Asia-Pacific saw steady growth in 2016, but risks to financial stability remain – UN report
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): Issuing a year-end update to its flagship economic and social development report, the United Nations development arm for the Asia-Pacific region said on Thursday that resilient domestic demand and policy support supported the region notch a steady growth rate of five per cent but warned that risks remain to financial stability.
On eve of major UN conference, alarms raised that efforts to halt biodiversity loss are lagging
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): Time is running out to stop the global decline in biodiversity and protect ecosystems that are essential for the livelihoods and well-being of billions of people, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity warned on Thursday, as more than 190 countries prepare to meet on this issue in Cancun, Mexico.
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:15 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday apologized to the people of Haiti, expressing deep regret for the loss of life and suffering caused by the country’s cholera epidemic, and outlined the way forward including immediate steps to stem the outbreak and long-term support for those affected – while also highlighting the need for adequate funding of the proposal.
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:14 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): With “many of the warning signals of impending genocide†already present in South Sudan and amid a “mindboggling†scale of rape of women and girls, a team of United Nations human rights experts called on the international community to take immediate action to avert mass bloodshed, as they wrapped up a 10-day visit to the crisis-riven country.
Enabling youth to shape their own future key to Arab region’s development progress – UN report
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:13 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): The future of development and security in Arab countries depends on investing in their youth populations, which are better educated and more connected than ever before, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in a new report on the region.
One in three people suffers malnutrition at global cost of $3.5 trillion a year – UN
Dec 02, 2016, at 01:12 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News): As an United Nations international meeting on ways to improve diets and ensure sustainable food systems kicked off in Rome, Italy on Thursday, participants were told that one in three people on the planet suffers some form of malnutrition, impacting public health and economic development at an estimated cost of $3.5 trillion per year.
Dec 02, 2016, at 05:22 am
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, has wrapped up a visit in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), where she reiterated the agency’s commitment to working with the Government to help the country achieve middle-income status and to support food and nutrition security for all.
On World AIDS Day, UNICEF warns of sharp rise in new HIV infections among adolescents
Dec 02, 2016, at 05:21 am
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): New HIV infections among adolescents are projected to rise from 250,000 in 2015 to nearly 400,000 a year by 2030 if progress stalls in reaching adolescents, warns a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday, which is observed annually as World AIDS Day.
Colombia: Santa Rosa incident constituted ceasefire protocol violations, finds UN-led mechanism
Dec 02, 2016, at 05:20 am
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Following its investigation into a 13 November incident in Colombia's Santa Rosa municipality that resulted in the death of two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) members, a United Nations-coordinated tripartite ceasefire monitoring mechanism has said that the events of that day constituted violations of the ceasefire protocol.
As 2016 draws to a close, UN rights chief outlines enormity of challenges to human rights
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:13 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the challenges to human rights around the world, the United Nations human rights chief called on the international community to act collectively for the common good and to do “everything possible†to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Nearly half of children in Mosul now cut off from clean water as conflict intensifies – UNICEF
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:12 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Destruction of a major water pipeline has left nearly half of the children in the Iraqi battleground city of Mosul cut off from access to clean water, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.
Cultural traditions in Portugal, Uganda and Ukraine added to UNESCO heritage protection list
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:11 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): With the current session of the United Nations committee tasked with safeguarding intangible cultural heritage under way, three cultural elements in Portugal, Uganda and Ukraine have been inscribed to the United Nations list of cultural traditions in need of urgent protection.
New UN report reveals barriers to inclusive development and highlights key steps to progress
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:10 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has just released its 2016 Report on the World Social Situation, which includes important new findings about persisting inequalities in education and economic opportunity and, challenges the international community to work harder to break down barriers to participation.
Security Council strengthens measures against DPRK’s nuclear, ballistic missile activities
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:09 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 9 September, the Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted measures that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described as “the toughest and most comprehensive sanctions regime ever†against that country.
Haiti: UN’s new approach on cholera puts people at heart of the response
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:08 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): The response to cholera in Haiti will be a “long and thorough battle,†but the United Nations will stand by the Haitian people and authorities, Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, on the eve of the launch of the Organization's new approach to tackling the epidemic in the country.
Without urgent steps to end violence, Aleppo may become ‘giant graveyard,’ Security Council told
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:07 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): With thousands of civilians fleeing neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday appealed to the Security Council and the wider international community to come together and “do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable aid access to the besieged parts of the [war-battered city] before it becomes one giant graveyard.â€
Ahead of World AIDS Day, UN chief honoured for work to end epidemic, fight against stigma
Dec 01, 2016, at 01:06 pm
New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Speaking at a special event commemorating World AIDS Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday underscored the need to stop stigma and abuse against those living with the disease and to ensure that they receive the care, treatment and protection they are entitled to.
UN’s new LGBT expert urges global partnership to end violence and discrimination
Dec 01, 2016, at 05:25 am
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Global partnership is needed to end discrimination and violence against the worldwide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, a United Nations human rights expert has told an international conference in Bangkok, Thailand, outlining five key steps that should be taken.
South Sudan: Bureaucratic obstacles hindering relief work must stop, says senior UN official
Dec 01, 2016, at 05:24 am
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Expressing deep concern over the impact of a series of bureaucratic impediments and access constraints on relief operations, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in South Sudan has called on all parties to allow free, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the people in need.
At least 12 die in Turkey dormitory fire
Nov 30, 2016, at 05:45 pm
Ankara, Nov 30 (IBNS): At least 11 schools girls and a woman worker died while 22 others sustained injuries as a fire engulfed a school dormitory in southern Turkey, media reports said.
‘Cling to every little sign of hope’ – outgoing head of UN Mission in South Sudan
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): On 23 July 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced the appointment of Ellen Margrethe Løj of Denmark as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). Løj succeeded Hilde Johnson of Norway, who had completed her assignment two weeks earlier, on 7 July 2014.
Keyword: Ghana, Ban ki Moon, President, opposition leader, defuse tensions, upcoming elections, UN
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): About 30,000 families in 58 municipalities in Nicaragua’s ‘Dry Corridor,’ the area of the country most affected by droughts and climate change, are expected to benefit from a financial agreement between the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Nicaragua to boost sustainable agricultural production.
Ghana: Ban urges President, opposition leader to defuse tensions ahead of upcoming elections
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Ghana’s President and the opposition leader to continue their role in defusing tensions towards the holding of peaceful and credible elections in the African country.
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Describing the recent announcement by Ansar Allah and the General People’s Congress of the creation of a new Government as “a new and unnecessary obstacle†to peace in Yemen, the United Nations envoy for the country on Tuesday urged the parties “to re-think their approach and demonstrate their commitment to the peace process with concrete actions.â€
Bulgaria: UN concerned at calls for expulsions following tensions at overcrowded reception centre
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday voiced concerns over calls for expulsion, on national security grounds, of asylum-seekers after a protest at Bulgaria’s largest and most overcrowded reception centre.
Fleeing violence in Horn of Africa, asylum-seekers find little safety in Yemen – UN refugee agency
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:29 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Highlighting a dramatic increase in sea crossings by migrants and refugees from the Horn of Africa to Yemen – which itself is reeling under a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called for urgent steps to deter and save people from the deadly risks they are taking.
UN health agency issues new guidelines on HIV self-testing
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:28 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Ahead of World AIDS Day, marked annually on 1 December, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines on HIV self-testing, which aim to help millions of people know their HIV status and get treatment.
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:27 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Denouncing reports of open intimidation from armed militia against citizens of Burundi, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has called upon the Government to take immediate effective action to protect its people.
UN launches new strategy to minimize environmental footprint of its peace operation
Nov 30, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Underscoring the importance of environmental protection and management in the work of peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Department of Field Support (DFS) on Tuesday launched a new strategy to maximize its peace operations' efficiency in the use of natural resources, and to minimize their risk to people, societies and ecosystem.
Myanmar: UN rights chief warns of ‘spiral of violence’ in Rakhine state
Nov 30, 2016, at 05:28 am
New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed alarm over reports of serious rights violations in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state that cite allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and sexual violence, and a renewed spike in hate speech – including on social media.