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IRCS
Ukraine jet crashes in Iran, killing 176: UN chief offers deepest condolences
8 January 2020
Peace and Security
A Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday morning, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board. In a statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ offered his deepest condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened by the crash”.
@OCHA/Eve Sabbagh
‘Unprecedented terrorist violence’ in West Africa, Sahel region
8 January 2020
Peace and Security
The top UN official in West Africa and the Sahel updated the Security Council on Wednesday, describing an “unprecedented" rise in terrorist violence across the region.
Audio - 9'10" Playlist
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Iran-US attack in Iraq: Guterres pledges ‘active engagement’ in further de-escalation efforts
8 January 2020
Peace and Security
In the wake of an Iranian ballistic missile attack on air bases which house US forces in Iraq, the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday that he would “continue his active engagement” to de-escalate tensions and avert full-scale war.
UN News/Elizabeth Scaffidi
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Syria, polio, DR Congo, Sudan updates, and, the art of stealing
7 January 2020
Peace and Security
Tuesday’s top stories include: A “daily nightmare” in Syria’s Idlib; polio remains an international health emergency; Guterres extends condolences as Australia bushfires continue; measles in DR Congo; clashes in Darfur displace thousands; and a celebration of stolen art.
© UNICEF/Karel Prinsloo
More international support needed to curb deadly measles outbreak in DR Congo
7 January 2020
Health
Countries are being asked to step up assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which is facing the world’s worst measles epidemic, with more than 6,000 deaths since the start of last year.
Audio - 5'57" Playlist
© UNICEF/Frank Dejongh
Spread of polio still an international public health concern
7 January 2020
Health
The spread of polio internationally remains a global public health concern, experts meeting in Geneva have concluded.
Audio - 21'48" Playlist
© UNICEF/Shehzad Noorani
Sudan: Intercommunal clashes displace tens of thousands in volatile Darfur region
7 January 2020
Peace and Security
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.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
UN chief monitoring Venezuela developments ‘with concern’
7 January 2020
Peace and Security
The latest twist in Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis “make urgently needed dialogue even more difficult to achieve”, the UN Secretary-General has said.
© UNICEF
Syria: Civilians face ‘daily nightmare’ in Idlib, says top UN official
7 January 2020
Peace and Security
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 well-being.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Monday’s Daily Brief: Geopolitical strife, Australia bushfires, Burkina Faso, Cambodia updates
6 January 2020
Peace and Security
Monday’s top stories include: UN chief’s call for de-escalation in global tensions; UNICEF offers help as Australia bushfires continue to rage; condolences following Burkina Faso bus explosion; new shipping regulation to boost health of people and planet; and ILO responds to deadly Cambodia building collapse.
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UN Libya
UN envoy appeals for other nations to ‘keep out of Libya’
6 January 2020
Peace and Security
The top UN official in Libya has delivered a stern message urging other nations to stop intervening in the country’s ongoing crisis.
ICHHTO / B. Sedighi
UN cultural agency chief meets with Iran ambassador amid current tensions
6 January 2020
Culture and Education
The current tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region and their potential implications for cultural heritage sites were the focus of a meeting on Monday between the head of the UN’s cultural agency, UNESCO, and a senior diplomat from Iran.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Australia bushfire crisis: UNICEF offers help and support
6 January 2020
Humanitarian Aid
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”.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Stop escalation, urges UN chief, as geopolitical tensions reach ‘highest level this century’
6 January 2020
Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to de-escalate geopolitical tensions on Monday, which he described as being “at their highest level this century” as the new decade dawns.
UN/Abel Kavanagh
UN Libya Mission strongly condemns bombing of military academy, at least 30 dead
5 January 2020
Peace and Security
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Sunday strongly condemned the bombing of a military academy in the capital Tripoli, which according to news reports left at least 30 dead and more than 30 others wounded.
ILO Photo/John Isaac
FIRST PERSON: Cajun cuisine feeds expanding business
4 January 2020
Economic Development
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 United States. UN News joined the ILO on a visit to the southern US state of Louisiana.
Audio - 20'55" Playlist
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
World Braille Day marks key communication tool for millions
4 January 2020
Human Rights
Being marked for only the second time ever, World Braille Day on Saturday raises awareness of the importance of the tactile global communication system which helps enable blind and visually impaired people, to realize their full human rights.
© UNICEF/Abdallah aad
Nearly 300,000 Syrians displaced from Idlib since mid-December, Security Council hears
3 January 2020
Peace and Security
Amidst concern for the safety and protection of more than three million civilians in Syria’s last rebel-held enclave, the UN’s most senior humanitarian and political affairs officials briefed the Security Council on Syria behind closed doors on Friday.
UN Photo/Surendra Bahadur Ter
Sudan urged to step up protection, restore peace, following West Darfur violence
3 January 2020
Peace and Security
Authorities in Sudan are being urged to restore peace and order in the wake of intercommunal clashes in West Darfur state which erupted on Sunday and left 65 people dead, 54 injured, and thousands displaced.
IOM Photo/Liatile Putsoa
Son of slain UN aid worker in South Sudan freed and reunited with father
3 January 2020
Humanitarian Aid
The abducted four-year-old son of a UN migration agency worker who was killed in South Sudan in October has been released and reunited with his father during an emotional reunion in the capital Juba on Friday.
LATEST NEWS
Tarek Khouri
UN chief calls for de-escalation across Gulf region after killing of top Iranian General in US airstrike
3 January 2020
Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the latest escalation in tension across the Gulf region, following the killing of a top Iranian General in Iraq, in an airstrike carried out by the United States.
© UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
Libya: UN refugee agency deeply concerned by shelling near Tripoli facility
3 January 2020
Peace and Security
Shelling near a major facility run by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday, has sparked deep concern for the safety of refugees and asylum seekers there.
OCHA/Saviano Abreu
FROM THE FIELD: Facing up to crisis in Kassala
3 January 2020
Humanitarian Aid
An economic crisis in Sudan which has driven up food prices in the African country has contributed to an increase in the number of people needing aid; that’s according to the UN’s humanitarian affairs agency, OCHA.
World Bank/Salahaldeen Nadir
Investing in health workers yields ‘triple dividend’, WHO chief says in New Year’s message
2 January 2020
Health
At the start of the new year and new decade, the head of the United Nations health agency thanked “the brave health workers” around the globe and asked that the world do better in supporting them.
© UNICEF/Delil Souleiman
UNICEF chief hopes 2020 will be 'a year of peace' for Syria’s children
2 January 2020
Peace and Security
Only an end to the war in Syria can bring safety to children there, the head of the UN child rights agency said on Thursday.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
UN envoy commends successful conclusion of Guinea-Bissau presidential election
2 January 2020
Peace and Security
The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) has underlined the Organization’s support for Guinea-Bissau following the conclusion of its presidential election.
UNFPA
Secretary-General calls for global participation in UN75 dialogues
2 January 2020
UN Affairs
The United Nations on Wednesday launched the biggest global conversation on the world's future: the UN75 dialogues. Views and ideas gathered throughout the year will be shared at a high-level event in September to mark the Organization's 75th anniversary.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ following end of DPRK nuclear test moratorium
1 January 2020
Peace and Security
The UN Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ended a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, his spokesman said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
UNICEF/Vishwanathan
Year of the Nurse and the Midwife highlights ‘backbone’ of health systems
1 January 2020
Health
The world will need an additional nine million nurses and midwives to achieve the commitment of providing all people with access to health care by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
WFP
Finding common ground in East Africa: a UN Resident Coordinator blog
1 January 2020
SDGs
Together, Kenya and Uganda kick-start a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with the UN to address challenges that transcend country borders. By Siddharth Chatterjee (Kenya RC) and Rosa Malango (Uganda RC)
LATEST NEWS
IOM/Abdullah Al Mashrif
FROM THE FIELD: Bangladesh’s bamboo boom
1 January 2020
Migrants and Refugees
More than 24 million bamboo poles have been harvested for construction projects in the enormous refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, thanks, in part, to support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
