United Nations

Libyan rivals vie for roles in new interim government

Potential leaders of a new Libyan interim government joined in competing blocs on Thursday to seek backing from participants in U.N.-backed talks after publicly auditioning for top roles. The process…

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U.N. Security Council calls for release of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi

The United Nations Security Council called for the release of Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the military and voiced concern over the state of emergency, but…

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U.N. lists candidates to run Libya’s transitional government until this year’s vote

TUNIS (Reuters) - Participants at Libya’s U.N.-sponsored peace talks have approved a list of candidates seeking to lead a transitional government that will prepare the North African state for a…

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U.N. chief worried by power of social media companies

NEW YORK, Jan 28 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday he is "particularly worried" about the power of social media companies and that a regulatory framework should…

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U.N. Security Council approves new U.N. Libya mediator

The United Nations Security Council approved on Friday the appointment of veteran diplomat Jan Kubis as the U.N. Libya envoy, diplomats said, nearly a year after the last mediator stepped…

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U.N. chief Guterres seeks to stay on for second term – Bloomberg News

(Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the five permanent members of the Security Council that he would like to stay on for a second term, Bloomberg News reported…

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U.N. says Mladenov will not take up role as U.N. Libya envoy

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres he will be unable to take up the role as United Nations Libya envoy next year due to "personal and…

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U.N. Security Council approves new U.N. envoy to mediate in Libya

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday approved a proposal by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint Bulgarian Nickolay Mladenov as the U.N. Libya special envoy and Norwegian Tor Wennesland as the…

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Declare states of ‘climate emergency,’ U.N. chief tells world leaders

LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - World leaders should declare states of "climate emergency" in their countries to spur action to avoid catastrophic global warming, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said…

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U.N. warns 2021 shaping up to be a humanitarian catastrophe

Next year is shaping up to be a humanitarian catastrophe and rich countries must not trample poor countries in a “stampede for vaccines” to combat the coronavirus pandemic, top U.N.…

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2020 likely world’s second hottest year, U.N. says

This year is on track to be the second hottest on record, behind 2016, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed. Five data sets currently place 2020, a year characterised by…

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U.N. urges designation of seafarers as key workers

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly urged all countries to designate seafarers and other marine personnel as key workers on Tuesday after travel restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19 have…

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Russia stops U.N. blacklisting of Libya militia, leader

Russia on Friday stopped a U.N. Security Council committee from blacklisting a Libyan militia group and its leader for human rights abuses because it said it wanted to see more evidence…

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Malta: country joins the United Nations Core Group for LGBTI Issues

Malta has joined the United Nations Core Group on LGBTI Issues, an informal cross-regional group of member states established in 2008. Based in New York, the overarching goal of the…

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Pete Buttigieg touted as US Ambassador to the United Nations – Reuters

Democratic President-elect Joe Biden has promised to build an administration that reflects the diversity of the country, and is expected to announce his choices for some key White House posts…

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Renewed optimism as warring Libya sides agree to open main road, implement truce

Libya's warring sides will immediately reopen the main coastal road connecting the vast country's east and west across front lines, the United Nations said on Thursday, as part of a…

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UN warns of humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia

The United Nations agency for refugees said it was worried about a refugee emergency if more civilians are forced to flee fighting between federal troops and local forces in the…

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WHO chief says welcomes efforts to strengthen the organization

The World Health Organization chief opened a key meeting addressing the pandemic on Monday by welcoming efforts to strengthen the Geneva-based body through reform. "We welcome any and all efforts…

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U.N. opens Libya peace talks in Tunis with eye on elections

The United Nations opened talks on Libya's future in Tunisia on Monday aimed at ending nearly a decade of chaos and bloodshed by arranging elections, but obstacles remain despite progress…

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U.N. in New York cancels in-person meetings over coronavirus infections

The United Nations cancelled all in-person meetings at its New York headquarters for the rest of the week after five people in Niger’s U.N. mission were infected with the novel…

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UN launches forum to facilitate intra-Libyan talks and elections after truce

The United Nations said on Sunday that Libya's rival factions would hold political talks, days after the two main parties in the country's conflict agreed to a cease-fire. Head of…

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UN Treaty to ban nuclear weapons can come into force in 90 days

An international treaty banning nuclear weapons will come into force at the end of January after a 50th country ratified the agreement. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons…

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Libya’s warring parties sign ceasefire agreement

The two main warring parties in Libya have signed a ceasefire agreement in Geneva, UN Libya envoy Stephanie Williams announced. "I wish to congratulate you on what you have accomplished here.…

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UN warns less than half of women globally have jobs

The 'World's Women 2020 report' has found a severe lack of progress in women's rights and job market participation. The dire situation has only been made worse by the pandemic…

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World trade rebounding slowly, outlook uncertain – UN report

The value of global trade is set to fall by 7% to 9% in 2020 from the previous year, despite signs of a fragile rebound led by China in the…

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U.N. acting Libya envoy ‘optimistic’ on talks

The United Nations' acting Libya envoy said on Wednesday she was "quite optimistic" that ongoing talks between the warring sides would lead to a lasting ceasefire after they agreed in…

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Divided world is failing COVID-19 challenge, says frustrated U.N. chief

A divided world has failed to rise to the challenge of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said and warned concerted action was needed to prevent millions of…

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UN report offers rare glimpse into finances of Somali Islamists

Somalia’s Islamist insurgents are moving millions of dollars through the formal bank system and appear to be investing in businesses and real estate, according to a United Nations report offering…

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China and Russia elected to U.N. rights council

China and Russia were elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday, but support for Beijing dropped by more than 20 percent compared with a 2016 vote and…

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UN registers Turkey-Libya maritime deal

Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Friday that a maritime demarcation agreement between Ankara and Libya's internationally recognised government was registered by the United Nations. Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of…

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25 years after UN women’s meeting, equality remains distant

Twenty-five years ago, the world’s nations came together to make sure that half of Earth’s population gained the rights, power and status of the other half. It hasn’t happened yet.…

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Libyan rivals agree to further military talks, U.N. says

Libya's warring sides have agreed to resume military talks next week after meeting in Egypt, the United Nations mission said, adding it hoped the step would pave the way towards…

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Orthodox church petitions UN over Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia

The Greek Orthodox Church of the United States said it is petitioning United Nations experts to coerce Turkey into protecting Orthodox Christianity’s cultural heritage following the Turkish government’s conversion of…

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David Attenborough leads call for world to invest $500 bln a year to protect nature

British broadcaster David Attenborough led a call from conservation groups on Wednesday for the world to invest $500 billion a year to halt the destruction of nature, warning that the…

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North Korea tells U.N. that now it has ‘effective war deterrent’

North Korea has a “reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defense” and will now focus on developing its economy, North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Kim Song said on Tuesday, though he…

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Five groups ousted from U.N.-backed responsible investment list

Five investors have been removed from the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment, in the first such move by the group for those failing to meet its minimum requirements. The…

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Belarus accuses West of sowing chaos and anarchy

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei accused Western countries on Saturday of attempting to sow "chaos and anarchy" in the former Soviet republic, which has been rocked by street protests since…

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Malta is seeking election as a Member of the UN Security Council

Malta's Prime Minister confirmed the country's intention to serve on the UN Security Council between 2023-2024. Dr Abela was addressing the UN General Assembly, through virtual means, in a first…

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EU leader Michel lashes out at Britain over post-Brexit plan

European Union leader Charles Michel used the virtual pulpit of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday to lash out at Britain for its threats to renege on parts of the…

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Pope to UN: Use COVID crisis to come out better, not worse

Pope Francis urged world leaders Friday to use the coronavirus emergency as an opportunity to reform the injustices of the global economy and the “perverse logic” of the nuclear deterrence…

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If world handles climate like COVID-19, U.N. chief says: ‘I fear the worst’

The United States, China and Russia fought on Thursday during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the coronavirus pandemic after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres had warned the body that…

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Brazil’s Bolsonaro blames indigenous people for Amazon fires in U.N. speech

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro told the United Nations that indigenous people in the Amazon were to blame for fires in the rainforest this year and attacked the media for spreading…

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UN General Assembly: Trump accuses Beijing of unleashing ‘plague’

U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable for having “unleashed” COVID-19 on the world, prompting Beijing to accuse him…

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Malta ratifies the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo signed the Instrument of Ratification for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The instrument was deposited on 21st September…

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World leaders to mark United Nations at 75 as pandemic challenges organization

World leaders will come together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member…

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U.N. investigator on Belarus warns of ‘another Iron curtain’

A U.N. investigator warned of the possibility of "another Iron curtain" descending in Europe during an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus in Geneva on Friday. The…

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U.N. chief to push pandemic ceasefire at world leaders meeting, but fears opportunities lost

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will use his annual address to world leaders next week to push for a global ceasefire until the end of 2020 so countries can fight the…

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U.N. chief to appoint special envoy to broker peace in Libya

The U.N. Security Council asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special envoy to broker peace in Libya, although Russia and China abstained from voting on the resolution that also…

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U.N. human rights chief says reports of Belarus violence are alarming

The United Nations human rights chief said on Monday her office was receiving "alarming reports" of the ongoing violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Belarus. "Reports continue to indicate unnecessary…

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Coronavirus pandemic preparedness panel slams collective failure to head warnings

A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed “a world at risk” to a “world in disorder”, according to a…

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Borrell expresses concern on situation in Belarus

The EU's chief foreign minister expressed concerns about the situation in Belarus during a call with the United Nations' Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The EU said the call was an opportunity…

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U.N. report shows Russia stepping up support for private military contractor in Libya

Russia has stepped up its logistic support for private military contractor Wagner Group in Libya with some 338 military cargo flights from Syria in the nine months to July 31…

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U.N. warns of Libya arms build-up and virus surge

The United Nations acting Libya envoy said on Wednesday that foreign supporters of both sides in the civil war were helping them stockpile weapons in breach of an arms embargo…

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U.N. agency says young people fuelling recent spike of coronavirus in Americas

Young people are driving the spread of the coronavirus in the Americas, the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said, noting that both deaths and caseloads have doubled…

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U.S. moves to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran in dispute over nuclear deal

The United States moved to restore U.N. sanctions on Iran, including an arms embargo, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015…

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UN joins global condemnation of military takeover in Mali

The United Nations has joined global condemnation of the military takeover in Mali, which saw President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta forced to resign. The UN's Security Council echoed similar calls by…

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Putin proposes summit to avoid U.N. ‘confrontation’ over Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed a video summit with the United States, Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran in a bid to avoid "confrontation and escalation" at the…

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