Heatwaves and high temperatures threatening young lives in South Asia: UNICEF

Heatwaves and high temperatures threatening young lives in South Asia: UNICEF

UNICEF estimates that 76 per cent of children under 18 in the region – 460 million -are exposed to extreme high temperatures where 83 or more days in a year exceed 35° Celsius. July was the hottest month ever recorded globally, raising further concerns about a future where children, including those living in South Asia, are expected to…

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Nearly 14 million children in Sudan need humanitarian support: UNICEF

Nearly 14 million children in Sudan need humanitarian support: UNICEF

Ted Chaiban of the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, and Edem Wosornu with the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, briefed journalists on their recent mission to the country and Chad, one of several neighbouring nations hosting some 900,000 people who fled the violence. Fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently…

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New Economic and Social Council leadership takes the helm

New Economic and Social Council leadership takes the helm

The 54-member body, which is one of the six main pillars of the UN system, elected Paula Narváez Ojeda of Chile to the top seat. It also elected as Vice-Presidents, Akan Rakhmetullin (Kazakhstan), Ivan Šimonović (Croatia) and Robert Rae (Canada), representing the Asia-Pacific, Eastern European, and Western European and other regional groups, respectively.   The…

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Cambodia: UN rights chief regrets ‘severely restricted’ poll and opposition clampdown

Cambodia: UN rights chief regrets ‘severely restricted’ poll and opposition clampdown

In a news release issued by his Office, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, denounced “constant shrinkage” in Cambodia’s democratic space in recent years, which he said is undermining citizen’s fundamental freedoms and their right to participate in the public square. In the lead up to the elections, Cambodia’s National Election Committee disqualified…

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On Peacebuilding Day, ambassadors discuss response to organized crime in the Sahel

‘Real challenges’ must be addressed beyond polling day, urges UN West Africa envoy

In his first briefing to the Security Council since being appointed to the position, Leonardo Santos Simaõ recalled elections in Benin, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. He said they had “marked important steps towards democratic consolidation, offering opportunities for citizens to choose their leaders and representatives at the national and subnational level”….

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