Security Council extends UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months

Oct 14, 2016, at 01:32 pm

New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): Accepting Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recommendation, the Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months at the current force and police strength.

Pivotal role midwives play in keeping mothers and newborns alive must be recognized – UN

Oct 14, 2016, at 01:21 pm

New York, Oct 14 (Just Earth News): The first global survey of midwifery personnel has revealed that too often, midwives face cultural isolation, unsafe accommodation, and low salaries, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday, calling for an end to the discrimination and lack of respect that hinder their ability to provide quality care to women and newborns.

UN warns of humanitarian crisis as 7,400 cross Afghan border each day

Oct 14, 2016, at 04:18 am

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Every day, some 7,400 Afghan returnees cross the border from Pakistan to Afghanistan, prompting the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis.

UN health teams in Haiti to respond to cholera outbreaks, prevent possible epidemic

Oct 14, 2016, at 04:16 am

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): With scattered outbreaks of cholera reported in the wake of the devastation wrecked by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, the United Nations health agency has deployed field teams in the island to respond to the health situation and to prevent it from taking epidemic proportions.

UN refugee agency condemns rising violence against civilians in Central African Republic

Oct 14, 2016, at 04:15 am

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday condemned attacks on civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR), where clashes between rival groups have forced thousands of people to flee their homes and disrupted vital humanitarian aid operations.

António Guterres appointed next UN Secretary-General by acclamation

Oct 14, 2016, at 04:14 am

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Thursday appointed by acclamation the former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December.

On International Day, UN urges building disaster resilience by reducing 'appalling' loss of life

Oct 14, 2016, at 04:12 am

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Over the past twenty years, 90 per cent of the 1.35 million people who have died in 7,056 disaster events have come from low and middle-income countries, according to a new United Nations report released on Thursday described by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a “damning indictment of inequality.”

American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan awarded Nobel Prize in Literature

Oct 14, 2016, at 01:04 am

London, Oct 13 (IBNS): American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan, who is regarded as one of the most popular and influential rock musicians of the world, was on Thursday awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2016.

Donald Trump faces multiple groping claims

Oct 13, 2016, at 06:55 pm

Washington, Oct 13 (IBNS) : The dirt flying in the run-up to the US Presidential election grew thicker as five women came forward with claims that Republican candidate Donald Trump had groped, kissed and leered at them, media reports said.

Islamabad: Spanish counselor found dead

Oct 13, 2016, at 03:48 pm

Islamabad, Oct 13 (IBNS): The Spanish counselor was found dead at his house in Pakistan, media reports said on Thursday.

Sydney teens charged with terrorism offences

Oct 13, 2016, at 03:12 pm

Sydney, Oct 13 (IBNS): The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team (NSW JCTT) has charged two juveniles with terror related offences following their arrest in Bankstown on Wednesday.

UN Member States set to appoint next Secretary-General

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:59 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The General Assembly on Thursdayis expected to act on the recommendation of the Security Council regarding the appointment of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations; last week, the Council forwarded to the 193-member body its nomination, António Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal, to be the next UN chief.

Urgent solutions for refugee and migrant children in Calais ‘long overdue’ – UNICEF

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:58 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): With the imminent clearance of the Calais camp and wet winter weather fast approaching, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe, said on Wednesday that the commitment by the United Kingdom and France to find urgent solutions for the hundreds of refugee and migrant children languishing there for months, “could not come a minute too soon.”

UN mission in Haiti working with local authorities to ensure smooth, safe aid delivery after hurricane

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:57 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): While Haiti is still counting its dead and assessing the damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the powerful Category 4 storm that battered the tiny island nation last week, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official on Wednesday reported that significant headway is being made clearing the roads to make facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid.

Colombia: Ban welcomes announcement of talks between Government and National Liberation Army

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:56 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the announcement that formal negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) will begin later this month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed hope that the two sides will reach a sustainable peace agreement as soon as possible.

In wake of Hurricane Matthew, UN to deliver food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern Cuba

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:54 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with the Cuban Government to provide food for 180,000 people in hard-hit eastern areas of the island as they cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Syria: Conflict plunging to new ‘lows,’ UNICEF says, deploring killing of school children

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:53 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Deploring yesterday’s deadly attack on a primary school in the Syrian city of Darra, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated its call on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect children and schools.

"What is the underlying conflict? It’s similar in both countries and can be described as an incomplete social contract"– UN envoy for Sudan and South Sudan

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:52 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Nicholas Haysom has experience in challenging political situations. His service with the United Nations has seen him serve as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s top political advisor at UN Headquarters in New York – but has also involved service in some of the toughest field assignment locations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Undernutrition taking huge toll on Chad’s economy, new UN-supported study finds

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:50 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): Chad’s economy is losing 575.8 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) per year, or 9.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), to the effects of childhood undernutrition and resultant increased healthcare costs, additional burdens on the education system and lower productivity by the workforce, a new United Nations-backed study has revealed.

Rising inequality, precarious jobs threaten progress in Eastern Europe and Central Asia – UN

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:49 pm

New York, Oct 13 (Just Earth News): One third of the Eastern European and Central Asian workforce performs precarious jobs that include informal and vulnerable jobs, while approximately $65 billion in illicit cash leaves the region annually, according to a new report launched on Wednesday by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Pink Ladoo project welcomes baby girls in the world

Oct 13, 2016, at 03:54 am

Toronto, Oct 12(IBNS): Most South Asian families welcome the birth of a son with a sweetmeat called "ladoo" but for girls it's mostly a hush hush matter.

UN mission 'extremely concerned' over increased incidents of violence across South Sudan

Oct 13, 2016, at 03:52 am

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday that it is “extremely concerned” over increased reports of violence and armed conflict in various parts of the country in the last few weeks, including heavy artillery and gunfire exchanges between Government and opposition forces in Leer town.

Afghanistan: UN mission condemns killing of worshipers in Shia mosque attack

Oct 13, 2016, at 03:49 am

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned last night's attack at the Shia mosque in the capital, Kabul that killed at least 18 civilians and injured more than 50 others.

U o T students say professor should apologise for transphobic comments

Oct 13, 2016, at 02:41 am

Toronto, Oct 12(IBNS): The students of University of Toronto are demanding the University to take strict action against psychology professor Jordan Peterson for making “transphobic” comments.

David Cameron reveals new job

Oct 13, 2016, at 12:41 am

London, Oct 12 (IBNS): Former British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday shared he has joined the National Citizens Service Trust as the Chairman.

UN Mission in Afghanistan condemns Kabul mosque attack

Oct 12, 2016, at 11:50 pm

Kabul, Oct 12 (IBNS): The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned Tuesday night’s attack at the Karte Shakhi mosque and shrine in Kabul that killed at least 18 civilians and injured more than 50 others.

Ban welcomes start of Guinea-Bissau talks as 'first step' in region-led effort to end political crisis

Oct 12, 2016, at 03:07 pm

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the start of an inclusive dialogue among political leaders, civil society and religious communities of Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged all the parties to engage in constructive discussions and “seize this opportunity for a favourable outcome” in the interest of the country’s people.”

UN rights expert warns about growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt

Oct 12, 2016, at 03:06 pm

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, warned on Tuesday about growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt, with human rights defenders and organizations in particular being targeted.

Hurricane’s impact on political process in Haiti reaffirms need to extend peackeeping mission – UN envoy

Oct 12, 2016, at 03:05 pm

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): With Haiti facing the dual challenges of addressing the impact of Hurricane Matthew and restarting preparations for the holding of the much-anticipated elections, the United Nations envoy for the Caribbean country on Tuesday expressed support for the recommended extension of the UN mission there by six months until mid-April 2017.

Myanmar: UN adviser expresses deep concern at recent violence in Rakhine, calls for calm

Oct 12, 2016, at 03:01 pm

New York, Oct 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Myanmar on Tuesday expressed his deep concern at the violent attacks by unidentified individuals and groups against border guards and security forces on 9 October and the resultant fighting that claimed the lives of security personnel and civilians in the three affected areas of Northern Rakhine.