The planet’s on ‘red alert’ UN chief warns leaders at President Biden’s climate summit

22 April 2021
Climate and Environment
NOAA/Jerry Penry

World leaders must act now and put the planet on a green path because “we are at the verge of the abyss”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday in his address to the virtual climate summit convened by United States President Joseph Biden. 

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Elections could pave way to Palestinian unity, advance peace: UN envoy

Syria receives first COVID-19 vaccines, for most vulnerable

Food aid operation begins to reach two million affected by Myanmar crisis

ITU/R. Farrell

‘Careers have no gender’, connect girls to tech, for a brighter future UN urges 

Women

Despite information and communication technology playing such a key role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said that half the world remains offline, in his message marking International Girls in ICT Day, on Thursday – most of whom are women and girls in developing countries. 

CIFOR/Ollivier Girard

Commit to restoring the planet, UN chief says in message for International Mother Earth Day

Climate and Environment

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for commitment to restoring the planet, and to making peace with nature, in his message to mark International Mother Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April. 

UNICEF/Wathiq Khuzaie

New Iraqi law ‘major step’ in assisting ISIL’s female victims but more must be done

Human Rights

A new law in Iraq provides a measure of comfort for women and girls who have survived atrocities of ISIL terrorist fighters, but more must be done, an independent UN human rights expert said on Wednesday. 

ILO/Marcel Crozet

ILO kicks off Green Week to ‘jump-start’ a sustainable future 

Climate and Environment

As the world grapples with the devastating economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, the UN’s labour agency launched ILO Green Week to explore what a green future of work could look like, and how we can get there. 

Unsplash/Liza Pooor

Russia: Rights experts call for immediate medical evacuation of Alexei Navalny

Human Rights

Experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council called on Wednesday for the urgent medical evacuation of detained Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, fearing he is in “serious danger” due to deteriorating health and harsh prison conditions. 

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