Top UN official commends Niger for tackling complex humanitarian crisis

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:50 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): A top United Nations official on Monday commended the Government of Niger for tackling the country’s complex humanitarian crisis, including leading the provision of life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable, and highlighted the need to address its root causes.

At close of 71st General Assembly, outgoing President stresses sustainability

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday closed its 71st session with a focus on sustainable development, as outgoing president Peter Thomson handed over the gavel to his successor, Miroslav Lajčák.

New mission in Colombia ready to boost confidence for stable peace, says UN envoy

Sep 12, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Sept 12(Just Earth News): As the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia prepares to begin its activities, its chief expressed the hope on Monday that, with the support of the Security Council, the new operation should be able to strengthen the country’s confidence for a stable peace.

UNICEF: Decades of progress for children at risk across Middle East and North Africa

Sep 12, 2017, at 05:00 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Nearly one-in-five children across the Middle East and North Africa – over 90 per cent of whom live in conflict-affected countries – need immediate humanitarian assistance, according to new analysis by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Further development of DPRK nuclear programme cause of grave concern – UN atomic energy chief

Sep 12, 2017, at 04:58 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Noting signs suggesting that a nuclear plant in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) could be operating, the head of the United Nations atomic agency called on the country’s leadership to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions.

UN chief sends condolences, offers help after earthquake in Mexico

Sep 12, 2017, at 04:57 am

New York, Sept 11(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has offered his condolences to the Government and people of Mexico and said the United Nations stands ready to provide support, should it be requested.

Switzerland: train derails at Andermatt rail station, 27 injured

Sep 12, 2017, at 01:02 am

Bern, Sept 11 (IBNS): A train derailed in Switzerland's canton of Uri left 27 people injured on Monday, media reports said.

Continued risk of catastrophic damage as Irma traverses path of destruction, warns UN

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Hurricane Irma continues to wreak havoc in the Caribbean, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the United Nations humanitarian wing said on Friday, warning that areas along its path continue to remain at risk of significant damage.

Return of refugees in DR Congo fraught with challenges, reports UN agency

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Despite improvements in the security situation in conflict-affected parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the return to peace continues to be fragile and the return of the displaced populations remains fraught with challenges, the United Nations refugee agency said.

Hasten efforts to achieve sustainable global goals, urges deputy UN chief

Sep 09, 2017, at 09:45 am

New York, Sept 9(Just Earth News): Noting the efforts being undertaken around the globe to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for picking up the pace to ensure that the 2030 deadline is met.

INTERVIEW: UN must lead ‘surge in diplomacy’ for peace, Guterres says ahead of 72nd General Assembly

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:50 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): As the excitement starts to build ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual high-level session – which sees Heads of State and Government and top ministers from nearly all Member States gather in New York to weigh in on the vital issues of the day – Secretary-General António Guterres sat down with UN News to talk about the role of the 72-year-old Organization in a world that is facing more challenges than ever.

‘Robust action’ required to assist growing number of refugees on Greek islands – UN

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:47 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday urged “robust action” to improve conditions on Greece’s eastern Aegean islands, where the number of new refugee arrivals increased last month.

On International Day, UN promotes online literacy in digital world

Sep 09, 2017, at 04:46 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): New technologies open opportunities to improve lives and connect globally, but they can also marginalize those who are illiterate and lack other essential skills needed to navigate them, a senior United Nations official on Friday said, highlighting that some 750 million adults worldwide are not literate.

At high-level forum, UN stresses importance of education in building ‘culture of peace’

Sep 08, 2017, at 09:42 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): Education can promote ideals of non-violence, equality and mutual respect, United Nations officials said on Thursday at a high-level event on how to achieve a culture of peace amid current global challenges and threats to stability, prosperity and the planet.

UN, partners seek $106 million in humanitarian aid for drought-hit Kenya

Sep 08, 2017, at 09:41 am

New York, Sept 8(Just Earth News): The United Nations and its humanitarian partners in Kenya on Thursday appealed for $106 million to scale-up their response to the most urgent needs resulting from the egregious effects of the drought in northern Kenya.

UN supporting national relief efforts as Hurricane Irma threatens nearly 50 million people

Sep 08, 2017, at 05:24 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): United Nations agencies are supporting relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which has already wreaked havoc on Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean islands and is en route towards the United States.

Marginalization, perceived abuse of power pushing Africa’s youth to extremism – UN study

Sep 08, 2017, at 05:22 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): Deprivation, marginalization and perceived state violence or abuse of power are pushing young Africans into the clutches of violent extremism, a groundbreaking study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reveals.

Global food prices fall in August as cereal output heads for record high – UN

Sep 08, 2017, at 05:21 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): Global food prices dipped in August, mainly as the prospect of bumper cereal harvests pushed up expectations for larger grain inventories, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.

China remains persistent in denuclearizing Korean Peninsula: President Xi Jinping

Sep 07, 2017, at 02:10 pm

Beijing, Sept 7 (IBNS): During a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that his country remained persistent on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

FEATURE: Does drone technology hold promise for the UN?

Sep 07, 2017, at 09:49 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): Drone technology appears to be taking off at the United Nations, with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being used for various purposes, including in humanitarian, development and peacekeeping operations.

Suspected cholera cases complicate already complex crisis in northeast Nigeria – UN relief wing

Sep 07, 2017, at 09:48 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): Over 530 suspected cases of cholera, claiming some 23 lives, have been registered in Nigeria’s Borno state, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported on Wednesday.

UN summit spotlights financial need to combat land degradation

Sep 07, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations body tasked with addressing desertification on Wednesday stressed the importance of financing for national commitments to combat land degradation, as a global summit on the issue got underway in China.

World needs to move beyond ‘conceptual debate’ and improve protection from atrocities, urges Guterres

Sep 07, 2017, at 09:47 am

New York, Sept 7(Just Earth News): Highlighting increased atrocity crimes – genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity – in many parts of the world, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called for concrete action to protect the vulnerable and to reverse such negative trends.

Mali: UN chief condemns latest attack on peacekeepers

Sep 07, 2017, at 04:45 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned an attack against a United Nations convoy in the Kidal region of Mali that left two peacekeepers dead and two others seriously injured.

Ahead of Hurricane Irma, UNICEF preparing supplies and communication lines to youth

Sep 07, 2017, at 04:44 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): If Irma stays on its current track as a category 5 hurricane, it will bring devastating damage within hours to parts of the Caribbean, affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday cautioned.

Syria: UN probe documents use of chemical weapons and other crimes against civilians

Sep 07, 2017, at 04:42 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): Despite reduced violence in some places in Syria, warring parties continued to perpetrate unthinkable crimes against civilians, including the use of chemical weapons by Government forces, a group of United Nations investigators said on Wednesday as they released a new report.

Conflict, widespread poverty stall progress on education rates over past decade – UNICEF

Sep 07, 2017, at 04:36 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): Pervasive levels of poverty, protracted conflicts and complex humanitarian emergencies have led to stagnation in reducing the global out-of-school rate over the past decade, prompting the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to call for more investments.

DPRK's nuclear risk 'most dangerous crisis we face on Tuesday,' warns UN chief Guterres

Sep 06, 2017, at 09:46 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday “unequivocally” condemned the latest nuclear and missile tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), denouncing them as “profoundly destabilizing for regional and international security.”

Imposing sanctions on Mali, Security Council targets those undermining peace process

Sep 06, 2017, at 09:45 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Tuesday established a sanctions regime on Mali, introducing a travel ban and assets freeze that will apply to individuals and entities engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the conflict-torn African country.

In Ethiopia, UN agency chiefs say more investment is needed to bolster drought-prone areas

Sep 06, 2017, at 09:44 am

New York, Sept 6(Just Earth News): More investment is needed in long-term projects to protect people in developing countries from droughts, the heads of the United Nations food agencies on Tuesday said after a visit to Ethiopia where 9.5 million people are hungry.