UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

After the ballots were cast and counted, Assembly President Dennis Francis announced Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands were elected to serve for three years, beginning 1 January 2024. China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, France, and Malawi were re-elected for their second terms. …

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Convention’s 10-year birthday marks commitment to prevent new mercury scare

Convention’s 10-year birthday marks commitment to prevent new mercury scare

To help understand why this international treaty is important,  UN News has put together a quick guide on global efforts to eradicate exposure to quicksilver, as mercury is also known. Making waves The landmark Convention is named after the Japanese coastal city where residents suffered decades of mercury poisoning from industrial wastewater released by a…

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UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

With the Internet holding a critical role in navigating these complexities, the 18th annual Internet Governance Forum hosted by the Government of Japan is under the overarching theme, ‘The Internet We Want – Empowering All People.” Mitigating the risks Considering the rapid tech advances, including in Artificial Intelligence (AI), risking exacerbating existing inequalities, the Forum…

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World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

Over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is sheltering roughly 137,000 people in 83 of its schools across the Gaza Strip. Six health…

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Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to 'vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization'

Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to ‘vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization’

António Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York following  meeting with senior UN leaders on what he called the “unprecedented developments” in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  “Let me begin by repeating my utter condemnation of the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the…

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