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UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Somalia’s population, international partners must be energized to sustain country’s ‘upward trajectory,’ says senior UN official

22 May 2019
Peace and Security

Despite Somalia’s persistent security threats, recurrent political crises, capacity constraints and the difficulties in navigating political obstacles to its reform agenda, the Horn of Africa country remains on a “positive trajectory,” the UN Security Council was told on Wednesday.

ILO/Kevin Cassidy

Wednesday's Daily Brief: Women boost work profits, saving biodiversity, UK loses Chagos Islands vote, Gaza funding, malaria-free in Argentina, Algeria

22 May 2019
Peace and Security

Today's top stories include: boosting profits at work by hiring more women leaders; saving biodiversity to beat climate change; General Assembly condemns UK over Chagos Islands; just a month of funding left for Gaza; celebrating malaria-free Algeria and Argentina; and justice experts dicuss how best to fight hate crime. 

UNRWA/Tamer Hamam

Palestine refugees’ relief chief warns Security Council money to fund Gaza operations will run out in mid-June

22 May 2019
Peace and Security

The head of the UN relief and works agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned on Wednesday that despite weathering a “truly existential crisis” over funding last year, money to continue operations this year in the Gaza Strip will only last until mid-June. 

Bioversity International/B. Sthapit

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

22 May 2019
SDGs

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. 

ILO/Crozet M.

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

22 May 2019
Economic Development

Businesses perform better – sometimes by as much as 20 per cent – when they employ more women in top positions, UN labour experts said on Wednesday, warning nonetheless that most still pay lip-service to the idea of gender equality in the boardroom. 

OCHA/Themba Linden

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

21 May 2019
Peace and Security

Iraq’s democratic transition – weighed down by political infighting, weak institutions, corruption, and the constant threat of ISIL – needs more international support, “lots of time and lots of hard work,” the top United Nations official in the country said on Tuesday.  

World Bank/Chhor Sokunthea

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

21 May 2019
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. 

OCHA/Otto Bakano

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

21 May 2019
Peace and Security

Tuesday’s stories include: Libya facing “permanent division”, regional war; Africa event highlights forcible displacement; terrorists’ children ‘secretly detained’ in Syria; Venezuelans need protection; global trade tensions rise.

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN highlights need to solve growing burden of forcibly displaced Africans

21 May 2019
Migrants and Refugees

With 24.2 million Africans forced from their homes in 2017  ̶  4.6 million more than the previous year  ̶  the UN is hosting a three-day event at UN headquarters, focusing on finding durable solutions to the problem, which is a growing burden on the continent’s economy, environment and communities which host those displaced. 

UNICEF/Soulaiman (file)

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

21 May 2019
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.