike

Apr 22, 2017, at 05:37 am

New York, Apr 22(Just Earth News): Noting increases in number of migrants, including children, attempting to reach European shores using the Central Mediterranean route, and consequent rise in number of deaths, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for safe and legal pathways for those who are fleeing conflict, poverty and depravation.

'Alberta hires Albertan first' getting popular among locals

Apr 21, 2017, at 06:12 pm

Calgary, Apr 20 (IBNS): The pilot project initiated by the provincial government in Alberta to encourage employers to hire Albertans on a priority basis has garnered much praise from the local populace, reports said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister to visit Delhi next week

Apr 21, 2017, at 06:07 pm

Colombo, Apr 21 (IBNS): Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe is scheduled to visit India in the last week of April to strengthen the economic corporation between the two countries.

Paris attacker was on police watch-list, say reports

Apr 21, 2017, at 04:55 pm

Paris, Apr 21 (IBNS): The Islamic State jihadist, who killed at least one police officer and injured two others by firing on a bus in Paris on Thursday, was already on police watch-list, reports said.

Paris shooting kills one, IS claims attack

Apr 21, 2017, at 03:01 pm

Paris, Apr 21 (IBNS): At least one policeman was killed and two others injured in a 'terror attack' in central Paris, media reports said.

UN seeks more ‘cost-effective’ flight logistics in peacekeeping, political missions

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:54 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday launched an initiative to boost efficiency of United Nations planes and flights, as it was revealed that the Organization spent close to $750 million from 2115 to 2116 on air assets in its peacekeeping and political missions.

All sides in Syria crisis felt impact of ‘horrific’ weekend attack on evacuee convoy, says UN envoy

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:54 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Humanitarian Taskforce (HTF), Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, stated that the horrific attack on a convoy of evacuees this past weekend had impacted everyone at on Thursday’s talks.

INTERVIEW: ‘Act now,’ or by 2130, millions could be graduating from schools without even basic education, warns UN envoy

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:53 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): The ground-breaking, United Nations-backed International Finance Facility for Education is vital to ensure that half of the world’s children don’t miss out on the basic schooling needed to meet the 2130 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Security Council condemns latest ‘highly destabilizing’ DPRK ballistic missile test

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:52 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the 15 April ballistic-missile launch conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations Security Council on Thursday demanded that the country immediately cease further actions in violation of the UN body’s relevant resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions.

UN expert body urges accountability for attacks against children in crisis-torn Syria

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:51 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): In the wake of the recent attack on an evacuation convoy near Aleppo, Syria, and the purported use of chemical weapons in southern Idlib, the United Nations child rights body on Thursday called for investigations into all attacks on children in the country and for bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Middle East engulfed by ‘perfect storm’ – one that threatens international peace, warns UN envoy

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:50 pm

New York, Apr 21(Just Earth News): Reporting on the dire situation across the Middle East region, marked by the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War, fractured societies, proliferation of non-State actors and unbelievable human suffering, a United Nations envoy on Thursday reiterated the need for a surge in diplomacy for peace to ease the suffering of innocent civilians.

UN global assessment on higher education reveals disturbing disparities

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:49 pm

New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News): Noting the lack of sufficient institutions to cater to the growing demand for higher education as well as increasing disparities in its access, the United Nations educational and scientific agency has presented a series of steps to make such education more equitable and affordable.

UN agency uses satellite data to aid farmers in Africa, Middle East boost water efficiency

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:48 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations agricultural agency created an online database that uses satellite data and Google Earth images to figure out how much water is being used to irrigate crops, focusing on parts of Africa and the Middle East that are facing water scarcity.

Venezuela: UN urges all efforts be made to lower tensions in Venezuel

Apr 21, 2017, at 12:47 pm

New York, Apr 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations on Thursday expressed concern about the latest developments in Venezuela, calling on the Government and the opposition to address the country’s challenges for the benefit of the people.

Canada: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne introduces Fair Housing Plan

Apr 21, 2017, at 06:59 am

Toronto, Apr 20 (IBNS): Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on Thursday introduced Fair Housing Plan (FHP) to make housing more affordable for home buyers and help renters market, a recent news release said.

Ontario roads safest in country, why drivers pay the highest premiums? asks new report

Apr 21, 2017, at 05:20 am

Toronto, Apr 20 (IBNS): A recent report by David Marshall, CEO of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board released on April 11, said Ontario drivers paid the highest premiums in the country even though the roads were considered safest in North America, media reports said.

Panama verdict : Pakistan Supreme Court orders formation of JIT to probe PM Nawaz Sharif

Apr 20, 2017, at 08:30 pm

Islamabad, Apr 20 (IBNS) : In a temporary relief for Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the country's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered further investigation into the Panama Papers Leak case that implicated the leader and his family in a money trail regarding Qatari investment, Daily Pakistan said.

Pakistan : Supreme Court to give verdict on Nawaz Sharif in Panama Papers case

Apr 20, 2017, at 06:49 pm

New Delhi/ Islamabad, Apr 20 (IBNS) : The Supreme Court in Pakistan will deliver its verdict on Thursday in the Panama Papers leaks case involving the country’s Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif and his family, media reports said.

Canada: Three levels of government trying to rein in the soaring Toronto housing market

Apr 20, 2017, at 06:31 pm

Toronto, Apr 20 (IBNS): Charles Sousa, the Ontario Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, his Federal counterpart, and the mayor of Toronto, John Tory, met earlier this week to discuss on measures to rein in the red hot property market of Toronto, Canada.

Political momentum must be renewed if Libya’s challenges are to be addressed – UN envoy

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:51 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): It is more important than ever to forge unity within Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country told the Security Council today, while he called on Libyan stakeholders to regain the optimism generated by the 2015 Political Agreement, which has faded and is being replaced by “frustration and disappointment.”

UN, African Union sign new partnership framework to better respond to evolving challenges

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:49 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, today signed a new landmark framework to strengthen partnership between the two organizations on peace and security pillars and better respond to the changing dimensions and evolving challenges of peace operations.

General Assembly confirms appointment of Achim Steiner as new UN development chief

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:49 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly today confirmed the appointment of Germany’s Achim Steiner as the head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Peacekeepers in South Sudan working to strengthen protection of civilians – UN chief

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:48 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has done “significant work” to more effectively protect civilians and respond in case of a crisis, Secretary-General António Guterres has said in a letter to the President of the UN Security Council.

Senior UN official in South Sudan warns women and girls face ‘extremely high risk’ of sexual assault risk

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:47 pm

New York, Apr 20(Just Earth News): Without peace in South Sudan, millions of people will go hungry and millions of women and girls could be raped as they try to go about their daily lives, including as they search for food, a senior United Nations official today warned.

Canada: Fears of flooding force relocation of hundreds of people in Kashechewan

Apr 20, 2017, at 05:32 am

Toronto, Apr 19 (IBNS): A state of emergency has been declared recently in Kashechewan First Nation over concerns of flooding and hundreds of residents were being moved to the northern Ontario town of Kapuskasing, media reports said.

Progress against tropical diseases must be backed by poverty alleviation efforts – UN health agency

Apr 20, 2017, at 04:54 am

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The United Nations on Wednesday cited “record-breaking” progress in controlling neglected tropical diseases – which blind, maim, disfigure and debilitate millions of people worldwide, especially in its poorest areas – as an estimated one billion people were reached with treatment for at least one of these diseases in 2015 alone, according to the Organization’s health agency.

Discovery of more mass graves reveal 'unfolding horror' in DR Congo – UN rights chief

Apr 20, 2017, at 04:53 am

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Raising alarm over increasing reports of serious human rights violations in the Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental provinces of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations human rights chief underscored that the scale and nature of the allegations could warrant an investigation by an international mechanism, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC).

UN envoy urges Palestinian unity to resolve electricity crisis in Gaza

Apr 20, 2017, at 04:50 am

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process on Wednesday called on authorities in Gaza to work together with the international community to resolve a new energy crisis after the area's only power station shut down, saying the consequences of the crisis “should not be underestimated.”

Canada: Consulate General of India sets June 30 deadline for conversion of PIO to OCI

Apr 20, 2017, at 04:22 am

Toronto, Apr 19 (IBNS): Consulate General of India, Toronto, Dinesh Bhatia has set a June deadline for all members of Indo-Canadian community, still holding Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards, to convert to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) at the earliest so as to avoid any complications during their travel to India, an official statement said.