UN Affairs

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Terrorism survivors: ‘I lived in fear that I would be killed’

17 August 2019
Africa

To mark the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism this coming Wednesday, UN News travelled to Chad and the Far North region of Cameroon in West Africa to interview people who have personal stories to tell about how terrorism has shattered their lives.

UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Winnie Byanyima ‘honoured to be joining UNAIDS’ as next Executive Director

14 August 2019

The UN programme dedicated to the elimination of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, has warmly welcomed the appointment of Winnie Byanyima as its new Executive Director.

OCHA/D.Palanivelu

‘Palpable reduction’ in violence following Eid truce says Libya Mission, as UN investigates deadly bombing which left 3 staff dead

14 August 2019

A UN call for a humanitarian truce over this week’s Eid al-Adha religious holiday led to a “palpable reduction” of violence around the embattled capital of Tripoli, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement released on Wednesday.

© UNICEF/Antoine Raab

Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Syrian detainees, Zimbabwe hunger crisis, Kabul attack, Mexico disappearances, new tech to feed the world

7 August 2019
Global

Wednesday’s top stories: Syrian detainees “failed by Security Council”; Zimbabwe experiencing “worst-ever hunger crisis”; Guterres welcomes new Mozambique peace accord; deadly Kabul attack; Mexico “responsible for enforced disappearances”; indigenous languages at risk; and how innovation should be used to feed the world.

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

UN chief extends condolences to families of China landslide casualties

29 July 2019

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has extended his condolences to the families of those killed in Sunday’s landslides, in the southern Chinese province of Guizhou, following heavy rains.

UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti

New partnership agreement with Liberia, shows ‘clear positive impact of UN peacekeeping’

23 July 2019
Africa

A formal agreement between Liberia and the UN to supply peacekeeping personnel to serve in the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), marks an “immensely significant” transition for the former war-torn West African nation, its UN Ambassador said in New York on Tuesday.

Dean Calma/IAEA

‘Deep sadness’ at passing of UN nuclear watchdog agency chief, Yukiya Amano

22 July 2019

The head of the UN body that oversees nuclear activities across the world has died aged 72, it was announced on Monday. In a statement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the passing of Director General Yukiya Amano, with “deepest sadness”.

UN Photo/J. Grinde

First men on the moon ‘came in peace’ to UN Headquarters ‘for all mankind’

19 July 2019

As the world remembers Saturday’s 50th anniversary of the “giant leap for mankind” made by all those involved in the pioneering Apollo 11 space programme, we take a look back at the visit made by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, to UN Headquarters in New York, just a few weeks after their historic mission. 

UN/Sergio Gomez

'Emulate his example' urges UN chief as world celebrates Nelson Mandela: a ‘global advocate for dignity and equality’ 

18 July 2019
Global

Nelson Mandela was an “extraordinary global advocate for dignity and equality” who anyone in public service should seek to emulate, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message marking the International Day that honours the iconic anti-apartheid campaigner, and South Africa’s first democratically-elected President. 

Visit Salt Lake

UN and civil society team up to make cities more sustainable and inclusive

3 July 2019
Global

How can we make sure that cities become more inclusive, with a smaller environmental footprint, and leave no-one behind? These questions will be tackled at the UN Civil Society Conference, which is due to take place in the capital of Utah, Salt Lake City, at the end of August.