World News in Brief: Peace day, high seas treaty, Palestinian displacement rises, polio in Ukraine

World News in Brief: Peace day, high seas treaty, Palestinian displacement rises, polio in Ukraine

“People and our planet are in crisis”, the UN chief said, highlighting how conflicts continue to drive the vulnerable from their homes, while heatwaves and floods claim lives and division prevails. ‘Leave no one behind’ This year’s Peace Day coincides with the halfway point on the road to the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UN’s…

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At UN, Pacific Island leaders sound alarm on climate crisis, call for urgent action

At UN, Pacific Island leaders sound alarm on climate crisis, call for urgent action

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Presidents of Kiribati, Timor-Leste, Micronesia and Nauru called for accelerated climate action, urging major emitters worldwide to commit to substantial reductions in emissions by 2030. These nations, while contributing negligibly to global emissions, highlighted bold ambitions to curb their own carbon footprints, exemplified by Micronesia’s pledge to reduce…

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At UN Assembly, Nepali Prime Minister urges focus on common goals

At UN Assembly, Nepali Prime Minister urges focus on common goals

He highlighted Nepal’s unique position as regards climate change, saying that even with low emissions, vast forested areas that help preserve biodiversity, Nepal “suffers unfairly from climate crisis.” “This kind of mismatch must be addressed,” the Prime Minister said, urging a mechanism to compensate countries making a positive difference in greening the planet. “On our…

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Summit of the Future ‘unique opportunity’ to rebuild trust: Guterres

Summit of the Future ‘unique opportunity’ to rebuild trust: Guterres

“Your strong engagement during our deliberations today reaffirms that multilateralism is neither dead nor obsolete,” said Dennis Francis in his opening remarks to a preparatory meeting for next year’s Summit of the Future. Scheduled for September 2024, it is billed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate multilateralism, address gaps in global governance, and reaffirm existing commitments, including to the Sustainable…

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Sudan’s brutal conflict could spill over into wider region, warns Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan

Sudan’s brutal conflict could spill over into wider region, warns Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan

In his speech to the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Al-Burhan, who is President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, said that the Sudanese people have been facing a devastating war since April 15 launched against them by the Rapid Support Forces.   Describing those paramilitary forces as rebels in alliance with…

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Yemen’s leader says peace is possible, but flow of arms and resources to Houthi militias must stop

Yemen’s leader says peace is possible, but flow of arms and resources to Houthi militias must stop

Peace remains elusive despite compromises by the Yemeni government and welcome support from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman, as well as the UN, to end years of strife in the country, President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi told the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly. “We hope that the Houthi militias will recognize a…

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Healthcare: Lack of universal coverage, ‘human rights tragedy on a massive scale’

Healthcare: Lack of universal coverage, ‘human rights tragedy on a massive scale’

By approving a new political declaration at UN Headquarters during the high level meeting, Member States also pledged to take concrete action and provide the necessary funding to reach the ambitious goal. The declaration – Universal Health Coverage: expanding our ambition for health and well-being in a post-COVID world – also saw governments promise to…

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Human rights in Russia: ‘Significant deterioration’

Human rights in Russia: ‘Significant deterioration’

The UN’s Special Rapporteur for Russia, Mariana Katzarova, sounded the alarm on what she says is a pattern of suppression of civil and political rights there.  Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Katzarova voiced grave concerns over mass arbitrary arrests and the “persistent use of torture and ill-treatment.” Clear evidence Citing almost 200…

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