Global

No Denying It, The UN climate action podcast
UN News

Climate solutions, changemakers, and celebrities: major UN podcast series launched

25 August 2021
Climate and Environment

The UN launches No Denying It, a new 10-part climate action podcast, on Thursday, featuring interviews with inspiring young activists, and the voices of internationally renowned celebrities, such as actors Ed Norton and Michelle Yeoh.

Cape Verde should be able to immunize 70% of its population by the end of the year
UN Cabo Verde

Coming months critical for future pandemic preparedness: WHO chief

25 August 2021
Health

The next three months will be a critical period for stepping up global collective action against future pandemics, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, pointing to three major meetings on the international agenda. 

The number of people globally living with hypertension has doubled to 1.28 billion since 1990.
Unsplash/Mufid Majnun

High blood pressure now more common in low and middle-income countries, new report finds

24 August 2021
Health

The vast majority of people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, – a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases – live in low and middle-incomes countries, a World Health Organization (WHO) report released on Wednesday has revealed.

Burundian Parfait Hakizimana will take the stage in Tokyo as part of the Refugee Paralympic Team.
© UNHCR/Anthony Karumba

Refugee Paralympic Team ‘will change people’s lives’, says Bayern Munich player and UN Goodwill Ambassador

24 August 2021
Migrants and Refugees

Ahead of the opening of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo on Tuesday, Alphonso Davies, footballer for German league champions Bayern Munich and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), has offered words of encouragement for what he called “the world’s most courageous sports team”.

An Afghan girl was injured when a school in Kabul’s district 13 came under attack.
© UNICEF Afghanistan

‘Lifesaving’ protection for children in conflict must be central to pandemic recovery: UN official

23 August 2021
Peace and Security

Protection for children caught up in war must be at the heart of the international agenda, including COVID-19 response, a senior UN official said on Monday. 

A farmer prepares to burn crop remnants in a field in Punjab, India.
© CIAT/Neil Palmer

FROM THE FIELD: Extinguishing the practice of crop burning

22 August 2021
Climate and Environment

Around the world, people are preparing to choke their way through what is called ‘the season of smog’, when farmers burn their fields to make way for new crops. 

Civilians pass a burning automobile following a suicide car bombing.in Mosul, Iraq,
© UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

UN to survivors, victims of terrorism: ‘You are not alone’

20 August 2021
Peace and Security

Survivors of terrorism joined UN officials in hosting a virtual high-level event marking the fourth annual International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism on Friday, emphasizing the need for connection, solidarity and continued vigilance against the ever-shifting terrorist threat.

 

Millions of people in Bangladesh have been impacted by climate shocks, like flooding.
WFP/Sayed Asif Mahmud

Race is on to limit extreme weather impact on most vulnerable: Guterres  

19 August 2021
Humanitarian Aid

As the global aid community marked World Humanitarian Day on Thursday, UN chief António Guterres paid tribute to all those who help people in need and urged support for the day’s #TheHumanRace campaign, which aims to protect the most vulnerable people from the climate emergency.  

Rainbow after a storm in Croatia.
WMO/Zrinka Balabanic

Minorities are 'key partners' in saving planet's biodiversity – UN expert

19 August 2021
Human Rights

The global initiative to save the planet's biodiversity on land and water must not be allowed to threaten the world's most vulnerable people, a top human rights expert said on Thursday. 

A Chinese UN peacekeeper operates a video drone during a patrol in Liberia. (file)
UN Photo/Albert González Farran

UN launches strategy for digital transformation of peacekeeping

18 August 2021
Peace and Security

The Organization and its 12 peacekeeping missions around the world must fully embrace new technology in the face of ever-changing challenges, the UN chief said on Wednesday as he outlined to the Security Council his Strategy for the Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping.