UN calls on countries to protect health from impacts of climate change

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With the United Nations climate conference (COP21) starting in Paris in less than two weeks away, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday underlined that climate change is already causing tens of thousands of deaths every year, and called on countries to take strong actions to address the issue.

UN-backed conference adopts measures to tackle threats to migratory waterbirds

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS):With many of the world's migratory waterbirds under heightened threat due to human activities and climate change, a United Nations Environment Programme-supported conference has adopted action plans to tackle various dangers those vulnerable species face and provide guidance on their sustainable use.

Cambodia: Ban calls arrest warrant for opposition leader worrisome development

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): For the second time in three weeks the United Nations has expressed concern over increasing tensions between Cambodia’s Government and opposition, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday calling the arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Sam Rainsy "worrisome."

Tech companies commit to protecting children from online sexual exploitation: UNICEF

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): At the #WeProtect Children Online Global Summit hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in Abu Dhabi, leading information technology companies, governments and international organizations on Tuesday pledged to protect millions of children from online sexual exploitation, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Biodegradable plastics are not the answer to reducing marine litter: UN

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Widespread adoption of products labelled "biodegradable" will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, accord to a United Nations report released on Tuesday.

Myanmar: Ban phones election victor, mentions UN support for democratic reform

New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday phoned Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD), to congratulate her on its resounding success in this month's elections, pledging continued United Nations support for democratic reform efforts.

French investigators searching for another suspect in the Paris attacks

Paris, Nov 18 (IBNS): French officials are looking for another suspect in connection with the deadly militant attacks in Paris last week that left more than 120 people dead, media reports said on Wednesday.

Russia plane crash was a terrorist act: Official

Moscow, Nov 17 (IBNS): Russia has confirmed that it was an act of terror that had brought down the Russian A321 airliner in Egypt recently, media reports said.

Pakistan: Four carriages of train derail, 12 killed

Quetta, Nov 17 (IBNS): At least 12 people died as four carriages of a Rawalpindi-bound train derailed in Pakistan's Bolan district on Tuesday, media reports said.

France launches fresh airstrikes on IS strongholds in Syria

Paris/Washington, Nov 17 (IBNS) France has launched fresh airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria as the Pentagon chief urged European countries to join a military coalition to defeat Islamic Statein the wake of the Paris attacks, The Guardian reports.

Obama refuses to block entry of Syrian refugees, says strategy against IS working

Antalya, Turkey, Nov 17 (IBNS) US President Barack Obama has declared that his strategy against the Islamic State is working, while rejecting calls for blocking entry of Syrian refugees, The New York Times reports say.

Hollande calls for constitution amendment to eradicate IS

Paris, Nov 17 (IBNS) French President Francois Hollande on Monday called for amendment to the constitution to fight potential terrorists at home and for an aggressive drive to "eradicate" the Islamic State abroad, The New York Times says in a report.

Harvard University evacuates four buildings following bomb scare

Washington, Nov 17 (IBNS): The Harvard University on Monday said it evacuated four buildings on it campus after receiving an 'unconfirmed bomb threat'.

Ethiopia: UN allocates emergency funds to tackle severe drought

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With Ethiopia experiencing its worst drought in decades the United Nations is reporting deepening food insecurity and "severe emaciation and unusual livestock deaths" as the Organization's humanitarian wing has allocated $17 million in emergency funding to help the Government tackle climate challenges and ensure timely food relief.

Spike in number of refugee and migrant children on the move in Europe: UNICEF

New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With record numbers of child refugees and migrants – 700 a day seeking asylum in Europe –the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it has identified five groups of vulnerable children and is mobilizing tailored actions to meet their needs.