UN Secretary-General António Guterres was briefing reporters in New York after seeing for himself over the weekend the “profoundly shocking” speed at which ice is melting in Antarctica – three times faster than the rate in the early 1990s. New figures reveal that sea ice at the South Pole is now 1.5 million square kilometres…
António Guterres is in Antarctica this week, where he saw first-hand how climate change is impacting the world’s southernmost continent, which is mostly covered in ice. The heat is on “Fossil fuel pollution is heating our planet, unleashing climate anarchy in Antarctica,” said Mr. Guterres, adding that the Southern Ocean has taken the majority of…
António Guterres said the world, particularly developing countries, is facing “a perfect storm”, with growing inequalities, climate chaos, conflicts and hunger. Meanwhile, fiscal space is tightening for many, with crushing debt burdens and skyrocketing prices. “This is a recipe for global instability and suffering,” he said, speaking from Santiago, Chile. Support for SDG Stimulus The…
“I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital. The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing,” the UN chief said in a statement, issued late on Friday New York time. He stated that he did not forget the terror attacks committed…
Addressing the Summit on Artificial Intelligence Safety convened by the United Kingdom, at the famous Bletchley Park estate – where Allied code breakers made a huge contribution to the war effort cracking Nazi codes – the UN chief emphasized the need for “sustained and structured conversation” around its risks, challenges and opportunities. “The United Nations…
Secretary-General António Guterres also reiterated his call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” between Israeli forces and militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other militant groups. Consistent flow of aid essential In a statement, Mr. Guterres said depriving Gaza’s people basic supplies was only “compounding the human tragedy” of the conflict, calling for…
The UN chief’s visit comes as the crisis in the Gaza Strip enters its third week following the 7 October incursion by Hamas militants into Israel and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war. Late last week the UN adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce, but the past few days have seen heavy bombardment and…
His call came just hours before UN agencies reported that phone lines, internet and mobile service in Gaza went down. “Gaza has lost contact with the outside world amid reports of intensified bombardment,” Lynn Hastings, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Palestine, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The World Health Organization (WHO) has “lost…
UN News is winding down live coverage of today’s events in the Council soon. For full blow by blow coverage of the debate so far and the speakers still to come on the Israel-Palestine crisis, you can visit our special UN Meetings Coverage Section, here. Syria Syria’s Representative Al Haka Dindi, said Israel’s criminal and…
Addressing the UN-backed body meeting in Rome on Monday, António Guterres underscored that the session was taking place “at a moment of crisis for global food security” and provided some sobering statistics. “Last year, 735 million people went hungry. More than 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet,” said the Secretary-General in a video message, adding…
