Preserving biodiversity vital to reverse tide of climate change, UN stresses on International Day 

22 May 2019
SDGs
Bioversity International/B. Sthapit

The food people eat around the world is becoming “alarmingly homogenous” according to UN data, even though access to a wide variety of nutritious food has never been greater. That warning comes as the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity on Wednesday, which this year highlights the impact of environmental neglect on food security and public health. 

With potential to boost profits by up to 20 per cent, a woman’s place is at work, says UN labour agency

UN highlights need to solve growing burden of forcibly displaced Africans

Iraq needs support to ‘leave violent past behind’, says UN envoy as Security Council extends UN mission for one year

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Libya civil war, African displacement, global trade tensions, terrorists’ children ‘secretly detained’, and more

Libya on verge of civil war, threatening ‘permanent division’, top UN official warns Security Council

World Bank/Chhor Sokunthea

Amidst high trade tensions and policy uncertainty, UN cuts economic growth forecast

Economic Development

Against a backdrop of unresolved trade tensions, high international policy uncertainty and softening business confidence, the UN on Tuesday announced a broad-based slowdown in the global economy and cut its growth predictions. 

UNICEF/Soulaiman (file)

Children of ISIL terrorists likely held in ‘secret detention facilities’, UN human rights office warns

Human Rights

In Syria, it is suspected that children whose fathers fought for terrorist group ISIL are being held in unidentified “settlements” and “secret detention facilities” away from their mothers, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday.

UNICEF/Filippov

Children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine ‘too terrified to learn’ amid spike in attacks on schools

Humanitarian Aid

Schoolchildren are bearing long-lasting mental and physical scars of eastern Ukraine’s conflict, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, as the agency warned of an “alarming” increase in attacks on schools during the first four months of 2019.

UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

Hunger in Yemen: WFP considers aid suspension in face of repeated interference by some Houthi leaders

Humanitarian Aid

The UN emergency food relief agency said on Monday that without full access and “freedom to decide” who receives lifesaving aid, in Houthi rebel-controlled areas of Yemen, it could be forced to implement a “phased suspension”.

OCHA/Giles Clarke

Monday’s Daily Brief: WFP mulls ‘last resort’ Yemen aid suspension, top peacekeeping awardee announced, abuzz over Bee Day, Ebola threat ‘very high’

Peace and Security

This Monday, headline stories include: WFP mulls “last resort” aid suspension in Yemen; highest UN peacekeeping award to be given on Friday; busy pollinators are focus of World Bee Day; Ebola threat still “very high”.

Headlines at a glance

On World Bee day, human activity blamed for falling pollinator numbers

Sacrifice of fallen 'blue helmet' to be honoured with UN’s highest peacekeeping award

Cambodia: Giving back to UN peacekeeping

FROM THE FIELD: Saving the tree kangaroos of Papua New Guinea

UPDATED: Guterres condemns armed attack against UN peacekeepers in Mali

Promoting ‘a healthy sustainable future’, the UN health agency engages young and young at heart to 'Walk the Talk'

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