World News in Brief: Reparations for African diaspora, child deaths in Sudan, Libya update

World News in Brief: Reparations for African diaspora, child deaths in Sudan, Libya update

That’s the message from UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who called for strong leadership and political will from States to heed the call of people of African descent for accountability and redress. His comments followed the release of a new UN report which sets out a series of concrete steps for governments to make reparations…

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Iranian President denounces West’s meddling in affairs of Middle East countries

Iranian President denounces West’s meddling in affairs of Middle East countries

The world is reaching a “critical junction” point as an emerging order of non-Western states looks to pursue closer economic and political ties with one another, according to Mr. Raisi.  “The global landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift towards an emerging international order, a trajectory that is not reversible,” he said.  “As non-Western powers have…

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Syria-Türkiye: UN completes 200th cross-border aid mission since February quakes

Syria: UN chief welcomes reopening of life-saving aid corridor

In a statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the resumption of deliveries after agreement was reached with the Syrian Government. The Bab al-Hawa crossing closed in July, after the Security Council failed to reach consensus on two competing resolutions which would have renewed the main aid corridor. Around four million Syrians in the last rebel-held…

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“Armed conflicts are an offense to human rationality,” Brazil’s Lula da Silva tells UN Assembly

“Armed conflicts are an offense to human rationality,” Brazil’s Lula da Silva tells UN Assembly

Global inequalities The world is becoming increasingly unequal, according to Mr. Silva. Immersed in a world of intersecting crises, including COVID-19, security, racism, intolerance, and stable access to food and clean water, more must be done to ensure that inequalities do not continue to grow.  “The ten richest billionaires have more wealth than the poorest…

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Annual cost for reaching the SDGs? More than $5 trillion: UNCTAD

Annual cost for reaching the SDGs? More than $5 trillion: UNCTAD

According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this represents between $1,179 and $1,383 per person, per year.  The study factors in 50 SDG indicators across 90 countries, covering three quarters of the global population.  For the world’s 48 developing economies, the shortfall is estimated at $337 billion annually, if they are to…

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Libya floods aftermath: Response continues amid the wreckage

Libya floods aftermath: Response continues amid the wreckage

Over the weekend, agency staff led missions into Derna, Shahat, Soussa and al Bayda, delivering emergency medical supplies, food, water purification kits and shelter material. ‘Horrific’ situation The situation is “horrific” in Derna, said Rana Ksaifi, leading a UN refugee agency (UNHCR) team to the city. Derna bore the brunt of the floods after two…

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UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs

UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs

Mr. Guterres was speaking at the opening of a high-level forum at UN Headquarters where world leaders adopted a political declaration to accelerate action to achieve the 17 goals, which aim to drive economic prosperity and well-being for all people while protecting the environment. “The SDGs aren’t just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere,” he said.  Concerted,…

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‘Radical reorientation’ needed as half of humanity lacks basic health coverage

‘Radical reorientation’ needed as half of humanity lacks basic health coverage

Moreover, two billion face severe financial hardships when paying out-of-pocket for necessary medical treatment, according to a joint World Health Organization (WHO)-World Bank report. “The fact that so many people cannot benefit from affordable, quality, essential health services not only puts their own health at risk, it also puts the stability of communities, societies and…

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Ethiopia: Mass killings continue, risk of further ‘large-scale’ atrocities

Ethiopia: Mass killings continue, risk of further ‘large-scale’ atrocities

The latest report from the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia documents atrocities perpetrated “by all parties to the conflict” since 3 November 2020 – the start date of the armed conflict in Tigray –  including mass killings, rape, starvation, destruction of schools and medical facilities, forced displacement and arbitrary detention. Commission Chair Mohamed…

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