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At Davos, UN chief urges ‘big emitters’ to take climate action
The world is “doomed” in the face of climate change unless major industrial nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
UN chief outlines solutions to defeat ‘four horsemen’ threatening our global future
The start of the New Year finds the world facing four looming threats to human progress: surging geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, global mistrust and the downsides of technology, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday. <
‘Negative developments’ undermining two-State solution in Middle East
Recent heightened tensions in the Middle East underscore the critical need for dialogue and diplomacy in the region, the UN’s Political Affairs chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Healthcare’s a human right, not ‘a privilege for the rich’ UNAIDS argues at Davos
The UN agency devoted to ending AIDS as a public health threat is calling on top politicians and governments across the world to ensure the right to quality healthcare is upheld, and not just a privilege to be enjoyed by the wealthy.
Rising inequality affecting more than two-thirds of the globe, but it’s not inevitable: new UN report
Inequality is growing for more than 70 per cent of the global population, exacerbating the risks of divisions and hampering economic and social development.
FROM THE FIELD: Weeding out Mexico’s unwanted beach invader
An invasive species of seaweed which has blighted tourist beaches in Mexico has become more aggressive due to the heating effects of climate change. But now, thanks to support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), efforts are underway to hold
UN human rights ruling could boost climate change asylum claims
The UN Human Rights Committee has determined that countries cannot deport people who have sought asylum due to climate-related threats.
Nearly half a billion people can’t find decent work; unemployment set to rise: new UN labour report
Around half a billion people work fewer paid hours than they would like, or are not getting enough access to paid work, shows a study published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Monday, which also forecasts that unemployment will r
Major humanitarian hub in north-east Nigeria burned in attack
The top UN aid official in Nigeria has condemned a weekend attack against a major humanitarian facility in the north-east of the country.
East Africa faces locust swarms, UN agency alerts for the risk of food insecurity across the subregion
Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are dealing with desert locust swarms of “unprecedented size and destructive potential” that could spill over into more countries in East Africa, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Mond
Capacity of cities to tackle climate change key in ‘crucial battle’ for planet’s preservation, says UN chief
Cities – hubs of creativity and new ideas – can provide solutions to resolve humanity’s “suicide war” against nature, and lead the world towards a sustainable future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday in Lisbon, which has been
Haiti earthquake victims honoured at UN, with pledge to safeguard the nation’s future
More than 200,000 Haitians who perished in the devastating earthquake which struck the island nation ten years ago, were honoured in a solemn ceremony of remembrance at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, along with 102 staffers who died – the
Aid to vulnerable Iraqis may ‘come to a complete halt within weeks’
Aid to vulnerable people in Iraq risks being completely blocked within weeks, warned the UN’s humanitarian chief in Iraq, Marta Ruedas, on Tuesday, as a result of the suspension of government documents allowing humanitarians to carry out critical
Yemen resilient and ‘unscathed’ in face of latest Gulf crisis
Despite the threat posed by recent tensions in the Gulf, Yemen was able to weather the crisis thanks in part to restraint exercised by its political leaders, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Thursday.
Climate crisis ‘affecting quality of life and fuelling discontent’
The climate crisis, as well as persistently high inequalities, and rising levels of food insecurity and undernourishment, is affecting the quality of life in many societies and fuelling discontent, the UN warned on Thursday, on the publication of
UN peacekeepers protecting hundreds displaced by Central African Republic fighting
Fresh clashes in the Central African Republic’s southeast have driven some 400 people to seek shelter at a UN base there, the United Nations Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
2019 second hottest year on record, UN confirms
Last year was the second warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed on Wednesday.
Philippines volcano: UN aid operation in place as thousands told to flee
The UN is concerned over warnings issued by Philippines’ authorities that volcanic eruptions on the country’s most populous island could last “days, months or even years”.
Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list
The President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday set out his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade.
UN committed to helping Haiti build better future, says Guterres, marking 10-year anniversary of devastating earthquake
On 12 January 2010, a 7.0 magnitude quake struck the Haiti, devastating its capital, Port-au-Prince. About 220,00 people were reportedly killed, among them, 102 UN staff who lost their lives when the stabilization mission there, known as MINUSTAH,
Security Council, beats midnight deadline, approves Syria cross-border aid in contentious vote
The Security Council on Friday evening renewed a UN operation delivering humanitarian aid across the Syrian border to millions of civilians, but some of the body’s members expressed disappointment that the ‘watered down’ measure cut in half the nu
Inaction over climate emergency ‘not an option’ says UN Assembly chief
Inaction when it comes to the fight back against damaging climate change is not an option, the President of the UN General Assembly told a major energy conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Killings and violence targeting ethnic group in DR Congo ‘may amount to crimes against humanity’
The targeting of the Hema community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with violence, including killings and rape, may amount to crimes against humanity, said the UN on Friday.
Protecting refugees in Europe: UNHCR calls for a ‘year of change’
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is calling on the European Union (EU) to make 2020 “the year of change for robust refugee protection”.
FIRST PERSON: An artist’s ‘obsession’ with New Orleans tradition
The International Labour Organization (ILO) marked its centenary in 2019 and as part of the commemoration has launched a photography project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience”, to document the working life of people across the Unite
Security Council calls for dialogue in Haiti
The UN Security Council has stressed the need to resolve the ongoing political impasse in Haiti between President Jovenel Moïse and a surging opposition movement.
Sudan: Intercommunal clashes displace tens of thousands in volatile Darfur region
Around 40,000 have been displaced in Sudan’s West Darfur State in recent days, following intercommunal clashes, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, citing Sudanese Government data.
Syria: Civilians face ‘daily nightmare’ in Idlib, says top UN official
Following a sharp escalation of hostilities in southern Idlib, “at least 300,000 civilians have fled their homes” since mid-December, the UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis said on Tuesday, voicing concern for their w
UN envoy appeals for other nations to ‘keep out of Libya’
The top UN official in Libya has delivered a stern message urging other nations to stop intervening in the country’s ongoing crisis.
Australia bushfire crisis: UNICEF offers help and support
Raging bushfires wreaking havoc across Australia have prompted the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to offer its support to the Australian Government and its partners which are battling the “unprecedented disaster”.