http://www.un.org/esa/ en http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28963&Cr=Iraq&Cr1=UNAMI The top United Nations official in Iraq today welcomed the country’s establishment of an independent commission to promote and protect human rights in the troubled Middle East country. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28949&Cr=climate&Cr1= The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) enlisted the help of North American youth to help tackle climate change at a summit kicking off today in the United States city of Chicago. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28905&Cr=africa&Cr1=econom Economists and policymakers from across Africa have gathered today in the Tunisian capital for the start of a three-day United Nations-backed conference designed to boost the continent’s economic performance. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28907&Cr=financial&Cr1=crisis The World Bank Group is to substantially increase support for developing countries by as much as $130 billion over the next three years to help them weather the spreading global financial crisis. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28892&Cr=Afghan&Cr1= The United Nations human rights chief voiced her dismay today after several prisoners were put to death in Afghanistan in recent days and urged the Government to stop any further planned executions. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28899&Cr=climate&Cr1=ban Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for this weekend’s Washington summit on the global financial crisis to seize the opportunity to tackle global warming as well, stressing that such action would create jobs and boost the world’s economies. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28884&Cr=biodiversity&Cr1= The possibility of establishing a United Nations-supported scientific intergovernmental body to address biodiversity loss and protect ecosystems is being discussed at a global conference which kicked off in Malaysia today.