United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council on Thursday to display unity as it met to discuss what he called the “fight of a generation” — the global coronavirus pandemic. “A signal of unity and resolve from the Council would count for …
Read More »UN Security Council to hold first coronavirus talks Thursday: diplomats
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council will on Thursday hold its first meeting on the coronavirus pandemic — by videoconference — after weeks of divisions among its five permanent members, diplomats said Monday. Last week, exasperated by the back-and-forth that has paralyzed the council, including between …
Read More »UN chief urges govts to protect women during virus lockdown
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments to include the protection of women in their response to the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic. Reports of domestic violence have surged globally in the wake of massive lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the disease. …
Read More »UN chief calls for ‘immediate global ceasefire’ amid pandemic
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed Monday for an “immediate global ceasefire” to protect vulnerable civilians in conflict zones from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war,” he said in a brief speech at UN headquarters …
Read More »UN chief calls for end to ‘stupid’ gender inequality
New York, United States | AFP | UN chief Antonio Guterres Thursday called for an end to gender inequality which he said “should shame us all in the 21st century because it is not only unacceptable, it is stupid.” Comparing it to past “stains” of slavery and colonialism, he said discrimination against women and girls …
Read More »Human rights under assault worldwide: UN chief
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | UN chief Antonio Guterres launched a “call to action” on Monday against rising attacks on human rights worldwide, highlighting the persecution of minorities and “alarming levels of femicide”. “Human rights are under assault,” said the secretary general as he opened the UN Human Rights Council’s …
Read More »Desert locust infestation linked to climate change -UN Chief
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The infestation of Desert Locusts across vast swatches of the East African Region is one of the devastating effects of climate change that Africa has to endure, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. The migratory pests, which were first reported in parts …
Read More »‘Moment of truth’ at key UN climate summit
United Nations, United States | AFP | Some 60 world leaders convene on Monday for a UN summit on “climate emergency” aimed at reinvigorating the faltering Paris agreement, at a time when mankind is releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than at any time in history. From heat waves to …
Read More »African climate advocates up in arms against oil and gas extractions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has convened an urgent summit of World leaders to ignite global actions against unfolding waves of climate change emergencies. The Summit due to take place in the New York on Monday is expected to be attended by world …
Read More »African govt’s urged to stimulate skills education
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has tasked African governments to foster practical skills education, in order to reduce youth unemployment. Museveni said that in the world, over 156 million youth live in poverty because they are tagged on whitecollar jobs other than enhancing practical skills …
Read More »