United Nations | XINHUA | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for global efforts to address air pollution. Around the world, nine out of every 10 people breathe unclean air. Air pollution contributes to various diseases and causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year, predominantly in low- and …
Read More »UN chief terms COVID-19 as game-changer for int’l peace, security
United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a game-changer for international peace and security. The world has “entered a volatile and unstable new phase” in terms of the impact of COVID-19 on peace and security, the …
Read More »No hope of reaching climate, development goals without youth optimism
United Nations | XINHUA | Without harnessing the energy, tech savvy and optimism of young people, the world has no hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Paris Agreement on climate change, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday. Addressing leaders from governments, businesses and multilateral agencies …
Read More »UN chief calls for major push to safeguard progress on women’s empowerment
United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for a major push to prevent “years, even generations” worth of progress on women’s empowerment from being lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an address to a virtual townhall with young women from civil society organizations, the …
Read More »UN honors Ugandan troops for serving in volatile Somalia
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has honored 600 Ugandan troops guarding UN facilities and personnel in volatile Somalia. Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, deputy Ugandan military spokesman tweeted that the troops, serving under the sixth United Nations Guard Unit in Somalia received medals from Guterres. “The …
Read More »Digital finance becomes lifeline during COVID-19 crisis: UN report
United Nations | XINHUA | A United Nations report launched Wednesday said that digital finance has become a lifeline during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The unprecedented social and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the role of digital finance in providing …
Read More »UN chief calls for sustainable recovery of tourism from COVID-19
United Nations | XINHUA | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the recovery of tourism from COVID-19 in a sustainable way. “It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector. But it must be in a way that is safe, equitable and climate friendly,” said Guterres in a …
Read More »UN chief calls for immediate restoration of constitutional order in Mali
United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali after the country’s president was arrested. “The secretary-general is following with deep concern the unfolding developments in Mali, including the military mutiny which culminated in the …
Read More »UN chief calls for comprehensive approach to peacebuilding amid pandemic
United Nations | XINHUA | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding and sustaining peace amid challenges posed by the pandemic. “More than ever, multidimensional, coordinated and conflict-sensitive responses and whole-of-society approaches are crucial. They are key to ensuring that peacebuilding and sustaining peace …
Read More »Global pandemic fight should not be hijacked by myopic politicians
Beijing, China | XINHUA | Global COVID-19 cases topped 20 million on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University, doubling the world’s total infections in 45 days. With an effective vaccine still out of reach and many countries witnessing new records of daily surge of confirmed cases over the past weeks, …
Read More »