Bonn: Climate engineering is risky, but should be explored, experts say at UN conference

Nov 17, 2017, at 09:52 am

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): Climate engineering, or climate intervention, is risky but needs to be explored as a supplement – not as a 'Plan B' – to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, said experts at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), in Bonn, Germany.

UN agency chiefs call for immediate lifting of humanitarian blockade in Yemen

Nov 17, 2017, at 04:32 am

  New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): With much of Yemen's air, sea and land entry points closed, heads of three United Nations agencies on Thursday called for immediate lifting of such blockade in the conflict-ravaged southern Arabian country so that lifesaving humanitarian supplies can pass.  

Central African Republic: UN mission mandate extended, additional ‘blue helmets’ authorized

Nov 17, 2017, at 04:31 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the Organization’s peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), until 15 November 2018, increased the mission’s troop level by 900 military personnel.

Nearly a third of Darfur’s people still displaced, despite drop in violence, Security Council told

Nov 17, 2017, at 04:30 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The armed groups in Darfur have largely been defeated and the ferocity of intercommunal violence has declined, but anxiety over safety continues to keep many people from returning to their homes, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Thursday.

Member of Toronto-18 group Saad Khalid denied paraole

Nov 17, 2017, at 01:56 am

Toronto, Nov 16 (IBNS): A member of a so-called Toronto-18 group, Saad Khalid, has been denied a day or full parole, media reports said.

Afghanistan: At least 18 killed in Kabul blast

Nov 16, 2017, at 10:01 pm

Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): At least 18 people have been killed and 10 others injured after a blast rocked Kabul, Afghanistan's capital city, local Tolo News reported.

Afghanistan: At least five policemen killed in Kabul blast

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:34 pm

Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): At least five policemen have been killed and dozens others injured after a blast rocked Kabul, Afghanistan's capital city, local Tolo News reported.

Afghanistan: At least two killed, eight injured as blast rocks Kabul

Nov 16, 2017, at 08:58 pm

Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): At least two people have been killed and eight others  injured after a blast rocked Kabul, Afghanistan's capital city, reports said.

Explosion rocks Kabul, casualty feared

Nov 16, 2017, at 08:57 pm

Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): An explosion outside a restaurant in Kabul city has rocked Afghanistan's capital on Thursday afternoon, reports said.

Afghanistan: 9 militants killed

Nov 16, 2017, at 08:45 pm

Kabul, Nov 16 (IBNS): At least nine Taliban militants have been killed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand provinces, media reports said on Thursday.

Canada offers helicopters, planes, trainers to UN without proper details

Nov 16, 2017, at 07:58 pm

Vancouver, Nov 16 (IBNS): Canada offered helicopters, planes and trainers to the United Nations (UN) on peace missions but little did they reveal about the details of such a step, media reports said.

UN peacekeeper in DR Congo honoured for combatting sexual violence on the frontlines

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:52 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): United Nations peacekeeper Major Seitebatso Pearl Block was commended on Wednesday for developing a Mission-wide, short message service (SMS) campaign to combat gender-based abuse by connecting with women in remote parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  

All countries should benefit from fast-moving ICT revolution, urges UN agency

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:51 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): Revolutionary advances in technology have the potential to “fundamentally transform” billions of lives, but the threat that many people – especially in the world’s poorer countries – could be left out continues to loom large, a new United Nations report warns.

Afghanistan opium production jumps 87 per cent to record level – UN survey

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): A profoundly alarming trend in the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan reveals an 87 per cent production increase compared to 2016, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) said Wednesday in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017.

In Vancouver, UN peacekeeping chief outlines ‘very serious challenge’ facing Mali operation

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:49 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The “very serious challenge” facing peacekeepers with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) makes it vital that additional efforts are made for the four-year-old operation to fulfil its mandate, the UN peacekeeping chief has said.  

Viet Nam: Children at risk of malnutrition in aftermath of Typhoon Damrey, reports UNICEF

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Nov 16 (Just Earth News): More than a week after Typhoon Damrey battered south-central Viet Nam, assessments by United Nations aid agencies have revealed that vulnerable populations – including children, and pregnant and nursing mothers – in poor and remote areas are still underserved by relief efforts.

Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Abyei for six months

Nov 16, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Nov 16(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Wednesday extended until 15 May 2018 the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested area on the Sudan-South Sudan border.

Bonn: UN chief urges more ambition, leadership and partnerships on climate action

Nov 16, 2017, at 04:12 am

New York, Nov 15 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations Climate Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, on Wednesday, Secretary-General António Guterres called for more ambition, more leadership and more partnerships to tackle climate change.

UN rights chief urges DRC authorities to allow peaceful expression of dissent at protests

Nov 16, 2017, at 04:11 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday called on the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to lawfully handle demonstrations organized by those protesting the updated electoral calendar for general elections.  

Saudi Arabian Grand Mufti calls Hamas a terrorist organisation, Israel cheers

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:56 pm

Riyadh, Nov 15 (IBNS): Israel is all praise for Saudi Arabian Grand Mufti after the latter called Hamas a terrorist organisation, reports said.

Canada: Former police officers who opposed legalising pot launch weed business

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:38 pm

Ottawa, Nov 15 (IBNS): Former OPP commissioner MP and federal Conservative cabinet minister Julian Fantino, who had once greatly opposed the legalisation of the pot, has launched a weed-related business, media reports said.

Philippine President Duterte lashes out at Canada PM Trudeau over drug-war comments

Nov 15, 2017, at 07:35 pm

Manila, Nov 15 (IBNS): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the latter's drug-war comments, media reports said.

Afghanistan: Magnetic bomb explosion kills Parwan Education Director

Nov 15, 2017, at 07:33 pm

Kabul, Nov 15 (IBNS): A magnetic improvised explosive devise (IED) blast has killed the Education Director of Parwan province in Afghanistan, reports said.

Zimbabwean Army denies coup, says Mugube and family safe

Nov 15, 2017, at 06:45 pm

Harare, Nov 15 (IBNS): Amid speculations by political commentators, Zimbabwean Army has denied that the country is facing a coup, while stating that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugube and his family are safe.

California: Gunman kills four before being shot down

Nov 15, 2017, at 04:36 pm

Tehama County, Nov 15 (IBNS): At least four people were killed after a gun man opened fire at random people from his vehicle in a remote Northern California community on Tuesday morning, media reports said.

One in 10 children work, UN agency reports at start of conference to end underage labour

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:55 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): An estimated 152 million children around the world work, a practice that the international community at a United Nations co-organized conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is trying to eliminate.

Kosovo: Time for action overtakes time for excuses, UN envoy tells Security Council

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:54 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): Noting recent momentum to advance democracy and good governance in Kosovo, the head of the United Nations Mission there urged for more emphasis on rebuilding trust and reconciliation, including through engagement with women and the youth, as well as on overcoming challenges related to freedom of cultural and religious identity.

Promote affordable, equitable access to diabetes medicines and information for women, UN urges

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:53 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): On World Diabetes Day, the United Nations health agency has said that women – especially those in low-income countries – are particularly vulnerable to diabetes, a condition that can be prevented or delayed with medication, regular screening and healthier lives.  

Security Council maintains partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia for one year

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:52 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Tuesday renewed until 15 November 2018 the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, authorization for maritime interdiction of illicit arms imports and charcoal exports, and the humanitarian exemption.

Suffering deepens in Yemen as border shutdowns enter second week – UN agencies

Nov 15, 2017, at 09:51 am

New York, Nov 15(Just Earth News): A proposal to deliver vitally needed aid to war-ravaged Yemen via smaller ports than those under blockade will not solve the catastrophic humanitarian situation there, a senior UN official said Wednesday.