Gaza: ‘high time’ for ceasefire and hostage release, says Guterres

Gaza: ‘high time’ for ceasefire and hostage release, says Guterres

Speaking in Jordan at an international conference prompted by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, Mr. Guterres insisted that after more than eight months of intense hostilities, “the horror must stop”. “I welcome the peace initiative recently outlined by President Biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and come to an agreement,” the…

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‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power’ Guterres tells Security Council

‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power’ Guterres tells Security Council

“Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power,” he said, opening a debate on its critical role in addressing global security and development challenges, convened by Mozambique, the Council president for May.  Calling Africa “an important voice for the global good”, he cited examples of how the continent has shown “unity and solidarity in…

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Haiti: UN officials say ‘we are running out of time’ amid escalating crises

Haiti: UN officials say ‘we are running out of time’ amid escalating crises

Ahead of an expected closed-door Security Council meeting, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for the urgent deployment, with no further delay, of the Council-mandated multinational security support mission in Haiti. “The reality is that, in the current context, there is no realistic alternative available to protect lives,” the High Commissioner…

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‘High time for peace’, UN chief says, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters third year

‘High time for peace’, UN chief says, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters third year

“Two years on and a decade since Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe,” António Guterres said. “It is high time for peace – a just peace, based on the UN Charter, international law…

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First Person: Supporting mental health in Madagascar, one consultation at a time

First Person: Supporting mental health in Madagascar, one consultation at a time

Henrielle Emasignavy works for WHO in Ambovombe, where the Androy Regional Referral Hospital is based. She spoke about the care that is being provided to people who are struggling with mental health crises. WHO’s Henrielle Emasignavy at the Androy Regional Referral Hospital. “In Ambovombe town, we are seeing a number of mental health conditions, including…

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World News in Brief: Time for climate justice urges UN chief, Ukraine war update, call for ‘free and fair’ elections

World News in Brief: Time for climate justice urges UN chief, Ukraine war update, call for ‘free and fair’ elections

Under the deal agreed by 193 countries in 2015 in the French capital, sticking to the limit will help humankind avoid the worst impacts of rising temperatures. This month is also on track to be so warm that for the first time ever, a 12-month cycle may exceed the 1.5°C threshold, according to Europe’s Copernicus…

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Good morning, Mogadishu! Preserving Somalia’s cultural history, one tape at a time

Good morning, Mogadishu! Preserving Somalia’s cultural history, one tape at a time

Sitting in a small, windowless room in a government building in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed loops another audio tape onto the dilapidated machine and presses a few buttons. He’s beginning a time-intensive process to digitize some seven decades of unique historical recordings belonging to the government-run Radio Mogadishu. One down, a couple…

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