They’re calling for the decision to be reversed, warning it could undermine the wider international human rights system. The sanctions were announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday under a Presidential Executive Order. Mr. Rubio alleged that Ms. Albanese had “directly engaged with the International Criminal Court …
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Texas flash floods expose challenges in early warning — Global Issues
The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the tragedy highlights growing global challenges around extreme rainfall, warning dissemination and community preparedness. Flash floods are the most lethal form of flooding, responsible for over 5,000 deaths annually and 85 per cent of all flood-related fatalities worldwide, according to WMO data, …
Ukrainian baker rises above adversity — Global Issues
Ms. Honcharenko’s story, like her bread, has risen through layers of loss, resilience, and hope. Before 2014, she lived in Horlivka, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, working as a doctor at a mine and raising four children with her husband, Dmytro. Life was stable, full of routine and love. When the …
Yemen deserves hope and dignity, Security Council hears — Global Issues
For over a decade, Yemen has endured conflict between Houthi rebels and government forces. Millions of lives and livelihoods remain at risk, and the conflict shows no sign of ending. “The appetite for a military escalation remains,” Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told ambassadors. While violence remains an …
UN summit confronts AI’s dawn of wonders and warnings — Global Issues
The AI for Good Global Summit 2025 brings together governments, tech leaders, academics, civil society and young people to explore how artificial intelligence can be directed toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and away from growing risks of inequality, disinformation and environmental strain. “We are the AI generation,” said Doreen …
UN officials and survivors call for truth, justice and vigilance — Global Issues
“I have survived a genocide,” said Munira Subašić, whose youngest son – her favourite – and 21 other family members were murdered in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre. “And the world and Europe was just watching in silence.” Now president of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa, Ms. Subašić spoke …
‘Cooperation is humanity’s greatest innovation,’ UN chief declares at BRICS summit — Global Issues
Speaking at the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he emphasised the human impact of environmental devastation and climate change. And as environmental disasters increase, the sustainable development goals are also being left behind. “Across the world, lives and livelihoods are being ripped apart, and sustainable development gains …
UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan as displacement, hunger and disease escalate — Global Issues
The situation is particularly dire in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, which has witnessed some of the worst episodes of the ongoing conflict between rival militaries. Those remaining in El Fasher are facing “extreme shortages” of food and clean water, with markets repeatedly disrupted, UN Spokesperson Stéphane …
Human rights must anchor the digital age, says UN’s Türk — Global Issues
Digital technologies have the potential to drive progress and strengthen rights, including connecting people, improving access to health and education, and much more. But the pace of their evolution also poses serious risks, warned Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – from restrictions on free expression and privacy …
UN chief ‘deeply saddened’ by devastating Texas floods as toll climbs past 80 — Global Issues
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, António Guterres said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, notably of a large number of children,” during what should have been a time of celebration. Friday, 4 July, marked Independence Day in the United States – a …
Access to key water facility in Khan Younis disrupted, UN reports — Global Issues
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli authorities issued displacement orders overnight for two neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, where up to 80,000 people had been living. The Al Satar reservoir – a critical hub for distributing piped water from Israel – has become inaccessible …
Shelter and safety elude Afghan women returnees from Iran and Pakistan — Global Issues
Since September 2023, more than 2.43 million undocumented Afghan migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan. Women and girls account for about half of the returnees from Pakistan, while their share among those returning from Iran has been steadily rising, reaching around 30 per cent in June. The escalating pace …
UN Human Rights Council hears grim updates on Ukraine, Gaza and global racism — Global Issues
Escalating conflict in Ukraine In an oral update, Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, reported a sharp escalation in hostilities in Ukraine. Civilian casualties have surged, with April to June seeing nearly 50 per cent more deaths and injuries compared to the same period in 2024. “More …
UN chief ‘appalled’ by worsening Gaza crisis as civilians face displacement, aid blockades — Global Issues
Multiple attacks in recent days have killed and injured scores of Palestinians at sites hosting displaced people and others attempting to access essential supplies, according to a statement from UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Thursday. “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the loss of civilian life,” Mr. Dujarric said. On just one …
Young farmers struggle for a future — Global Issues
However, this creates challenges by limiting land access for the next generation and diminishing their voice in agricultural policymaking. Without land assets, young people struggle to secure the resources needed to become agricultural producers themselves. Between 2005 and 2021, the number of youth employed in agrifood jobs declined by 10 …
Chile and Argentina among coldest places on Earth as polar anticyclone grips region — Global Issues
On 30 June, both Chile and Argentina ranked among the coldest places on Earth, outside the polar regions. Governments in both countries issued early warnings and cold-weather alerts in response to the “polar-origin anticyclone” behind the extreme conditions, WMO said. The cold snap in South America contrasts blistering heat in …
With sustainable development under threat, Sevilla summit rekindles hope and unity — Global Issues
“The human consequences of rising debt burdens, escalating trade tensions and steep cuts to official development assistance have been brought into sharp relief this week,” she told the closing session of the pivotal gathering, amid sizzling temperatures across southern Spain. Multilateralism at work But against that backdrop, the conference has …
Cooperatives cultivating peace in South Sudan — Global Issues
“Cooperatives are a system that enables the South Sudanese to improve their livelihoods, but at the same time also contributes to the economy… this is the only way for South Sudan to move out of poverty,” said Louis Bagare project manager of cooperatives at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) …
A vital step to rebuild trust in global cooperation — Global Issues
Activists, many from the Global South, attending the talks in Spain, are calling for greater leadership and commitment from wealthier nations to help address long-standing structural inequalities. The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) carries strong symbolic weight, reflected in the agreed priorities of the Sevilla Commitment. United …
Sevilla ‘a critical test’ of multilateralism — Global Issues
The promises were made at the opening of the Financing for Development Conference (FFD4), currently underway in the Spanish city of Sevilla, when delegates agreed on the Sevilla Commitment. During the conference UN News spoke to Li Junhua, the UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of …
