UN Security Council pledges support for regional push to revive South Sudan’s peace pact
Dec 15, 2017, at 10:34 pm
New York, Dec 15(Just Earth News): As the brutal conflict in South Sudan enters its fifth year, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday said it remains deeply concerned over the situation there, and expressed strong support for a regional initiative aimed at salvaging a 2015 peace deal.
Respiratory diseases linked to seasonal flu claim thousands of lives every year – UN health agency
Dec 15, 2017, at 10:31 pm
New York, Dec 15(Just Earth News): Respiratory diseases from seasonal influenza takes up to 650,000 lives annually, according to new estimates released Thursday by the United Nations health agency and global partners.
In Tanzania, UN peacekeeping chief pays tribute to ‘blue helmets’ killed in DR Congo
Dec 15, 2017, at 10:21 pm
New York, Dec 15(Just Earth News): The head of United Nations peacekeeping operations on Thursday attended a ceremony in the port city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in honour of the country’s peacekeepers recently killed during their mission in a neighbouring country.
'Golden opportunity' missed for progress on intra-Syrian talks, says UN envoy
Dec 15, 2017, at 10:15 pm
New York, Dec 15(Just Earth News): A “golden opportunity” has been missed to decide the future of Syria at the end of the latest round of United Nations-supported talks in Geneva, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday.
Yemen: At least 15, including rebels and civilians, killed in Saudi coalition airstrikes
Dec 15, 2017, at 04:39 pm
Sanaa, Dec 15 (IBNS): At least 15 people, including Houthi rebels and civilians, have been killed in airstrikes conducted by Saudi-led coalition in several parts of Yemen, reports said.
Four teenagers killed as school bus, train collide in France
Dec 15, 2017, at 04:31 pm
Perpignan, Dec 15 (IBNS): At least four teenagers were killed and 20 injured after a school bus and a train collided near Perpignan area of southern France's Pyrénées-Orientales, reports said.
UN forum sees ‘moderate’ recovery for Latin American and Caribbean economies in 2018
Dec 15, 2017, at 05:04 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): New economic projections for Latin America and the Caribbean show moderate recovery in 2018 and growth the following year – with favoured expansions in consumption and domestic investment, the United Nations reported Thursday.
In Japan, UN chief spotlights power of universal health coverage to unlock economic growth
Dec 15, 2017, at 05:02 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): Health is everyone's right and a driver of economic development, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed Thursday, expressing the UN's readiness to help countries move towards health coverage for all.
UN agency helps farmers in Latin America broaden their market horizons
Dec 14, 2017, at 05:24 pm
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): Improving market access, particularly beyond national borders, for family farmers and small and medium agriculture enterprises in the Latin America and Caribbean region can help boost rural development as well as spur inclusive trade, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.
Unified action needed in Central Africa to defuse regional tensions, Security Council told
Dec 14, 2017, at 05:23 pm
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): Despite some positive developments, the overall situation in Central Africa still requires concerted action at all levels to address sociopolitical tensions, economic difficulties and abuses by armed groups, a United Nations envoy for the region said Wednesday.
Electronic waste poses ‘growing risk’ to environment, human health, UN report warns
Dec 14, 2017, at 09:48 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): The growing volume of electronic waste, including discarded products with a battery or plug, such as mobile phones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators and electrical toys, poses a major threat to the environment and human health, the United Nations warned on Wednesday.
Thousands of children need assistance three months after Caribbean hurricanes – UNICEF
Dec 14, 2017, at 09:47 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): Three months after two category-5 hurricanes tore through the Caribbean, thousands of children across the region still need support, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.
With ‘so much at stake’ in crisis-torn South Sudan, UN and partners launch $1.72 billion appeal
Dec 14, 2017, at 09:46 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): The United Nations relief wing and the humanitarian community in South Sudan launched on Wednesday a $1.72 billion appeal to assist six million people affected by conflict, displacement and hunger.
UN peacekeeping chief visits injured Tanzanian ‘blue helmets’ in DR Congo
Dec 14, 2017, at 09:46 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): The head of United Nations peacekeeping operations on Wednesday thanked individually peacekeepers who fought to hold off an attack on 7 December in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Half the world lacks access to essential health services – UN-backed report
Dec 14, 2017, at 09:45 am
New York, Dec 14(Just Earth News): At least half of the world's population cannot obtain essential health services, and nearly 100 million people are being pushed into extreme poverty each year due to the out-of-pocket health expenses they must pay, according to a United Nations-backed study.
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:15 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): An uptick in armed hostilities in Ukraine has resulted in more deaths and new damages to critical water infrastructure storing dangerous chemicals – posing a grave threat to human life and the environment, according to a new United Nations report.
UN Assembly calls on Member States to ‘accelerate progress’ on goal of universal health coverage
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:14 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): The United Nations on Tuesday called for greater efforts on the part of its Member States to ensure universal health coverage, and designated 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage Day.
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:13 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday kicked off in Geneva a dialogue on protection challenges with a stark warning: the tragedy of forced displacement has deepened – one year after the world pledged to improve its response to refugee situations.
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:12 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): Those who fail to bet on a green economy will be living in a grey future, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Tuesday, calling for greater ambition by governments, civil society, the private sector and finance partners to help tackle the global climate challenge.
Time running out for construction sector to cut energy use, meet climate goals – UN
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:11 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): The clock is ticking on efforts to reform the buildings and construction sector's energy performance and keep the Paris Agreement on track, new United Nations-backed research revealed on Tuesday.
ICC Prosecutor asks Security Council to act on outstanding arrest warrants
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:10 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): Omar Al Bashir recently travelled to countries that recognize the International Criminal Court (ICC) but none arrested or surrendered the Sudanese President, the ICC Prosecutor on Tuesday told the United Nations Security Council.
In wake of post-election protests in Honduras, UN chief urges authorities to respect rule of law
Dec 13, 2017, at 02:09 pm
New York, Dec 13(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday called on authorities in Honduras to uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights following the presidential election.
New Year could bring more misery to children in DR Congo’s restive Kasai region, warns UNICEF
Dec 13, 2017, at 05:00 am
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): New Year could bring more misery to children in DR Congo’s restive Kasai region, warns UNICEF In the coming year, severe acute malnutrition could claim the lives of more than 400,000 children under the age of five in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s volatile Kasai region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.
UN and partners launch $4.4 billion regional appeal for more than five million Syrian refugees
Dec 13, 2017, at 04:59 am
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): A more than $4 billion appeal has been launched to support what one senior United Nations official called on Tuesday “a lost generation” of Syrian refugees caught up in the ongoing conflict.
Recalling Algiers attack, Secretary-General says, 2007 bombing ‘hit heart of the UN’
Dec 12, 2017, at 05:06 pm
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): In a message commemorating the 2007 bombing of the United Nations offices in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed the Organization’s continuing support to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
UN aid official in Yemen urges lifting of blockade, says millions a ‘step away from famine’
Dec 12, 2017, at 05:04 pm
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): The continuing blockade of ports in Yemen must be lifted, a senior United Nations humanitarian official on Monday urged, calling for greater access to more than eight million people on the verge of famine.
Human Rights Day: UN officials pledge to advance human dignity, equality and rights
Dec 12, 2017, at 05:02 pm
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): Top United Nations officials on Monday urged everyone to raise their voices and stand up for the rights of others, while celebrating the launch of a year-long campaign on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Decalration of Human Rights.
Security tensions may have deepened rights violations in DPRK, Security Council told
Dec 12, 2017, at 09:45 am
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): People’s rights are reportedly violated in “almost every aspect” of their lives in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations human rights chief warned on Monday, stressing that security tensions on the Korean Peninsula should not negate concerns about the situation of ordinary people there.
Lift in global economy prompts opportunities to tackle deep-rooted development issues – UN
Dec 12, 2017, at 09:44 am
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): A three per cent upturn in the global economy has paved the way to readjust policy towards longer-term issues, such as addressing climate change, tackling existing inequalities and removing institutional obstacles to development, according to a new United Nations report on global economic prospects.
UN honours 14 peacekeepers killed in eastern DR Congo
Dec 12, 2017, at 09:42 am
New York, Dec 12(Just Earth News): The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday paid tribute to the Tanzanian peacekeepers killed on 7 December in the worst attack on UN 'blue helmets' in recent history.