Another ‘tragic milestone’: Reported cases of COVID-19 pass 200,000, says UN health chief
Mar 21, 2020, at 10:29 am
New York/IBNS: It took three months to reach the first 100,000 cases of COVID-19 but only 12 days to double that, to reach over 200,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
UN body underscores priority of health, safety during ‘unprecedented’ COVID-19 challenges
Mar 20, 2020, at 08:35 am
New York/IBNS: Confronted with widespread human, social, and economic ramifications surrounding COVID-19, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) stressed the priority of ensuring “the health and safety of people”.
Still ‘early days’ to assess COVID-19 impact on women, children – UNICEF official
Mar 19, 2020, at 01:24 pm
New York/IBNS: Shortly after the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNICEF was among the first United Nations agencies to step up and deliver much-needed medical supplies including masks to China.
UN health chief announces global ‘solidarity trial’ to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment
Mar 19, 2020, at 01:20 pm
New York/IBNS: Just 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared by China, the first vaccine trial has begun, the UN health chief said on Wednesday, calling it “an incredible achievement” and urging the world to maintain “the same spirit of solidarity” that has helped fight Ebola.
World Wildlife Day: UN chief urges ‘more caring’ relationship with nature
Mar 03, 2020, at 04:32 pm
New York/IBNS: People everywhere need to remember that we depend on Mother Earth to survive, the UN chief said in his message for World Wildlife Day marked on Tuesday, advocating for “a more caring, thoughtful and sustainable relationship with nature”.
Coronavirus COVID-19 risk increased to ‘very high’ but containment still possible
Feb 29, 2020, at 10:37 am
New York/IBNS: Countries must act quickly and robustly to contain the coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic, the World Health Organization said on Friday, as it raised the global risk assessment of the infection to “very high”.
Feb 25, 2020, at 03:40 pm
New York/IBNS: Because the production of everything we eat transforms the environment, the United Nations agriculture chief told a high-level UN meeting on biodiversity that careful discussions are needed to decide on the scale of acceptable transformations.
Ten new migratory species protected under global wildlife agreement
Feb 23, 2020, at 06:10 pm
New York/IBNS: Asian elephants, jaguars and great Indian bustards were among 10 new species added to a global wildlife agreement on Saturday.
Coronavirus is not yet a global health emergency: WHO
Jan 24, 2020, at 08:59 am
New York/IBNS: The head of the UN health agency, WHO (World Health Organization), declared on Thursday that the respiratory disease Novel Coronavirus, is not yet an official Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), but warned that is an emergency in China.
UN health agency urges China to continue search for source of new virus, as Thailand case emerges
Jan 14, 2020, at 09:25 am
New York/IBNS: It is “essential” for China to continue investigating the source of a previously unknown strain of coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Monday, following confirmation that an infected patient is being treated in Thailand.
Low cost breast cancer medicine move good news for women: UN health agency
Dec 19, 2019, at 09:45 am
New York/IBNS: More women could soon have access to an affordable version of an expensive life-saving breast cancer treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Time Magazine names environment activist Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year 2019
Dec 11, 2019, at 11:46 pm
New York/IBNS: Time magazine has named environment activist Greta Thunberg as Person of the Year 2019.
COP25: ‘Signals of hope’ multiplying in face of global climate crisis, insists UN chief Guterres
Dec 02, 2019, at 09:34 am
New York/IBNS: The UN Secretary-General has outlined the “increased ambition and commitment” that the world needs from governments during the coming days of the COP25 UN climate change conference which opens in Madrid on Monday, calling for “accountability, responsibility and leadership” to end the global climate crisis.
COP25: UN climate change conference, 5 things you need to know
Nov 30, 2019, at 07:52 am
New York/IBNS: Climate change is happening—the world is already 1.1°C warmer than it was at the onset of the industrial revolution, and it is already having a significant impact on the world, and on people’s lives. And if current trends persist, then global temperatures can be expected to rise by 3.4 to 3.9°C this century, which would bring wide-ranging and destructive climate impacts.
Deadly life at sea: UN partners spotlight depths of danger in fishing industry
Nov 22, 2019, at 10:11 am
New York/IBNS: There is a clear link between the seedy underbelly of the seafood industry, and fishers’ safety, now ranked as the second deadliest profession in the world; and more must be done to ensure people dependent on this type of labour are working in safe conditions, UN partners urged on Thursday.
UN, African Union make significant joint commitment to global health
Nov 19, 2019, at 09:02 am
New York/IBNS: In the drive towards universal health coverage, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) Commission cemented their mutual commitment to global health by signing on Monday an historic agreement.
Australia wildfires: communities must stay vigilant, urges UN weather agency
Nov 13, 2019, at 08:47 am
New York/IBNS: As Australia’s “catastrophic” and deadly wildfire emergency continues, UN weather experts on Tuesday echoed Government warnings for people to remain vigilant in the face of the fast-moving threat and tinderbox conditions.
UN summit tackles climate change-induced threat to mountain water supplies
Oct 30, 2019, at 09:35 am
New York/IBNS: The world’s mountain and glacier regions are facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change, imposing a crippling effect on the people and economies that rely on them, the UN’s weather agency explained on Tuesday, ahead of a summit to address the world’s rapidly-changing water systems.
World is closer than ever to seeing polio disappear for good
Oct 25, 2019, at 09:39 am
New York/IBNS: In a “historic achievement for humanity”, two of three wild poliovirus strains have been eliminated worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday, following the conclusion by a group of experts that WPV3, type three of the disease, has been eradicated completely.
UN Committee says Ebola in DR Congo still an international public health emergency
Oct 19, 2019, at 06:37 am
New York/IBNS: The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) officially remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, experts meeting in Geneva said on Friday.
Oct 02, 2019, at 09:47 am
Strict alcohol laws which cut intake more than 40 per cent in Russia, linked to historically high life expectancy
Countries violate rights over climate change, argue youth activists in landmark UN complaint
Sep 25, 2019, at 03:47 pm
New York: The failure of governments to act on the climate crisis, constitutes a violation of children’s rights, according to a landmark complaint presented to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by 16 youth activists.
Priyanka Chopra, Leonardo DiCaprio praise Greta Thunberg for her UN Climate Action Summit speech
Sep 25, 2019, at 08:43 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS): Climate activist Greta Thunberg is grabbing attentions globally ever since she delivered a touching address at the UN’s Climate Action Summit in New York on Monday and several international celebrities, including India's Priyanka Chopra, appreciated her for the speech.
Sep 24, 2019, at 10:09 am
New York: Speaking at the beginning of the UN’s Climate Action Summit on Monday, the 16-year-old acclaimed climate activist Greta Thunberg, was unsparing in her criticism of world leaders, telling them that they are still “not mature enough to tell it like it is”.
UN welcomes ‘most comprehensive agreement ever’ on global health
Sep 24, 2019, at 10:04 am
New York: Describing it as an “important landmark” on our “journey to health for all”, Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday welcomed the UN Political Declaration on universal health coverage, or UHC, which commits countries to advance towards full coverage for their citizens in four major areas around primary care.
Banks worth $47 trillion adopt new UN-backed climate, sustainability principles
Sep 23, 2019, at 09:41 am
New York, Sept 23 (IBNS): Banks collectively with more than $47 trillion in assets, or a third of the global industry, signed up on Sunday to new United Nations-backed responsible banking principles in a massive boost for climate action and the shift from “brown to green” models of economic growth.
Sep 23, 2019, at 09:31 am
New York: Top climate scientists issued a report on Sunday showing that over the last several years, sea-level rise, planetary warming, shrinking ice sheets and carbon pollution have accelerated; a sobering call to action for political leaders headed to New York for summit-level climate change talks tomorrow at the United Nations.
Ozone on track to heal completely in our lifetime, UN environment agency declares on World Day
Sep 17, 2019, at 10:23 am
New York: At the current momentum, scientists predict the planet’s protective shield of gas - or ozone layer as we know it - will be completely healed as far as some regions of the planet are concerned, by the 2030’s, the UN’s environmental agency (UNEP) revealed on Monday.
Environmental protection moves ‘closer to the people’ through new human rights agreement
Aug 17, 2019, at 08:12 am
New York, Aug 17 (IBNS): The UN environment agency and human rights office (OHCHR) signed a landmark new agreement on Friday aimed at better protecting vulnerable human and environmental rights defenders and their families, while increasing protection for people and the places where they live, across the world.
Aug 02, 2019, at 09:22 am
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): Global warming and rising political tensions are dangerous and avoidable, Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters on Thursday, previewing the UN’s upcoming Climate Action Summit, and spotlighting geopolitical hotspots.