Global

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

World leaders must address ‘shameful’ disparities in education spending: UN children’s agency

19 January 2020
Culture and Education

A new report from the UN children’s fund, UNICEF, shows that a third of adolescent girls from the poorest households have never been to school, and spending on education is heavily skewed towards wealthier households.

UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata

Former UN chief Perez de Cuéllar celebrates his 100th birthday

18 January 2020
UN Affairs

The fifth Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuéllar, whose UN career began with the first ever General Assembly meeting in 1946, celebrates his 100th birthday on Sunday.

CDC/Alissa Eckert, James Archer

Urgent need for ‘immediate’ solutions to combat drug-resistant infections, warns WHO  

17 January 2020
Health

Drug-resistant infections are on the rise as private investment in new antibiotic development declines, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

WFP/Matteo Cosorich

Climate crisis ‘affecting quality of life and fuelling discontent’

16 January 2020
Economic Development

The climate crisis, as well as persistently high inequalities, and rising levels of food insecurity and undernourishment, is affecting the quality of life in many societies and fuelling discontent, the UN warned on Thursday, on the publication of the 2020 World Economic Situation Report (WESP).

WMO/Jordi Anon

2019 second hottest year on record, UN confirms

15 January 2020
Climate Change

Last year was the second warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed on Wednesday. 

United Nations

Global Goals top General Assembly President’s priority list

13 January 2020
SDGs

The President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday set out his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade.

CML/Luís Filipe Catarino

Capacity of cities to tackle climate change key in ‘crucial battle’ for planet’s preservation, says UN chief

11 January 2020
Climate Change

Cities – hubs of creativity and new ideas – can provide solutions to resolve humanity’s “suicide war” against nature, and lead the world towards a sustainable future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday in Lisbon, which has been named the 2020 European Green Capital. 

UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Secretary-General upholds value of UN Charter for a world in turmoil

9 January 2020
Peace and Security

Amid an era of rising geopolitical tensions and declining trust between nations, the United Nations Secretary-General has encouraged countries to “come home” to a defining document of the international community: the UN Charter. 

UN Photo/Mark Garten

Iran-US attack in Iraq: Guterres pledges ‘active engagement’ in further de-escalation efforts

8 January 2020
Peace and Security

In the wake of an Iranian ballistic missile attack on air bases which house US forces in Iraq, the UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday that he would “continue his active engagement” to de-escalate tensions and avert full-scale war.

UN News/Elizabeth Scaffidi

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Syria, polio, DR Congo, Sudan updates, and, the art of stealing

7 January 2020
Peace and Security

Tuesday’s top stories include: A “daily nightmare” in Syria’s Idlib; polio remains an international health emergency; Guterres extends condolences as Australia bushfires continue; measles in DR Congo; clashes in Darfur displace thousands; and a celebration of stolen art.