General News

Hundreds of participants from more than 120 countries, have gathered in Antalya, Turkey, for what’s been described as the world’s most important forum for showcasing, sharing and scaling-up innovative local solutions for global problems.

The four-day event, known as the Global South-South Development Expo, is being hosted by the Turkish government, and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).

Maoqi Li reports from Antalya.

Duration: 2'09"

Energy is key to global development but the world’s poorest nations fare up to six times worse than their more industrialised counterparts when it comes to accessing the vital resource, the UN warned on Wednesday.

In a report on 47 Least Developed Countries (LDC), the UN trade and development arm UNCTAD said that only four of them were on course to achieve internationally agreed targets on energy distribution by 2030.

World leaders have a “collective responsibility” to stop human trafficking and modern slavery, the UN chief told members of the Security Council on Tuesday.

Secretary-General António Guterres spoke during an open debate on the trafficking of persons in conflict situations, given added impetus following universal outrage at a television news report this week documenting young migrants being sold at a slave market in Libya.

Matt Wells has more.

Duration:  3'08"

Peace and security are inseparable from the advancement of social progress and human rights, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday.

António Guterres relayed this message during a Security Council meeting on large scale migration crises, shortage of resources, and human rights violations that have led to social and political unrest in the Mediterranean region.

Natalie Hutchison has more.

The deadline is fast approaching for developing and emerging countries to get a chance to reach for the stars.

They are being encouraged to submit proposals for participation in the first-ever space mission that will contribute to global development efforts.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Sierra Nevada Corporation, an American company that supplies the space and aviation industries.

Dianne Penn has the story.

Duration: 2’55”

Top officials from national space agencies, diplomats, academics, representatives from the private sector and others are meeting in Dubai this week to explore how they can help create a better world by 2030.

They are taking part in the second annual High Level Forum on Space as a Driver for Socio-economic Development organized by the United Arab Emirates and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

Entrepreneurs are key to bringing more jobs and prosperity to the so-called Maritime-Continental Silk Road: the modern-day successor to the ancient trade routes linking Europe and Asia.

That’s according to Dan Liang, Chairperson of the board of directors for the UN Maritime-Continental Silk Road Cities Alliance.

As Rohingya refugees continue to pour into neighbouring Bangladesh, one UN agency is taking steps to address their psychological well-being.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is supporting an initiative that provides so-called “mental health first aid” to the displaced, who have fled violence in Myanmar.

More than 600,000 members of the Muslim minority community have settled in Bangladesh since late August, following attacks on government security positions and subsequent military action Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

The increased use and abuse of children by warring parties is “a source of global shame”, the UN chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.

António Guterres was briefing the Council on his recently published report on Children and Armed Conflict, for 2016.

More than 8,000 children were killed and maimed during the year, while 14,500 violations were verified.

Matt Wells reports.

Duration:  3'12"

Eritrea’s future is literally “walking away” in the form of young refugees fleeing the country.

That’s the view of Sheila Keetharuth, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

She said that thousands of young people often walk for days in a “desperate bid” to reach the border and avoid years-long forced-conscription into the army.