Growing number of rights defenders facing reprisals for cooperating with UN

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:45 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): A growing number of human rights defenders around the world are facing reprisals and intimidation for cooperating with the United Nations, ranging from travel bans and the freezing of assets to detention and torture, says a new report issued by the world body.

Multilateralism is the only clear path for tackling on todays challenges, Romania tells UN

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:45 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): People across the globe suffer from war, poverty, inequality and injustice, the President of Romania told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, citing rising tensions over cultural identity and faith along with terrorist attacks, which deepen insecurity.

‘We all share a responsibility’ to combat terrorism, President of Senegal tells world leaders

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:43 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Senegal expressed his desire for a peaceful and secure African continent – one that does not serve as a sanctuary for terrorists defeated elsewhere in the world.

Healthy oceans, safe climate imperative for small islands to survive, Pacific island leaders tell UN

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:30 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): As the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly continued on Thursday, Baron Divavesi Waqa, President of Nauru, expressed deep sorrow and condolences to those who have suffered from the recent successive hurricanes in the Caribbean and United States and earthquakes in Mexico, stressing that “your suffering and grief is shared by us all.”

World oblivious to suffering of other minorities in Rakhine, says Myanmar Vice-President

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:29 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Informing world leaders that the violence, suffering and mass displacement in Myanmar’s Rakhine province affects not just Muslim and Rakhine communities, but also other minority groups – to which most of the world has been oblivious – the country’s Vice-President stressed his Government’s deep concern over the situation.

Kuwait to host donors conference on rebuilding Iraq, Prime Minister tells UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:28 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Kuwait intends to host an international donors conference in the coming year to help Iraq rebuild the areas devastated by the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Da’esh) terrorist group, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

Devastating ‘season of natural disasters’ demands action to address extreme weather events – Dominican Republic

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:26 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Amid a “devastating season of natural disasters” in the region – widespread catastrophe that extends to Mexico, hit by two destructive earthquakes, and to the southern United States, viciously punished by Hurricane Harvey – the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic on Thursday called on the United Nations to consider “new actions we must take, urgently, to counteract extreme climatic phenomena.”

No one country can tackle the problems associated with migration, Libya tells global leaders

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:25 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Recalling the situation in Libya since the 2011 revolution, Faiez Mustafa Serraj, the President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord said that international support is essential to ensure progress in the country.

Bangladesh : Nine killed, 20 injured as truck carrying relief for Rohingyas falls into ditch

Sep 21, 2017, at 08:01 pm

Dhaka, Sep 21 (IBNS) : At least nine people were killed and eight others injured when a truck carrying relief for Rohingyas veered off the road and fell into a roadside ditch near Bangladesh's in Bandarban on Thursday, Bangladesh's leading daily New Age reported.

Afghanistan: Intelligence operatives foil Taliban attack, four arrested

Sep 21, 2017, at 07:55 pm

Kabul, Sep 21 (IBNS): Operatives of National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghan intelligence wing, have arrested at least four Taliban militants, foiling an attempt to stage a coordinated attack in Samangan province, local Khaama Press reported.

Barbie row: Canadian MP attacked for sexist remarks

Sep 21, 2017, at 07:48 pm

Toronto, Sep 21 (IBNS): A Canadian MP was forced to apologise following his 'climate barbie' comment about Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, which sparked a huge backlash on social media.

Watch Shabana Azmi essay the role of an author embroiled in a psychological dilemma in Broken Images

Sep 21, 2017, at 07:04 pm

Watch Shabana Azmi essay the role of an author embroiled in a psychological dilemma in Broken Images

Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria leaves country without electricity

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:48 pm

San Juan, Sep 21 (IBNS): The whole of Puerto Rico is facing a blackout, devastated by the category four Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in the US territory on Wednesday, reports said.

Japan’s Abe, at UN General Assembly, calls for ‘action now’ on DPRK nuclear programme

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:37 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Saying that “all options are on the table,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday took the podium of the United Nations General Assembly to call on world leaders to provide the necessary action now to curb the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear and missile programmes.

Côte d'Ivoire is inspiring example of UN peacekeeping success, country’s leader tells Assembly

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:35 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): The President of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, on Thursday cited the success of United Nations peacekeeping operations in his West African country as an inspiration for the world Organization to increase its initiatives.

Peace operations ‘not a substitute’ for diplomatic efforts, Security Council told

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:34 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): United Nations peace operations must be deployed in support of – not in place of – active diplomatic efforts, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, as he outlined some critical changes necessary to make these missions more effective.

Panama vows to combat drug trafficking, asks for help to eliminate ‘blood money’ driving scourge

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:27 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): The most effective way to solve problems that affect the world’s people is always placing human beings at the centre of all decisions, the President of Panama told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, stressing that his country, which joins North and South and which is bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, would continue to be a beacon of cooperation and understanding.

Concerned at ongoing rights violations in Yemen, UN advisers back call for international probe

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:25 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): As civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict in Yemen, two United Nations Special Advisers have voiced their concern over continued allegations of grave human rights abuses and expressed support for the call by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish an international investigation.

Focus on people’s prosperity key to sustainable development, says Kyrgyz leader at UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2017, at 03:23 pm

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Noting that the only source of power in his country is its people, the President of Kyrgyzstan highlighted that the country’s path to sustainable development has a focus on ensuring the Kyrgyz peoples welfare and prosperity.

At General Assembly, Iran’s leader denounces those seeking to rip apart nuclear pact

Sep 21, 2017, at 09:53 am

New York, Sept 21(Just Earth News): Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking at the same United Nations podium from which the United States yesterday denounced the accord curbing Iran’s nuclear programme as one of the ‘worst deals ever,’ on Thursday pledged his country’s continued adherence to the pact.

Ontario college to start graduation certificate programme in cannabis production

Sep 21, 2017, at 05:56 am

Toronto, Sep 20 (IBNS): Amid the widespread disapproval of the legalisation of cannabis by the federal government, an Ontario college has decided to start a graduation certificate programme in cannabis production, media reports said.

Living Arts Centre (LAC) re-brands itself on 20th anniversary

Sep 21, 2017, at 05:54 am

Mississauga, Sep 20 (IBNS): Living Arts Centre (LAC), a multi-faceted arts centre with vibrancy in a wide range of both visual and performing arts, unveiled its new branding in the 2017-2018 season on the centre’s 20th anniversary.

Supporting spirit of UN reforms, Rwanda urges world leaders to address global challenges

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:36 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): The United Nations must treat all people with impartiality and respect, and be a good steward of the funds entrusted to it, the President of Rwanda on Wednesday said in his annual address to the General Assembly debate in New York, adding his country’s support to the spirit of reform taking root at the Organization.

At General Assembly, Bosnia and Herzegovina stresses central role of UN in preventing war

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:35 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): The leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country born two decades ago in the deadliest fighting in Europe since the Second World War, on Wednesday stressed the centrality of the United Nations in resolving crises before they degenerate into war and the flight of refugees.

One year on, UN officials take stock of efforts to address large movements of refugees, migrants

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:34 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): United Nations officials on Wednesday highlighted the need to continue working together towards more equitable ways to share the responsibility for refugees, as well as achieve safe and orderly migration, at an event to take stock one year after the international community agreed to find solutions to better manage human mobility.

Not enough new antibiotics in the pipeline, UN report warns

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:32 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Too few new antibiotics are under development to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, a United Nations report has found.

Treaty banning nuclear weapons opens for signature at UN

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:31 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): The world’s first legally-binding treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons opened for signature on Wednesday at United Nations Headquarters in New York at a ceremony at which speakers from international organizations, governments and civil society hailed this milestone in achieving a world free of such arsenals as well as the work that remains to be done.

UN chief condemns terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon

Sep 21, 2017, at 04:29 am

New York, Sept 20(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist attacks that took place earlier this week in Borno state, Nigeria, as well as in Kossa, Cameroon, which targeted vulnerable people already affected by Boko Haram violence.

London attacks: Two further arrests in Parsons Green investigation

Sep 20, 2017, at 10:12 pm

London, Sept 20 (IBNS): Detectives investigating the Parsons Green terrorist attack have made two further arrests in Wales on Wednesday.

Mexico: At least 248 people die as 7.1 M quake strikes country

Sep 20, 2017, at 06:24 pm

Mexico City, Sep 20 (IBNS): At least 248 people died as a powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale struck Mexico on Tuesday, reports said.