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Deeply concerned by reports of fighting on 12 and 13 June on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is on an official visit to Belgium, met in Brussels today with top officials from both the African countries, with the parties calling for maximum restraint.

An international working group of scientists convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that coffee should no longer be considered a carcinogen, although it found limited evidence that drinking very hot beverages can cause oesophageal cancer.

Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today emphasized that ending neglect, abuse and violence against older people is crucial as the international community continues to work together towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and fulfil their underlying pledge to leave no one behind.

A United Nations human rights expert today called on States to remove all legal barriers to access health facilities, goods and services interfering with the rights of adolescents to be heard and taken seriously, and that limit their right to make autonomous decisions.

Faced with a new wave of displacement following recent Boko Haram attacks in Niger’s south-eastern Diffa region and with needs on the rise, the United Nations food relief agency plans to double its food and nutrition assistance, aiming to gradually increase its life-saving support to more than 250,000 people in Niger’s embattled southern region.

While thousands of vulnerable people in South Sudan have been reached with assistance and protection in recent months, violent incidents against aid workers increased during the month of May, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported today.

The first-ever United Nations-sponsored regional forum for Action on Albinism in Africa will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 17 to 19 June to develop specific measures to tackle the attacks and discrimination faced by persons with albinism in several countries in the region.

Marking the 10th anniversary of a United Nations treaty that protects the rights of persons with disabilities, senior UN officials today highlighted the critical role people with disabilities play as invaluable partners to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The longer the political crisis continues in Guinea Bissau, the more likely the country could see setbacks to its development and economic gains, warned the head of the United Nations peacebuilding office there, urging the Security Council to pay greater attention to the situation.

The UN human rights office today urged the Libyan authorities to undertake an effective, thorough and impartial investigation to bring perpetrators of torture to justice, after 12 people were found dead last Friday.