US: Hurricane Harvey hits Texas

Aug 26, 2017, at 04:41 pm

Austin, Aug 26 (IBNS): Hurricane Harvey has made landfall in Texas with windspeed upto 215 km/hr, reports said.

North Korea: Country tests three SRBM's, America, South Korea keeping a watch

Aug 26, 2017, at 03:02 pm

Pyongyang, Aug 26 (IBNS): North Korea has fired three short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the sea, according to the US military.

Man shot dead in Brussels after he attacks soldiers with knife, shouts Allahu Akbar

Aug 26, 2017, at 09:56 am

Brussels, Aug 26 (IBNS) A man who attacked two soldiers in Brussels city centre in the capital of Belgium with a knife shouting "Allahu Akbar" was shot dead on Friday, said officials.

Syria: UNICEF cites conflict's 'staggering' impact on children; calls for urgent protection

Aug 26, 2017, at 09:43 am

New York, Aug 26(Just Earth News): Six and a half years of war in Syria has inflicted untold suffering on the country's children, a senior United Nations official said on Friday, urging parties to the conflict to stop the violence and live up to their legal obligations to children.

On first visit to Somalia since elections, UN political chief lauds progress

Aug 26, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Aug 26(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations political office visited Somalia this week, where he praised the “real forward momentum” in the country's political development, and reiterated UN support as the Horn of Africa country tackles its challenges, such as the fight against the group Al Shabaab.

Top UN officials strongly condemn attacks on Myanmar security forces in Rakhine state

Aug 26, 2017, at 09:41 am

New York, Aug 26(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-general António Guterres on Friday strongly condemned the attacks carried out against the Myanmar security forces in northern areas of Rakhine State, expressing concern about escalating tensions in the region.

Cambodia: UN human rights wing concerned by media, civil society curbs

Aug 26, 2017, at 09:40 am

New York, Aug 26(Just Earth News): Measures in Cambodia, which left radio programmes and licences suspended, have sparked the United Nations human rights wing to call on the Government for political and civil rights guarantees.

Was John A. Macdonald an architect of genocide? Canada's first PM's contribution put to question

Aug 26, 2017, at 07:01 am

Ottawa, Aug 25 (IBNS): Canada's first Prime Minister John A. Macdonald's contribution has been put to question recently as the public schools in Ontario decided to drop his name from the education institutions and buildings, media reports said.

Climate change threatens agricultural trade in Pacific Rim economies, UN agency warns

Aug 26, 2017, at 04:19 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): With global warming expected to significantly impact future yields in countries located closer to the equator, the United Nations agriculture agency is calling on Asia-Pacific economies to take a leading role in adaptation and mitigation.

UN rights office gathering info on air strikes in Yemen; urges protection of civilians

Aug 26, 2017, at 04:18 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): Reiterating that attacks targeting civilians are prohibited under international law, the United Nations human rights office on Friday confirmed dozens of casualties in airstrikes on villages near the capital, Sana'a.

Afghanistan: 2 killed in mosque attack

Aug 26, 2017, at 01:24 am

Kabul, Aug 25 (IBNS): At least two people were killed as terrorists attacked a mosque in Afghanistan's capital Kabul city on Friday, media reports said.

No 'worse place on earth' than Syria's Raqqa, says senior UN adviser urging pause in fighting

Aug 25, 2017, at 09:51 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): A senior United Nations aid official On Thursday urged the international community to do whatever is needed to allow citizens to flee from Raqqa, describing the de facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), the “worse place on earth.”

South Sudan's leaders bear 'direct responsibility' for conflict, UN Security Council told

Aug 25, 2017, at 09:51 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): A senior United Nations peacekeeping official On Thursday called on the leaders of South Sudan to show genuine political will to achieve sustainable peace in the strife-riven country, stressing that those whose long-time rivalry sparked the ongoing conflict can be the ones to resolve it.

Flow of refugees, migrants to Europe slows but sea journey remains deadly – UN

Aug 25, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): Fewer refugees and migrants arrived in Europe in the first half of this year, but the likelihood of dying among people seeking to reach Europe is still “alarmingly high,” the United Nations refugee agency On Thursday reported, calling for renewed commitments to protect people.

Myanmar: UN welcomes final assessment of independent advisory panel on Rakhine state

Aug 25, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): The United Nations On Thursday welcomed the release of the final report of an independent advisory body looking into the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Time for action to support and protect small-scale fisheries – UN agriculture agency

Aug 25, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Aug 25(Just Earth News): Small-scale fisheries, which catch two-thirds of the fish consumed by humans, often struggle with regulatory frameworks tailored to large commercial fleets, according to a new UN agriculture agency book urging policy coherence.

Justin Trudeau defends his government's response to immigration issue

Aug 25, 2017, at 06:31 am

Ottawa, Aug 24 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his government's act and response to the influx of thousands of asylum seekers across borders, media reports said.

Schools must collect demographic data of students more, report says

Aug 25, 2017, at 06:30 am

Toronto, Aug 24 (IBNS): The York University researchers in a report said the schools in Ontario province must collect data of students more on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, media reports said.

UN releases $2.5 million from pooled fund to tackle energy crisis in Gaza

Aug 25, 2017, at 04:38 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): With Gaza entering its fourth month of a serious energy crisis, the United Nations on Thursday released a further $2.5 million from a pooled humanitarian fund to cover urgent needs in the Palestinian enclave.

UN agencies aid millions affected by flooding, landslides in South Asia

Aug 25, 2017, at 04:37 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): United Nations humanitarian agencies are working with the Government and partners in Nepal to bring in clean water, food, shelter and medical aid for some of the 41 million people affected by flooding and landslides in South Asia.

Caller attacks Indian CEO in US for criticising President Trump, asks to go to India

Aug 25, 2017, at 01:30 am

Washington, Aug 24 (IBNS): An Indian CEO in the United States received verbal attacks from a caller after the former criticised President Donald Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, media reports said.

China: User outrage over 'sex slaves' stickers on social media network QZone

Aug 24, 2017, at 06:07 pm

Beijing, Aug 24 (IBNS): Social networking site QZone received a lot of flak from users in mainland China, who protested against 'sex-slaves' stickers, which were meant to be 'funny'.

At least ten dead, dozens missing in Brazil boat disaster

Aug 24, 2017, at 05:47 pm

Brasilia, Aug 24 (IBNS) : A boat carrying 70 people sank in a major river in the Amazon region of Brazil, leaving at least 10 dead and dozens missing, media reports said quoting authorities.

Australian Jane Connors appointed first UN rights advocate for victims of sexual exploitation

Aug 24, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Jane Connors, Australian law professional and long-time human rights advocate, as the first United Nations advocate for the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Emigration and food insecurity in Central American 'dry corridor' focus of new UN-backed study

Aug 24, 2017, at 09:39 am

New York, Aug 24(Just Earth News): A new inter-agency study released on Wednesday found a correlation between prolonged droughts in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – exacerbated by El Niño phenomenon from 2014 to 2016 – and the increase in irregular migration from these countries to the United States, the United Nations food relief agency reported.

On Day of Remembrance, UN says history of slave trade can help combat social injustice

Aug 24, 2017, at 04:42 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): Remembering the universal demand for freedom that led to the 1791 insurrection by slaves in what is now Haiti, the head of the United Nations cultural and educational agency on Wednesday marked the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition by underscoring the importance of teaching this history to young people.

UN rights experts criticize US failure to unequivocally reject racist violent events

Aug 24, 2017, at 04:41 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): The United Nations body monitoring implementation of the global convention on prohibiting racial discrimination has called on high-level politicians and public officials of the United States to unequivocally and unconditionally reject and condemn racist hate speech and crimes in Charlottesville and throughout the country.

Afghanistan: Suicide bombing kills 5

Aug 24, 2017, at 02:18 am

Kabul, Aug 23 (IBNS): Suicide bombing hit Lashkargah area of Afghanistan which left at least five people killed and 42 others injured, media reports said on Wednesday.

Pakistan Prime Minister visits Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on first official visit abroad

Aug 23, 2017, at 10:17 pm

Islamabad, Aug 23 (IBNS): Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has left for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, on his first official visit after assuming the office.

Syria: UN relief officials condemn targeting of civilians, infrastructure as airstrikes hit Raqqa

Aug 23, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Aug 23(Just Earth News): Senior United Nations humanitarian officials for Syria on Tuesday expressed deep concern over many civilians reportedly killed in airstrikes and other attacks in the last few days in Raqqa city, where coalition forces are fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists.