UN officials outraged at Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy plants

UN officials outraged at Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy plants

The UN chief António Guterres condemned in the strongest terms the large-scale missile and drone attacks, his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said on Friday. Guterres appalled at attacks on civilians “The Secretary-General is appalled by the continued killing and destruction and once again underlines that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law;…

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Rights violations ripple across war-torn Sudan

World News in Brief: Sex trafficking and child recruitment in Sudan, new mass grave in Libya, children at risk in DR Congo

This is being compounded by an increase in child and forced marriage, and the recruitment of boys by combatants in the continuing war between rival generals that erupted nearly a year ago. All this is happening against the backdrop of the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the country that has caused an unprecedented mass displacement of over…

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‘Extremely alarming’ conditions worsen in Haiti’s capital: UN coordinator

‘Extremely alarming’ conditions worsen in Haiti’s capital: UN coordinator

“It’s important we don’t let the violence spill over from the capital into the country,” said Ulrika Richardson, briefing journalists at UN Headquarters via videolink from Haiti. She said orchestrated gang attacks on prisons, ports, hospitals and the palace have unfolded over the past weeks, but in the past few days these heavily armed groups…

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UN leaders galvanize action for reparations for people of African descent

UN leaders galvanize action for reparations for people of African descent

Experts and UN leaders exchanged views about the best ways forward, centred on this year’s theme, A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.  While the decade ends in 2024, much work remains to be done, General Assembly President Dennis Francis told the world body. To galvanize…

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UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session

General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on artificial intelligence

Adopting a United States-led draft resolution without a vote, the Assembly also highlighted the respect, protection and promotion of human rights in the design, development, deployment and the use of AI. The text was “co-sponsored” or backed by more than 120 other Member States. The General Assembly also recognized AI systems’ potential to accelerate and…

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World News in Brief: Syria violence intensifying, heavy weapons threat in Myanmar, justice call for Thai lawyer

Syria: Political deadlock and violence fuels humanitarian crisis

Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Geir Pedersen said that recent spike in violence, including airstrikes, rocket attacks and clashes between armed groups, underscored the urgent need for a political resolution. In addition, protests continue in some regions over unaddressed grievances and the presence of six foreign armies in the country are raising fears…

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World News in Brief: Global trade rebound forecast, e-waste mountain grows, 7,000 preventable TB deaths in Europe during COVID-19

World News in Brief: Global trade rebound forecast, e-waste mountain grows, 7,000 preventable TB deaths in Europe during COVID-19

Last year saw a three per cent contraction, equalling roughly $1 trillion, compared to the record high of $32 trillion in 2022. Despite this decline, the services sector showed resilience with a $500 billion (eight per cent) increase from the previous year, while trade in goods experienced a $1.3 trillion, or five per cent, decline compared…

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Armed groups continue terror campaign across Burkina Faso

Armed groups continue terror campaign across Burkina Faso

High Commissioner Volker Türk said, from the capital Ouagadougou, that his local office had been “engaging intensely with the authorities, civil society actors, human rights defenders, UN partners and others on many of the multifaceted human rights challenges” the country faces following a coup in January 2022 that saw Captain Ibrahim Traoré assume power. Solidarity…

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