UN rights wing urges calm, protection of civilians amid hostilities in eastern Libya

Mar 15, 2017, at 01:07 pm

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): Raising alarm over reports of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in eastern Libya's oil crescent area, the United Nations human rights arm has called on all parties to ensure that civilians are protected and that the situation is de-escalated.

South Sudan: UN expert urges action to end rights abuses in a country where 'impunity is the norm'

Mar 15, 2017, at 01:06 pm

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): Amid a “massive” increase in gross human rights violations, as well as an escalation in fighting in South Sudan, the head of a United Nations rights probe said on Monday that to prevent further escalation and abuses in a country where “impunity is the norm,” the international community must be bold enough to push for establishment of a court and bring prosecutions.

Canada: Heavy winter storm in Ontario results in cancellation of several flights

Mar 15, 2017, at 05:07 am

Toronto. Mar 14 (IBNS): The heavy winter storm in parts of southern Ontario and northeastern U.S. resulted in cancellation of over 500 flights in and out of Pearson airport, media reports said.

Conference Board of Canada predicts oil industry's loss of another $1.1B this year

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:18 am

Toronto, May 14 (IBNS): Canada's oil industry is expected to lose money as a whole in 2017, the Conference Board of Canada said Monday, media reports said.

Europe, Central Asia 'transitioning' to new nutrition challenges, cautions UN agency

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:16 am

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): Warning that new consumption patterns in Europe and Central Asian countries are leading to complex health challenges, the United Nations food security agency today called for policies tailored to the income and nutrition profile of these developed countries to prevent them from “transitioning” to new forms of food and nutrition insecurity.

Syria 'worst man-made disaster since World War II' – UN rights chief

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:15 am

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The conflict in Syria is the “worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II,” the United Nations human rights chief today said, calling for an end to all tortures, executions and unfair trials, and at the very least, for the names and localities of people held in detention or information about where they are buried.

Canada: Indigenous woman promotes indigenous culture in U of T

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:12 am

Toronto, Mar 14 (IBNS): A free event was organized by the Indigenous Studies Student Union at the University of Toronto (U of T) featuring dancing, singing, food, and workshops, media reports said.

North-east US braces for snowstorm, state of emergency declared

Mar 14, 2017, at 06:50 pm

New York, Mar 14 (IBNS): As a huge winter storm threatening to turn into a blizzard rolls into northeast United States (US), states of New York and New Jersey have declared an emergency, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Afghanistan: Kabul explosion kills one, injures nine

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:41 pm

Kabul, Mar 14 (IBNS): An explosion in Kabul on Monday evening accounted for a life while injuring nine others, local Khaama Press reported.

Wynne and Snyder reaffirm strong partnership between Ontario and Michigan

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:37 pm

Toronto, Mar 14 (IBNS): Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in a meeting on Monday in Detroit released a joint statement in which they reaffirmed their strong partnership and discussed ways to advance their integrated economies to create jobs, a media reports said.

Let us work harder to ensure ‘no one is left behind,’ urges President of main UN economic and social body

Mar 14, 2017, at 01:00 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): Highlighting that persisting extreme poverty and inequality prevent the realization of the benefits of globalisation and have been major causes of disaffection across rich and poor societies, a senior United Nations official has called on everyone to work harder to ensure inclusion at all stages of development, so that no one is left behind.

UN Human Rights Council discusses situations in DPRK, Iran, Myanmar and Burundi

Mar 14, 2017, at 12:59 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): At respective interactive dialogues on Monday on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Burundi, Iran and Eretria, senior United Nations independent human rights experts called on the governments to take immediate steps to ensure human rights protection in their respective countries.

UN envoy for Somalia condemns bomb blasts in Mogadishu

Mar 14, 2017, at 12:58 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Somalia has strongly condemned this morning’s bomb blasts at two locations in Mogadishu that reportedly killed a number of civilians.

Yemen on brink of famine, warns UN food relief agency chief, appealing for resources and access

Mar 14, 2017, at 12:57 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): Unless the international community provides additional resources and authorities in Yemen allow aid workers access to hungry people, families in some of the war-torn country’s most food insecure areas will die, warned the head of the United Nations emergency food programme.

Peace efforts and sustainable development top agenda at UN agency’s narcotics conference

Mar 14, 2017, at 12:56 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations panel dealing with all aspects of narcotic drugs opened its 60th session on Monday with a focus on peace and security, as well as on helping Governments reach their sustainable development commitments.

UN Commission on Status of Women opens with calls for more men to stand up for equality

Mar 14, 2017, at 05:23 am

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): With men still dominating even in countries that consider themselves progressive, the world needs more women leaders and more men standing up for gender equality, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.

'Unprecedented suffering' for Syrian children in 2016 – UNICEF

Mar 14, 2017, at 05:21 am

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): The suffering of children in war-torn Syria “hit rock bottom” in 2016 with the highest number of grave violations against them since verification began in 2014, underscored the United Nations children's agency urging all parties to the conflict, those who have influence over them, and anyone who cared about children to find an immediate political solution to end the conflict.

Following visit to Haiti, UN expert urges more aid for Hurricane Matthew victims

Mar 14, 2017, at 05:19 am

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): An independent United Nations expert on human rights is calling for redoubling of efforts to help Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Canada: Federal Court Judge Robin Camp quits for his controversial remark in 2014 rape case

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:48 am

Calgary, Mar 11 (IBNS): A Federal Court Judge, who during a rape case trial in 2014 asked a 19-year-old rape victim that why could she not keep her knees together, has been forced to quit the bench following a scathing attack by the body that oversees the Canadian judiciary, reports Calgary Metro.

Canada: FNUC undertakes revitalization of indigenous languages in Saskatchewan

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:36 am

Toronto, May 13 (IBNS): With the aim of revitalization of indigenous languages in Saskatchewan, First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) has been working with Prince's Charities Canada and published five children's books in indigenous language written by SayITFirst Inc., media reports said.

Canada: Toronto library brings out guide to discern fake news

Mar 14, 2017, at 04:30 am

Toronto, Mar 13 (IBNS): A guide has been assembled recently by the Toronto Public Library to enable online readers to distinguish legitimate news from fake news, media reports said.

S Africa baby abduction: Mother, two others arrested by police

Mar 13, 2017, at 11:02 pm

Durban, Mar 13 (IBNS): The mother of a one-month old baby, who was abducted in South Africa's Durban, has been arrested by the law enforcers for her alleged involvement in the crime, reports said.

Afghanistan: At least 70 Taliban insurgents killed in Laghman

Mar 13, 2017, at 10:43 pm

Kabul, Mar 13 (IBNS): The Taliban's attempt to capture Laghman province in Afghanistan turned out to be fatal as 70 insurgents were gunned down by forces, local Khaama Press reported.

Afghanistan: At least 32 ALP personnel rescued from Taliban jail

Mar 13, 2017, at 10:40 pm

Kabul, Mar 13 (IBNS): At least 32 Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel have been rescued from Taliban prison by the Afghan Special Forces, local Khaama Press reported.

Syria: UN chief Guterres condemns terrorist attacks in Damascus

Mar 13, 2017, at 01:14 pm

New York, Mar 13 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday, his spokesman said Sunday.

Canada: Ontario company violates Consumer Packaging Act

Mar 13, 2017, at 08:30 am

Toronto, Mar 13 (IBNS): A tomato processing company had been charged with mislabelling its canned products as organic and passing off American tomatoes as Canadian, media reports said.

Generous donors contribute 15 million in gifts for Toronto Jewish education

Mar 12, 2017, at 06:14 pm

Toronto, Mar 12 (IBNS): Two generous donors announced earlier this week a total of $15 million in gifts that would make the future of Jewish education more affordable in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) for the next generation, media reports said.

UN aid chief urges global action as starvation, famine loom for 20 million across four countries

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:53 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Just back from Kenya, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia – countries that are facing or are at risk of famine – the top United Nations humanitarian official on Friday urged the international community for comprehensive action to save people from simply “starving to death.”

Security Council encourages Syrian parties to take part in UN-supported talks ‘without preconditions’

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:52 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): Looking forward to the early resumption of the United Nations-facilitated intra-Syrian negotiations, the Security Council on Friday encouraged the Syrian parties to return to talks in good faith “and to engage constructively and without preconditions” on the agenda set out by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura when they resume.

Nation-building amid insurgency ‘an uphill struggle’ for Afghanistan – UN envoy

Mar 11, 2017, at 01:51 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan on Friday highlighted both the visible progress the conflict-torn country has made and the challenges lie ahead, urging the Government to redouble efforts while calling for continued international political and financial support.