World News in Brief: Ukraine nuclear plant update, Sudan health crisis, reproductive rights

World News in Brief: Ukraine nuclear plant update, Sudan health crisis, reproductive rights

Addressing the opening of the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna on Monday, Mr. Grossi said that 53 missions mobilizing more than 100 agency staff have been deployed as part of a continued presence inside Ukraine’s five nuclear power plants. These include the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, or ZNPP, on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine,…

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World News in Brief: Healthcare crisis in DRC, Türk slams Iran hijab law, welcomes new India bill boosting women

World News in Brief: Healthcare crisis in DRC, Türk slams Iran hijab law, welcomes new India bill boosting women

The World Health Organization’s representative to the DRC, Dr Boureima Hama Sambo, warned that in six eastern provinces, health facilities have been set alight, health workers killed and others face constant physical and psychological threats, while supplies have been looted. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides have also compromised aid access. Dr Sambo said that the…

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At UN, Salva Kiir calls for support to help restore peace, ease humanitarian crisis in neighboring Sudan

At UN, Salva Kiir calls for support to help restore peace, ease humanitarian crisis in neighboring Sudan

“I am appealing to the international community to avail resources to help refugees and displaced persons who crossed into South Sudan,” Mr. Kiir told world leaders attending the UN General Assembly’s annual debate.  He added: “While the world is dealing with multiple crisis, we call for a provision of sustained support to these displaced persons…

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Central African Republic leader slams West for looting Africa’s wealth, sparking today’s migrant crisis

Central African Republic leader slams West for looting Africa’s wealth, sparking today’s migrant crisis

“This escalation of the migrant crisis is one of the appalling consequences of the plundering of natural resources of countries made poor by slavery, colonization and Western imperialism, terrorism and internal armed conflicts,” said Faustin-Archange Touadéra during his speech to the annual debate of the UN General Assembly. Continuing his rebuke by referencing the recent…

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At UN, Pacific Island leaders sound alarm on climate crisis, call for urgent action

At UN, Pacific Island leaders sound alarm on climate crisis, call for urgent action

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Presidents of Kiribati, Timor-Leste, Micronesia and Nauru called for accelerated climate action, urging major emitters worldwide to commit to substantial reductions in emissions by 2030. These nations, while contributing negligibly to global emissions, highlighted bold ambitions to curb their own carbon footprints, exemplified by Micronesia’s pledge to reduce…

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Debt crisis in developing countries weighing down SDG push, Rwanda’s Kagame warns

Debt crisis in developing countries weighing down SDG push, Rwanda’s Kagame warns

The SDG summit held in New York earlier this week highlighted the disappointing progress made toward achieving the UN’s 17 SDG goals by 2030, said Mr. Kagame.  He commended the Secretary-General’s focus on the issue and emphasized that slow progress toward achieving SDGs would exacerbate economic disparities between countries.  “This year’s SDG Summit has once again…

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Syria: Urgent response needed to uptick in fighting, economic crisis

Syria: Urgent response needed to uptick in fighting, economic crisis

In its latest report, the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR) body found that attacks on civilians, escalating fighting, economic decline and human rights violations persist, despite the country’s re-admission to the League of Arab States. The continued war in Syria is a “monument to the failure of diplomacy” said Inquiry Chair, Paulo Pinheiro. Speaking in…

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Philippines: Indigenous knowledge takes on climate crisis

Philippines: Indigenous knowledge takes on climate crisis

Local tribal leader Jemuel Perino discussed the success of local initiatives, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Adaption Fund Climate Change Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), in educating his community on effective prevention and mitigation techniques to deal with the growing impacts of climate change. “The indigenous cultural communities have their own centuries-old knowledge, systems, and…

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UN expert urges international support for The Bahamas amid climate crisis

UN expert urges international support for The Bahamas amid climate crisis

“The Bahamas needs long-term financial planning to address its climate vulnerability and economic dependence on tourism,” said Attiya Waris, the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt, international financial obligations and human rights, in a statement at the end of a 10-day visit to the country. Financial aid challenges  Ms. Waris noted that The Bahamas’ status as a…

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