Myanmar’s first civilian leader to address Assembly in 50 years cites UN as inspiration

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:18 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): Mounting the podium of the General Assembly as the representative of Myanmar’s first civilian Government in over 50 years, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday that the same spirit and goals that inspired the founding of the United Nations 70 years ago inform the country’s new administration.

At UN, European Union and member countries spotlight aid for refugees, conflict mediation

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:17 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): Massive displacement across borders has highlighted the power of fear and conflict more clearly than any other challenge, but the European Union’s actions have always been driven by empathy and a readiness to help those in need, its President told the United Nations General Assembly, which also heard several EU member States speak individually.

At UN debate, Kenyan Vice-President implores Security Council to take Somalia situation ‘seriously’

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:16 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News):Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Vice-President of Kenya on Wednesday implored the UN Security Council to align the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to the threat levels in that neighbouring country, and to provide adequate, predictable funding and other support for the Mission.

Saudi Arabia at General Assembly calls for urgent UN reforms to confront world crises

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:14 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations needs urgent reform to confront the challenges now facing the world, from the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the bloody wars in Syria and Yemen to countering terrorism and tackling the refugee crisis, Saudi Arabia warned the General Assembly’s annual general debate on Wednesday.

Sustainable development facing ‘strong headwinds,’ Chinese Premier warns UN Assembly

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:12 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Li Keqiang, Premier to the State Council of China, said the 2030 Agenda, the new vision for global development adopted last year, faces an ‘uphill battle’ and its full implementation will require the international community to acknowledge a shared, interconnected future and to take concretes steps to tackle challenges.

Security Council now has 'no higher responsibility' than backing political path in Syria – Ban

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:11 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called on the members of the Security Council to fully support his Special Envoy in working on convening formal talks seeking to resolve the Syria conflict and developing proposals for future talks, or risk destroying the international community's credibility in being able to uphold “our common humanity.”

At UN, Namibian President vows to ‘spare no effort’ to lift nation’s people out of poverty

Sep 22, 2016, at 02:10 pm

New York, Sept 22 (Just Earth News): Speaking from the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Hage Geingob, the President of Namibia, recalled last year’s commitment by UN Member States to a new agenda for Sustainable Development to “join the global drive towards ensuring a life of dignity for all.”

Colombian leader cites his accord with rebels as paradigm for ending civil wars worldwide

Sep 22, 2016, at 04:38 am

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): A year after pledging to return to the United Nations General Assembly to announce the end of a 52-years-long civil war that has killed more than 220,000 people and victimized over eight million more, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday mounted the self-same podium to declare his nation finally at peace with an accord that can serve as a precedent for the rest of the world.

Africa needs ‘fair chance’ to trade, not sympathy or aid, Ghana’s President tells UN Assembly

Sep 22, 2016, at 04:34 am

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): What Africa needs is not development assistance from developed countries but “a fair chance” to trade with the rest of the world, the President of Ghana on Wednesday told the United Nations General Assembly.

‘No compromises’ in implementation of 2030 Agenda, Zimbabwe’s Mugabe tells UN Assembly

Sep 22, 2016, at 04:33 am

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, the President of Zimbabwe underscored that compromises or half-measures, which were unavoidable, even inevitable, in developing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, have no place in its implementation phase.

‘There is no time to waste’, Ban says, as Paris climate accord crosses first threshold for entry into force

Sep 22, 2016, at 04:31 am

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Wednesday that more than 55 countries have formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change signed by world leaders this past April, officially crossing one of the two thresholds required to bring into force the landmark pact that seeks to put the world on a path towards low-carbon growth and a more sustainable future.

‘Pragmatism, not populism’ will overcome global inertia, Chilean President tells UN

Sep 22, 2016, at 04:30 am

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Tackling the pressing challenges currently facing all countries and regions requires a major shift in perspective, Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, told the General Assembly on Wednesday, calling for a more effective an efficient United Nations that can be the locus of “more multilateralism, more cooperation and more dialogue,” to meet the long-sought demands of the world’s people.

Turkey: Man shot at Israel embassy

Sep 21, 2016, at 09:41 pm

Ankara, Sept 21 (IBNS): Security forces shot and wounded a man outside the Israel embassy in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday, media reports said.

Sustainable development at core of Fiji’s national agenda, Prime Minister tells UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:36 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): In his address to the General Assembly’s annual general debate, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of Fiji, underscored that “first and foremost, we have placed sustainable development at the core of our national agenda.”

In war on terrorism Egypt’s leader tells UN Assembly UNESCO has cultural role to play

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:35 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Calling terrorism “the cancer of our age […] that breeds the call for extremism and violence in the minds of people,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday urged the United Nations to use cultural ‘weapons’ to eliminate destructive ideologies via access to knowledge, transfer of technology and confronting extremist ideologies.

Keyword: UN, unveils draft principles, protecting human rights, refugees and migrants

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:34 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): In their respective addresses to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Southern African leaders stressed the importance of regional efforts, such as within the African continent through the African Union (AU) to realize a better and sustainable future for all.

UN official unveils draft principles on protecting human rights of refugees and migrants

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:32 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official on Tuesday unveiled a draft set of principles that urge the international community to build on the momentum created by the adoption yesterday, by UN Member States, of a landmark declaration on protecting the rights of refugees and migrants by including the critical issue of human rights in all discussions focusing on large-scale, perilous and irregular migration movements.

Rather than stoke anxiety, politicians should work to improve livelihoods, Canada’s Trudeau tells UN

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:31 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the first time, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, said leaders and politicians should see diversity as strength rather weakness and, instead of exploiting fears, work to allay them by enabling a safer, more peaceful world for all.

At UN Assembly, South American leaders spotlight efforts to tackle corruption, drug trafficking

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:28 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina, was among several leaders from South America addressing the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly who highlighted the need to tackle challenges that affected his region, but also the world: eradicating poverty; addressing climate change; and combating drug trafficking and violence associated with organized crime.

United Kingdom to remain ‘outward-facing’ global partner, Prime Minister tells UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:26 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the first time, Theresa May, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said her country has always been an outward-facing, global partner at the heart of international efforts to secure peace and prosperity since the first Assembly meeting was held in London in 1946.

Swiss President, at General Assembly, highlights crucial role of UN in solving crises

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:25 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): With the world facing a massive immigration crisis, multiple armed conflicts and economic disruption, a strong United Nations is more necessary than ever, Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann told the General Assembly on Tuesday on the opening day of its General Debate.

UN Women launches report spotlighting gender equality in global universities

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:24 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): On the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, UN Women unveiled a report by 10 global universities that lays out their concrete commitments and charts their progress towards achieving gender parity.

Turkey’s Erdogan challenges world leaders at UN Assembly to end bloodshed in Syria

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:23 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Drawing particular attention to the nearly six year crisis in Syria where hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions displaced, the President of Turkey called for urgent action to stop the conflict and persecution in the country.

Jordan’s king warns UN Assembly that both Islamophobia and Islam ‘outlaws’ threaten world

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:22 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday decried both Western Islamophobia and the terrorist “outlaws” who sully the name of Islam, warning the United Nation General Assembly that both threaten the future of society.

Non-communicable diseases ‘make poverty even worse,’ Uruguay President warns UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:21 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Uruguay’s President on Tuesday warned against non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular ailments, cancer, diabetes and chronic pulmonary pathologies, which he said are the main causes of death particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

UN officials condemn attacks against aid convoy and warehouse in rural Aleppo

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:19 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Top United Nations officials have condemned attacks last night against a UN/Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) aid convoy, as well as a SARC warehouse and health clinic in Urum al-Kubra (Big Orem), northwest of Aleppo city in Syria, in which about 20 civilians and one SARC staff member were killed and vital food and medical assistance was destroyed.

France’s Hollande, at UN Assembly, urges climate action, aid for Africa and an end to Syria’s war

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:18 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): France launched a threefold appeal at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday for the swift implementation of last December’s Paris accord on climate change, a major increase in aid for Africa, and an immediate ceasefire in Syria and the provision of humanitarian aid.

US President Obama urges world to eschew division and pursue global integration at UN Assembly

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:17 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): In his final address to the United Nations General Assembly as United States President, Barack Obama on Tuesday delivered a ringing appeal for global integration in the face of religious fundamentalism, the politics of ethnicity, aggressive nationalism and crude populism, even as he called for a course correction.

At UN, Slovak President warns against leaders caring more about retaining power than improving lives

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:15 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): Addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s general debate on Tuesday, Andrej Kiska, the President of Slovakia, warned that there is “a real danger” spreading again – the rise of nationalism, extremism, racism and bigotry in many parts of the world.

At UN Assembly, Chadian President urges global push to tackle terrorism, ‘the threat of the century’

Sep 21, 2016, at 12:14 pm

New York, Sept 21 (Just Earth News): The world’s citizens are living in a constant state of despair because war, senseless violence, extreme poverty and the effects of climate change have all spread ‘and the hope of resolving them is diminishing,” Idris Déby Itno, the President of Chad, told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, urging greater global cooperation to tackle these threats, particularly terrorism.