London conference on UN peacekeeping sharpens focus on planning, pledges and performance
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:09 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): Countries contributing to United Nations peacekeeping missions on Thursday adopted a communique that focuses ways to improve the planning of operations, implement the pledges of support made by countries, and enhance the performance of troops on the ground.
Improved cereal production expected but staple food prices also rise – UN agricultural agency
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:06 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): Despite a fall in global grain prices and the expectation of improved cereal production, global staple food prices have risen in August, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said on Thursday.
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): Noting greater vulnerability of the health of migrant populations, including heightened risks of infectious diseases, malnutrition, substance abuse and maternal and neonatal mortality, the United Nations health agency has urged a regional meeting of health officials in south-east Asia for an increased focus on their health needs.
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:04 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): A United Nations envoy continued on Thursday his consultations with Gabon’s political parties and diplomatic community as part of efforts to ease tensions which have arisen since the announcement of results of the country’s presidential election held on 27 August.
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:02 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): Welcoming the start of the 2016 summer Paralympic Games, which got underway in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro yesterday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that the Games not only showcase the extraordinary abilities of athletes living with a disability, they also promote the rights of all persons with disabilities.
UN food relief agency and partner to roll out €348 million EU cash aid to refugees in Turkey
Sep 09, 2016, at 02:01 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): Following the European Union’s (EU)announcement on Thursday of a cash-transfer programme for the most vulnerable refugees in Turkey, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said the agency and the Turkish Red Crescent will use their combined expertise to deliver the cash directly to those who need it most.
Colombia: UN official welcomes start of reintegration of children from FARC-EP on Saturd
Sep 09, 2016, at 01:59 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): A senior United Nations official on Thursday welcomed the announcement by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) that they will begin the separation and reintegration of all children under the age of 18 associated with the FARC-EP on Saturday.
At East Asia Summit, Ban expresses concern over tensions on Korean Peninsula and in South China Sea
Sep 09, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News):Wrapping up an 11-day trip to Asia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday hailed the region’s economic growth and progress on development, but expressed concerns about some challenges facing the countries there, including the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the South China Sea.
Sep 09, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): On 15 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly elected Mogens Lykketoft – a Danish national – to serve as the President of its seventieth session. At the time of his election, Lykketoft was the Speaker (President) of the Danish Parliament, a position he had held since 2011. Born on 9 January 1946, it was a fitting coincidence that he would turn 70 during his term as President of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly– a personal fact he highlighted during his acceptance speech to the world body upon his election.
UN Secretary-General pays tribute to veteran official and gender pioneer Margaret Anstee
Sep 09, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations chief on Thursday paid tribute to Margaret Anstee, a long-serving official who was the first woman to be appointed to the highest ranks of the world body, and who passed away recently.
UNESCO marks Literacy Day with anniversary event on literacy's power to realise global goals
Sep 09, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Sept 9 (Just Earth News): The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday kicked off a two-day event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day with a reminder of literacy's power to realise the goals of the new global agenda.
UNESCO study informs policymakers on benefits of adult learning and education
Sep 09, 2016, at 04:08 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Adult learning and education can improve health and well-being, employment opportunities and develop local communities, according to a new report from the United Nations culture and education agency.
South Sudan: UN mission concerned at reports of intimidation of civil society members
Sep 09, 2016, at 04:07 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern at reports of harassment and intimidation against some civil society members who met with a United Nations Security Council delegation during the latter's most recent visit to the country, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has stressed that any attempt to suppress fundamental human rights must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
Taliban captures 11 passengers in Afghanistan
Sep 08, 2016, at 10:07 pm
Kabul, Sept 8(IBNS}: In a major development, Taliban have kidnapped 11 passengers in the Bala Balok district of western Farah province of Afghanistan, media reports said on Thursday.
Nigerien peacekeeper presented with inaugural UN Military Gender Advocate Award for her work in Mali
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:39 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): A former United Nations peacekeeper from Niger has been presented with the inaugural UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her work in integrating gender perspectives into peacekeeping activities while serving in Mali.
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:37 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Speaking at a gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations on Wednesday , Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the focus of cooperation between the two organizations on a range of sectors, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:36 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): The United Nations agricultural agency on Wednesday signed a $15 million agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to boosting the capacity of developing countries to track key agricultural data – information considered essential to good policy-making and that will help track progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Afghanistan: UN aid chief calls for scaled-up support to one million people on the move
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:35 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): Seeking $150 million for aid efforts in Afghanistan, the top United Nations relief official on Wednesday called on the international community to urgently scale up its support for the war-torn country so that it can meet the rising humanitarian needs of more than one million people who are on the move, either internally displaced or returning from neighbouring countries.
On eve of Literacy Day, UN Secretary-General highlights literacy's role in 2030 Agenda
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:34 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): On the eve of International Literacy Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments and their partners, including in the private sector, to join forces for universal literacy and build peaceful, just, inclusive and sustainable societies – a vision set out in the new global development agenda.
State Parties to UN-backed treaty agree to aim for clearance of cluster bombs by 2030
Sep 08, 2016, at 11:33 am
New York, Sept 8 (Just Earth News): An annual meeting of State Parties to the United Nations-backed pact banning cluster bombs ended on Wednesday in Geneva, with an agreement on a target to complete by 2030 clearance of these explosive remnants of war that kill large numbers of civilians.
Multisectoral approach needed to address different facets of malnutrition – UN health agency
Sep 08, 2016, at 02:43 am
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the importance of a multipronged approach to address the challenges brought on by occurrence of both under nutrition, and overweight and obesity, often within the same communities, and even in the same households in several south-east Asian countries.
Three Afghan teenagers jailed in Austria for sodomising compatriot
Sep 07, 2016, at 05:10 pm
Salzburg, Austria, Sept 7 (IBNS): Three Afghan asylum seekers were jailed in Austria's Salzburg city after they were found guilty of sodomising another Afghan boy, reports said.
Sep 07, 2016, at 01:05 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations deputy chief said on Tuesday that collective global action is needed to overcome barriers to implementation of States’ legal commitments to protect populations from atrocity crimes – the principle known as “responsibility to protect†or R2P.
Manufacturing growth expected to remain low in 2016 – UN report
Sep 07, 2016, at 01:03 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): A new United Nations report has indicated that global manufacturing growth is expected to remain low in 2016 due to weakened financial support for productive activities.
In hard-hitting speech, UN human rights chief warns against populists and demagogues
Sep 07, 2016, at 01:02 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): In a hard-hitting speech, the United Nations human rights chief has strongly warned against the impact that populists and demagogues are having on society, and called for more effort to safeguard human rights law.
UN and south-east Asian health officials re-affirm commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases
Sep 07, 2016, at 01:01 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): Health ministers in south-east Asia on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to achieve the target of controlling, eliminating and eradicating neglected tropical diseases (NTDS), with the United Nations health agency voicing its support for their efforts.
UN-backed report finds urgent need for greater headway to achieve world education goals
Sep 07, 2016, at 12:59 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): There is an urgent need for greater headway in education without which, on current trends, the world will be half a century late for achieving the education-related goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to a new United Nations-backed independent report.
Sep 07, 2016, at 12:58 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday condemned the ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday, 5 September.
UNICEF deeply concerned about impact of unrest in southern Thai provinces on children
Sep 07, 2016, at 12:57 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) official in Thailand has expressed deep concerns over the continuing violence in the country’s restive southernmost provinces and its impact on children, including an explosion that killed a four-year-old girl and her father on Tuesday.
Sep 07, 2016, at 12:55 pm
New York, Sept 7 (Just Earth News): The economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory could easily produce twice the gross domestic product (GDP) it generates now, while unemployment and poverty could recede significantly, according a new United Nations report.