UN Member States set to appoint next Secretary-General
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:59 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Thursdayis expected to act on the recommendation of the Security Council regarding the appointment of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations; last week, the Council forwarded to the 193-member body its nomination, António Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal, to be the next UN chief.
Urgent solutions for refugee and migrant children in Calais ‘long overdue’ – UNICEF
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:58 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): With the imminent clearance of the Calais camp and wet winter weather fast approaching, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe, said on Wednesday that the commitment by the United Kingdom and France to find urgent solutions for the hundreds of refugee and migrant children languishing there for months, “could not come a minute too soon.â€
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:57 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): While Haiti is still counting its dead and assessing the damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the powerful Category 4 storm that battered the tiny island nation last week, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official on Wednesday reported that significant headway is being made clearing the roads to make facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid.
Colombia: Ban welcomes announcement of talks between Government and National Liberation Army
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:56 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the announcement that formal negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) will begin later this month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed hope that the two sides will reach a sustainable peace agreement as soon as possible.
In wake of Hurricane Matthew, UN to deliver food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern Cuba
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:54 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with the Cuban Government to provide food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern areas of the island as they cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Syria: Conflict plunging to new ‘lows,’ UNICEF says, deploring killing of school children
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:53 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Deploring yesterday’s deadly attack on a primary school in the Syrian city of Darra, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated its call on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect children and schools.
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:52 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Nicholas Haysom has experience in challenging political situations. His service with the United Nations has seen him serve as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s top political advisor at UN Headquarters in New York – but has also involved service in some of the toughest field assignment locations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Undernutrition taking huge toll on Chad’s economy, new UN-supported study finds
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:50 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Chad’s economy is losing 575.8 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) per year, or 9.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), to the effects of childhood undernutrition and resultant increased healthcare costs, additional burdens on the education system and lower productivity by the workforce, a new United Nations-backed study has revealed.
Rising inequality, precarious jobs threaten progress in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – UN
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:49 pm
New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): One third of the Eastern European and Central Asian workforce performs precarious jobs that include informal and vulnerable jobs, while approximately $65 billion in illicit cash leaves the region annually, according to a new report launched on Wednesday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Pink Ladoo project welcomes baby girls in the world
Oct 13, 2016, at 03:54 am
Toronto, Oct 12(IBNS): Most South Asian families welcome the birth of a son with a sweetmeat called "ladoo" but for girls it's mostly a hush hush matter.
UN mission 'extremely concerned' over increased incidents of violence across South Sudan
Oct 13, 2016, at 03:52 am
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday that it is “extremely concerned†over increased reports of violence and armed conflict in various parts of the country in the last few weeks, including heavy artillery and gunfire exchanges between Government and opposition forces in Leer town.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns killing of worshipers in Shia mosque attack
Oct 13, 2016, at 03:49 am
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned last night's attack at the Shia mosque in the capital, Kabul that killed at least 18 civilians and injured more than 50 others.
U o T students say professor should apologise for transphobic comments
Oct 13, 2016, at 02:41 am
Toronto, Oct 12(IBNS): The students of University of Toronto are demanding the University to take strict action against psychology professor Jordan Peterson for making “transphobic†comments.
Oct 13, 2016, at 12:41 am
London, Oct 12 (IBNS): Former British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday shared he has joined the National Citizens Service Trust as the Chairman.
UN Mission in Afghanistan condemns Kabul mosque attack
Oct 12, 2016, at 11:50 pm
Kabul, Oct 12 (IBNS): The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned Tuesday night’s attack at the Karte Shakhi mosque and shrine in Kabul that killed at least 18 civilians and injured more than 50 others.
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:07 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the start of an inclusive dialogue among political leaders, civil society and religious communities of Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged all the parties to engage in constructive discussions and “seize this opportunity for a favourable outcome†in the interest of the country’s people.â€
UN rights expert warns about growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:06 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, warned on Tuesday about growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt, with human rights defenders and organizations in particular being targeted.
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:05 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): With Haiti facing the dual challenges of addressing the impact of Hurricane Matthew and restarting preparations for the holding of the much-anticipated elections, the United Nations envoy for the Caribbean country on Tuesday expressed support for the recommended extension of the UN mission there by six months until mid-April 2017.
Myanmar: UN adviser expresses deep concern at recent violence in Rakhine, calls for calm
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:01 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Myanmar on Tuesday expressed his deep concern at the violent attacks by unidentified individuals and groups against border guards and security forces on 9 October and the resultant fighting that claimed the lives of security personnel and civilians in the three affected areas of Northern Rakhine.
UNICEF gears up to vaccinate 41 million children after polio outbreak in north-eastern Nigeria
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): More than 41 million children are expected to get vaccinations against polio as part of a major new health campaign by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Lake Chad basin, aimed at the recent outbreak of polio in north-east Nigeria.
Oct 12, 2016, at 02:59 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): Warning of an extremely fragile political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where “actors on all sides appear more and more willing to resort to violence to achieve their ends,†the top United Nations official in the country called on Tuesday on the Security Council to urge the parties to return to dialogue, guarantee the right to peaceful opposition and to end impunity for violence.
Taxing sugary drinks can curb global epidemic of obesity and diabetes – UN health agency
Oct 12, 2016, at 02:57 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): Unhealthy diet accounts for more than 11 million deaths annually, with four million deaths due to obesity, the United Nations health agency said on Tuesday, launching a new report that says taxing sugary drinks can yield major health benefits, such as reducing obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.
Oct 12, 2016, at 02:56 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): Girls are the sometimes-hidden change-makers of the present and future, and to make sure their voices are heard, the United Nations is marking the International Day of the Girl Child by calling on governments, civil society groups, and communities to provide more and better gender data to so that in the sustainable development era, no girls are left behind.
Haiti: Seeking to fend off cholera threat, UN agencies deliver aid, call for risk reduction
Oct 12, 2016, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): One week after Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti, United Nations agencies are continuing the massive relief effort under way on the ground, scrambling to fend off the threat of cholera, delivering life-saving supplies and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure, such as schools.
Drop travel ban on Dawn journalist: Amnesty to Pakistan
Oct 12, 2016, at 05:50 am
New Delhi, Oct 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Pakistan’s authorities must immediately revoke a travel ban on a leading journalist and allow the media to operate freely and without fear, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.
Over 30 feared dead in Kabul shrine gun attack
Oct 12, 2016, at 05:06 am
Kabul, Oct 11 (IBNS): Over 30 people are feared dead as gunmen opened fire on Ashura observers in the west of Afghanistan's Kabul city on Tuesday, media reports said.
World's first airline climate plan signed by Canada
Oct 12, 2016, at 04:39 am
Montreal, Oct. 11 (IBNS): Canada had signed the first global agreement to tackle pollution in the airline industry.
Four killed in Brampton car crash
Oct 12, 2016, at 04:26 am
Toronto, Oct 11 (IBNS): At least four people were found dead after a fiery crash in Brampton on Monday, Peel police confirmed.
Canada soaks in the festive spirit of Durga Puja
Oct 12, 2016, at 03:07 am
Toronto, Oct 11 (IBNS): Statistics Canada says more than 15,000 people in Toronto are Bengalis, coming from either Bangladesh or Indian state of West Bengal. Together they celebrate the auspicious festival of Durga Puja in different parts of the country as well as in Toronto.
Afghanistan: 24 Taliban killed
Oct 12, 2016, at 02:58 am
Kabul, Oct 11 (IBNS): Security forces conducted airstrikes in Southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan which killed at least 24 Taliban, media reports said on Tuesday.