Diplomacy

UN climate report warns “time is fast running out” to avert the worst impacts of climate change

The United Nations' weather and climate agency is out with its annual State of the Climate report, and it says "the tell-tale physical signs of climate change" are everywhere. The…

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Red Cross, UNICEF and WHO issue guidance to protect children and support safe school operations

The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today issued new guidance to help protect children and schools from transmission of the COVID-19…

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UN addresses school disruptions, suspends public access to New York HQ

In an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, classrooms have been shuttered across the world, causing a record number of students to miss school, the UN Educational, Scientific…

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Should I take a flight? UN civil aviation agency issues guidelines on air travel

In response to fears surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has published a list of questions and answers, designed to ensure appropriate planning and…

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WHO chief calls for private sector to be involved to ensure that countries can access life-saving products

In his daily briefing to the press on Friday, World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that supplies of medicine are at risk of disruption due to the…

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WHO rapid response team concludes mission to Italy

The WHO Rapid Response Team (RRT) has recommended maintaining a strong focus on containment measures across the country, combined with a combination of strategies in areas with wider virus transmission…

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As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, U.N. stresses that gender equality benefits everyone

As various cities around the world prepared to celebrate International Women’s Day – with limitations due to the coronavirus outbreak - the chief of UN Women said in her message…

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The WHO’s Q&A on symptoms, prevention and other issues connected coronaviruses COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a series of Questions and Answers for the general public on the outbreak of coronaviruses (COVID-19). Among other things, the WHO recommends Regularly…

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WHO tackles current myths on coronavirus

As the coronavirus continues to spread around the globe and at the same time sparking a flurry of false news and myths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a list…

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9 in 10 people are biased against women, UN research finds

Despite decades of progress in closing the gender equality gap, close to nine out of 10 men and women around the world, hold some sort of bias against women, according…

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OPEC calls for big oil production cut

The OPEC oil cartel is calling for a deep production cut to keep crude prices from falling further as disruption to global business from the coronavirus slashes demand from air…

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We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers’: WHO head

A shortage of protective equipment is endangering health workers worldwide, warned the World Health Organization (WHO), citing “severe and mounting disruption to the global supply” caused by “rising demand, panic…

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Photo Story: OPEC meeting in Vienna

Austrian health professionals wait to check the body temperature of participants at the 178th Extraordinary Meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) conference and 8th OPEC and non-OPEC…

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War crimes investigation into US forces in Afghanistan can go ahead, ICC rules

An investigation into alleged war crimes by US and others in the Afghanistan war can go ahead, the International Criminal Court has ruled (ICC). The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001…

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Former UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar dies at 100

Javier Pérez de Cuellar, the two-term United Nations secretary-general who brokered a historic cease-fire between Iran and Iraq in 1988 and who in later life came out of retirement to…

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World remains a ‘violent, highly discriminatory place’ for girls

Twenty-five years after the historic Beijing women’s conference in China – a milestone in advancing equal rights – violence against women and girls is not only common, but widely accepted,…

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WHO warns of global shortage of medical equipment to fight coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) on warned of a global shortage and price gouging for protective equipment to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus and asked companies and governments to increase production…

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UN releases emergency funds to help vulnerable countries fight coronavirus COVID-19

The UN announced that $15 million dollars has been released from the UN’s Central Emergency Fund to help fund global efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, particularly…

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OECD warns coronavirus could tip European countries into recession

The global economy will experience “a sharp slowdown” because of COVID-19, the OECD said on Monday, driving many affected countries into recession. Sharp declines in tourism, supply chain disruptions, weak…

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UN human rights chief warns of women’s rights complacency

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned against complacency on women’s rights at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a landmark agenda…

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NATO calls on Russia, Syria to halt Idlib offensive

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia and Syria on Friday to halt their Idlib offensive and said the military alliance stood in solidarity with member state Turkey, which lost 33…

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UN report finds smoking and drinking link to recreational drug use by young people

The use of alcohol and tobacco by young people and children is closely linked to the use of illicit drugs, a UN-backed narcotics control body warned. The International Narcotics Control…

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NATO to hold extraordinary meeting after attack on Turkish soldiers

Following Turkey's request, NATO will hold an extraordinary meeting Friday over attacks to Turkish soldiers in Idlib, north-western Syria. Late Thursday, at least 33 Turkish soldiers were martyred and tens…

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WHO warns no country should make the “fatal mistake” of assuming it will be spared the coronavirus

No country should make the "fatal mistake" of assuming it will be spared the coronavirus, the World Health Organisation says, as governments from Iran to Australia raced to contain the…

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UN study projects $32 billion loss for UK post no-deal Brexit

The United Kingdom (UK) risks losing up to 14 per cent of its exports to the European Union (EU) in a so-called “no-deal” Brexit, according to a new study by…

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The WHO’s Q&A on symptoms, prevention and other issues connected coronaviruses (COVID-19)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a series of Questions and Answers for the general public on the outbreak of coronaviruses (COVID-19). Among other things, the WHO recommends Regularly…

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WHO warns world ‘not ready’ for coronavirus pandemic

At the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Bruce Aylward, who headed an international expert mission to China, hailed the drastic quarantine and containment measures taken by the country. But…

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At Stockholm road safety summit, UN officials join global call to end ‘scourge’ of preventable deaths

Road traffic accidents take some 1.35 million lives every year and cost most countries three per cent of their gross domestic product, the top UN health official said on Wednesday…

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UNICEF appeals for US$42.3 million to support the global Covid-19 outbreak response

UNICEF is urgently appealing for $42.3 million to scale up its response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and support global efforts to contain it. “This is a race against time,”…

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No single country is providing children with a healthy life and a climate fit for their future: UN report

The future of every single child in the world is at risk as nations across the world fail to curb the effects of climate change and provide a clean and…

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UN chief says new virus poses “enormous” risks but “is not out of control”

The U.N. secretary-general said Tuesday the virus outbreak that began in China poses “a very dangerous situation” for the world, but “is not out of control.” Speaking in an interview…

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Huge locust outbreak reaches South Sudan

The worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years…

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WHO confirms a total of nine confirmed cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

he World Health Organization announces a total of nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region as of 16 February 2020. Nine cases were reported in by…

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Newly licensed vaccine, ‘milestone in the fight’ against Ebola in Africa

Four countries in Africa have licensed an Ebola vaccine to “cement hard-fought progress” in keeping their people safe from the deadly disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said . For…

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Eastern Route overtakes Mediterranean for people leaving Africa

A monthly average of 11,500 people traveling from the Horn of Africa to Yemen last year made the so-called Eastern Route the busiest maritime migration path on earth, the UN…

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Congo’s Ebola outbreak slows but still global emergency

The World Health Organization said although signs are now “extremely positive” in Congo that the Ebola outbreak is winding down, the epidemic remains a global health emergency. To date,…

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UN list targets firms linked to Israeli settlements

The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday released a list of more than 100 companies it said are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in Israeli settlements in…

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US to seek more help from NATO to counter ISIS

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday he is looking to NATO allies for more help countering the ISIS extremist group in Iraq and in bolstering U.S. defence efforts in…

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IOM Assists over 1,400 Migrants with Voluntary Return to Ghana

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) this week assisted 61 migrants who were stranded in Niger with voluntarily return to Ghana, bringing the total number of assisted Ghanaians to 1,400 since…

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UN experts insist comprehensive national strategies are urgently needed to prevent child sexual abuse online

Comprehensive national strategies are urgently needed to prevent child sexual abuse online and other Internet issues for children, independent UN human rights experts said on Tuesday, Safer Internet Day. Maud…

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New U.N. effort for ceasefire in Libya

Libya’s warring parties will continue talks this month to try to reach a lasting ceasefire in a war for control of the capital Tripoli, the United Nations said on Saturday,…

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Worldwide demand for face masks in coronavirus outbreak creating shortfall for those in real need

Unprecedented global demand for face masks and other protective equipment fuelled by the coronavirus epidemic, has created potentially dangerous shortages for those who need them most, the World Health…

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ISIS still at ‘centre’ of terrorism threat, UN Security Council hears

Despite the loss of its last stronghold in Syria and the death of its leader, ISIS “remains at the centre of the transnational terrorism threat”, a senior UN official told the Security Council.…

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Appeal for ‘convergence’ over lasting Libya ceasefire

On day four of UN-led talks to transform an uncertain truce in Libya into a permanent ceasefire, veteran negotiator Ghassan Salamé on Thursday welcomed the “progress” that had been made…

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Global initiative launched to keep top sports events safe from terrorism

Representatives from international sporting federations and the private sector joined with ambassadors at UN Headquarters in New York this week to launch a global programme aimed at safeguarding major sporting…

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2020: the year for action, to ‘rise up’ and safeguard ocean life

With the ocean in deep crisis, members of civil society and philanthropic organisations are urging governments and corporations to take bold action to safeguard the ocean. After a two-day preparatory meeting in New York ahead of June’s UN Ocean…

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U.N. Secretary General says Libya situation a ‘scandal’

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called the situation in Libya a “scandal” even as his envoy cited a “genuine will” by rival military factions as they planned their…

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WHO outlines steps to save 7 million lives from cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) today spells out the need to step up cancer services in low and middle-income countries. WHO warns that, if current trends continue, the world will…

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Do not confuse food charity with ‘right to food’, UN expert tells Italians

A sophisticated Italian food system is placing a heavy burden on Italy’s workers and farmers, an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday, following an 11-day visit to the…

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New UN draft resolution calls for withdrawal of mercenaries in Libya

The United Kingdom has sent its fellow Security Council members an amended draft resolution on Libya, calling for the withdrawal of mercenaries from the country. The draft expresses the Council's…

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WHO warns governments need to prepare for “domestic outbreak control”

China’s death toll from a new virus rose to 259 on Saturday and a World Health Organization official said other governments need to prepare for “domestic outbreak control” if the…

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UNHCR suspends work at key transit site in Libya, top UN official in Libya expresses “deep anger” over increased fighting

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has halted operations at a site in Tripoli, out of fear that it could become a target. The agency on Thursday announced that it has suspended work…

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United Nations IT systems breached in Geneva and Vienna

Dozens of servers were “compromised” at United Nations offices in Geneva and Vienna last summer, according to an investigation by the New Humanitarian. The UN decision to keep quiet about a major attacking into its computer networks in…

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WHO to hold emergency meeting, virus spreads to every Chinese region

The World Health Organization (WHO) is to convene its expert committee again on Thursday to discuss whether to declare a global health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. The disease has…

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EU and 16 WTO members agree to work together on an interim appeal arbitration arrangement

During the Davos meeting Switzerland, the EU and Ministers from 16 Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have agreed to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement that will allow the…

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UN chief outlines solutions to defeat main threats to world’s 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,…

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UN health emergency committee to re-convene on global threat posed by China virus outbreak

Experts convened in Geneva by the World Health Organization (WHO) will meet again on Thursday to determine whether novel coronavirus is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Members of the WHO Emergency Committee deliberated until late on Wednesday evening, as…

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