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Universal basic income the right prescription for Latin America & Caribbean – UN report
A new report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) unveiled on Tuesday, proposes that governments ensure immediate temporary cash transfers to help millions of people struggling to meet basic needs, as the massive
‘Urgency to act’ for sustainable development, great than ever as coronavirus pandemic continues
As COVID-19 upends lives and livelihoods across the planet, the UN on Monday held a wide-ranging policy discussion stressing a range of multilateral solutions to ease the pandemic, while also getting back on track towards achieving the 17 Sustaina
UN issues ‘wake-up call’: Don’t sideline AIDS response during COVID-19 crisis
As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus, decades of advances made in the battle against HIV are under threat, noted two UN agencies on Monday, point out that disruptions to treatment could cause hundreds of thousands of HIV-related
Battle ‘not yet over’ against locust invasions in East Africa and Yemen
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, significant gains have been made against Desert Locust encroachment in East Africa and Yemen, with an estimated 720,000 tonnes of cereal saved from the swarms of migratory pests across 10 countri
Moving towards 100% renewable power (with a little help from sheep)
The US island state of Hawaii has committed to generating 100 per cent of its power using renewable energy by 2045, demonstrating to other US states and island communities across the world, that sustainable energy can be a reality.
Ensure city poor and vulnerable are fed, amidst lockdown hunger risk, urges UN
The UN food agency, FAO, warns that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food.
First Person: Fashionable face masks, creativity and dressing to shop in the COVID era
A fashion designer and stylist in New Orleans, one of the early epicentres of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, has said that she was left “stifled and confused” by the disruption caused by the pandemic, but recognizes there are opportun
‘Humanitarian catastrophe’ looms in Haiti, threatening years of progress as COVID-19 takes hold, ECOSOC group says
The COVID-19 outbreak could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti, endangering many years of hard-won progress in the Caribbean nation, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Friday.
COVID-19: UN and partners launch $6.7 billion appeal for vulnerable countries
Humanitarians are seeking nearly $7 billion to protect millions of lives and halt the spread of COVID-19 in more than 60 of the world’s most fragile countries.
Top UN official calls for universal basic income to tackle growing inequality
The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a health crisis, but it is also proving to be an economic disaster for huge numbers of people worldwide.
COVID-19 makes universal digital access and cooperation essential: UN tech agency
As the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes the way in which we work, keep in touch, go to school and shop for essentials – across the world – it has never been more important to bridge the digital divide for the 3.6 billion people who remain off-line.
Food insecurity in West Africa could leave 43 million at risk as coronavirus hits
Well over 40 million people across West Africa face desperate food shortages in coming months, with COVID-19 restrictions a new factor adding to people’s vulnerability, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.
None of us is safe until we all are, says UN chief at EU push to end COVID-19 pandemic
The “most massive public health effort in history” is needed to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said on Monday, addressing a European Union pledging conference in Brussels.
COVID-19 pandemic exposes global ‘frailties and inequalities’: UN deputy chief
The COVID-19 pandemic which has swept across the developed and developing world is “exposing the frailties and inequalities of our societies,” according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General.
Millions of missing airmiles: How the UN civil aviation agency is helping airlines take off again
In normal times, the world’s airlines would be carrying nearly 2 billion international passengers this year. That’s 5.7 million a day. But with the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the planet, these are not normal times.
Vaccine bottlenecks from COVID lockdown put children’s lives at stake: UNICEF
Help is needed urgently to distribute vaccines worldwide amid dramatic shortages because of COVID-19 restrictions, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
UN chief calls for ‘solidarity, unity and hope’ in battling COVID-19 pandemic
Amidst the destruction of the of COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations chief expressed concern over a lack of “sufficient solidarity” with the world’s developing countries, that need support in responding to the worst economic and social crisis in
Coronavirus lockdown casts harsh light on our data and privacy online
A third of all nations lack laws to protect their citizen’s online data and privacy, despite an 11 per cent uptick in the global adoption of data protection and privacy legislation since 2015, the United Nations’ trade, investment and development
FROM THE FIELD: Women act as ‘agents of change’ in climate emergency
Women around the world can act as “agents of change” and find solutions to the challenges provoked by the global climate crisis, according to the UN’s specialized gender agency, UN Women.
Nearly half of global workforce at risk as job losses increase due to COVID-19: UN labour agency
Some 1.6 billion people employed in the informal economy – or nearly half the global workforce - could see their livelihoods destroyed due to the continued decline in working hours brought on by lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Intern
As pandemic encroaches on Abyei, tensions rise over disputed territory straddling Sudan, South Sudan
Sudan’s efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, are delaying the deployment of fresh United Nations police units in Abyei and the border regions between Sudan and South Sudan, the UN’s peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on T
Parallel threats of COVID-19, climate change, require ‘brave, visionary and collaborative leadership’: UN chief
To combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the “looming existential threat of climate disruption”, the only credible response is “brave, visionary and collaborative leadership” anchored in mutilateralism, the UN Secretary General António Guterres, said o
Protect workers during and after lockdowns, urges UN labour agency
Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged States to take action to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplace.
COVID-19: New women-led UN initiative aims to save lives and protect livelihoods
Against the backdrop of the unprecedented global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the deputy UN chief briefed journalists on Monday about a new women-led initiative that mobilizes support to save lives and protect livelihoods.
Protect civilians in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, urges UN refugee agency
An upsurge in military action against armed groups in West Africa’s vast Sahel and Lake Chad regions has prompted the United Nations refugee agency to call on all warring parties to protect people caught up in the violence.
‘Leave no one behind’ mantra matters more than ever, as coronavirus threatens all humanity: Guterres
Secretary-General António Guterres issued a three-point global “Call to Action” on Thursday to cushion the colossal fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, pressing Governments to unify around a defining moment in history, as the new session of the UN
Fall in COVID-linked carbon emissions won’t halt climate change - UN weather agency chief
An expected drop in greenhouse gas emissions linked to the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is only “short-term good news”, the head of the UN weather agency said on Wednesday.
COVID-19 pandemic, an ‘unprecedented wake-up call’ for all inhabitants of Mother Earth
In his message for International Mother Earth Day this Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that all eyes are on the COVID-19 pandemic, which he flagged as “an unprecedented wake-up call”
COVID-19 to cause biggest economic contraction ever in Latin America & Caribbean
The COVID-19 pandemic will herald the worst economic contraction in the history of Latin American and the Caribbean, with a projected -5.3 per cent drop in activity this year, according to a report by the UN office for the region, ECLAC, published
Guterres vows support for island States in twin fight against COVID-19, climate crisis
In an era of new challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres is pledging the UN’s continued support to small island States – longtime leaders in the global fight against the devastating impacts of climate change