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.

Narendra Modi to visit Sri Lanaka for UN Vesak Day in May

Apr 20, 2017, at 02:04 am

Colombo, Apr 19 (IBNS) The Sri Lankan government has announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in the island nation to participate in the UN Vesak Day celebrations on May 12.

ISIS claims responsibility for Egypt attack,SITE claims

Apr 20, 2017, at 01:28 am

New York, Apr 19 (IBNS): Militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack near St. Catherine’s Monastery in south Sinai of Egypt, media reports said.

Alberta lagging far behind on workplace rules: says Christina Gary

Apr 20, 2017, at 12:50 am

Calgary April 19 (IBNS): Alberta’s Labour Minister Christina Gray said in a recent statement released by her ministry about the provinces intention to review and adopt the workplace rules which should be fair, modern and family-friendly that support a growing economy.

Diseases and sexual violence threaten Somalis, South Sudanese escaping famine – UN

Apr 19, 2017, at 01:57 pm

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Millions of people are facing the peril of famine in Somalia and South Sudan, and the situation is expected to worsen as the drought and violence fuelling the crises widen, cautioned senior United Nations officials who have just returned from the area.

Unity within Security Council vital to prevent mass atrocities – UN chief Guterres

Apr 19, 2017, at 01:56 pm

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Briefing the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday stressed the importance of unity in the 15-member body to effectively address human rights violations as well as to prevent mass atrocities.

UN human rights arm urges Nepal to carry out conviction of soldiers in teen’s murder

Apr 19, 2017, at 01:55 pm

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): Welcoming the conviction of three army officials accused of the murder of a 15-year-old girl during the armed conflict in Nepal more than 13 years ago, the United Nations human rights arm has called on the authorities to implement the court’s decision.

UN forum highlights importance of stronger partnerships for financing sustainable development

Apr 19, 2017, at 06:08 am

New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Underlining the importance of sustainable finance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, senior United Nations officials on Tuesday called for stronger partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that resource requirements are met.

Recent attack on evacuated civilians in Syria ‘likely a war crime,’ says UN rights office

Apr 19, 2017, at 06:06 am

New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed great concern about the safety of civilians being evacuated in Syria, saying a weekend attack on a convoy near Aleppo likely amounts to a war crime and the situation in Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court.

UN blue helmets and Malian forces targeted in ‘cowardly’ terrorist attacks

Apr 19, 2017, at 06:05 am

New York, Apr 19(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Tuesday strongly condemned the “cowardly” attacks that took place against its personnel as well as members of the national armed forces, and voiced deep concern at ongoing insecurity in the northern and central parts of the country.

Recent attack on evacuated civilians in Syria ‘likely a war crime,’ says UN rights office

Apr 19, 2017, at 06:02 am

New York, Apr 19 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday expressed great concern about the safety of civilians being evacuated in Syria, saying a weekend attack on a convoy near Aleppo likely amounts to a war crime and the situation in Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court.

31 residents buried alive in tragedy at Colombo's rubbish dump

Apr 19, 2017, at 05:00 am

Colombo, Apr 18 (IBNS): Over 1000 military rescue workers are still digging debris from the landslide which struck at the massive rubbish dump in the country’s capital – Colombo-, which buried 30 people alive on April 14.

'Canada bears humanitarian obligations towards Korean Peninsula'

Apr 19, 2017, at 04:46 am

Toronto, Apr 18 (IBNS): John Bishop was one of hundreds of Canadians, sixty-six years ago this month, who had fought to keep the South Korean city of Seoul from falling back into North Korean hands, media reports said.

No ties as important as one with indigenous people: Canada PM

Apr 19, 2017, at 12:37 am

Toronto, Apr 18 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that no relationship is more important to his government than the one with the Indigenous Peoples of the land.

British PM Theresa May to seek snap election for June 8

Apr 19, 2017, at 12:11 am

London, Apr 18 (IBNS): In a major announcement, British Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed her plan to call a snap general election on June 8.

Afghanistan: Explosion in Kabul, 1 injured

Apr 18, 2017, at 02:39 pm

Kabul, Apr 18 (IBNS): At least one security personnel was injured in an explosion in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Monday, media reports said.

Somalia: UN, global partners commend creation of National Security Council

Apr 18, 2017, at 11:54 am

New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): The United Nations and other members of the international community on Monday commended Somalia’s Federal Government and the Federal Member States for agreeing to form a National Security Council, as well as decisions taken on priorities such as fighting corruption and drought response.

Haiti: UN inaugurates water supply system in Lascahobas as part of anti-cholera fight

Apr 18, 2017, at 11:53 am

New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Historically, the people in the Madan Mak and Loncy areas of the Lascahobas Commune have always had serious problems with access to safe drinking water.

UN cultural agency promotes power of youth to preserve cultural heritage

Apr 18, 2017, at 11:52 am

New York, Apr 18(Just Earth News): Young people from around the world on Monday joined United Nations staff and international dignitaries in Changsha, China, to show support for protecting and preserving the cultural heritage along the Silk Route.

New UN guidelines to make international trade in plants and seeds safer

Apr 18, 2017, at 04:29 am

New York, Apr 17(Just Earth News): A United Nations commission overseeing plant health has adopted a new global standard to ensure that international trade in plants and seeds – vital to feed the world's population – is free from agricultural pests and disease-causing bugs.

Scale of civilians fleeing Iraq's Mosul 'staggering' – senior UN relief official

Apr 18, 2017, at 04:28 am

New York, Apr 17(Just Earth News): Noting that nearly half a million people have fled Mosul since the start of military operations to retake the city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorists, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq warned that the scale of the displacement has stretched relief efforts to their “operational limits”.

'Next Stop Canada' premium survival guide for Newcomers to Canada

Apr 18, 2017, at 12:15 am

Toronto, April 17 (IBNS): The YMCA of Greater Toronto, started a new service called “Next Stop Canada” since beginning of April, with the aim to help immigrants know and learn about the settlement services in Canada prior to their arrival in Canada.