Nigeria: UN expert seeks urgent answers on ‘brutal’ eviction of 30,000 people in Lagos

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert has appealed to the Government of Nigeria for an urgent explanation of the forced eviction of 30,000 people in Lagos state in the last week.

RBC and TD banks raise fixed mortgage rates in Canada

Toronto, Nov 17 (IBNS): Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and TD bank have increased their fixed mortgage rates in Canada effective Thursday and Tuesday respectively, said media reports.

UN health agency denounces attacks on health facilities in Syria

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday condemned attacks on five Syrian hospitals – including two trauma centres and an emergency obstetric centre – as well as a mobile medical clinic, and demanded that all parties to the five-year conflict respect the neutrality of health workers, health facilities and medical supplies.

One month into Mosul battle, UN and partners ‘profoundly concerned’ for civilian safety

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): At the one-month mark of Iraqi military operations to oust terrorists from Mosul, the United Nations and its partners on Thursday said tens of thousands of families in newly retaken areas urgently requiring life-saving assistance and warned that the humanitarian community in Iraq faces a “massive scope” of need.

Philosophy is an art of living together,' says UNESCO on World Philosophy Day

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): Marking World Philosophy Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is encouraging people of the world to share their philosophical heritages and “dare to open spaces for free, open and tolerant thinking.”

Afghanistan: Woman elopes with lover after poisoning in-laws

Kabul, Nov 17 (IBNS): At least seven family members, in-laws, fell victim to poisonous food served by a woman, who later eloped with her lover, reports said.

Afghanistan: ISIS shoulders responsibility for Kabul attack

Kabul, Nov 17 (IBNS): Terror outfit ISIS has shouldered responsibility for a recent attack in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, which accounted for at least four deaths and injured 11 others, reports said.

Ontario grandparents demand access to grandchildren in custody disputes

Toronto, Nov. 17 (IBNS): Another attempt was being made by some grandparents in Ontario to the get Children's Law Reform Act of Ontario changed to safeguard access of children to their grandparents in the event of parents’ divorce or separation, media reports said.

Canadians averse to face reality owing to joblessness

Calgary, Nov 17 (IBNS): Many Canadians were not prepared to face the consequences in the wake of job loss, though they were well aware of the fact that job market had been worsening day by day in Canada.

Future of US-Canada relationship under the Trumpian Regime

Calgary, Nov 16 (IBNS): The future of Canada USA Bilateral relationship would be under big question mark, as it was a well known fact that Donald Trump’s deep antipathy to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)which during the campaign for presidency he had made one of the prime election issue and had been fiercely vitriolic towards Mexico but said nothing against Canada.

Top UN peacekeeping officials hail success of community violence reduction programmes

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): Community violence reduction (CVR) programmes are not well-known, but are proving to be an effective peacekeeping tool, senior United Nations officials said today during an event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the launch of CVR in Haiti.

Kosovo situation yielding ‘fewer results than hoped’ in 2016, UN envoy tells Security Council

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): Many of the political expectations with which Kosovo began the year yielded fewer results than hoped, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission there said on Wednesday, expressing hope that next year will see clear progress on political dialogue accompanied by necessary progress at community level.

Ban welcomes Canada’s announcement of donation to UN Palestine refugee agency

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed Canada’s announcement that it was resuming support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by donating CDN $25 million for the agency’s essential health, education, relief and social services and humanitarian programmes that benefit 5.3 million Palestine refugees.

Global humanitarian response affected by lack of funding – senior UN relief official

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): Returning from recent visits to Haiti, Sudan and South Sudan, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said that while low funding for aid operations around the world challenge prompt and needed relief, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in conflict-riven South Sudan is the most “alarming.”

Welcoming Kenya’s decision on Dadaab camp, UN urges flexibility on time frames for Somali refugees

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News): The Office of the United Nations High Commissions on Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed on Wednesday a statement on Wednesday from the Government of Kenya in which it reiterated its continued search for solutions for refugees at the Dadaab camp, where it has been hosting and protecting refugees from Somalia for many years.