Life in DPR Korea still ‘daily struggle devoid of hope’ warns human rights chief

Life in DPR Korea still ‘daily struggle devoid of hope’ warns human rights chief

Ambassadors held an open meeting on the human rights situation in the country, commonly known as North Korea, convened by Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. China and Russia opposed the meeting and called for a procedural vote by the 15 members, which was defeated.  Alone and claustrophobic  Briefing…

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COVID-19 eliminated a decade of progress in global level of life expectancy

COVID-19 eliminated a decade of progress in global level of life expectancy

According to the UN agency, between 2019 and 2021 – the early years of the global health emergency – life expectancy around the world dropped by 1.8 years to 71.4 years, which is the 2012 level.  Responding to the findings, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the fragility of global health advances when confronted with…

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First Person: Crafting a new life after a devastating hurricane

44-year-old Vanessa Winston lives in Roseau, the capital of Dominica, where she runs a small-scale business primarily making bespoke, hand-made fashion accessories. She is also President of the UN-supported Dominica Arts & Craft Producers Association, which helps its members to promote their products.  Hurricane Maria destroyed her home and the workshop where she produced all…

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Zero Waste Day: UN calls for a war on garbage

Earth’s ‘life support system’ is being destroyed by global business paradigm, UN expert warns

In a hard-hitting report to the Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur David Boyd underscored that current business practices, particularly large coporations, pose a severe threat to the planet’s ecological integrity. ‘Colossal impacts’ of the ultrarich Mr. Boyd emphasized the “colossal impacts” on natural resources, which are being consumed six times faster than the planet can…

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No medicine, no hope: Doctors describe life under Israeli attack in Gaza

No medicine, no hope: Doctors describe life under Israeli attack in Gaza

“Life is very difficult here,” hospital manager Dr. Haidar Al-Qudra told UN News. Currently, only 12 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are “partially functioning”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with the rest destroyed by Israel’s near constant bombardment of the enclave. As the war in Gaza enters its fifth month, Israeli forces continue to…

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Coasts and sea life facing major threat due to massive sand removal

Coasts and sea life facing major threat due to massive sand removal

This is equivalent to over one million dump trucks every day – placing immense pressure on marine biodiversity and the well-being of coastal communities. Marine Sand Watch, a platform developed by UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s analytical centre, GRID-Geneva, uses artificial intelligence and automatic signals from ships to track and monitor sand, clay, silt, gravel, and…

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