Worsening violence by militants with links to Islamic State in northern Mozambique are causing thousands to go hungry as they flee their homes and abandon farms, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.

WION Dispatch: UN World Food Programme warns of food security crisis in Mozambique

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country.

Although some violence flared between protesters and police, the mood overall was calmer than in recent rallies, as the opposition appeared to heed calls from the United Nations and Canada to stage peaceful demonstrations.

At one point, protesters atop a truck blasting music used microphones to beseech others not to throw rocks at police and businesses.

Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out as helmeted police with shields used trucks, water cannons and tear gas to prevent protesters from marching on the headquarters of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-nuclear-watchdog-says-iran-taking-step-in-right-direction-253726">U.N.</a> peacekeeping and justice force near the Port-au-Prince airport.

Some protesters set tires aflame and hurled rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails in the streets.

Many opposition leaders and disgruntled Haitians have called for Moise's ouster, blaming him for a failing to address problems widespread food and fuel shortages, a weakening currency, double-digit inflation and graft accusations made against public officials.

Andre Michel, a political opposition leader, told Reuters this week the demonstration was meant to send a "very strong message" that Moise needs to step down.

In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated Wednesday, opposition leaders urged the organization to disassociate from Moise, whose government they said helped commit a "massacre" in the poor La Saline neighbourhood in the capital.

Moise in late September removed several security officials following the incident.

"The country is on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," the letter stated, noting that shuttered businesses, banks, and schools have made Haiti "totally dysfunctional" and more than 100 demonstrators have been injured.

The country is still grappling with the fallout from past crises, including a 2010 earthquake that killed some 300,000 people.

Protests in the most impoverished country in the Americas last week were among the largest and most violent in months. During some of the unrest, specialized units of the U.N.-backed Haitian National Police were ransacked and looted and two police vehicles set on fire.

Anti-government demonstrations turned especially violent in February when the United Nations said 41 people were killed and another 100 injured. Police say at least five people have been killed in clashes in the past few weeks, but Moise has given no indication he intends to resign.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland this week condemned all violence in Haiti, and the U.N. reiterated earlier calls for calm.

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country.

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country. Although some violence flared between protesters and police, the mood overall was calmer than in recent rallies, as the opposition appeared to heed calls from the United Nations and Canada to stage peaceful demonstrations. At one point, protesters atop a truck blasting music used microphones to beseech others not to throw rocks at police and businesses. Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out as helmeted police with shields used trucks, water cannons and tear gas to prevent protesters from marching on the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping and justice force near the Port-au-Prince airport. Some protesters set tires aflame and hurled rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails in the streets. Many opposition leaders and disgruntled Haitians have called for Moise's ouster, blaming him for a failing to address problems widespread food and fuel shortages, a weakening currency, double-digit inflation and graft accusations made against public officials. Andre Michel, a political opposition leader, told Reuters this week the demonstration was meant to send a "very strong message" that Moise needs to step down. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated Wednesday, opposition leaders urged the organization to disassociate from Moise, whose government they said helped commit a "massacre" in the poor La Saline neighbourhood in the capital. Moise in late September removed several security officials following the incident. "The country is on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," the letter stated, noting that shuttered businesses, banks, and schools have made Haiti "totally dysfunctional" and more than 100 demonstrators have been injured. The country is still grappling with the fallout from past crises, including a 2010 earthquake that killed some 300,000 people. Protests in the most impoverished country in the Americas last week were among the largest and most violent in months. During some of the unrest, specialized units of the U.N.-backed Haitian National Police were ransacked and looted and two police vehicles set on fire. Anti-government demonstrations turned especially violent in February when the United Nations said 41 people were killed and another 100 injured. Police say at least five people have been killed in clashes in the past few weeks, but Moise has given no indication he intends to resign. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland this week condemned all violence in Haiti, and the U.N. reiterated earlier calls for calm.

Haitian protesters clash with police in new push for president's ouster

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday.

The 16-year-old Swede is stopping in the Midwestern city, located in the state that will vote first in next year's US presidential nominating contests, as part of her tour of North America ahead of a U.N.-sponsored climate conference in Santiago, Chile, in December.

In recent weeks, millions of people have poured onto streets around the globe in protests inspired by Thunberg to demand governments take emergency action on climate change.

Students in Iowa City said the young Swede's visit was a testament to their efforts to demand change from local leaders.

"We are honored. We are inspired. We are emboldened. And we say, no more excuses," Student Climate Strike Iowa City, which organized the visit, said on Twitter.

Climate activists in Iowa say they have called for local institutions to employ 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030 and to cease operations at the University of Iowa's coal-burning plant, among other actions.

A polarizing figure in the climate change debate, Thunberg is venerated by many of her peers and ridiculed by some critics. She is a bookmakers' favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize this month, though her aggressive style may turn off some of the Nobel committee.

Thunberg denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change and accused them of "stealing her dreams" in an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit last month.

With events such as extreme weather, thawing permafrost and sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the climate crisis has intensified since the signing of the Paris accord in 2015.

President Donald Trump intends to pull the United States out of the international deal that aims to reduce carbon emissions. Under terms of the pact, that cannot formally happen before November 4, 2020.

Scientists say existing pledges to curb emissions are nowhere near enough to avert catastrophic warming and have warned that failing to change course could ultimately put the survival of industrial societies at risk.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg will take her campaign demanding that world leaders tackle climate change, which began as a lonely vigil outside the Swedish parliament but saw her rise to address the United Nations last month, to Iowa City on Friday. The 16-year-old Swede is stopping in the Midwestern city, located in the state that will vote first in next year's US presidential nominating contests, as part of her tour of North America ahead of a U.N.-sponsored climate conference in Santiago, Chile, in December. In recent weeks, millions of people have poured onto streets around the globe in protests inspired by Thunberg to demand governments take emergency action on climate change. Students in Iowa City said the young Swede's visit was a testament to their efforts to demand change from local leaders. "We are honored. We are inspired. We are emboldened. And we say, no more excuses," Student Climate Strike Iowa City, which organized the visit, said on Twitter. Climate activists in Iowa say they have called for local institutions to employ 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030 and to cease operations at the University of Iowa's coal-burning plant, among other actions. A polarizing figure in the climate change debate, Thunberg is venerated by many of her peers and ridiculed by some critics. She is a bookmakers' favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize this month, though her aggressive style may turn off some of the Nobel committee. Thunberg denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change and accused them of "stealing her dreams" in an impassioned speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit last month. With events such as extreme weather, thawing permafrost and sea-level rise unfolding much faster than expected, scientists say the urgency of the climate crisis has intensified since the signing of the Paris accord in 2015. President Donald Trump intends to pull the United States out of the international deal that aims to reduce carbon emissions. Under terms of the pact, that cannot formally happen before November 4, 2020. Scientists say existing pledges to curb emissions are nowhere near enough to avert catastrophic warming and have warned that failing to change course could ultimately put the survival of industrial societies at risk.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg bringing call for climate action to Iowa

The Afghan government from the United Nations General Assembly has asked the Taliban to join peace efforts.

Speaking from the famous green podium inside the U.N. building, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib said, "To the Taliban and their foreign sponsors, hear this now, a message from the Afghan people: Join us in peace, or we will continue to fight... This is a fight we can win.”

Last February, President Ghani extended an unconditional offer of peace to the Taliban which Mohib said "still stands today" explaining that "the government has the ability to directly negotiate peace with our enemies."

The negotiations between the US and Taliban collapsed in September after several rounds of talks.

The Afghan representative called for a "ceasefire to immediately stop the bloodshed" and said that Afghan government is ready for the next step in the Afghan peace process which includes "talks.. between the Afghan government and the Taliban"

He highlighted the success of the recently concluded Afghan Presidential elections in which "around 3 million Afghans faced the threat of terrorism and risked their lives to vote in our young democracy’s 4th presidential election".

He said, "We all voted not just for a president, but we also voted for democracy... we voted for our constitution... we voted for freedom and sovereignty" and those who voted included "men and women...the very old, some voting for perhaps the last time in their lives..some who came out despite having their fingers cut off by Taliban during previous votes."

Interesting to note, there was no direct reference to Pakistan by Afghan NSA during his UNGA speech just like there was no mention of the country during Indian PM Narendra Modi's speech though both the Afghan and Indian leaders strongly spoke on the issue of terrorism

"Terrorism is an idea, as much as it is a form of violence. We must continue to work together to extinguish the ideologies behind terrorism, wherever they may exist", Mohib said.

The Afghan government from the United Nations General Assembly has asked the Taliban to join peace efforts. Speaking from the famous green podium inside the U.N.

The Afghan government from the United Nations General Assembly has asked the Taliban to join peace efforts. Speaking from the famous green podium inside the U.N. building, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib said, "To the Taliban and their foreign sponsors, hear this now, a message from the Afghan people: Join us in peace, or we will continue to fight... This is a fight we can win.” Last February, President Ghani extended an unconditional offer of peace to the Taliban which Mohib said "still stands today" explaining that "the government has the ability to directly negotiate peace with our enemies." The negotiations between the US and Taliban collapsed in September after several rounds of talks. The Afghan representative called for a "ceasefire to immediately stop the bloodshed" and said that Afghan government is ready for the next step in the Afghan peace process which includes "talks.. between the Afghan government and the Taliban" He highlighted the success of the recently concluded Afghan Presidential elections in which "around 3 million Afghans faced the threat of terrorism and risked their lives to vote in our young democracy’s 4th presidential election". He said, "We all voted not just for a president, but we also voted for democracy... we voted for our constitution... we voted for freedom and sovereignty" and those who voted included "men and women...the very old, some voting for perhaps the last time in their lives..some who came out despite having their fingers cut off by Taliban during previous votes." Interesting to note, there was no direct reference to Pakistan by Afghan NSA during his UNGA speech just like there was no mention of the country during Indian PM Narendra Modi's speech though both the Afghan and Indian leaders strongly spoke on the issue of terrorism "Terrorism is an idea, as much as it is a form of violence. We must continue to work together to extinguish the ideologies behind terrorism, wherever they may exist", Mohib said.

'Join us in peace, or we will continue to fight': Afghanistan Government to Taliban at U.N.

India's permanent representative to UN Syed Akbaruddin exclusively speaks to WION after a week-long successful tour of PM Modi to the US.

India's permanent representative to UN exclusively speaks to WION

India's permanent representative to U.N. Syed Akbaruddin exclusively speaks to WION after a week-long successful tour of PM Modi to the U.S.

India's permanent representative to U.N. exclusively speaks to WION

WION USA Direct: Pakistan Misleads the world, again

WION USA Direct: Pakistan Talks Bloodbath at U.N.

A heroin &quot;epidemic&quot; is gripping the United States, where cheap supply has helped push the number of users to a 20-year high, increasing drug-related deaths, the United Nations said today. 
 
According to the U.N.&#39;s World Drug Report 2016, the number of heroin users in the United States reached around one million in 2014, almost three times as many as in 2003. Heroin-related deaths there have increased five-fold since 2000. 
 
&quot;There is really a huge epidemic (of) heroin in the U.S.,&quot; said Angela Me, the chief researcher for the report which released today. 
 
&quot;It is the highest definitely in the last 20 years,&quot; Me said, adding that the trend was continuing. 
 
The rise could be linked to U.S. legislation introduced in recent years which makes it harder to abuse prescription opioids such as oxicodone, a powerful painkiller that can have similar effects to heroin, Me said. 
 
The law meant the texture of the pills was changed to make it more difficult to crush them and inject them into the blood stream, Me said. 
 
&quot;This has caused a partial shift from the misuse of these prescription opioids to heroin.&quot; 
 
Another reason for the increase in the use of heroin, which in the United States mainly comes from Mexico and Colombia, is greater supply that has depressed prices in recent years, Me said. 
 
The United States has also seen a spike in deaths related to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more so than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
 
Fentanyl has been named as the drug that killed pop singer Prince this year. 
 
At least 207,000 deaths globally were drug-related in 2014, with heroin use and overdose-related deaths increasing sharply also over the last two years, according to the Vienna-based U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 
 
&quot;Heroin continues to be the drug that kills the most people and this resurgence must be addressed urgently,&quot; Yury Fedotov, the executive director of the UNODC, said. 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this year asked Congress for $1.1 billion in new funding over two years to expand treatment for users of heroin and prescription painkillers. 
 
(Reuters)

At least 207,000 deaths globally were drug-related in 2014, with heroin use and overdose-related deaths increased in last two years

A heroin "epidemic" is gripping the United States, where cheap supply has helped push the number of users to a 20-year high, increasing drug-related deaths, the United Nations said today. According to the U.N.'s World Drug Report 2016, the number of heroin users in the United States reached around one million in 2014, almost three times as many as in 2003. Heroin-related deaths there have increased five-fold since 2000. "There is really a huge epidemic (of) heroin in the U.S.," said Angela Me, the chief researcher for the report which released today. "It is the highest definitely in the last 20 years," Me said, adding that the trend was continuing. The rise could be linked to U.S. legislation introduced in recent years which makes it harder to abuse prescription opioids such as oxicodone, a powerful painkiller that can have similar effects to heroin, Me said. The law meant the texture of the pills was changed to make it more difficult to crush them and inject them into the blood stream, Me said. "This has caused a partial shift from the misuse of these prescription opioids to heroin." Another reason for the increase in the use of heroin, which in the United States mainly comes from Mexico and Colombia, is greater supply that has depressed prices in recent years, Me said. The United States has also seen a spike in deaths related to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more so than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl has been named as the drug that killed pop singer Prince this year. At least 207,000 deaths globally were drug-related in 2014, with heroin use and overdose-related deaths increasing sharply also over the last two years, according to the Vienna-based U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). "Heroin continues to be the drug that kills the most people and this resurgence must be addressed urgently," Yury Fedotov, the executive director of the UNODC, said. U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this year asked Congress for $1.1 billion in new funding over two years to expand treatment for users of heroin and prescription painkillers. (Reuters)

Heroin use at 20-year high in U.S. drug "epidemic", U.N. says

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