General News

The cost of food on world commodity markets is declining according to the latest figures released by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.

The UN agency’s Food Price Index for January, was 1.9 per cent below its December 2014 level.

Abundant supplies and the low cost of oil have been driving the price decreases.

Sandra Ferrari has been talking to Concepción Calpe, a senior economist with FAO.

Duration: 2’30”

Making people accountable for their actions is a pre-condition for reconciliation in South Sudan, according to a top UN Human Rights official.

Currently on a six day visit to the civil war-torn country, Ivan Simonovic said justice must be implemented alongside peace to prevent people from escaping the consequences of crimes they have committed.

The Assistant Secretary-General shared that message during a string of meetings with key ministers and members of the legislature.

2015 will be decisive in whether and how Somalia can become a unified, peaceful and federal state, a UN special envoy for the country has said.

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing on Wednesday regarding recent developments on the ground.

The Horn of Africa country remains one of the most dangerous places on the globe as it struggles to emerge from over two decades of war.

Jocelyne Sambira has the story.

Duration: 3'12''

The situation for families in Gaza which are dependent on aid will be catastrophic, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Due to a lack of funds, UNRWA has been forced to suspend cash assistance for repairs to damaged and destroyed homes in the Gaza Strip.

A 50-day conflict which started last July between Israel and the Palestinian faction, Hamas led to the deaths of 2000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis as well as widespread destruction of property.

Cancer has a major impact on global health being the second leading cause of death, a senior official with the World Health Organization has said.

According to the agency, early detection of the disease can help reduce the number of cases.

Furthermore, the burden can be reduced if people lived healthier lives by fighting obesity, avoiding tobacco and excessive drinking.

Ahead of World Cancer Day, marked every year on 4 February, Isabelle Dupuis spoke to Dr Andreas Ulrich of WHO.

Duration: 3’17’’

An increasing number of young people in China are growing up without their parents according to the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

The so-called “left-behind” children often live with little family support when parents migrate to cities in search of work.

Shantha Bloemen works for UNICEF in China.

Daniel Dickinson asked her what it’s like to be a child in China today.

Duration: 3’25”

Senegal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

Those are some of the low income developing countries the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says have economies that typically rely more on agriculture and foreign aid.

They also have higher poverty and infant mortality rates, and lower levels of education.

The Fund has been closely tracking and reporting on the development of 60 such nations over the last several months.

A protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine could make daily life “untenable” for people in the area, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR.

More than 5,000 people have died since mid-April because of the indiscriminate shelling of residential neighbourhoods.

The internal political crisis in the eastern European country in 2013 sparked mass protests and violent clashes in the country.

A full-scale conflict spread to eastern Ukraine when separatists looking to join the Russian Federation took up arms against the Government.

What can help prevent human rights violations in South Sudan?

That’s what the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovic, says he is seeking to answer during his second trip to the country.

The five day visit will include meeting a number of government officials as well as civil society actors in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.

He is also scheduled to visit Bentiu, Malakal and Rumbek, locations which have been deeply affected by South Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict since December 2013.

Young people should be consulted on the major issues that face the world, according to a youth delegate at a UN conference on the post-2015 development agenda.

The international community is currently defining new targets which will replace the Millennium Development goals or MDGs at the end of this year.

Twenty-three year old Mahishaa Balraj, who is from Sri Lanka, says it’s important that young people’s views on the future are heard.

Stephanie Castro spoke with Ms Balraj and asked her about the type of world she wants.

Duration: 1’26”