Guterres, Trump have "positive discussion" on UN-US relations | 5 non-permanent Security Council members make way for replacements | Tech partnership helps UN organizations monitor events
The disruption of water supplies to Syrian residents is a war crime, the UN warns, as Syrian and allied military forces mount a two-week offensive to seize an area that supplies more than 4 million residents of Damascus with fresh water. UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland says his team has been unable to ascertain whether water disruptions have been caused by rebel forces or government bombing.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a phone conversation with President-elect Donald Trump that included a "positive discussion" on the relationship between the UN and the US, a UN spokesman said. Meanwhile, a senior UN diplomat noted that recent disparaging remarks from Trump give Guterres "a reason for going big on reform quickly," as "he needs to make sure he is reforming the UN fast enough and radically enough in order to engage the incoming US administration."
The United Nations Refugee Agency is urging EU member states to uphold their commitments to accept refugees crossing the Mediterranean as more than 62,000 migrants cram into overcrowded facilities on Greek islands.
A Chibok girl who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 was found carrying a 6-month-old baby by Nigerian soldiers near the former Boko Haram stronghold of Algarno. Some say the freed girls are still being kept silent while the government says they are receiving medical treatment, counseling and rehabilitation.
Promoting breast-feeding could slow climate change by cutting down on production of other foods and formulas, a UNICEF nutritionist said. "There is no doubt about it that breast-feeding -- which comes ready-made, readily produced, doesn't need heating up, doesn't need fuel -- is a huge saving in terms of carbon footprint," said nutrition specialist David Clark.
Russian military leaders announced today that the country would begin military withdrawal from Syria, starting with an aircraft carrier and some warships on the Syrian coast. Peace talks are scheduled to take place this month.
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