World News in Brief: Dignity and justice key to end evil of racial discrimination, methane emissions update, Mpox latest, peacebuilding boost

PNP DeskMarch 20, 2024September 19, 2024010 mins

The international day on Thursday highlights that theme, as well as the importance of recognition, justice and development opportunities for those of African descent, said Secretary-General António Guterres. He said the results of entrenched racism continue to be devasting: “opportunities stolen; dignity denied; rights violated; lives taken and lives destroyed.” The African diaspora faces a…

Gaza: Increasing numbers of newborns on brink of death, agencies warn

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202409 mins

“What doctors and medical staff are telling us is more and more they are seeing the effects of starvation; they’re seeing newborn babies simply dying because they (are) too low birth weight,” said Dr Margaret Harris from the UN World Health Organization (WHO). “Increasingly, we’re seeing children that are at the point, brink of death…

Records smashed – new WMO climate report confirms 2023 hottest year on record

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202407 mins

Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones caused misery and mayhem, upending everyday life for millions and inflicting many billions of dollars in economic losses, according to the WMO State of the Global Climate 2023 report. “Sirens are blaring across all major indicators… Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting. And changes are…

Hong Kong: Rushed adoption of new security law a ‘regressive step’ – UN rights chief

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202403 mins

“It is alarming that such consequential legislation was rushed through the legislature through an accelerated process, in spite of serious concerns raised about the incompatibility of many of its provisions with international human rights law,” Volker Türk said in a statement deploring the move in the former British colony which has been a Special Administrative…

Haiti: Aid efforts continue amid violence and volatility

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202402 mins

The UN said on Tuesday that its children’s agency UNICEF and partners have delivered over 242,000 gallons of water since early March, while the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners have provided over 146,000 hot meals. People traumatized by the recent violence are also receiving psychosocial support.  Infrastructure attacked The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA,…

UN rights expert urges global action to halt Myanmar junta atrocities

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202407 mins

In February 2021 the military overthrew the elected Government in Myanmar arresting hundreds of officials, political leaders and activists, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover triggered an intensification of armed conflicts with separatists and opposition forces across the country, including indiscriminate air strikes which have killed numerous civilians. There have…

Children of Gaza spread joy for Ramadan, despite the war

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202406 mins

While ceasefire talks failed to end the five-month-long conflict that has killed nearly 32,000 Palestinians – most of them women and children – the goal of some youngsters living in the makeshift camp was simple. The children of Deir Al-Balah decided to lift their spirits in the face of ongoing war and celebrate the holy…

World News in Brief: $236 billion a year profit from forced labour, Senegal election update, peacekeepers in Lebanon

PNP DeskMarch 19, 2024September 19, 202407 mins

In an alert, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said that this increase had been fuelled by the growing number of people forced to work illegally, but also by higher profits. ILO senior research officer Federico Blanco told journalists in Geneva that traffickers and criminals make close to $10,000 per victim, around $1,700 more than they…

World News in Brief: Haiti aid delivery continues, South Sudan violence, pandemic treaty talks near end, Guterres on Myanmar crisis

PNP DeskMarch 18, 2024September 19, 202409 mins

Rampant gang violence has created a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean country, whose Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, resigned last week. UN children’s agency UNICEF reported that on Saturday, one of its containers was looted at the main port in the capital city. The container held essential items for maternal, neonatal and child survival, including resuscitators,…

Famine could happen ‘anytime’ in Gaza’s northern governorates, warn UN humanitarians

PNP DeskMarch 18, 2024September 19, 2024010 mins

“Famine is projected to occur anytime between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, upon publication of a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report on Gaza. Meanwhile, in response to the unfolding situation at Al-Shifa, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,…