COP21: UN spotlights need to protect forests and agriculture to improve livelihoods
Dec 02, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The impacts of climate change on forests and agriculture were in the spotlight on Tuesday at the United Nations climate change conference (COP21), as new alliances among organizations and stakeholders were announced aiming to eliminate natural deforestation and forest degradation, and to prevent threats to sustainable farming and people’s livelihoods.
Flow of refugee and migrant children into Greece doubles: UN agencies report
Dec 02, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): About a third of the refugees and migrants who have drowned in the Aegean Sea this year were children, while the number of children applying for asylum in the European Union has doubled compared to 2014, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday, warning of the increasing perils facing youngsters as winter takes hold.
Thousands of stateless people granted nationality in Thailand: UN refugee agency
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Welcoming Thailand’s announcement that it has granted nationality to more than 18,000 stateless people in the past several years, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday hailed the move as a further step in accelerating the global campaign to end stateless by 2024.
Violence claims nearly 500 civilian lives in November in Iraq: UN mission
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/ IBNS): Nearly 500 Iraqi civilians were killed in Iraq last month in a "vicious circle of violence," ranging from acts of terrorism to armed conflict, as the total number of Iraqi casualties rose to more than 2,100, according to the UN Assistance Mission in the crisis-gripped country.
Renowned recording artist P!nk named newest UNICEF Ambassador
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Grammy award-winning recording artist P!nk as the newest UNICEF Ambassador, and announced that she will build on her current role as the agency's Kid Power National Spokesperson to raise awareness about its lifesaving health and nutrition programmes around the world.
Unilateral sanctions hit innocent harder than political elites in Sudan: UN expert
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged States to review their unilateral coercive measures imposed on Sudan over the past two decades, "given the developments taking place in the country since the imposition of the sanctions regimes."
Ban condemns 'heinous' terrorist attacks in Baghdad
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:49 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-Genera, Ban Ki-moon has condemned the two bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, which on Sunday killed at least 15 civilians and injured several dozen, many of whom were marking the Shi'a religious observance of Arbaeen.
Veteran Australian rights official appointed deputy UN human rights chief
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Kate Gilmore of Australia, a veteran United Nations, Government and non-governmental organization (NGOs) official, as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
London: BBC offices, surrounding buildings evacuated over 'suspicious vehicle'
Dec 02, 2015, at 03:08 am
London, Dec 1 (IBNS) The BBC’s headquarters in central London and several other offices were evacuated on Tuesday after a 'suspicious vehicle' was found near the area, media reports said.
More than a million children need urgent assistance in conflict-torn Central Africa: UNICEF
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:34 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Nearly three years after the "devastating" conflict began in the Central African Republic (CAR), an estimated 1.2 million children are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
'Hidden epidemic' of HIV hitting adolescents in Asia-Pacific region: UN agencies
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:27 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Asia-Pacific region is facing a ‘hidden epidemic’ of HIV among adolescents, with an estimated 50,000 new infections in 2014 among those aged 15 to 19, United Nations agencies reported on Monday, calling on Governments to develop specifically targeted prevention strategies.
Racism will not disappear from football stadiums by magic: UNESCO report
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:25 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the professional Italian association football club Juventus have issued the first exhaustive overview of the effort to tackle and root out discrimination and racism in the world’s most popular spectator sport.
DR Congo: Ban condemns attack on UN base
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:24 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for swift action to bring to justice the perpetrators of a deadly attack on Sunday against the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), pledging continued support in the battle against rebel forces.
Some 3.2 billion people online, but number falls short of Internet target: UN report
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Some 3.2 billion people are now online, representing 43.4 per cent of the global population, but the number still falls significantly short of reaching the anticipated goal of 60 per cent by 2020, according to a United Nations report released on Monday.
Ban welcomes peaceful elections in Burkina Faso, salutes participation of women
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the peaceful conduct of the presidential and legislative elections in Burkina Faso over the weekend and congratulated the people of Burkina Faso for their enthusiastic participation, "which shows their strong commitment to the democratic process."
UNAIDS urges expanding antiretroviral therapy to all people living with HIV
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expanding antiretroviral therapy to all people living with HIV is the key to ending the AIDS epidemic within a generation, the World Health Organization announced on the eve of World AIDS Day, presenting new "treat all" recommendations to enable countries to expand treatment rapidly and efficiently.
Pope Francis calls for peace among Christians and Muslims in Central Africa: UN
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:17 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations brought in 250 additional peacekeepers from Côte d’Ivoire over and above those already stationed in the Central African Republic (CAR) to help the authorities provide security for Pope Francis’s two-day visit to Bangui, the war-ravaged country’s capital.
COP21: Ban launches initiative to build climate resilience of vulnerable countries
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:14 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the opening day of the United Nations climate change conference (COP21), dozens of announcements were made in Paris by Governments and leaders of the public and private sectors, all aiming to generate climate solutions and build a sustainable future.
COP21: Ban tells world leaders a political moment like this may not come again
Dec 01, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking at the opening of the United Nations climate change conference (COP21) which seeks to reach a new universal agreement to protect people and planet, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a political moment like this may not come again.
Burkina Faso: Ban calls on all parties to ensure peaceful polls
Nov 30, 2015, at 12:43 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With presidential and legislative elections under way in Burkina Faso, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called on all national stakeholders to uphold their commitments throughout the process and urged them to ensure the polls are conducted peacefully.
COP21: On eve of UN climate conference, Ban says 'time for action is now'
Nov 30, 2015, at 12:42 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the eve of the opening in Paris of the United Nations climate change conference, widely known as COP21, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging all countries and all sectors of society to act now to reach a new universal climate agreement.
Adolescent deaths from AIDS have tripled since 2000: UNICEF study
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The number of adolescent deaths from AIDS has tripled over the last 15 years with 26 new infections occurring every hour, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on Friday and warned that "it is critical that young people who are HIV-positive have access to treatment, care and support."
Indigenous people need support to reinforce resilience against climate change: UNESCO
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Building resilience “is deeply rooted in [the] lifestyles and social solidarity†of the more than 400 million indigenous people – from the Samis of northern Europe, Berbers in Morocco to Vanuatu communities in the Pacific – who are feeling the adverse effects of climate change even they contribute little to its causes, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Ban appoints experienced Australian national as UN disaster risk reduction chief
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the appointment of Australia's Robert Glasser as Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
Situation of children in South Sudan is deteriorating: UN agency
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The situation of children in war-torn South Sudan has worsened since the beginning of the year, with sustained recruitment, primarily of boys but also girls, by armed forces and groups amid severe malnutrition and flight, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.
UN agencies weigh in on climate change impacts ahead of Paris conference
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In the weeks leading up to the United Nations climate change conference (COP21), which begins in Paris on Monday and aims to reach a new universal climate agreement, many of the Organization’s agencies and programmes announced their latest climate-related findings, bringing to light new data, major concerns, and underlining existing and potential opportunities to preserve the planet.
Venezuela: UN official calls for more safety after political opponent killing
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:11 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, on Friday called on Venezuelan authorities to ensure that political opponents, human rights defenders and others facing threats in relation to their work are adequately protected.
Sudan: Ban condemns deadly attack in Abyei
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attacks on Friday night by unknown assailants on the residence of the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief in Abyei town, during which one Ethiopian peacekeeper from the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and a young girl were killed.
Greece: UN agency outlines roadmap for tackling unemployment and weak economy
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:07 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The head of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO), after meeting with Greek Government officials and labour representatives, has reaffirmed the agency’s support to the country’s economic revival and efforts to curb unemployment.
Ban takes call for action on climate change to Commonwealth summit in Malta
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took his call for urgent action on climate change to the Heads of Government of the 53-nation, 2.2-billion-people-strong Commonwealth on Friday, declaring that the stars seemed aligned for at last making major progress on the issue.