UN Affairs

UNIFIL Malaysian peacekeeper, Major Syazwani, gives instructions to her fellow peacekeepers while patrolling in Rumaysh, south Lebanon in December 2017.
UNIFIL/Pasqual Gorriz

‘Amid stormy global seas, UN Charter remains our moral anchor’, says Guterres on United Nations Day

24 October 2019
Global

In his annual message for UN Day this Thursday, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a reminder of the role the Organization should be playing, focusing on the the real problems of real people, as a “shared moral anchor” amid “stormy global seas”.

Zuhuir, 6, eats a hamburger in the Gulshan neighbourhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fast food restaurants are a growing trend in Dhaka, not only for the middle and upper classes, but across income brackets.
© UNICEF/Bashir Sujan

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: UNICEF child health report, Peacekeeping operations end in Haiti, Syria-Turkey latest, Haitian migrants deported from Bahamas

15 October 2019
Global

A recap of Tuesday’s stories: Millions of children undernourished and overweight says landmark report; Security Council marks transition after 15 years of ‘blue helmets’ in Haiti; violence continues ‘on both sides’ of Syria-Turkey border; UN human rights office raises concerns over deportation of Haitian migrants from the Bahamas; UN migration agency helps migrants in Algeria return to Niger; rural women celebrated on International Day.

Women forest conservation workers in the northern Bolivian Amazon..
UN Women

Rural women a ‘powerful force’ for global climate action: UN Secretary-General

14 October 2019
Global

Rural women and girls across the world are a “powerful force” in global action to respond to climate change, according to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

All female Bangladeshi Formed Police Unit serving with the UN Mission in Haiti prepare to leave the country. (File)
MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

UN Mission in Haiti calls on protestors, authorities, to refrain from violence

30 September 2019
Americas

Following days of intensifying protests in Haiti, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday the UN was “concerned by reports of violence and arson” across the country.

Zoran Zaev, President of the Government, Republic of North Macedonia, addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate. (26 September 2019)
UN Photo/Cia Pak

North Macedonia President, credits dialogue and diplomacy for setting a decades-long ‘name dispute’

26 September 2019

As a United Nations Member State more than two deacades, Thursday was the first time the Republic of North Macedonia addressed the General Assembly under its settled-upon name after “a 27-year-old difference with Greece”. 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali, addresses the general debate of the 74th session General Assembly (file photo).
UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Mali President outlines achievements and challenges since 2015 peace deal

25 September 2019
Africa

A 2015 peace deal for Mali has led to a “progressive return of trust between parties”, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday evening.

Faiez Mustafa Serraj, President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord of the State of Libya, addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate. (25 September 2019)
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Libya facing ‘serious crisis’ fueled by outsiders bent on dividing the county, UN Assembly told

25 September 2019
Africa

Libya is experiencing “a serious crisis because of negative foreign interference,” Faiez Mustafa Sarraj told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday evening.

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, addresses the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

At UN debate, Japan vows to back global push for inclusive quality education for all girls and women

24 September 2019
Global

If women were able to demonstrate their potential, “the world would sparkle that much more”, the Prime Minister of Japan said on Tuesday evening at the United Nations General Assembly’s annual general debate.   

Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, addresses the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate. (24 September 2019)
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Republic of Korea President proposes DMZ as future ‘peace and cooperation district’ on Peninsula

24 September 2019
Asia Pacific

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas  could be transformed into an “international peace zone” and even included on a UN list of global cultural heritage, world leaders in the UN General Assembly heard on Tuesday. 

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (on screens and centre at dais), President of the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly, opens the first plenary meeting of the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly. (17 September 2019)
UN Photo/Kim Haughton

New General Assembly President brings ‘valuable insights’ into key UN challenges

17 September 2019
Global

The new President of the 74th session of the General Assembly brings to his role “years of United Nations experience”, the UN chief said on Tuesday, as Tijjani Muhammad-Bande banged the gavel to open his year in office.