Innovators, UN discuss using tech to tackle world's development challenges
May 18, 2017, at 01:32 pm
New York, May 18(Just Earth News): From drones dropping food and medicines, to handheld devices that can diagnose Ebola with a drop of blood, the latest technological advances are converging to make the “unthinkable happen,†said global innovators and heads of tech companies invited to the United Nations on Wednesday to discuss how to emerging technologies can boost achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Amid 'alarming rise' in obesity, UN study finds one in three European adolescents overweight
May 18, 2017, at 01:31 pm
New York, May 18(Just Earth News): Citing eating habits, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, the United Nations health agency launched a new publication on Wednesday at the European Congress on Obesity in Portugal which revealed a rising number of obese adolescents in many countries across Europe.
Secretary-General Guterres praises a united Europe as 'fundamental pillar' of strong UN
May 18, 2017, at 01:30 pm
New York, May 18(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday stressed that the European Union's contribution is absolutely essential for the United Nations, from support to peacekeeping to protecting human rights, solving conflicts, advancing the agenda for sustainable development and fighting climate change.
As four countries face famine, world 'must step up now' says top UN food security forum
May 18, 2017, at 01:29 pm
New York, May 18(Just Earth News): With famine looming in four countries, the United Nations-backed Committee on World Food Security (CFS) stressed on Wednesday the need to rally support for both immediate relief to people at risk and for longer-term initiatives.
On day against homophobia, UN officials urge respect for sexual and gender diversity
May 18, 2017, at 05:54 am
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Marking the international day against homophobia, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday called for respect for sexual and gender diversity and urged the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people from discrimination and harm.
Big data can have a 'big impact' on achievement of Global Goals, UN says on IT Day
May 18, 2017, at 05:53 am
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Mastering and measuring 'big data' – to map poverty from space or use mobile phones to track food security – could boost evidence-based decision-making at local and global levels and drive the implementation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations telecommunications agency said on Wednesday.
UN agency, IKEA partnership leads to first solar farm in refugee camp
May 18, 2017, at 05:52 am
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): The world's first solar farm in a refugee camp switched on on Wednesday in northern Jordan, providing renewable energy sources to about 20,000 Syrians living in the Azraq camp, the United Nations refugee agency on Wednesday said.
Côte d'Ivoire: UN chief welcomes country's return to calm after unrest
May 18, 2017, at 05:50 am
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the Government of Côte d'Ivoire for restoring security following a mutiny over pay, his spokesperson said.
Reporting of global death statistics improving, UN agency reports
May 18, 2017, at 05:47 am
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): An increasing amount of deaths have recorded causes, but more than half still have incomplete or incorrect information, the United Nations health agency reported.
Chelsea Manning freed from military prison
May 18, 2017, at 02:17 am
Kansas, May 17 (IBNS): US soldier Chelsea Manning was freed from the military prison after serving seven years, according to BBC News on Wednesday.
UNESCO urges investigation into murder of award-winning Mexican journalist
May 17, 2017, at 01:48 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Following the killing of award-winning Mexican journalist Javier Arturo Valdez Cárdenas, the head of the United Nations cultural agency on Tuesday encouraged the country’s authorities to move quickly to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the killing does not go unpunished.
Anaemic economic growth in some regions hampers progress on Global Goals, UN report finds
May 17, 2017, at 01:47 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Over the last six months, global economic progress has predictably picked up, but low-level growth in some regions has tempered efforts to meet globally agreed development goals, according to a new United Nations report launched on Tuesday in New York.
May 17, 2017, at 01:46 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): During his first working visit to Mali, United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix met on Tuesday in the capital, Bamako, with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other senior Malian officials, whom he thanked for their constructive and sustained cooperation with the UN integrated mission in the country, known by the French acronym, MINUSMA.
One in four children in North Africa, Middle East live in poverty – UNICEF study
May 17, 2017, at 01:45 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Poverty continues to impact the lives of Middle Eastern and Northern African children, according to new analysis from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which highlights that millions of the region’s young people live without quality health care or decent housing.
UN envoy warns against Kosovo and Serbia trading ‘ethno-nationalist’ barbs
May 17, 2017, at 01:42 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): A flurry of recent intolerant and provocative rhetoric has further damaged the trust between Kosovo and Serbia – a development that must be closely watched – though the situation remains generally stable, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo told the Security Council on Tuesday.
With barely enough money for food, conflict-displaced Ukrainians struggling to survive – UN
May 17, 2017, at 01:41 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): Two-thirds of internally displaced Ukrainians are struggling financially; many without even enough money for food, according to the latest report by the United Nations migration agency on the situation in the crisis-torn country.
Soaring temperatures pose new threat to Mosul’s displaced – UN migration agency
May 17, 2017, at 01:40 pm
New York, May 17(Just Earth News): The United Nations migration agency on Tuesday warned that while hundreds of thousands of people displaced from Mosul have braved the ongoing offensive to oust the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), the beleaguered citizens are now struggling to cope with another danger – the sweltering summer heat.
UN aids Yemenis in embattled Mokha; warns on cholera outbreak
May 17, 2017, at 04:58 am
New York, May 16(Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday confirmed that for only the third time this year, its field teams were able to distribute humanitarian aid in the embattled district of Mokha, in Yemen's Red Sea governorate of Taizz.
1.2M adolescents' deaths mostly preventable with improved health services – UN agency
May 17, 2017, at 04:56 am
New York, May 16 (Just Earth News): The deaths of more than 1.2 million adolescents every year – about 3,000 per day – could have been prevented with good health services, education and social support, the United Nations health agency on Tuesday reported.
Spreading violence in Central African Republic sets off 'loud alarm bells' – UN human rights chief
May 17, 2017, at 04:55 am
New York, May 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday expressed grave alarm over the spread of violence by armed groups against the civilian population in several parts of the Central African Republic in recent months, as well as attacks against UN peacekeepers in the country's southeast.
Sexual violence in conflict ‘legitimate threat’ to peace and security – UN deputy chief
May 16, 2017, at 11:01 am
New York, May 16(Just Earth News): Although global understanding of sexual violence in conflict is shifting, there remains the need to tackle the root causes of such violations that lie in fundamental inequality and discrimination against women, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the United Nations Security Council on Monday.
UN health agency deploying technical experts to site of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
May 16, 2017, at 10:59 am
New York, May 16(Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency is deploying technical experts to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amid an outbreak of Ebola virus near its northern border with the Central Africa Republic, the agency’s regional director for Africa confirmed.
UN chief condemns DPR Korea’s ballistic missile launch
May 16, 2017, at 10:58 am
New York, May 16 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday urged Pyongyang to return to the path of denuclearization saying the latest ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a threat to peace and security in the region.
Annual UN Asia-Pacific policy forum session spotlights poverty eradication, sustainable energy
May 16, 2017, at 10:57 am
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News): Asian and Pacific countries are discussing economic cooperation and integration this week at the United Nations regional office in Bangkok, whose annual session focuses on how regional countries can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
May 16, 2017, at 05:19 am
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News): With relatively little data available about the Earth’s Polar Regions – posing risks for people and the environment – the United Nations weather agency has kicked off of a two-year international effort to close gaps in polar forecasting capacity and to improve future environmental safety at the farthest reaches of the planet.
May 16, 2017, at 05:19 am
New York, May 14(Just Earth News): The destruction of forests in many Asian countries continues apace, threatening the realization of global sustainable development goals by the 2030 deadline, according to the United Nations agricultural agency.
South Sudan: UN, partners seek $1.4 billion for 'world's fastest growing refugee crisis'
May 16, 2017, at 05:18 am
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugees and food relief agencies on Monday urged donors to step up support for people fleeing crisis-hit South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86 per cent unfunded.
French President names Edouard Philippe as PM
May 16, 2017, at 02:22 am
Paris, May 15 (IBNS): Edouard Philippe has been named by President Emmanuel Macron as France's new Prime Minister.
At China's Belt and Road Forum, UN chief Guterres stresses shared development goals
May 15, 2017, at 05:03 am
New York, May 14(Just Earth News): Speaking at a major international conference in Beijing, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday drew comparisons between China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals, saying both are rooted in a shared vision for global development.
UN chief 'outraged' by latest attacks in CAR, warns they could be war crimes
May 15, 2017, at 05:01 am
New York, May 14(Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the latest attacks against civilians and the United Nations in Central African Republic (CAR), Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday urged authorities to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.