United Nations

Second protester dies in Belarus as UN sounds alarm

A protester has died in Belarus in police custody, the second death since clashes with police erupted on Sunday over a disputed presidential election. Officials say the cause of death…

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Global food prices rise in July – UN

Global food prices continued rising for the second consecutive month in July, led by vegetable oils and dairy products, according to the benchmark United Nations report. The Food and Agriculture…

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Countries urged to target human smugglers after migrants die at sea

Two UN agencies are calling for greater action to dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks following the deaths of 27 migrants off the coast of Mauritania, northwest Africa. The International Organization…

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Trump likely to address U.N. in person in September

U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to address the U.N. General Assembly in person in September, his U.N. envoy said, while all other world leaders will send videos instead of traveling…

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U.N. warns that 60% of Zimbabweans threatened by hunger

The U.N. food agency on Thursday appealed for an additional $250 million to provide relief to millions of Zimbabweans as the COVID-19 pandemic bites and warned that 60% of the…

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World leaders to send videos instead of traveling to U.N. in September

World leaders will send videos instead of physically gathering at the United Nations in September due to the coronavirus pandemic, the General Assembly decided, a move that paves the way…

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U.N. report suggests temporary basic income to help world’s poorest amid pandemic

A temporary basic income for the world’s poorest 2.7 billion people in 132 developing countries could help slow the spread of the coronavirus by allowing them to stay home, according…

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UN and Libya resume political dialogue

UN and Libyan officials Monday discussed resuming political dialogue in war-weary Libya, according to a UN statement. Stephanie Williams, acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and…

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UN makes record $10.3bn appeal for fight against coronavirus

The United Nations is making an appeal for $10.3 billion (£8.2 billion) to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, its largest ever fund-raising call. The UN says up to 265 million…

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On fifth attempt, U.N. Security Council renews Syria aid via Turkey

The United Nations Security Council on Saturday approved aid deliveries to Syria through one border crossing from Turkey, a day after its authorization for the six-year-long humanitarian operation ended, leaving…

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Reggae classic ‘One Love’ re-issued to help children upended by COVID crisis

The iconic Bob Marley song One Love is to be re-released with the blessing of the musician’s family to support children whose lives have been upended by COVID-19, the UN…

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U.N. chief warns foreign interference in Libya conflict at ‘unprecedented levels’

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council on Wednesday that the conflict in Libya has entered a new phase "with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels." The oil-producing country…

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Steroid drug purchased for COVID patients in poor countries – U.N.

An initial purchase of the steroid dexamethasone, shown to be effective in treating severe or critical COVID-19 patients, will be made for up to 4.5 million people in low- and…

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Russia quits U.N. system aimed at protecting hospitals, aid in Syria

Russia said on Thursday it has quit a voluntary United Nations arrangement that aimed to protect hospitals and humanitarian aid deliveries in Syria from being hit by the warring…

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New UN report offers blueprint for greener, more resilient world of work

Jobs, livelihoods and the well-being of workers, families and businesses across the globe, continue to take a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic; with micro, small and medium enterprises in particular,…

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U.N. sets up inquiry into racism after George Floyd death

The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned discriminatory and violent policing after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month and ordered a report on "systemic racism" against people of…

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UN reports refugee numbers hit record high in 2019

The number of people fleeing war and persecution rose to a record 79.5 million in 2019, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said Thursday. That figure represents "approximately 1%…

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Pandemics result from destruction of nature, say UN and WHO

Pandemics such as coronavirus are the result of humanity’s destruction of nature, according to leaders at the UN, WHO and WWF International, and the world has been ignoring this stark…

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U.N. rights body to examine ‘systemic’ U.S. racism and police brutality

The top U.N. human rights body will hold an urgent debate on allegations of "systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests" in the United States on Wednesday, a…

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The UN Security Council’s silence is deafening – Libya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs

Libya's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Siala criticised the UN Security Council's silence and ignoring the calls of the previous government of reconciliation to take a firm stand on the aggression…

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UN calls for seafarers to be designated ‘key workers’

Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, hundreds of thousands of the world’s two million seafarers have been “stranded at sea for months”, said the UN chief, calling for them to be…

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UN voices it’s horror following discovery of mass graves in Libya

The United Nations mission to Libya voiced "horror" Thursday over the reported discovery of at least eight mass graves in an area evacuated this month by strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces. …

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U.N. Libya mission says warring sides have engaged in truce talks

Libya’s warring sides have begun to engage in a new round of ceasefire talks, the United Nations said on Wednesday, after rapid gains by the internationally recognised government ended with…

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Gender focus essential to addressing linked climate change and security crises, urges UN report

As countries reel from the devastating social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender inequality is shaping the experience of crisis, as well as prospects for resilience and recovery.…

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May confirmed as warmest on record, CO2 levels hit new high despite COVID economic slowdown

Last month was the warmest May on record and carbon dioxide levels also hit a new high despite the economic slowdown from COVID-19, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on…

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Independent rights experts urge US to address systemic racism and racial bias

Nearly 30 independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council are calling for the United States to reform its criminal justice system in the wake of a recent spate…

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Donors fall short of U.N. target to save aid operations in Yemen

International donors raised $1.35 billion in humanitarian aid for Yemen on Tuesday but the amount fell short of the United Nations' target of $2.4 billion needed to save the world's…

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UN warns Covid-19 pandemic risking of causing ‘unimaginable devastation’ globally

Unless countries across the world act together now, the COVID-19 pandemic will cause “unimaginable devastation and suffering around the world”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday at a virtual…

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On Peacekeepers Day, UN to spotlight vital role of women peace operations

In observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, on Friday, Secretary-General António Guterres will lay a wreath to pay tribute to all the UN blue helmets who have…

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U.N. delays crucial climate summit for a year

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted the United Nations to delay until late 2021 a crucial climate summit that had been scheduled for Britain this year, officials said on Thursday. This…

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International tourism faces biggest slump since 1950s – UNWTO

International tourism is set to fall by 70% this year, marking the sector's biggest slump since records began in the 1950s, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili…

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U.N. envoy warns on flood of weapons and mercenaries fueling conflict in Libya

The acting U.N. Libya envoy urged the Security Council on Tuesday to pressure foreign actors to stop helping the North African country's warring parties, warning that the flood of weapons and mercenaries…

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Presidents and prime ministers lead call for ‘people’s vaccine’, free to all

UNAIDS, the UN agency fighting against the deadly HIV/AIDS virus, has initiated a petition from global leaders requesting that when a successful COVID-19 vaccine is developed, it be made available…

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U.N. warns of global mental health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic

A mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the pandemic of COVID-19, United…

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UN head appeals to ‘common humanity’ across all faiths, in tackling the coronavirus

Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, the UN chief said on Tuesday during an online meeting with religious leaders on the important role they can…

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New resolution on global ceasefire during Covid-19 pandemic presented to UN Security Council

Germany and Estonia submitted Tuesday a resolution to the UN Security Council on a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world during the coronavirus pandemic, to replace one drafted by…

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US blocks vote on UN’s bid for global ceasefire over reference to WHO

The US has blocked a vote on a UN security council resolution calling for a global ceasefire during the Covid-19 pandemic, because the Trump administration objected to an indirect reference…

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Coronavirus pandemic is pushing up the price of illegal drugs

Coronavirus-related border controls, lockdowns and flight shortages are making illegal drugs more expensive and difficult to obtain around the world, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in…

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UN chief says pandemic is unleashing a ‘tsunami of hate’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday the coronavirus pandemic keeps unleashing a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering and appealed for an all-out effort to end hate speech…

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UN warns coronavirus pandemic could cause “multiple famines”

The United Nations has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could cause “multiple famines”. The comments came as the UN appealed for a further $4.7bn in funding for its global humanitarian…

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UN warns about Russian mercenaries fighting in Libya

Mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin, are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats said Wednesday, citing an experts' report on the…

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U.N. security council members to hold online summit

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have agreed to hold an online five-way summit, proposed by Russian President…

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Libya has become an ‘experimental field’ for all kind of new weapons – UN warns

Libya is turning into "an experimental field for all kinds of new weapons systems", the United Nations' acting special envoy said, with foreign supporters of its warring parties shipping in arms…

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Actor Idris Elba launches UN coronavirus fund for poor farmers

British actor and filmmaker Idris Elba launched a new United Nations fund to help farmers in poorer nations, calling on richer economies to provide aid to prevent "needless hunger and…

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U.N. warns coronavirus outbreak risks becoming a human rights crisis

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday the coronavirus could give some countries an excuse to adopt repressive measures for reasons unrelated to the pandemic as he warned that the…

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U.N. reminds world of “even deeper emergency” of climate change

The world is facing a "deeper emergency" than coronavirus, the UN chief has warned. The coronavirus pandemic may already be having an impact on global pollution levels but it is…

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U.N. warns world is facing ‘famine of biblical proportions’ because of coronavirus

The world is facing widespread famine “of biblical proportions” because of the coronavirus pandemic, the chief of the UN’s food relief agency has warned, with a short time to act…

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People facing food shortages set to double in 2020

The number of people facing acute food insecurity and shortage stands to rise to 265 million in 2020, up by 130 million from the 135 million in 2019, as a…

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UN members call for “equitable, efficient and timely access” to future anti-coronavirus vaccines

Equitable, efficient and timely access to any future vaccines developed to fight coronavirus was demanded by the 193 members of the UN General Assembly through a resolution approved by consensus.…

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U.N. warns economic downturn could kill hundreds of thousands of children in 2020

Hundreds of thousands of children could die this year due to the global economic downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic and tens of millions more could fall into extreme poverty…

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Even during COVID-19, art ‘brings us closer together than ever’ – UNESCO

With billions of people either in lockdown or on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic, this first celebration of World Art Day is a timely reminder that “art has…

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Italy proposes international vaccine-alliance

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday phoned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present Italy's proposal to the UN and the World Health Organization for a grand international alliance to…

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UN head warns world faces misinformation epidemic about virus

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the world is facing “a dangerous epidemic of misinformation” about COVID-19 and announced a U.N. campaign to flood the internet with facts and…

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France striving for global ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron said he has secured the agreement of three of the five permanent members of the United Nations’ Security Council to back a call by the UN…

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“Not the time” to reduce resources for WHO operations – UN Secretary General

UN Secretary General António Guterres released a statement on the World Health Organization, following Trumps’ decision, saying now “is not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of…

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UN calls on European countries not to return asylum seekers to Libya

The United Nations has called on the European countries to end the suffering of asylum seekers rescued in the Mediterranean, and not to return them to Libya. The Libyan Observer…

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UN issues children’s story book to help children cope with COVID-19

A new story book that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the…

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