Switzerland tops world innovation index; India and other emerging markets on the rise – UN agency

Jun 16, 2017, at 01:34 pm

New York, June 16(Just Earth News): Innovation is a key development tool that could boost economies and provide a way out of the growing squeeze on the world's food resources – one of the major challenges of the 21st century – according to a new United Nations report.

UN cooperation with African Union must be institutionalized, less 'ad hoc,' Security Council told

Jun 16, 2017, at 01:33 pm

New York, June 16(Just Earth News): The United Nations must move towards a more institutionalized approach for the joint planning, mandating, financing and supporting of African Union (AU) peace-support operations, the Secretary-General's Chef de Cabinet told the Security Council on Thursday.

Myanmar: UN expert urges Government to do more to protect rights of all children

Jun 16, 2017, at 01:31 pm

New York, June 16(Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Thursday urged the Government of Myanmar to do more to protect children in the country, citing cases of detention and alleged incidents of child labour and marriage.

Independent UN probe reveals 'cruel and brutal nature' of human rights violations in Burundi

Jun 16, 2017, at 04:43 am

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): A United Nations-appointed panel of experts investigating human rights violations in Burundi on Thursday released the latest findings of their probe, noting that their initial fears concerning the scope and gravity of these abuses since April 2015 have been confirmed.

IAEA concludes safety review at Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in China

Jun 16, 2017, at 04:42 am

Haiyan, China, June 15(Just Earth News): An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of nuclear safety experts on Thursday completed an assessment of long-term operational safety at the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Unit 1 in China.

UN envoy strongly condemns attack on popular restaurant in Somali capital

Jun 16, 2017, at 04:42 am

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Somalia on Thursday strongly condemned last night's attack on a pizza restaurant and an adjacent hotel in Mogadishu that reportedly killed at least 19 people.

‘All of us can and must be prepared to speak out’ to halt abuse of older persons – UN rights expert

Jun 16, 2017, at 04:41 am

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Many older persons are at risk of being abused by their own relatives, a United Nations human rights expert has warned, urging greater vigilance and more reporting of suspected cases, especially since many fear on the part of older persons may not speak up for fear of reprisals – or to protect family members from criminal prosecution.

China kindergarten blast: Seven dead, several injured

Jun 16, 2017, at 02:20 am

Jiangsu, June 15 (IBNS): A blast at a kindergarten of China on Thursday claimed seven lives and left several injured, media reports.

London fire tragedy : Toll likely to rise as unknown numbers of bodies lie inside Grenfell Tower

Jun 15, 2017, at 07:23 pm

London, June 15 (IBNS) : The death toll from the devastating tower block fire in west London is expected to rise as investigators rummage through the debris in the search for other victims, The Telegraph reported.

Pakistan: PM Nawaz Sharif appears before Panama JIT

Jun 15, 2017, at 06:44 pm

Islamabad, June 15 (IBNS) : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday appeared before the joint investigation team probing Panama Papers case at Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan said.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister to participate in EU Arctic meetings

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:20 pm

Toronto, June 15 (IBNS): The Canadian government on Thursday said it is committed to the Arctic and its people.

Canada supports promotion of international peace and conflict resolution

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:18 pm

Oslo, June 15 (IBNS): The Canadian government on Thursday said it is actively engaged in supporting international peace and stability to help people affected by conflicts and crises worldwide.

Sydney: Man heading for Syria arrested at airport

Jun 15, 2017, at 04:29 pm

Sydney, June 15 (IBNS): A person has been arrested by Australian authorities at Sydney Airport as he was allegedly attempting to travel to the Syrian war zone, media reports said.

Leo Varadkar becomes PM of Ireland

Jun 15, 2017, at 02:18 pm

Dublin, June 15 (IBNS): Creating history, Leo Varadkar has been elected as the first gay Prime Minister of Ireland.

Four killed as gunman attacks San Francisco UPS facility

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:54 pm

San Francisco, June 15 (IBNS): At least four people, including the attacker, were killed at a UPS facility in San Francisco on Wednesday, reports said.

Closing gender gap at work can open doors to incredible benefits, UN report shows

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Reducing gender disparities at workplaces by 25 per cent by 2025 could inject nearly $5.8 trillion into the global economy and boost tax revenues, a new report released on Wednesday by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed.

Political will, financial support needed to bolster new approach to cholera in Haiti – UN deputy chief

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:48 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): The United Nations deputy chief on Wednesday called on Member States to fund the Organization's new strategy to counter cholera in Haiti, stressing that the initiative is facing a critical shortage of resources.

Security Council briefed on proposal to reduce number of AU-UN troops in Darfur

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:47 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): The African Union (AU) and the United Nations are proposing 44 per cent and 30 per cent reductions in their troop and police presence in Sudan's Darfur region as a step towards an eventual exit, a senior UN peacekeeping official told the Security Council.

Children hardest hit as cholera spreads in war-torn Yemen – UNICEF

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:46 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): As the outbreak of cholera in Yemen continues to spread at an alarming rate – with terrible impact on children – the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for immediate support to enable the country's health workers respond or risk even more deaths from the deadly disease.

In Kabul, UN chief calls for peace and compassion

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:45 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Expressing solidarity with Afghan people, in the wake of recent violence in the country, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday underscored the Organization's full commitment to work with the Government and people of the country to build a sustainable and prosperous future for them.

Sharp increase in money migrants send home lifts millions out of poverty – UN report

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:44 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): A dramatic up tic in the amount of money migrants send home to their families in developing countries is helping to lift millions out of poverty, according to a new report out on Wednesday from the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

UN rights chief urges dialogue among Qatar and countries involved in diplomatic dispute

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:43 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Voicing alarm over the possible impact on the rights of people in the wake of decision by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain to cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, the top United Nations human rights official called on all States involved to urgently resolve the dispute.

Head of UN human rights inquiry decries 'disastrous' civilian death toll in Syria

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:42 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Conflict in Syria continues to rage with “disastrous consequences” for civilians who continue to bear the brunt of the six-year war, the head of a United Nations-mandated human rights investigation said on Wednesday.

Hundreds of thousands in eastern Ukraine at grave risk after water supplies disrupted – UN aid chief

Jun 15, 2017, at 01:41 pm

New York, June 15(Just Earth News): Raising alarm over lack of safe drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the so called contact line in Donetsk Oblast of eastern Ukraine since 11 June, the top United Nations relief official on Wednesday called on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international law and ensure that civilian areas and infrastructure are not targeted.

Vanuatu, UN to test drones for vaccines delivery to inaccessible communities

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:16 am

New York, June 14(Just Earth News): The Government of Vanuatu and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are partnering to launch what may be the Pacific's first-ever trial of drones to deliver life-saving vaccines to inaccessible remote communities in the island nation.

UN and partners in Sri Lanka appeal for resources as receding floods reveal extent of damage

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:14 am

New York, June 14(Just Earth News): Following last month's severe flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka that impacted some 630,000 people, the United Nations and humanitarian partners launched an urgent appeal for more resources to reach those in the worst-hit parts of the country with urgent assistance.

UN aid official warns of 'disastrous consequences' of power cut in Gaza

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:13 am

New York, June 14(Just Earth News): A senior United Nations humanitarian official in the occupied Palestinian Territory warned about the disastrous consequences of a further reduction in electricity supply to the Gaza Strip on the living conditions of two million Palestinians.

Put peace first,' UN chief says, kicking off 100-day countdown to International Day of Peace

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:12 am

New York, June 14(Just Earth News): True peace requires building bridges, combating discrimination and standing up for the human rights of the world's people United Nations Secretary-General said, kicking off the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace, with a strong appeal to citizens, governments and leaders everywhere to “put peace first.”

Yoga is the best and most risk-free fitness option for seniors: Dinesh Bhatia

Jun 15, 2017, at 05:09 am

Toronto, June 14 (IBNS): Hazel McCallion, the former mayor of Mississauga, participated in a special session of Yoga organised by the International Yoga Day Canada (IYDC) on Monday to commemorate Seniors’ month to be celebrated at the International Centre, Mississauga, on June 25.

London: Grenfall Tower fire claims 12 lives, death toll likely to rise

Jun 15, 2017, at 04:59 am

London, June 14 (IBNS): At least 12 people died in west London after the Grenfell Tower was engulfed in a massive fire on Wednesday.